Tuesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 5/12/2020

Surveys affirm devastation, but ‘hope on the horizon’ for Florida’s tourism industry

An industry survey of more than 1,000 tourism-related businesses in Florida said 45 percent laid off staff over the first 15 days of April and 67 percent furloughed workers in March. Over the span of the two surveys conducted by Destinations Florida, an industry marketing group, tourism-related businesses that have cut back staffing since the COVID-19 outbreak have laid off, on average, about 73 percent of their employees. More from the Center Square.

Car buyers returning to AutoNation dealers

People are beginning to return to AutoNation to buy cars and get their vehicles serviced, an optimistic sign that a recovery in the auto market could be underway, the Fort Lauderdale-based auto dealer giant reported Monday. A month after announcing the furlough of 7,000 employees and other steep cuts due to customer concerns about COVID-19, business has picked up, AutoNation reported in a filing with the Security and Exchange Commission. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Council member wants Jacksonville City Council oversight on JEA bonuses

The march of JEA reforms could add another item to the November ballot if the City Council decides it wants final approval over future bonuses handed out to utility employees. City Council member Ron Salem filed legislation that would give City Council the ultimate authority over annual bonuses for JEA workers, a change that would require voter approval in November to amend the City Charter. More from the Florida Times-Union.

Seminole business owner sues county over coronavirus mask order

The owner of a computer repair shop in Longwood is suing Seminole County, arguing that the county’s executive order requiring business employees and patrons to wear face masks when standing closer than six feet to slow the spread of the coronavirus infringes on his personal liberties and hampers his business. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Epic Theatres of St. Augustine announces drive-in lineup

Epic Theatres of St. Augustine will begin showing films again now, under the stars. With social distancing in mind, Epic has decided to go the drive-in route in St. Augustine as well as locations in Clermont and West Volusia. More from the Florida Times-Union.

Out of the Box
Peeping lizards: Leather artisan makes masks from invasive iguanas, pythons

Brian Wood will cover your face with iguana or python for $90. Or, if you prefer, alligator — the "diamond'' of leather — for $120. The 63-year-old leather artisan was sitting in the living room of his Dania Beach home recently, watching people on TV putting all kinds of functional — if not very fashionable — safety masks on their faces, when he had a brainstorm. Why not dress up the masks with exotic reptile-skin — and maybe help take down an invasive species or two?

» More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Florida History
The day a towering tornado aimed to destroy downtown Miami

It was right out of the Wizard of Oz. On this day, 23 years ago, a massive and menacing tornado danced through the Miami skyline and spun over Biscayne Bay to Miami Beach. It scared workers as they stared out windows they probably shouldn’t have been near.