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Tuesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
‘Circumstances have changed': DeSantis approves slimmer $92.2 billion Florida budget
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced more than $1 billion in vetoes to the state budget on Monday in an effort to blunt the state’s economic fallout from the coronavirus. The cuts bring the state budget to $92.2 billion while setting aside more than $6.3 billion in reserves to withstand expected shortfalls over the next fiscal year, which starts Wednesday. “Everyone understands the circumstances have changed,” DeSantis said during a news conference in the Capitol on Monday. More from the Tampa Bay Times, the Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel.
See also:
» Big win for state workers as pay raise survives Florida governor's veto, coronavirus cuts
More than 18,000 mail ballots not counted in Florida’s March presidential preference primary
More than 18,000 Floridians who voted by mail in March’s presidential preference primary did not have their votes counted, according to according to an analysis done by a group of national elections experts and academics. The numbers of uncounted mail ballots, while small, could prove crucial come November in a state known for razor-thin margins in and at a time when voters are migrating in greater numbers to mail ballots amid the coronavirus pandemic. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Georgia fires back at Florida in water war
Arguing that Florida’s case was “built on rhetoric and not on facts,” Georgia is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reject arguments by the Sunshine State in a long-running battle about divvying up water from a river system. Georgia attorneys on Friday asked the Supreme Court to deny Florida’s request for an order that could lead to more water flowing south into the Panhandle’s Apalachicola River and Apalachicola Bay. More from the Orlando Sentinel and WCTV.
Florida city hosting Republican convention makes masks mandatory
Jacksonville, Florida, where the Republican National Committee moved the party’s convention so President Donald Trump could accept the GOP nomination in a packed arena, on Monday announced it is requiring face masks in public and indoor locations. City officials said they haven’t decided whether to mandate masks during the convention, which is scheduled for Aug. 24 to Aug. 27. The policy also applies to anyone else who can’t socially distance. The mask order goes into effect Monday evening. More from USA Today and AFP.
"We live from the tourists": Orlando workers face virus's fallout
Few areas of the country rely on tourism more than central Florida, which is home to Disney World, SeaWorld, Universal, Gatorland, Legoland and a plethora of smaller attractions. An estimated 250,000 people work in the leisure and hospitality industries, accounting for 25 percent of jobs in the area, according to the trade organization Visit Orlando. [Source: New York Times]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Amid talk of racial equity, Miami’s startup community reflects on its future
Miami’s startup scene is at a moment of inflection—and reflection. The region spent much of the past decade trying to sell itself to the world. Recent events have prompted a new conversation. Earlier this month, the Knight Foundation convened local startups leaders to discuss the state of Miami’s tech-centered entrepreneurial base. The theme was equity—a response to the nationwide discussion sparked by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
› Amazon is building a new Tampa Bay warehouse in Temple Terrace
A new Amazon warehouse is slated for Tampa Bay. The online retailer signed a $26.4 million deal to purchase just over 82 acres of land near the intersection of Harney Road and Temple Terrace Highway, according to property records filed in Hillsborough County. The sale closed on June 19. At the start of the month, Temple Terrace City Council approved the construction of a 633,000- warehouse on the same plot of land.
› When brands cut down on advertising, here’s how one Miami marketing company copes
When the coronavirus pandemic hit, many of Francisco Garcia’s client companies put their businesses on pause. The travel industry, which had been booming, saw a quick decline. And his digital marketing company, Direcly, suffered from the fallout. “In a couple weeks, I felt our entire world changed from a business standpoint,” Garcia said. “It was completely shocking.”
› Publix ranked No. 1 supermarket in America, No. 3 pharmacy in Florida for customer service by Newsweek
Publix has been named to Newsweek’s 2020 America’s Best Customer Service list, ranking No. 1 in the supermarket category and No. 9 overall. Separately, Publix Pharmacy also ranked No. 3 in Florida on Newsweek’s 2020 list for Best-In-State Customer Service.
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