March 29, 2024

Monday's Daily Pulse

What you need to know about Florida today

| 2/14/2022

Florida's citrus industry facing worst crop in more than 75 years

It's the backbone of Florida agriculture and the bright orange face of the Sunshine State. But the citrus industry is facing its worst crop in more than 75 years. Devastating freezes, followed by disease and burgeoning real estate development threaten to bury local businesses. A forecast from the federal Department of Agriculture said this year's forecast had the smallest Florida crop yield since World War II. [Source: WESH]

Florida, No. 2 in nation for electric cars, about to get a boost to its charger network

Florida has a lot of electric cars — the second-highest number in the nation — and for drivers on long trips or a stressful hurricane evacuation there is always one big question: Where is the next charging station? That worry may soon ease. The state’s major highways could see potentially 100 new fast chargers thanks to a boost from the federal infrastructure bill the U.S. Department of Energy. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Florida’s militia movement grew for years before emerging at heart of Jan. 6 probe

Of the 10 men and one woman charged in a Jan 8, 2022, indictment with seditious conspiracy, the most serious counts yet lodged in the wake of the Capitol assault, four are Floridians, either Oath Keepers or affiliates. Although Floridians’ fingerprints appear to be all over the Capitol attack, many state residents with alleged Oath Keeper ties were far from Washington on Jan. 6. Some appear to limit their involvement to taking part in online group chats, where the subjects range from humdrum matters to gripes about Black Lives Matter to the inevitability of a civil war. [Source: Miami Herald]

Florida COVID-19 update: Number of infected hospital patients drops below 6,000 for first time this year

Florida reported 8,915 new coronavirus cases on Saturday as the number of infected hospital patients dropped by more than half since the peak of the omicron surge, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The number of patients in the hospital with COVID was 5,943 on Friday, down more than 23% in a week and the first time it dropped below 6,000 since New Year’s Day, data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Florida hides data showing how many tourists and snowbirds contract COVID-19 in the state

Florida's latest surge of COVID-19 did little to scare away tourists and snowbirds, state data show, but the influx of visitors and the state's lack of public case tracking may exaggerate case counts reported elsewhere and undercount them here. When an out-of-stater catches the potentially deadly respiratory disease in Florida, state health officials don't report it to the public. Instead, they follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by sending that data to the person's home state. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Some St. Petersburg city workers say they can’t afford their city
The city has about 3,200 city workers and more than half — police officers, firefighters and office workers — make middle-class wages but don’t have to live in the city. Then there are the 350 workers who work as custodians, library assistants, maintenance and sanitation workers. Many make $15 or less an hour, doing some of the hardest work for the lowest pay. Yet they say they’re required to live in an increasingly expensive city.

› ‘A park of have and have nots’: Disney World’s prices rise as attendance soars
Experts say inflation and higher operating costs are helping to force entertainment prices up and not just at theme parks. But some Disney World fans are questioning the value as some benefits have disappeared during the pandemic. Disney has reported near-record revenue as spending in its parks climbs and pre-COVID attendance rebounds.

› Small businesses struggle in Central Florida as costs continue to rise
During the past two years, small businesses in Central Florida have faced several obstacles in order to stay in business. And the obstacles continued to mount on Thursday when the latest inflation numbers were released, marking a 7.5% increase in inflation year-over-year. It’s the most significant rise experts have seen since the 1980s.

› Miami-Dade’s jobless rate hits record low. Where have all the workers gone?
Miami-Dade’s unemployment rate has fallen to a record low. While that may sound like good news, if you’ve tried eating at a restaurant or shopping in a store in the county lately, you’ve probably noticed many establishments are now short-handed. So where have all the workers gone?  

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