The pandemic is hitting Florida families harder than those elsewhere. Food is scarce

Children in Florida are faring worse than the national average, according to a new report that examined the pandemic’s impact on families in all 50 states. Housing stability in particular appears grim for Florida families with children. Nearly a quarter of households – 23% – indicated slight or no confidence they would make the next rent or mortgage payment on time, compared to 18% nationally. [Source: Miami Herald]

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» Publix donates 1.3 million pounds of food for holidays to Florida food banks

Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida police departments review policies, procedures and training

The killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis has prompted police departments around Florida to review their policies, procedures and training. While condemning Floyd's killing, Florida law enforcement officials and most politicians have rejected extreme measure like shifting major funding from police departments to social programs or eliminating funding for police departments altogether. [Source: Florida Trend]

How to be effective with your generosity in 2020

If you’re fortunate enough to be able to donate money this year, plenty of causes need your attention. In a year like 2020, choosing where to direct your dollars is like picking your favorite child. Should your money go toward nonprofits providing basic needs, organizations fighting for social justice or a campaign to help local small businesses stay afloat? If you prefer donating your time, how do you give back when volunteer events are limited by the pandemic? [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

A mysterious gap in COVID-19 deaths appeared in Florida before the presidential election

An astonishing pattern has emerged in Florida’s COVID death tally — one that suggests the state manipulated a backlog of unrecorded fatalities, presenting more favorable death counts in the days leading up to the 2020 presidential election. At issue is the state’s handling of the lag between the date someone dies and the date Florida reports that death in the public count. With minor exceptions, Florida quit including long-backlogged deaths in its daily counts on Oct. 24, 10 days before the Nov. 3 election, and resumed consistently including them on Nov. 17, two weeks after the election. The result: The daily death numbers Floridians saw during that time were significantly lower than they otherwise would have been. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

State, Deloitte say unemployment case should be tossed

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and Deloitte Consulting LLP are asking a Leon County circuit judge to toss out a revised class-action lawsuit that seeks damages because of problems with the state’s unemployment-compensation system during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency and Deloitte filed motions last week to dismiss the case, saying, in part, that the plaintiffs are making largely the same arguments that Judge John Cooper rejected in an earlier version of the lawsuit. [Source: News Service of Florida]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Florida plans to get COVID-19 vaccines to more than 150 hospitals by next week [Tampa Bay Times]
Florida hospitals inoculate their workers and those at 25 additional hospitals this week. Next week, the state is preparing plans to receive 300,000 to 400,000 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, set for approval later this week.

› Adam Putnam to be inducted into Florida Citrus Hall of Fame [Lakeland Ledger]
Adam Putnam, a Bartow native and former Florida agriculture commissioner, will be inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame in 2021. At one time the youngest person to be elected to both the Florida legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives, Putnam will also be one of the youngest inducted into the Citrus Hall of Fame at 46. But his age wasn't a hinderance when it came to his accomplishments, said Brenda Eubanks Burnette, the hall's executive director.

› Land deals approved in Southwest Florida, Panhandle [News Service of Florida]
Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet agreed Tuesday to spend more than $16.7 million to protect fields in Southwest Florida where federally endangered Florida panthers roam and land in Washington County that will be used for hunting and other recreation. The deals included purchasing 5,804 acres south of Lake Okeechobee in Hendry County that is part of an area known as Devil’s Garden and 628 acres in the Panhandle’s Washington County that will be managed by the Florida Forest Service.

› Winter Park Village slated for $50 million makeover next year [Orlando Sentinel]
It’s been 20 years since Ohio-based mall developer Casto Lifestyle Properties razed the old Winter Park Mall and relaunched it as the outdoor lifestyle center called Winter Park Village. Now the popular shopping, dining and entertainment complex is due for a major refresh, as Casto is planning a $50 million renovation in 2021.

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› Miami Beach wants to help homeowners adapt to sea level rise with matching grants [Miami Herald]
Miami Beach is exploring a way to help residents cover the cost of floodproofing their properties from heavy rains and high tides made even higher by sea level rise — at least a little. The city is considering offering residents matching grants of up to $20,000 for projects like installing flood panels, swapping out a driveway for permeable pavement or planting absorbent landscaping — all simple ways to cut down on flooding.

› November passenger traffic at 58% of 2019 level at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport [Business Observer]
In November, passenger traffic at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport was at 58% of the 2019 level. Passengers totaled 106,195 for November compared to 182,607 passengers in November 2019, according to a press release. Year-to-date figures show airport passenger traffic is down 35.7% compared to 2019, with 1,117,872 passengers using the airport so far this year. Data also shows SRQ remains well above the national average, the release says.

› Mayport-bound LCS, slated to become USS Cooperstown, finishes acceptance trials [Florida Times-Union]
The vessel poised to become Naval Station Mayport’s 10th homeported littoral combat ship has completed acceptance trials to be added to the U.S. Navy, defense contractor Lockheed Martin announced this week. The 378-foot ship known now as LCS 23 will become the USS Cooperstown after commissioning sometime next year, Lockheed Martin spokeswoman Kate Scruggs said.

› Universal Orlando’s Dockside and Disney World hotels are opening [Orlando Sentinel]
In the midst of the pandemic recovery, hotels at the major theme parks have opening dates starting with Tuesday’s debut of Universal’s Dockside Inn and Suites. Dockside, which has 2,050 guest rooms, came online as part of the Endless Summer Resort located off International Drive and Universal Boulevard. It’s the eighth hotel in a partnership between Universal and Loews Hotels. Disney, meanwhile, released reopening dates for several of its hotels on Disney World.