SHARE:
Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida voters passed a minimum wage increase. What does that mean?
Florida is now the eighth state in the country to raise its minimum wage to $15 per hour in the near future. Businesses will have nearly 11 months to adjust. Amendment 2, passed Tuesday, doesn’t take effect until Sep. 30, 2021, when the state’s minimum wage rises from $8.56 per hour to $10 per hour. The wage will rise by $1 per hour every Sep. 30 until Sep. 30, 2026, when it reaches $15 per hour. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Publix continues to show double-digit growth during pandemic
Publix Super Markets Inc. continued to benefit from the nationwide surge in grocery sales stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, although at a slightly diminished pace. The Lakeland-based grocery store chain posted $11.1 billion in sales revenue for its third quarter ending Sept. 26, an 18.3% increase from $9.3 billion in the third quarter of 2019. The company estimated $1.25 billion in third quarter sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a 13.4% increase over the year. [Source: Lakeland Ledger]
Florida adds 4,423 coronavirus cases and 32 deaths Wednesday
Florida added 4,423 coronavirus cases Wednesday, as the weekly case average increased for the fifth consecutive day. Since March, 821,123 coronavirus infections have been recorded across Florida. The state is averaging about 4,385 infections per day, according to data from the Florida Department of Health. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the AP.
Massive layoffs at Florida Disney properties announced
More than 11,400 workers at Walt Disney properties across Central Florida will be laid off on New Years’ Eve, as tourism remains sluggish from the coronavirus pandemic. “Due to the continuing business impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made the very difficult decision to reduce our workforce,” Jim Bowden, Disney vice president of employee relations, wrote Thursday in advisories to the state Department of Economic Opportunity and local governments. “We previously notified you about impacted non-union employees.” [Source: News Service of Florida]
Two weeks without Art Basel: what’s to replace it?
There may not be an in-person Art Basel this year, but Miami Beach officials are planning for an eventful and socially distanced art week and holiday season. Art Week Miami Beach, said Heather Shaw, the city’s assistant director of tourism and cultural, will feature a mix of live and virtual events and a number of presentations by “cultural anchors” such as the Bass museum. Festivities, she said, will run primarily from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, with some exhibits running longer. [Source: Miami Today]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Lakeland chamber pays $270,000 to city for land to build new downtown business hub
The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce is one step closer to turning its vision of a downtown business hub into reality. Lakeland commissioners unanimously approved a development agreement to sell city-owned land north of the RP Funding Center to the Lakeland Area Chamber Foundation to serve as the future site of a downtown business resource center. The sale price was $270,000.
› Rita Case will become CEO of Rick Case Automotive Group
Rita Case, widow of South Florida auto sales magnate Rick Case, will assume the role of CEO of Rick Case Automotive Group, the company announced Wednesday. The couple were longtime business partners and frequently appeared together at company events. Rita Case served as chief operating officer prior to her husband’s death on Sept. 21 after a short battle with cancer. He was 77.
› Universal executives reveal how they fast-tracked Hagrid roller coaster
Building and designing a major ride on a nearly seven-acre site might normally take up to four years, but Universal’s team fast-tracked Hagrid’s roller coaster, finishing in half that time. Universal Creative executive Elaine Hinds called it a “tremendous undertaking" from the ride itself to the details as Universal bought multiple tree farms to supply the 1,200 trees for the backdrop of the Forbidden Forrest.
› Is it a parking lot or delivery hub? That question earned Miami startup $1 billion
Miami-based REEF, best known for its so-called ghost kitchens that provide off-site food delivery, announced Tuesday it had raised a total of $1 billion to expand its operations. A growth equity funding round of $700 million is being led by United Arab Emirates-based Mubadala Capital in partnership with SoftBank’s Vision Fund and other investors.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
In case you missed it:
