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Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
With J&J doses on hold, vaccination sites adapt as Florida reports 9,130 new COVID-19 cases
Central Florida vaccine sites were sent scrambling Tuesday after the Food and Drug Administration put a hold on the use of Johnson & Johnson vaccines due to six reports of a rare blood clot in patients who received the single-dose shot. Orlando’s federally-supported vaccine site at Valencia College was reduced to handing out second doses only Tuesday after the news. The site recently switched to giving out the single-dose shots. [Source: WKGM]
Need to rent a car in Florida? U.S. shortage of vehicles means you could pay up to $500 a day
“There are no cars available at all,” Ra Brave said after being turned away at rental car desk after rental car desk at the airport. Agents at desks for Enterprise and National confirmed that every available vehicle they had that day was already reserved. Battered by the COVID-19 pandemic, rental car companies are facing a national car shortage, causing availability for travelers to plummet and daily rental rates to spike to as high as nearly $500 a day in Tampa. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Florida gets 'C' on federal infrastructure report card
The White House is assigning states A-F grades, based on their needs and investments. The White House gave Florida a C. "For decades, infrastructure in Florida has suffered from a systemic lack of investment," the report reads. As part of the report card, each state was graded based on 12 infrastructure categories ranging from road and bridges to broadband internet to veterans' health. [Source: WTVT]
Commentary: As Florida lawmakers complete session, still time to preserve environment
Until recently, governors and legislators from both parties have invested hundreds of millions of dollars each year to build a system of protected lands from the Everglades to Pensacola. Prior to the last two administrations the state allocated about $300 million annually for land acquisition. These special places, like the U.S. system of national parks truly represent one of Florida’s best ideas. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Tampa Bay area senator asks attorney general to take legal action against owners of Piney Point site
A Florida lawmaker is asking the state's attorney general to take legal action against the company that manages the former Piney Point phosphate processing plant. In a letter penned by State Sen. Janet Cruz, the Tampa Bay-area Democrat says she wants to hold the owners of the site, HRK Holdings, accountable for the "environmental disaster that has unfolded in the past two weeks." [Source: WTSP]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› New Scott, Rubio bill seeks to override CDC’s cruise regulations, allow sailing soon
Florida’s U.S. Senators introduced legislation Tuesday to override the Centers for Disease Control’s existing framework cruise ships must follow to resume operations and replace current regulations with a new set of recommendations to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 aboard ships.
› Central Florida teachers’ unions unhappy with FSA executive order
Executive order relieves students of FSA requirements, not teachers.
› NASA's water-hunting mission getting big lift to the moon
A mission to search for water on the lunar surface is getting a big boost from SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket.
› Florida Panthers begin renovation of auditorium site for practice complex
Through a partnership between the team and Fort Lauderdale, the privately financed $65 million renovation of War Memorial Auditorium is expected to be completed by the summer of 2022.
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