Coronavirus Florida: Pressure builds for total lockdown

As cities and states around the nation order residents to stay at home to limit the spread of coronavirus, pressure is building on Gov. Ron DeSantis to consider a similar lockdown. Florida has been especially hard hit by the coronavirus, with more than 1,000 cases. States with fewer cases already have issued stay-at-home orders. Asked about implementing a stay-at-home order in Florida, DeSantis said during a press conference Monday that “we’re looking at different options” when it comes to additional statewide measures. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, the Tampa Bay Times, and the Orlando Sentinel.

See also:
» DeSantis refuses to order Floridians to stay home, orders NY, NJ, WA, CA air travelers self-isolated
» ‘Huge amounts’ of New Yorkers flocking to Florida, Gov. DeSantis says in refusing lock down
» St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman pushes for statewide stay-at-home order

In Florida, most gig workers can’t get unemployment. Welfare may be next best option

The past decade saw an explosion of gig work in the U.S. South Florida was no exception: According to the U.S. Census, there are now nearly half a million “non-employer” firms, or solo-practice businesses. Now, as the U.S. and South Florida economies grind to a halt, these workers face extraordinary uncertainty. [Source: Miami Herald]

Column: Why spelling, pronunciation and sound matter when you name your business

There are three elements you need to take into account when naming your business. Spelling and pronunciation are two important factors for any good name. Is it more important for your company to have a name that’s easy to spell and say, or is there a strategic reason you might want it to be more difficult? Sound is the third factor you need to consider when naming your business. [Source: Entrepreneur]

Who’s hiring? Publix and others add jobs as coronavirus causes layoffs

Grocery stores are adding thousands of jobs and giving out bonuses to hourly workers as shoppers have flooded stores to stock up on soap, meat and toilet paper and as other industries shed jobs because of coronavirus. Lakeland-based grocery store giant Publix is hoping to hire thousands of workers in its stores, including in Orlando, as well as its distribution centers, by the end of the month. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Florida attorneys face off in Board of Governors, president-elect races

Monday was the last day of voting for the several Florida Bar elections taking place across the state. Jacksonville-based Michael Tanner and Ocala attorney Renee Thompson are vying to become next in line for the presidency of the Florida Bar and replace Dori Foster-Morales as the incoming president-elect. [Source: Daily Business Review]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Open primary measure among 6 proposed Florida constitutional amendments on November ballot [The Center Square]
Florida voters will be asked in November to allow all registered voters to cast ballots in an open primary with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election. The open primary proposal is one of six proposed constitutional amendments that will be on the Nov. 3 ballot and one of four put there by citizen-initiated petitioning. It will appear as Amendment 3.

› Hernando seeks donations of bikes, RVs [Tampa Bay Times]
Nature Coast Community Service Foundation is seeking donations of bicycles and bike parts. Through a partnership with Grace Presbyterian Bicycle Ministry, all donations will be reconditioned and given to people in need. Also needed are working cell phones, as well as drive-able recreational vehicles to help house homeless people.

› Davie-based company paying $38,000 to settle gender discrimination suit [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Davie-based BHT Constructions LLC has agreed to pay $38,000 to settle a gender discrimination lawsuit by the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission. The lawsuit accused the company of failing to hire Colleen Bendel as a heavy machine operator, despite her 20 years of experience in the job.

› Sonny’s BBQ offers takeout, drive-thru Meal Deal [Orlando Sentinel]
Sonny’s BBQ has an offer for people looking to limit interactions. Through May 31, the Gainesville-based chain has a Meal Deal good for their takeout, drive-thru or online ordering options.

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› Coronavirus unsettles Tampa Bay’s residential real estate market [Tampa Bay Times]
The number of houses temporarily taken off the market or withdrawn is rising. Some would-be buyers are hesitating. Complications are starting to emerge in the process of closing sales. Sellers still want and hope to sell, but increasingly don’t want strangers in their homes. So open houses are giving way to virtual tours. And no one knows what’s next.

› Gulf Power's coal burn jumps 35.8% on month in February [S&P Global]
Florida utility Gulf Power's coal burn jumped to 120,352/st in February, 35.8% higher than burn in January and up fourfold from the year-ago month, according to a state regulatory filing Monday. In February, Gulf Power's average fuel cost for coal was $67.12/st, up from $65.56/st in January, but down from $67.41/st in the year-ago month.

› Darwin Brewing Company of Bradenton, Florida Selling Cases of Beer at Wholesale Prices [Sarasota Post]
Our friends in Bradenton, Florida at the Darwin Brewing Company & Taproom posted this on Facebook today. We here at The Suncoast Post hope this will help ease the load. Darwin wants to thank everybody for their overwhelming support during this time. Although our taproom is closed, we do have beer to go and awesome beer specials for everyone.

› Owner of Tampa's Continental Wholesale Diamonds dies in South Carolina plane crash [Tampa Bay Business Journal]
Andrew Meyer, the owner of Continental Wholesale Diamonds in Tampa, has died after his Cessna 310 aircraft crashed outside Charleston, South Carolina over the weekend. Reports indicate Meyer, 64, was piloting the plane and was the only person on board.