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Monday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Cases in Florida, a national COVID bellwether, are rising
Scientists view Florida — the state furthest along in lifting restrictions, reopening society and welcoming tourists — as a bellwether for the nation. If recent trends there are any indication, the rest of the country may be in trouble. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Florida has been steadily rising, though hospitalizations and deaths are still down. Over the past week, the state has averaged nearly 5,000 cases per day, an increase of 8% from its average two weeks earlier. More from Yahoo! News and the New York Times.
More than 20% of Florida drivers are uninsured, new study says
More than one in five Florida drivers are on the roads without insurance, according to a new study by the Insurance Research Council. Florida was the sixth-worst state in the nation for uninsured motorists with a rate of 20.4% driving unprotected. Mississippi was first with a rate of 29.4%. New Jersey had the fewest uninsured drivers at 3.1%. The national average was 12.9%. The study did not address what caused the disparity in rates among the states. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Boca Raton’s growing skyline lures residents and businesses, many from the Northeast
Downtown Boca Raton, one of South Florida’s fast-growing destinations, has become an even bigger lure in drawing new residents and economic development during the COVID-19 pandemic. The influx of newcomers comes as the downtown grows with a string of high-rises — some of them newly built, some still under construction — that are boosting the city’s housing supply with more than 2,000 apartments and condos, in addition to the opening of hundreds of new hotel rooms. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Gas prices dip in Florida, but ship blocking Suez Canal could cause future increase
There’s some good news for drivers in Florida. According to new numbers released by AAA, gas prices have slipped 2 cents per gallon in the past week. The agency says the average price for a gallon of regular in Florida is now $2.88, down from $2.90 a gallon last week. Experts say the drop is due to a decrease in crude oil prices as refineries along the Gulf of Mexico rebound after February’s winter weather that led to widespread power outages. However, things could change. AAA expects gas prices to be impacted by the container ship that is blocking block part of the Suez Canal, a major waterway for fuel shipments. More from Click Orlando.
Developer restoring a Tampa cigar factory seeks historic landmark status
As the story goes, W.H. Streeter used $85 in gambling winnings to establish the Tierra del Lago Cigar Co. His cigar revenues later funded a factory in the community of Gary, on the outskirts of Ybor City. Showtime Construction owner Cedric Powell said he is now willing to take his own gamble on that 113-year-old cigar factory and the surrounding neighborhood, which is primarily made up of warehouses and blighted homes. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Shareholders clauses strengthen business, avoid litigation
Most shareholder issues should be addressed in a business’s governing documents. If not there from the outset, they can be included as the business matures. Taking a proactive approach to addressing possible shareholder issues, in addition to shareholders’ reactive rights, can help clarify the business’s response to future possible conflicts. This can help avoid costly and lengthy litigation or judicial dissolution. [Sponsored report]
In Memoriam
Florida college football legend Howard Schnellenberger has died
When Howard Schnellenberger took over at the University of Miami in 1979, he was already an established coach. He won three national titles as an Alabama assistant under Bear Bryant, was the offensive coordinator of the 1972 Dolphins — still the NFL’s only undefeated Super Bowl champion — and spent two years leading the Baltimore Colts. But it was what Mr. Schnellenberger did with the Hurricanes that made him a legend and one of the most important figures in Florida college football history.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times.
See also: Howard Schnellenberger is a Florida 'Icon'
Business Profile
Punta Gorda toy company to launch first toy in April
Punta Gorda-based Pressure Games has been waiting — and working — for two years to get a new toy to market. Now the time is here: its toy, Countdown, an active hide-and-seek game that incorporates mini games into play, is scheduled to launch April 6. For Pressure Games, the road to get to this point has included brainstorming, developing different versions of the toy, getting feedback from toy industry professionals, hosting a Kickstarter campaign and doing play testing with area children.
» Read more from the Business Observer.
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