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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
› Florida county declares pandemic state of emergency amid hospital resource shortage
A Florida county voted unanimously on Tuesday to declare a state of emergency as hospitals are becoming increasingly strained amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay proposed issuing the emergency order after all 12 beds in the intensive care unit at a local medical became occupied, 11 of which were for patients with COVID-19.
› Port Tampa Bay: Cruises could return to Tampa by October
After an absence of more than 18 months, Port Tampa Bay officials are preparing for cruise ships to return to Tampa this fall. “We are encouraged to see the cruise industry slowly starting back up across the county,” Wade Elliott, the port’s vice president of business development, said during a Tampa Port Authority board meeting on Tuesday. “We anticipate that we will begin to see regular sailings from Port Tampa Bay starting again in mid-October, so we’re excited about that.”
› Cirque du Soleil’s new Disney show sets opening date
The new Cirque du Soleil show at Walt Disney World finally has a new opening date — more than a year and a half after the COVID-19 pandemic halted the production. Called “Drawn to Life,” the show was in final rehearsals and just a few weeks away from debuting when the pandemic shutdown brought the entertainment industry to a halt. The show — the first created jointly by Cirque du Soleil and Disney — is now scheduled to open at Disney Springs on Nov. 18.
› Customers to fund $10 million FPL Virginia Key expansion
Florida Power & Light (FPL) will soon commence a multi-million-dollar expansion project from Virginia Key, one that will ultimately be paid for by its customers. The company offered details about the project to the Virginia Key Advisory Board. Attending was David Weda, an engineer with FPL. Pressed on the total cost of the project by board members, Mr. Weda said it will be more than $10 million.
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