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Tuesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida is a swing state again. These battleground regions could decide the race.
When polls throughout the summer showed Democrat Joe Biden with a commanding lead in Florida over President Donald Trump, many political analysts were skeptical. Blowouts just don't happen in Florida politics. Polls show a close race between Donald Trump and Joe Biden in Florida, America's largest swing state. Here's a look at four key Florida battlegrounds that could tip the 2020 race. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Florida sees signals of a climate-driven housing crisis
If rising seas cause America’s coastal housing market to dive — or, as many economists warn, when — the beginning might look a little like what’s happening in the tiny town of Bal Harbour, a glittering community on the northernmost tip of Miami Beach. With single-family homes selling for an average of $3.6 million, Bal Harbour epitomizes high-end Florida waterfront property. But around 2013, something started to change: The annual number of homes sales began to drop — tumbling by half by 2018 — a sign that fewer people wanted to buy. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Florida Trend Exclusive
Voting on Florida's upcoming six constitutional amendments
Florida voters will consider six amendments to the state constitution when they go to the polls next month. Each proposal requires at least 60% approval by voters. Here's a rundown of each amendment and what it would do.
Innovative manufacturing 'boot camp' sees high demand
A public-private partnership seeks struggling workers for a program created to fill some of Florida’s many open manufacturing positions. Initially focused on high school students, earlier this year, AmSkills — funded by Pasco, Pinellas and Hernando counties — created a manufacturing “boot camp” that gives adult job-seekers a chance to get a taste of what a manufacturing career would be like, in addition to guaranteeing them an interview with a local company if they successfully complete the two-week program. [Source: Business Observer]
Carnival pulls plug on November cruises from Florida
Carnival Cruise Line opted to cancel all of its November itineraries from Port Canaveral and PortMiami, the lone U.S. ports from which it plans to return to sailing once the CDC lifts its no-sail order. The cruise line had announced earlier plans to focus its efforts to sailings from the two Florida ports, but after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extended its no-sail order from Sept. 30 to Oct. 31, and the cruise line would need close to a month to ramp up operations, Carnival decided to cancel all the sailings listed for November, but has for now kept December itineraries from the two ports available. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› South Florida county looks to regulate locksmiths
Burglars are pros at picking locks and in parts of South Florida, they can also become professional locksmiths. That’s because no one is checking if locksmiths have criminal records, says Broward Commissioner Mark Bogen, an attorney who recently found out about the lack of regulation. He realized the issue when two constituents called to complain about problems with locksmiths, including getting overcharged. Bogen now wants to pass a new law to regulate the profession in Broward.
› Florida Theatre to reopen on December 10
The Florida Theatre’s management has decided it’s time to get back into the live performances business. The historic theatre in Downtown Jacksonville will reopen for its first public concert since the pandemic began on Thursday, Dec. 10, with a concert by 38 Special.
› 1st wave of COVID-19 homeless fill Central Florida shelters
For months, Central Florida leaders have warned of a tidal wave of homelessness once an eviction ban expires at year’s end. But local homeless shelters are already seeing the first casualties of the COVID-19 recession show up at their doors. And many of newly homeless are single mothers or couples with young children.
› Hospitality firm HES Group planned new hotel in Midtown Miami. Now, its selling the site
When hospitality development firm HES Group purchased a Midtown Miami lot in 2012, it planned to build a hotel. Monday, the company is putting the 1.02 acre site up for bid in a direct sale or joint-venture opportunity, said Francisco Arocha, the firm’s CEO and founder.
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