Most recent White House coronavirus report shows slight improvements in Florida

The most recent White House coronavirus report shows Florida has seen some slight improvements recently but the Sunshine State still has a way to go before the pandemic is considered under control. The report, dated Sunday, was released Tuesday afternoon. It provides an overview on the current situation when it comes to case totals, hospitalizations, personal protective equipment supplies, positivity rate and more. According to those figures, Florida is 22nd in the nation for new COVID-19 cases with 324 per 100,00 people. That’s down 11 percentage points from the previous week. [Source: WKMG]

See also:
» The ‘UK variant’ of the COVID virus is making gains in Florida, now up to 5% of cases

Florida gets $245 million from FEMA to help vaccinate more people

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that Florida will receive $245 million to cover costs associated with transporting, storing and handling COVID-19 vaccines. As of Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control reported that 7.8% of Floridians have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which ranks 18th among the 50 states, and that 59% of all vaccines distributed to the state have made it into someone’s arm, a figure that ranks 42nd among the 50 states. [Source: Miami Herald]

Florida Retailers: Fewer gatherings, record viewership expected for Super Bowl LV in Tampa

Super Bowl celebrations will likely look a little different this year. In-person Super Bowl parties for the upcoming game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs are expected to be at a historic low, according to the Florida Retail Federation. But, viewership is expected to break records. The FRF released the Super Bowl audience forecast based on data collected from the National Retail Federation’s annual Super Bowl survey. [Source: Florida Politics]

Professional organizers see increase in demand fueled by pandemic, popular culture

The pandemic has created work-from-home challenges for thousands of employees in Florida, and working with clients to set up and organize home offices has become a popular request for area professional organizing businesses. Help with home office organization hasn’t been the only request professional organizers have been receiving lately. They’ve also been busy organizing after someone moves into a new house, organizing spaces for children to learn at home and for some clients, reorganizing entire houses. [Source: Business Observer]

Spanish-language ballots now required in 31 Florida counties, federal judge rules

Ending a legal battle that started before the 2018 elections, a federal judge on Monday approved a settlement in which 31 counties agreed to take steps to provide Spanish-language ballots and other materials to voters. The settlement, approved by Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker, calls for the counties to provide Spanish-language ballots and vote-by-mail applications, translations of elections websites and access to Spanish-language hotlines for voter assistance. [Source: South Florida Sun-Senttinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› EA Sports to revive college football game, which could lead to jobs in Orlando [Orlando Sentinel]
EA Sports will start making its highly popular college football video game again, a move that could lead to hundreds of new hires for the company in Central Florida. The game will be called “EA Sports College Football,” Daryl Holt, the company’s Maitland-based vice president told ESPN on Tuesday. He said there is not yet a date for the debut other than it won’t be this year.

› TECO will seek rate hikes to help fund solar projects [WUSF]
Tampa Electric Co. will ask state regulators to approve base rate increases, with an initial installment of $280 million to $295 million in 2022 as part of a multi-year effort to build a “smarter” power grid that provides reliable energy. In a filing Monday, the utility, which serves almost 800,000 customers in West Central Florida, said a formal application to the Florida Public Service Commission will be made this spring for rate changes that would start taking effect in January 2022.

› A record year for cargo at Miami International [Air Cargo News]
Miami International Airport (MIA) set a new record for cargo volumes in 2020 thanks to an end of year surge in demand. Last year, the Florida airport saw its cargo volumes increase by 57,382 tons year on year to more than 2.3m tons.

› 'Eye wars' could heat up again [News Service of Florida]
Optometrists and ophthalmologists could be headed toward a renewed battle during the 2021 legislative session about how much authority optometrists should have in treating patients. The groups have clashed for years about the issue, and two bills filed in recent days by Sen. Manny Diaz Jr., R-Hialeah, and Rep. Alex Rizo, R-Hialeah, appear likely to refuel the fight.

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› Dr. Bridget Edkin named JAX Chamber 2021 Small Business Leader of the Year [Jacksonville Daily Record]
The JAX Chamber named Dr. Bridget Edkin, owner of Sláinte Chiropractic, its 2021 Small Business Leader of the Year at a breakfast reception Feb. 2. Edkin was selected from a group of 12 finalists, chosen from the Chamber’s 10 councils, Beaches Division and Entrepreneurial Growth Division.

› Roger Dean Chevrolet keeps naming rights to Jupiter stadium in sale of local car dealership [Palm Beach Post]
The sale of the Palm Beach County car dealership for which it is named won't change the name of Jupiter's spring-training baseball stadium. The Miami Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals will continue to train at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, despite the dealership's West Palm Beach location being sold in December.

› Bill aims to curb Florida’s data-driven policing programs [Tampa Bay Times]
A state senator has filed a bill that would regulate how law enforcement agencies can use data to identify and target people who might break the law in the future. The proposal, filed by Sen. Audrey Gibson, comes after a Tampa Bay Times investigation found the Pasco Sheriff’s Office invented an algorithm to determine which residents were likely to commit crimes and sent deputies to their homes.

› They invested early — and now Miamians like A-Rod will make bank as jet firm goes public [Miami Herald]
The early bird gets many things — including an occasional financial windfall. On Monday, private jet group Wheels Up announced it was going public — something that will net a select group of Florida residents serious wealth after they made early investments in the charter plane platform.