Monday's Daily Pulse
Florida COVID-19 hospitalizations spike; new subvariant emerges
COVID-19 hospitalizations are spiking in Florida, but there’s good news as the state weathers another winter uptick of the virus. The number of new hospital admissions is far below what the state saw at this time last year when the omicron variant hit — and in early 2021 before COVID-19 vaccines became widely available. During the week that ended Jan. 4, Florida reported 2,893 new COVID-19 hospitalizations, an increase of 17% compared to the number of admissions in the previous week. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Gas prices across Florida are finally on the decline after a spike to start 2023
After two weeks of sharp increases, gas prices across Florida are finally on their way down — a trend that could continue over the next few weeks. According to a news release from AAA, the average price of a gallon of gas fell 2 cents from the previous week, to an average of $3.29 a gallon as of Jan. 9. Gas prices had fallen 59 cents over six weeks through the end of November and into December — falling to a 2022 low of $2.99 a gallon on Dec. 26 — before spiking 32 cents at the end of 2022 and into the first week in January. [Source: WUSF]
Florida business incentives 2022: Rebound from pandemic lull but applications drop
Florida paid out $20.6 million in incentives to businesses that added jobs or relocated to the state, a 50% jump from the previous year when the economy was still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report released by the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). The payments went to 114 projects with 7,330 new jobs confirmed by the DEO paying an average annual wage of $59,986, or 8.2% more than the statewide average annual wage in 2020 of $55,422. [Source: Florida Politics]
2022 saw more California businesses relocate to Florida
Despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s invitation to Floridians to move to California ahead of the November election, California businesses continue to leave, and increasingly to Florida. While their top relocation destination is overwhelmingly Texas, several major companies have relocated to Florida since Newsom’s been in office. The most recent include several major companies that announced their relocation plans this year, after “Tech Flight” began from Silicon Valley to Miami in late 2020. [Source: Center Square]
Orion back at Kennedy Space Center so NASA can dissect Artemis I mission
The Orion space capsule from Artemis I has come full circle, having launched from Kennedy Space Center, traveled 1.4 million miles in space and around the moon, splashed back down to Earth in the Pacific Ocean, and now journeyed 2,500 miles over land for its return to Florida. After Orion was recovered at sea on Dec. 11, it made its way to Naval Base San Diego before heading by truck to arrive at KSC on Dec. 30. It now sits at NASA’s Multi Payload Processing Facility, still sealed tight from its celestial journey. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› $250-million Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute set to open as demand for care grows [Orlando Sentinel]
Imagine you’re one of the over 2 million people who get hip or knee replacements each year in the U.S. You’re recovering in a hospital bed, and it’s a little too bright. You can call a staff member into the room, or, if you’re at the Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, you can also verbally ask your room to close the blinds for you. These “smart rooms” — a first for Orlando Health — are only the beginning. This spring, patients will be able to access a wealth of futuristic medical tech at the new 375,000-foot, seven-story Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, a partnership between the Jewett Orthopaedic Clinic and Orlando Health.
› Own a piece of Shell’s Feed & Garden Supply in Tampa, closed after 61 years [Tampa Bay Times]
For 61 years, Shell’s Feed & Garden Supply was a go to place for farm, garden and pet goods. But it was also an industry museum of sorts. Adorning the walls were old signs from around the country. Most promoted store products, past and present. Others were collected for decoration by the store owners. Typically, 35 would be on display. In storage were more than another 60 that were rotated onto the walls.
› A Eustis goat farm is out of its popular cheese. Blame the hurricanes and freeze. [Orlando Sentinel]
A goat named “The MJ” used to produce two gallons of milk a day, but lately she’s gone dry. She is far from the only goat in this predicament at Slow Turtle Dairy Farm near Eustis, which normally makes about 150 pounds of cheese a week for sale at Orlando farmer markets and restaurants. Carol Peters, the farm’s owner, blames the shutdown on Hurricanes Ian and Nicole and the December freeze. The dairy should have about 100 of its 275 goats contributing milk, but now that number is less than 20.
› Young Miami tech firms draw record venture investments in 2022 amid global upheaval [Miami Herald]
The tech sector throughout the United States and globally dealt with major upheaval in 2022. The market for initial public stock offerings went cold, stock prices of public companies and valuations of private companies plunged, and venture capital investment for startups nationwide dropped sharply. Despite that shellacking, Miami held its own, showing a resilience that belies short-lived fads. In this city known for hype cycles, evidence is mounting that growth in the tech scene is enduring.
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› Proposed Florida bill would help find and protect historic Black cemeteries [WFLA]
Cemeteries around Florida are lying forgotten and derelict. Some are paved over or used as empty lots for storage. More often than not, these are historic Black cemeteries. “It creates the wrong precedent,” Natasha Goodley said. “If we don’t do something to step up and preserve these cemeteries.” Goodley, a Tampa resident, is advocating for change after seeing and hearing about her local cemeteries that are long gone. She has seen what she calls “desecration” of final resting places.
› FAU searches for new president — but it could be secretive [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Florida Atlantic University will start looking for a new president this month, but the public won’t get much of a glimpse into who applies. The names of the candidates hoping to replace John Kelly, who stepped down Dec. 31 after 14 years, will remain secret unless they become finalists, according to a law passed last year by the state Legislature. For recent searches at the University of Florida and Florida International University, there was only one finalist.
› ‘Bookmobile’ return announced at Orange County Library System 100th anniversary kickoff [Orlando Sentinel]
In 1949, the women of the Orlando Sorosis Club raised more than $6,000 for a school bus outfitted to become a mobile library, to be used by the Orange County Library System. Along with an additional $10,000 from the county commission to operate the bus as an extension of what was then called the Albertson Public Library, the “Bookmobile” program was born. At its peak, the buses circulated 13,000 books a month, before the service ended after 30 years. The Sorosis Club, a women’s civic organization, is spearheading its return, presenting a $100,000 check to the Orange County Library System on Saturday to kick off its 100-year anniversary celebration.
› El Cap has some new owners: St. Petersburg natives who plan to keep restaurant going [Tampa Bay Times]
El Cap, St. Petersburg’s iconic 4th Street North hamburger joint, has been partly sold. But the juicy World Champ burgers within its wood-paneled walls aren’t going anywhere. Seed & Feed Hospitality, the group behind endeavors such as Trophy Fish and Mandarin Hide, has purchased half of the establishment at 3500 4th Street North. Cindy Nally, who has worked at El Cap for roughly two decades, will continue to own the remaining 50%, she said.