March 28, 2024

Friday's Daily Pulse

What you need to know about Florida today

| 5/14/2021

Florida businesses split on new CDC guidance easing mask restrictions

CDC officials announced Thursday they will relax their mask requirements. They said people who are fully vaccinated do not have to wear masks indoors or practice social distancing, except, for example, while on planes and buses.  CDC officials will not get involved with the decisions business owners will have to make moving forward, but the new guidelines have caused confusion for some Florida business owners. More from  WSVN, WOFL, and WJXT.

With 'decoupling' bill, horse racing, jai alai face uncertain future in special legislative session

One hundred years after it was first legalized in Florida, could horse racing be going the way of greyhound racing: Out of business? Lawmakers return to Tallahassee May 17 for a special session to consider a new gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe, giving it exclusive rights to run online sports betting in Florida. The House and Senate also will discuss three pieces of legislation that would create a regulatory framework for online sports betting, licensing, tax rates and fees. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]

DeSantis to pardon residents facing penalties for COVID-19 violations

Florida's Governor on Thursday said he would grant pardons to any residents of his state facing penalties for violating local COVID-19 curbs, saying the rules should have been recommendations rather than mandates. Ron DeSantis has opposed local COVID-19 health restrictions at nearly every turn and has led the charge nationally in reopening his state, to criticism from health experts. [Source: Reuters]

Florida's workplace redefined

As companies throughout Florida and the U.S. grapple with how or if to bring workers back together again, one major Southwest Florida business has decided to permanently adopt a “hybrid” model for its headquarters employees going forward. Apparel retailer Chico’s FAS Inc., headquartered in Fort Myers, says many of its employees won’t return to their corporate offices and will instead “work-from-home” on a permanent basis. [Source: Business Observer]

‘Now, it’s about elevation’: Buying a South Florida home in the era of sea level rise

In South Florida, top considerations for choosing a new home have shifted, thanks to climate change. “Before it was location, location, location. Now, it’s about elevation, elevation, elevation. The new buyer has to worry about both,” said George Jalil, broker and president at Miami Way Realty. [Source: Miami Herald]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› To the rescue: Air ambulance company ready to fly anywhere on the planet to help
When the missionary fell off the roof in Ukraine, no one realized he’d suffered a stroke. It would be a while before anybody figured it out. By the time they did, he was in pretty bad shape. Back home in Iowa, his family and church were desperately looking for ways to get him back and, more importantly, to get him the medical care he desperately needed. What happened next was a chain reaction that led a Tampa company to create an entirely new product line.

› Disney World is raising capacity, and new mask guidance is ‘big news’ for a hot Orlando summer, CEO says
Walt Disney World has lifted its attendance capacity beyond its previous self-imposed 35% limit, although company CEO Bob Chapek didn’t disclose by how much, as the theme parks significantly loosen their COVID safety rules. Chapek didn’t specify when people could stop wearing masks at the Orlando parks but called the new CDC guidelines — which says fully vaccinated people can go maskless in most places — “big news” for Disney, especially with summer coming. He appeared to be hinting changes could be coming soon.

› Host with the most: DeSoto has more solar centers than any other county in Florida
When it comes to renewable energy, DeSoto County is the solar power host with the most. Florida Power & Light Company recently finished construction of the new Rodeo Solar Energy Center. The completion of the project makes DeSoto County home to more FPL solar energy centers than any other county in the state.

› ‘Super-community’ Customers Bank opens branch in Orlando
Pennsylvania-based bank Customers Bank is expanding operations into Florida, opening their first office in the state in downtown Orlando. Billing itself as a “super-community bank” with about $18.8 billion in assets, Customers offers consumer banking and commercial services including small business loans and real estate financing.

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