Jobless Floridians could receive federal assistance by year's end
As many as 650,000 Floridians, including an estimated 500,000 whose state unemployment benefits have expired, could receive federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) payments between Christmas and the new year. Congress passed a $900 billion COVID-19 stimulus bill Monday night, with only six "no" votes in the Senate, including Florida U.S. Sen. Rick Scott. The renewed PUA benefits – 11 weeks of an additional $300 – should kick in for Floridians by Sunday. [Source: The Center Square]
Stimulus plan to help Florida entertainment industry amid calls for more help
The stimulus plan singles out several industries for extra financial assistance. One of those industries is entertainment– the backbone of Florida tourism. Specifically, the plan allocated $15 billion in grant money, which could help theaters and live event venues that lost more than 25 percent of their revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the bill, the money would go to the hardest hit venues first, and it would help pay for payroll, rent, utilities and personal protective equipment – or PPE. [Source: WKMG]
Florida gas prices hit pre-pandemic levels
Florida gas prices have hit an average price not seen since the outset of the pandemic. The state’s gas prices averaged $2.20 per gallon Tuesday, up 3 cents from last week, according to AAA, the Auto Club Group. Tampa Bay prices matched Florida’s average, up 4 cents from the week before. “Oil prices returned to pre-pandemic levels last week, so it should come as no surprise that gas prices followed suit,” said Mark Jenkins, AAA spokesman. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
New attractions, approaches forced changes in theme parks in 2020
Let’s not sugar-coat 2020. Our usual happy-go-lucky theme-park industry has weathered layoffs and furloughs, shutdowns, health scares and uncertainty this year. But despite the speedbumps, theme parks in Florida still managed to push forward with new attractions. Take a look back at some non-COVID-19 moments to remember from 2020. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Florida’s sanctuary cities ban has unconstitutional provision, judge rules
A federal judge has ruled that part of a controversial 2019 Florida law aimed at banning so-called sanctuary cities is unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom issued an order last week in advance of a trial scheduled to start next month in a broader challenge to the law. Bloom struck down part of the law that allows county or state law-enforcement officials to transport out of their jurisdictions inmates who are subject to immigration detainers. [Source: AP]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Florida lawmaker proposes sales-tax holiday for Small Business Saturday
A South Florida Democrat has proposed holding a “Small Business Saturday” sales-tax holiday on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 2021. Sen. Annette Taddeo, D-Miami, filed the bill (SB 302) on Friday for consideration during the legislative session that will start in March. Under the proposal, small businesses would not be required to collect sales taxes on items costing $1,000 or less.
› Forecasters think it could be the coldest Christmas of this century in South Florida
“Much colder temps expected for Christmas. Low temperatures in the 30s/40s and falling iguanas are possible.” So says the National Weather Service in Miami. And you know when the entity gets cute on Twitter — the “falling iguanas” is the tip-off — you can expect something extreme.
› Bento founders say host kitchen, hall will help make Orlando ‘food hub of the Southeast’
The founders of Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi are planning to build a food hall in Orlando after opening a delivery and takeout ghost kitchen, all with the aim of helping other chefs develop new ideas. Johnny Tung, who founded the Orlando-based Bento chain of more than 20 restaurants with his brother Jimmy Tung in 2002, said they are planning the food hall with partner David Yu on Colonial Drive near Hampton Avenue between Dollar Tree and Lily’s Bridal.
› Former Marvel writer helped Tampa filmmakers make a movie about his character
Josh Noftz grew up reading mainstream comic books like Spider-Man. But he was most intrigued by Marvel Comics’ fringe Sleepwalker about a green alien trapped inside a human’s mind. When the human sleeps, the Sleepwalker can escape into the real world to fight crime. Noftz hoped to see a live-action Sleepwalker movie as Marvel Studios expanded its comic books into a cinematic universe over the past dozen years.
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› Bridge toll battle goes to appeals court
Bondholders have gone to a state appeals court as they seek to force the Florida Department of Transportation to pay damages because of lost toll revenues on a long-controversial Panhandle bridge. UMB Bank, which represents bondholders, filed a notice last week that it was taking the dispute to the 1st District Court of Appeal after a Leon County circuit judge ruled in November that the department could not be forced to pay damages.
› Orlando airport’s traveler numbers surge along with pandemic
Amid the surging cases of coronavirus and the CDC urging people to postpone travel during Christmas, Orlando’s airport is having its own surge in the rebounding number of travelers. Orlando airport officials expect nearly 1.5 million travelers during the last two weeks of December and the first week of January -- that’s about half the nearly 3 million fliers the airport funneled last year during the 21-day holiday period.
› Florida politicians get first doses of COVID-19 vaccine
At least five Florida members of Congress are among the first Americans to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, which is in short supply and won’t become available to most people for several months. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and U.S. Reps. Charlie Crist, Stephanie Murphy, Donna Shalala and Darren Soto have gotten their first dose of the vaccine, according to a survey of elected officials by the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
› Better smelling and tasting water for Tampa? City launches pilot with high hopes
Dr. Jacimaria Batista is an expert on water, particularly municipal water systems. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas civil and environmental engineering professor reviewed Tampa’s design report for a $1.9 million year-long pilot study on suspended ion exchange — a water treatment process in which resins bind to impurities to remove them from water. Her immediate reaction was the academically — and courteous — equivalent of “yuck”.