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Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
‘Stealth’ omicron is more contagious. Now Florida has two cases.
The highly contagious omicron variant set pandemic infection records in Florida and the U.S. and is still spreading across many states and the rest of the world. But coming up fast behind it is a subvariant that early studies suggest is even more infectious, may cause more breakthrough infections in the vaccinated — and now it’s in Florida. The COVID-19 subvariant is designated as BA.2 but is better known by its nickname “stealth” omicron. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida gets another $404 million for climate change prep. It needs billions more
The most vulnerable state in the nation is finally getting a billion-dollar boost to its plans to protect itself against the rising sea, the tip of the trillion-dollar iceberg of climate change expenses the state faces. On Tuesday, Gov. Ron Desantis announced funding for another 113 projects that will install new stormwater pumps and drains in flood-prone cities, convert leaky septic tanks to sewer lines, elevate and floodproof critical buildings and restore wetlands over the next three years. [Source: Miami Herald]
DeSantis, Biden at odds over Everglades Reservoir funding
Gov. Ron DeSantis and President Joe Biden are at odds again, this time over funding for the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir project. The EAA Reservoir Project, a 50-50 partnership between Florida and the federal government, was designed to reduce harmful discharges from Lake Okeechoebee and send clean water south to the Everglades and Florida Bay, while also protecting drinking water for 9 million Floridians. [Source: The Center Square]
Astra plans first Florida launch for Saturday
The private space company Astra is planning its first launch from Florida, set to take place on Saturday, Feb. 5. The company plans to take off from launchpad 46, the easternmost pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Up to this point, Astra has only launched its Rocket 3.3 from Alaska. Astra recently launched its first commercial payload into orbit for the U.S. Space Force on Nov. 18, according to the company’s website. [Source: Click Orlando]
Bill would scrap 2021 deal as public notices battle begins anew in Florida legislature
Lawmakers will again consider a proposal to allow government agencies in Florida "the option to publish legal notices on a publicly accessible website instead of in a print newspaper," according to a House staff analysis. Online records show a "proposed committee bill," or PCB, has been filed in the Florida House of Representatives' Judiciary Committee, chaired by state Rep. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Increased Duke fuel costs get go-ahead
Duke Energy Florida customers will start seeing increased monthly bills because of higher-than-expected fuel costs for power plants. The state Public Service Commission on Tuesday approved a Duke request to collect an additional $314 million from customers, with the change taking effect in March. Duke and other utilities have grappled for months with higher-than-expected natural gas prices.
› The Florida cannabis industry is growing. Here's why Palm Beachers may want in.
The first Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce breakfast event of the year focused on a taboo subject that is said to have numerous business opportunities. At the Jan. 4 breakfast at The Breakers, nearly 400 residents and business owners gathered to learn about Florida's cannabis industry. Laurel Baker, the chamber's chief executive officer, said she thought the presentation would provoke an important discussion not commonly heard.
› Coast Guard starts investigation of Royal Caribbean ship that caused SpaceX scrub
A Coast Guard investigation is underway after the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Harmony of the Seas was responsible for Sunday evening's scrub of a SpaceX launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The ship veered into the exclusion zone along a Falcon 9 rocket's flightpath just before the 6:11 p.m. EST launch, forcing SpaceX to stand down from the mission and prepare for a 24-hour turnaround.
› With new Tampa hub, construction software firm Procore aims to add 100 jobs
When the time came for Procore to open an East Coast hub, Florida was a natural target. “Construction as an industry is growing,” said Bill Crawford, senior vice president of sales for the construction management software company. “Just look out the window in Florida, and Tampa specifically, and you can see everything that’s happening.” It’s a big reason why Procore last fall picked Tampa to serve as its home base of operations in the eastern time zone.
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