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Tuesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Trump White House’s last warning to Florida: Promote masks, consider closures as COVID-19 variant spreads
The highly contagious COVID-19 variant first detected in the United Kingdom is likely more widespread in Florida than publicly released data would suggest, while homegrown mutations of the virus have probably already produced other, more infectious strains here, the latest White House Coronavirus Task Force report warns. The report, dated Jan. 17 but just released from Florida Department of Health, recommends Floridians take action now — “before an increase in hospitalizations is seen” — including a campaign with retailers reminding customers to wear masks and “substantially” curtailing or closing public indoor spaces where masks can’t be worn continually. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
See also:
» White House says Florida used just half of COVID vaccines sent by federal government
» Biden administration challenges Florida Gov. DeSantis on vaccinations
Are consumers willing to pay more for Florida OJ?
Multiple studies point to the value consumers place on Florida citrus and their willingness to pay for the “Florida” brand. Lisa House, director of the Florida Agricultural Market Research Center and a professor in the Food and Resource Economics Department at the University of Florida, recently spoke on this subject in a Florida Department of Citrus webinar. She provided an overview of the impacts of marketing “Florida” as an attribute on consumers’ willingness to pay for orange juice (OJ). [Source: Southeast AgNet]
Florida senators Scott, Rubio, renew push to extend oil and gas moratorium in eastern Gulf
Florida's two U.S. senators, Republicans Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, have reintroduced the Florida Shores Protection and Fairness Act. The bill would extend the moratorium on oil and gas drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico for 10 years beyond its currently scheduled expiration on June 30, 2022. The bill to extend the moratorium to 2032 would "help solidify the progress made by President Trump’s September 2020 executive actions to protect Florida’s shores," according to the announcements from the two senators' offices. [Source: Northwest Florida Daily News]
Bringing back the Florida grasshopper sparrow, the ‘most endangered bird’ in the U.S.
The Florida grasshopper sparrow was first described in 1902. Back then the birds were widespread across central and South Florida. By the 1970s, though, most of the prairies that form their habitat had been ditched, drained, and converted to pastures or sod production. By 1986, the sparrow population had plummeted to a mere thousand. By 2013, fewer than 200 of the little songbirds remained. If the Florida grasshopper sparrow goes extinct, it would be the first American bird species to do so since the dusky died out 34 years ago. [Source: National Geographic]
Olympic dream? CEO urges Summer Games to move from Tokyo to Florida
Florida has never hosted the Olympic games, but the state's chief financial officer wants to see it happen this year. Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis sent a letter to the International Olympic Committee on Monday encouraging them to consider relocating the 2021 Summer Olympics from Tokyo to the Sunshine State. The games were postponed last summer due to the coronavirus pandemic, and there have been reports that this year's games could be delayed again. More from WPTV and WJXT.
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› UWF to distribute $10 million in funding to businesses creating jobs in Northwest Florida
The University of West Florida is accepting applications for the Industry Resilience and Diversification Fund, a regional economic development program with the goal to distribute $10 million in funding to businesses seeking to create jobs in Northwest Florida.
› Knighted auctioneer to the stars plants roots in Orlando
There’s a new dame in the City Beautiful, and she’s hoping to put her auctioneering skills to use as her family settles in. Fifth-generation auctioneer Dame Brigitte Kruse and her husband, Mike Sislyan, have relocated to Orlando with their three children: Givon, Lianna and Gianna Kruse-Sislyan. The founders of California-based GWS Auctions, which specializes in auctions of celebrity- and royal family-owned items, plan to divide their time between the Sunshine State and California.
› New Jacksonville chamber opens as business group for veterans, service members, families
When Demika Jackson started her own company, she found lots of advice for small businesses but felt like there was still something missing. Talking to other Army veterans like her, she heard the same thing. “Many of us had the same kind of challenges,” said Jackson, who wanted a place that understood goals and questions common to vets and their families in business. So, she helped start one.
› Tampa Super Bowl tickets on sale for up to $24,301
With the teams for Super Bowl 55 decided, a time-honored tradition of the NFL postseason is upon us: Super Bowl ticket-price sticker shock. As of Monday, a ticket to the Feb. 7 game at Raymond James Stadium costs a minimum of $8,550. That price, however, requires you to buy a package of four tickets priced at $34,200 total — before fees.
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