Delta variant spreading quickly in Florida, now dominant coronavirus strain in the U.S.
The highly contagious delta variant is spreading rapidly in Florida and is the dominant strain of the COVID-19 virus in the country, according to estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC data released Tuesday shows that the delta variant accounted for 13.2 percent of new COVID-19 cases in Florida as of June 19. That’s up from 2.3 percent as of June 5. “We shouldn’t be surprised at how quickly the delta variant is spreading here,” said Derek Cummins, an epidemiologist at the University of Florida, “given what we saw elsewhere in the world where it took over.” [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
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Dave Krepcho is a Florida Icon
Krepcho tells us: If you can find that intersection in life of your particular abilities and talents — and we all have them — with one of society’s great needs, incredible things can happen. When I look at my team here — and we have lots of millennials — I’m encouraged to see their drive and their passion for social justice. And when I speak to high school and college groups, it gives me so much hope to see that we have a generation that really cares. [Source: Florida Trend]
New bill increases prospect of growth for Florida craft distilleries
The Florida craft distillery industry is celebrating a big win. On June 29, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill easing regulations for 65 licensed distilleries in the Sunshine State. It allows businesses to eliminate stringent production caps and sell their drinks more widely. Starting July 1, distilleries can churn out 250,000 gallons annually, three times the quantity previously allowed. A spate of additional regulations were tacked onto the legislation. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
4 out of 10 employers will fire employees for not returning to office, survey says
Employers responding to a survey about remote workers say they will fire employees if they don’t return to the office. A new survey from Digital.com shows employers and employees are not on the same page when working from home. Digital surveyed 1,500 small business owners. 50% of employees said most workers worked on-site full-time, 18% had a hybrid schedule for in-person/remote working. 38% said they had a primarily remote workforce and, as such, were eliminated from the rest of the survey. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
NRA appeals ruling on gun sales to people under 21
The National Rifle Association on Wednesday went to a federal appeals court after a judge last month upheld a Florida law that prevents people under age 21 from buying guns. The NRA, which challenged the constitutionality of the law after it passed in 2018, filed a notice of appealing the ruling by Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta. [Source: News Service of Florida]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Memorial park? As court weighs sale of Surfside property, debate starts over future of site
Even as search teams continue to sift for remains in the rubble of the Champlain Towers South, debate over the future of the beachfront site had already begun Wednesday in a MIami-Dade County courtroom. Should it be a memorial or sold to developers to erect another condo — a deal that could help compensate victims of the tragedy?
› Boston investor buys downtown Tampa office building for $56 million
Farley White Interests, a Boston-based commercial real estate investor with holdings in four states, has acquired the Two Harbour Place office and retail building in downtown Tampa for $56.35 million, according to Hillsborough County records. As part of the acquisition of the 12-story building, MetLife Real Estate Lending provided a Farley White affiliate $33.81 million in financing, records indicate.
› Fort Lauderdale accepts bid from Elon Musk’s Boring Co. to build tunnel to beach
Fort Lauderdale commissioners formally accepted a bid from Elon Musk’s Boring Co. late Tuesday to build an underground tunnel from downtown to the beach. Other companies that want to submit a competing bid can do so within 45 days. “This could be a truly innovative way to reduce traffic congestion,” Mayor Dean Trantalis said in a Twitter post.
› Jacksonville-based Goodwill brings back 'friend-raising' fashion show to support employment programs
In February 2020, David Rey was named the new CEO of Goodwill Industries of North Florida after eight years as the Jacksonville-based nonprofit‘s chief financial officer. Then the world shut down as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. "It was certainly a challenge," he said. "There was no map of how to navigate a pandemic, so thankfully I knew the team I had working with me and knew I could rely on our group to help make critical decisions."
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› Doral Yard to open a 15,000-square-foot outdoor entertainment space called The Backyard
Despite the COVID pandemic winding down, outdoor entertainment isn’t going by the wayside. Over at The Doral Yard, more open space. This fall, visitors will be able to take social distancing to a whole new level in a new 15,000-square-foot space called The Backyard.
› DeSantis won’t commit to review of aging buildings after Surfside tragedy
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that condominiums in Florida are “kind of a dime a dozen, particularly in southern Florida,” but he would not commit to any state action to address concerns about the aging buildings, suggesting that Champlain Towers South “had problems from the start.”
› It’s full steam ahead for Winter Park Institute under new owner
The Winter Park Institute, which brings high-profile, thought-provoking speakers to Central Florida, has a new lease on life. The program, whose guests have included Maya Angelou, Sir Paul McCartney, Gloria Steinem, Salmon Rushdie, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, George Takei and more, came under new ownership on July 1. It’s quite a comeback for a program that nearly didn’t survive the COVID-19 pandemic.
› Former coastal manager with White House past hired for Jacksonville resiliency job
Jacksonville has hired a former White House staffer who developed coastal restoration projects in New Orleans to be the city’s chief resiliency officer, Mayor Lenny Curry said Tuesday. Anne Coglianese is scheduled to start July 19 in the new role, which needs City Council approval.