March 29, 2024

Friday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 10/2/2020

Trump's positive coronavirus test already is shaking up the race in must-win Florida

President Donald Trump’s positive coronavirus test sent shockwaves through the political landscape in America’s largest swing state Friday, prompting Florida leaders to express concern for the president’s health while also acknowledging that the development could shake up the race in a must-win state for the president. The result is forcing the cancellation of a Friday rally in Central Florida and throwing the debate in Miami with Democratic nominee Joe Biden into question. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, the Tampa Bay Times, and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Florida law firms make big changes to please the virtual court

From piles of yellow legal pads and towering bookcases lined with impressive, leather-bound tomes to high standards of dress and conduct required in the courtroom, law, historically, has been one of the more low-tech, old-school professions. Heck, one of the seminal films about training to be part of the legal industry is called “The Paper Chase.” So how are law firms adapting to the COVID-19 era, when legal proceedings have been moved onto virtual platforms like Zoom, and with most trials delayed indefinitely, there’s no need to impress a judge and jury with a finely tailored suit? More from the Business Observer.

State, counties look to boost farmworker COVID-19 testing

State and local agencies are launching an effort to increase COVID-19 testing of farmworkers during the fall harvest season, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The department is working with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the Florida Division of Emergency Management and county governments. Testing will be provided at no cost to farmers, farmworkers and family members. More from the News Service of Florida.

Looking for a job? Miami-Dade is hiring poll workers for the November election

Interested in making some money, while supporting democracy? Being a poll worker on Election Day may be the job for you. The Miami-Dade County Elections Department is still looking for poll workers for the Nov. 3 election. More from the Miami Herald.

Walt Disney World crowds are historically low, but ride wait times grow, expert says

Gone are those days in July when it was just you and Cinderella Castle at Disney World — and hardly anybody else. The parks felt eerily empty when turnstiles began turning again in July after shutting down because of the coronavirus pandemic. Nearly three months later, the parks are more crowded since the initial reopening, but attendance is still at a historical low, said Len Testa, an expert on lines at theme parks. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Tourism Trends
For Visit Florida, tourism marketing moves to Phase 2

 Visit Florida will expand its efforts to dig the state out of a COVID-19 tourism funk next week by targeting major metro areas along the East Coast to try to draw people who will drive to the Sunshine State. That means the state tourism-marketing agency will open up the rest of a $13 million marketing plan that started just before Labor Day. The first phase of the plan has encouraged Floridians cooped up for months because of the pandemic to explore other parts of the state.

» More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

 

Florida Dining
‘We want to be the Latin Starbucks.’ This Miami Cuban-American bakery is expanding north

floridaWill pastelitos play in Peoria? Cafecitos in Colorado? CAO Bakery is about to find out. The Cuban-American bakery, co-founded in 2018 by the grandson of Vicky Bakery’s founder, has started franchising its stores, with the first non-corporate-owned restaurant ready to open before the end of the year, co-owner Tony Cao said.

» Read more from the Miami Herald.

Tags: Daily Pulse, Afternoon Pulse

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Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices
Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices

Central Floirda chocolate shops are left with a bitter taste as cocoa prices hit an all-time high earlier this week.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

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