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Monday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
As Florida gets ready to expand vaccine eligibility, state sees 3,699 new COVID-19 cases
More people will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination in Florida on Monday. The state is expanding its eligibility to include everyone who is 60 or older. The governor has estimated that will expand eligibility to roughly 2 million more Floridians. Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to expand eligibility to everyone 55 and older soon and then he may open it to everyone, possibly by April. [Source: WKMG]
Florida Senate weighs legal immunity against COVID lawsuits
A measure that would shield businesses from COVID-related lawsuits could make it before the Florida Senate later this week, providing another key test for a measure that supporters assert will protect against frivolous lawsuits but that critics worry could give blanket immunity to most business owners, including long-term care facilities, who negligently put the public and their workers in danger during the pandemic. [Source: WINK]
Editorial: Florida’s ‘right to farm’ bill protects the right to har
Here comes Big Sugar yet again, molding the Florida Legislature like clay in a sculptor’s hands. This time it’s Senate Bill 88, which “expands protections available under Florida’s Right to Farm Act.” This legislation is aimed at the class action lawsuit filed in federal district court two years ago against nine sugar companies over the clouds of ash produced by the fires they routinely set to burn leaves off the sugar cane stalks to make them easier to harvest. [Source: South Florida SunSentinel]
Daily Amtrak service returns to Tampa and Lakeland in June
Just like the airline industry, Amtrak has contended with thumping financial losses from the coronavirus pandemic — ridership dropped 95% in March 2020 alone. The company said 1,200 workers were furloughed, and its pruned its long-distance routes. The Tampa-to-New York Silver Star and the Miami-to-New York Silver Meteor were cut to three days a week. The Sanford-to-Lorton, Va., Auto Train continued to operate daily. [Source: WUSF]
Study finds that Floridians are underpaying for flood insurance
If you live in Florida, you should probably be paying more for flood insurance. And you likely will be soon. That first finding is the conclusion of a new analysis by First Street Foundation, which found that the majority of Floridians face a higher flood risk than their insurance costs would indicate. The second prediction comes because the National Flood Insurance Program is rolling out a new way of pricing flood insurance later this year. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› South Florida hotels are bouncing back from COVID, but they can’t find enough workers
In a surprising conundrum, recovery-minded hoteliers are hoisting “Help Wanted” signs to replenish their staffs decimated by COVID-19, but they can’t find enough qualified people.
› Travel search platform Kayak has partnered to create its first hotel — see inside the tech-powered Miami hotel
Kayak has unveiled its own hotel in Miami Beach, Florida, marking the travel search engine's first foray into the brick-and-mortar hospitality business.
› FSU’s Great Give fundraiser breaks record with $1.5 million haul
The 10th annual FSU’s Great Give surpassed its $1 million goal by raising $1,576,910 in 24 hours
› Proposed Florida bill links Bright Future scholarships with specific majors only
Are some college majors worth more than others?
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
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