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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida tourism numbers show a strong comeback from pandemic, but will that last?
Spring and summer travel numbers suggest a strong comeback for Florida tourism amid the pandemic, but officials continue to monitor the spread of the Delta variant and spikes in COVID-19 cases statewide as potential disruptors to the recovery. Data released by Visit Florida and Visit Orlando showed that during the second quarter of 2021 — which includes April, May and June — hotel occupancy and demand, as well as airport passenger traffic, all soared from the same period in 2020 when COVID-19 nearly shut down the tourism industry. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Florida COVID update: 23,335 new cases, state continues to see increasing hospitalizations
Florida reported 23,335 new COVID-19 cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday, according to Herald calculations of CDC data. On Wednesday, the state also reported eight new deaths the day before. In all, Florida has recorded at least 2,978,433 confirmed COVID cases statewide and 41,149 deaths. In early August, the CDC changed the way it reported new cases and deaths in Florida. According to statements from the Florida Department of Health, a complete renewed set of data is given to the CDC daily, which may include changes to previous days daily totals. [Source: Miami Herald]
DeSantis proposes bonuses to recruit law enforcement officers to Florida
Gov. Ron DeSantis plans to ask the Legislature next year to provide $5,000 bonuses to help recruit law enforcement officers to Florida. The bonuses are part of a package of proposals that DeSantis announced Tuesday at a Fraternal Order of Police conference in Indianapolis, according to the governor’s office. State lawmakers could take up the issues during the legislative session that will start in January. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida’s home prices spike ‘well in excess of recent norms,’ but could cool soon
With the number of existing homes being listed for sale increasing, Florida’s sellers’ market that spurred a 24.3% spike in single-family home costs over the last year could simmer down in coming months, said Florida Realtors Chief Economist Brad O’Connor. “Florida’s red-hot rate of home price growth could begin to cool down somewhat in the coming months,” he said, “although that will also depend on whether interest rates start to trend higher again, as well. For now, though, the numbers continue to astound.” [Source: The Center Square]
E-commerce company challenges state pot restriction
E-commerce company Leafly has carved out a niche as one of the nation’s leading shopping sites for all things cannabis. Leafly and similar websites allow visitors to peruse the stock available at medical marijuana dispensaries, place orders online and pick up and pay for the goods at local storefronts. But Florida health regulators this year stopped medical marijuana operators from using Leafly and other third-party sites to process patient pre-orders, saying the services violate a state law banning operators from contracting for services “directly related to the cultivation, processing and dispensing” of cannabis. [Source: News Service of Florida]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Want to get from Miami Beach to Miami without a car? A ferry has started service again
The ability to get from downtown Miami to Miami Beach, and vice-versa, in 15 minutes is possible again in the most Miami of ways. Along Biscayne Bay. That’s thanks to the recent relaunch of the Poseidon Ferry service. On its soft opening on Monday, Aug. 16, the private company whisked about 60 people across Biscayne Bay for its first full day of service since hitting dry dock in January due to the COVID pandemic and permitting, according to Poseidon’s CEO, Jonathan Silvia.
› Central Florida has festival fever this week, weekend and beyond
Looking for something to do in Orlando? Festivals provide entertainment this week, weekend and beyond in Central Florida. At the theme parks, SeaWorld Orlando’s Craft Beer Festival is back, featuring more than 100 craft brews, wines, seltzers and cocktails — plus food. It runs select dates through Sept. 12. There’s also the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival with a variety of limited-time food and beverage offerings at Walt Disney World. The fest runs through Nov. 20.
› West Tampa cigar factory with iconic clock tower will be a winery and bar
The Y. Pendas y Alvarez Cigar Factory’s century-old clock will ring again. When the factory was built in 1909, the clock tower was the second in the area, tallest in the state, played music in a syncopated gong on the hour and lit up at night. After the factory stopped producing cigars in the 1950s, the building fell into disrepair. The clock has not worked for decades.
› Corporate jet hub eyed for Homestead Air Reserve Base
A 2020 county effort to sign an agreement with the Air Force that could bring corporate jets and cabin-class helicopters to the Homestead Air Reserve Base is still awaiting an Air Force response. The runway for the effort has been long and takeoff remains in holding mode. Conversations between the parties date back to 2015, when county commissioners approved a first resolution directing the mayor to begin negotiations and pursue a joint use agreement.
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