Trump wins Florida soundly, but the presidential race still up in the air
President Donald Trump won Florida for the second time early Wednesday morning, garnering a key victory bolstered by a strong showing in Miami-Dade County in a state that his opponent Joe Biden had hoped to secure. The Associated Press, CNN and NBC News were among news organizations declaring Trump’s victory in the Sunshine State. Trump had 51.26% of the votes to Biden’s 47.84% with 99% of precincts reporting. More from the Orlando Sentinel, the Tampa Bay Times, and the Miami Herald.
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» Voters approve $15 an hour minimum wage; reject open primaries
White House coronavirus task force: Florida now in red zone for rate of new cases
The rate of new COVID-19 cases in Florida has been increasing steadily week over week since early October, pushing the state into the red zone, according to the White House Coronavirus Task Force report for the fourth week of October. The state currently ranks 31st in the nation for new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people. It remained in the yellow zone for test positivity, indicating a rate between 5% and 8%, ranking 33rd in the nation. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Florida, Tampa Bay small business job growth outpaced much of the US in October
As U.S. small business employment hit an all-time low in October, Florida and the Tampa metropolitan area continued to have some of the best employment in the nation. For the second month in a row, the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area had the second best job index, according to the Small Business Employment Watch by Paychex. The index measures employment for businesses with less than 50 employees over the last month. [Source: Tampa Bay Business Journal]
Cruise lines opt to not sail until 2021
Cruise lines have thrown in the towel for 2020. Member companies of lobbying group Cruise Lines International Association, which includes Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and most others, have agreed to continue their voluntary suspension of sailing from U.S. ports until 2021. While the lines are no longer under the no-sail order from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, member lines now fall under a new “Framework for Conditional Sailing Order” issued by the CDC on Oct. 31. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Florida unemployment payments top $18 billion
Florida has topped $18 billion paid out in its unemployment system since the COVID-19 pandemic began causing major economic damage in March. From March 15 to Sunday, the system had paid $18,003,063,834 to claimants, with much of the money coming from the federal government, according to information posted Monday on the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity website. [Source: News Service of Florida]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› From Amazon to UPS, this is who is hiring for the holidays around Tampa Bay
The pandemic put millions out of work. Now it’s shaping which jobs are in-demand this holiday season. There is the typical job postings for cashiers and backroom workers at Target, but companies are especially looking for workers to handle the growing number of online orders and deliveries. Online shopping was on the rise before the pandemic, but COVID-19 has discouraged travel, making gift delivery all the more important this season.
› Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal quietly starts taking reservations again
After months of closure, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando is quietly taking reservations again for December bookings. First reported by theme park watch site WDW News Today, the website for the resort through the Loews portal lists rooms available beginning Dec. 1, starting at $204 a night. However, universalorlando.com still lists operations at the hotel as “temporarily suspended” with no word about reopening in December.
› Major citrus grower adds to holdings
The major citrus firm Alico, Inc. said Monday it has bought another 3,280 acres of citrus land in Hendry County for $16.45 million. John Kiernan, president and CEO of the Fort Myers-based company, said the purchase of what is known as the Alexander Grove from Gardinier Florida Citrus, Inc., will allow Alico to add “scale” to its existing 45,000 acres of citrus properties.
› Is Lake Worth Beach the next restaurant hot spot?
If you’re looking for an up-and-coming mecca for muchies, you might want to check out Lake Worth Beach. The little oceanside town’s downtown and beach area joins other Palm Beach County cuisine enclaves on Delray Beach’s Atlantic Avenue, Boca Raton’s Mizner Park and Royal Palm Place, and West Palm Beach’s Rosemary Square and Clematis Street.
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› Orlando’s Farmers Market at Lake Eola reopens Sunday
After an eight-month hiatus, Orlando’s popular Farmers Market at Lake Eola will reopen Sunday. “I know a lot of people have been asking me about that and have missed the market,” Mayor Buddy Dyer said Monday. The market, which allows licensed vendors to sell produce, crafts and food, closed March 15 because of the pandemic.
› Norman Love expands to Sarasota, two new restaurants launch in Naples
Norman Love, the world renowned, Fort Myers-based pastry chef and chocolatier, is expanding. A new Norman Love Confections is slated to open later this month at University Town Center in Sarasota. The 2,000-square-foot end-cap space features an outdoor patio and sits opposite California Pizza Kitchen along Cattlemen Road in the West District of the town center.
› Uptown leaders in North Tampa reset for resiliency amid pandemic
Influencers and innovators from the Uptown District in Tampa and beyond recently took a moment to reflect on the challenges of the past year and the opportunities ahead. They convened by way of a digital platform for Tampa’s !p Sixth Annual Innovation Gathering, the first of these conferences held entirely online.
› Costco applies to build in St. Johns County
Costco Wholesale wants to develop a St. Augustine store at World Commerce Center. It would be Costco’s third area retail club after one near St. Johns Town Center in Southside and a second near Collins Town Center in Southwest Jacksonville.