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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Contact tracing can help reduce coronavirus infections. How much is Florida doing?
While some states preparing to reopen their economies have hired armies of people to trace novel coronavirus infections, Florida won’t say if it has a long-term plan to keep the virus at bay through contact tracing — a labor-intensive method of tracking down newly infected people and their close contacts in an effort to isolate them and stop the disease from spreading. [Source: Miami Herald]
See also:
» Florida doesn’t have enough coronavirus contact tracers. Here’s how you can help.
» Florida seeks new ways to expand coronavirus testing
Florida filmmakers get creative to work during the pandemic
Florida's filmmakers are also creating from quarantine, turning homes into sets, writing scripts around what is accessible, and finding ways to keep actors safely distanced. Director Derrick Perez of Tampa was scheduled to roll cameras for his new feature film The Scarecrow, about two brothers who run away from their abusive home and have a run-in with a living scarecrow. But it was impossible to do so while social distancing. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida justices weigh recreational marijuana ballot proposal
With Attorney General Ashley Moody, lawmakers and groups such as the Florida Chamber of Commerce trying to block the measure, the state Supreme Court on Wednesday heard arguments about a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow people to use recreational marijuana. The political committee Make It Legal Florida is seeking to put the proposal on the 2022 ballot but needs the Supreme Court to sign off on the ballot title and summary --- the wording that voters would see when they go to the polls. More from WTVT and CBS Miami.
Two years after fatal collapse, Florida ready to build new FIU pedestrian bridge
Two years after a flawed construction project led to the collapse of a pedestrian bridge at Florida International University, the state said Wednesday it was ready to resume the project with “enhanced safety measures.” Florida’s Department of Transportation announced a two-year design process will begin in 2021 on a new bridge over Eighth Street that will connect the state school’s Modesto A. Maidique Campus to residential facilities in Sweetwater. [Source: Miami Today]
Credit unions phasing in drive-thru, lobby access
Beginning this week Florida-based credit unions are reopening some of their drive-thru facilities and branch lobbies in Jacksonville, with safety precautions. VyStarCredit Union has reopened five of its drive-thrus — Julington Creek in St. Johns County and Regency Commons in Jacksonville among them — and plans to open the rest Monday. Some branch lobbies will reopen May 18, but VyStar has not announced those locations. [Source: Florida Times-Union]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Publix has purchased more than 1 million pounds of food from farmers to donate
Publix has purchased more than 1 million pounds of fruits and vegetables to donate to Feeding America and member food banks since launching its latest aid program two weeks ago. Publix began purchasing food to donate from farmers in the states it serves on April 22. In addition to produce, Publix also has purchased and donated more than 100,000 gallons of milk.
› World’s Strongest Man postpones Bradenton area event, starts online ‘Home Edition’
Sarasota-Manatee residents will have to wait a while longer for the return of World’s Strongest Man here, but they will still be able to witness feats of strength soon. The annual international strongman competition that took place in the Bradenton area last year and was set to return May 20 has postponed this year’s event to Nov. 14-15, with qualifying rounds Nov. 11-12, because of COVID-19 concerns. In the meantime, a weekly “World’s Strongest Man: Home Edition” will take place on Snapchat.
› One Miami real estate firm acquired another. And it’s just the beginning
While some real estate firms are contracting, at least one local brokerage is expanding. RE/MAX Advance Realty acquired RE/MAX Oceanside Realty on Friday, expanding into North Miami, said Anthony Askowitz, broker and owner of RE/MAX Advance Realty. The Oceanside Realty office at 2108 NE 123 St. will continue to be leased. RE/MAX Advance Realty now has a total of three locations, including South Miami and Kendall with 155 agents.
› Document shows top JEA executives had most to gain from incentive plan
A document obtained by the special City Council committee investigating JEA shows top utility executives could have gained the most from a controversial incentive plan that would have showered millions of dollars in financial gains on them if JEA had been sold. The performance unit plan, which eventually played a large role in sinking the sales process when details of it became public, would have let JEA employees purchase units and then redeem them in the future based on the utility’s financial performance.
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