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Friday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
COVID-19 in Florida: State passes 50,000 total coronavirus deaths
Florida’s total number of COVID deaths broke 50,000 on Thursday and the seven-day average for number of new deaths was the second highest since the pandemic began, a grim milestone caused by the surge of new cases spawned by the virulent delta variant beginning in August. Florida reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1,554 additional deaths and 9,760 more COVID-19 cases, according to Miami Herald calculations of CDC data. In all, Florida has recorded at least 3,473,873 confirmed COVID cases and 50,811 deaths. More from the Miami Herald, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, and the Orlando Sentinel
Business Beat - Week of September 17th
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
Florida unemployment claims see little change
With the state set to update its unemployment rate on Friday, jobless claims continue to roll in at a pace that has varied little since mid-May. The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday estimated 6,817 first-time jobless claims were filed in Florida during the week that ended Sept. 11, down from a revised count of 7,218 during the previous week. The federal agency initially projected 5,814 new unemployment applications were filed during the week that ended Sept. 4. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Another Florida poll shows voters disagree with DeSantis on COVID-19 policies
A public opinion poll released Thursday shows more evidence that a majority of Floridians oppose one of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature COVID-19 policies: his attempt to block school districts from mandating masks. The poll showed that already-strong support for requiring masks in schools is increasing. An overwhelming majority of likely Florida voters surveyed during the last five days in August by Data For Progress — 73% — said school districts should be allowed to require masks. Just 25% disagreed. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
South Florida is becoming the nation’s worst place to rent
South Florida could become the worst place in the country for renters by the end of the year, partly because wages don’t keep up with exorbitant rent increases, a new forecast shows. Renters here are likely to devote 40% of their income to rent by the end of the year, according to a forecast by Zillow, an online real estate marketplace that studies real estate trends. That would be a full percentage point above June and well over the 30% that financial advisers prescribe. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Citizens Insurance nears 700,000 policies
With Citizens Property Insurance Corp. nearing 700,000 policies, lawmakers could again look for ways to curb growth in the state-backed insurer. Citizens at the end of August had 687,079 policies as it continues to add thousands of customers a week, according to newly posted information on the insurer’s website. The August total was up from 661,150 policies on July 31 and 638,263 policies on June 30. Perhaps more telling, Citizens had 499,056 policies on Aug. 31, 2020 --- representing nearly 38 percent growth over the past year.
› Lottery for $10 'Hamilton' tickets to Jacksonville performances opens Friday
Tickets to see the highly anticipated run of "Hamilton" in Jacksonville are hard to come by, but a lucky few fans at each performance will be able to get in for, well, a Hamilton. A weekly digital #HAM4HAM lottery that rewards winners with $10 tickets to the Broadway blockbuster kicks off Friday. A limited number of tickets will be offered for each of the 24 performances scheduled for Sept. 29-Oct. 17 at the Times-Union Center.
› Inter Miami lands primary jersey sponsorship deal with crypto finance firm
After playing for more that a season and half, Inter Miami CF signed its first primary jersey sponsorship deal, the team announced Wednesday. The multi-year deal is with the crypto finance firm XBTO, and Miami is the first club in MLS to sign a crypto finance partnership deal. Beginning Friday in the club’s match against the New York Red Bulls at 7 p.m., Inter Miami CF’s primary and secondary jerseys will both feature the XBTO logo.
› Tallahassee Film Festival returns this weekend with a Florida focus
The Tallahassee Film Festival returns Saturday and Sunday to Railroad Square for its 2021 edition, boasting an array of freshly squeezed Florida-made movies from rising young filmmakers and internationally acclaimed directors. The fest’s centerpiece is a free outdoor screening of Dash Shaw's all-star animated fantasy "Cryptozoo," scheduled for Saturday evening at the Railroad Square Craft House. The Sundance favorite joins a bonanza of features and short films, many of them with a Sunshine State focus.
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