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Tuesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida reports 136 more people have died in surge of COVID-19 deaths
Florida’s latest pandemic report on Tuesday shows the number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 now stands at 5,319, which is a jump of 136 deaths since the data released 24 hours earlier. The record daily death total was set last Thursday, with 156. The latest coronavirus death count — including two more nonresident fatalities — is the sixth time since July 9 that the figure has hit triple digits. More from the South Florida SunSentinel.
Foreign business owners in US caught in travel limbo over pandemic
Suzie Wells was reluctant to leave her husband in Boca Raton after he was released from the hospital following a severe asthma attack. With her mother suffering kidney failure in London, her husband assured her that she should be with her mother for her last days. After a week in London, which concluded with her mother’s funeral, Wells bought a ticket to Miami only to be turned away by an immigration officer at Heathrow airport who denied her boarding on the basis of President Donald Trump’s travel ban. More from The Ledger.
Class-action lawsuit filed against Florida on behalf of bar owners
The Law Offices of Travis R. Walker P.A. announced Monday the filing of a class-action lawsuit against the state of Florida on behalf of bar owners throughout Florida. The lawsuit represents the owners of bars closed due to the state’s COVID-19 emergency order. “We believe the shutdown is arbitrary and singles out bar owners in a discriminatory fashion,” Travis Walker said in a news release. More from WINK.
Downtown Fort Lauderdale dev site hits market for $12.5M
A development site sandwiched between Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village and the New River hit the market for $12.5 million. The property at 150 North Federal Highway includes a two-story 9,653-square-foot office building that was built in 1985. The site, near Virgin Trains USA’s Fort Lauderdale station, is listed with Native Realty founder and CEO Jaime Sturgis. It could be developed into a hotel with up to 212 rooms, a residential project with 109 units, or a 12-story, mixed-use development, according to a press release. More from the The Real Deal.
Nursing homes say more money needed for COVID-19 fight
Nursing homes on the front lines of the state’s battle with coronavirus infections say they won’t be able to afford to test staff members twice a month if Florida stops providing test kits in September or if Congress doesn’t provide additional funding soon. “We don’t know what comes next if the state-funded testing ends in September. What we do know is that our members estimate costs between $25,000 and $300,000 per month for ongoing staff testing,” said Steve Bahmer, President and CEO of the industry group LeadingAge Florida. More from the Florida Politics.
Online Learning
Preparing the workforce of the future
It seems like every week we hear about a new app or program with the potential to change our lives. Many of these technological advances have an application to improve how education is delivered. Online education has long given people the opportunity to pursue learning in a flexible way. We know from the trajectory of online learning and various forms of blended learning that there is a role for technology-driven educational solutions.
» More from UMA.
Downtown
‘Iconic,' ‘uniquely St. Pete:' What five local architects think of the new Pier
The architects lauded the new landmark for what they said was a timeless yet functional design. Years in the making, the new St. Pete Pier opened with fanfare and excitement on July 6. Local leaders declared it a victory for the city.
» Read more from Tampa Bay Times.
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