As Florida’s insurance market darkens, companies use ‘trade secret’ to keep data hidden

As profitability of Florida property insurers declines, companies are increasingly blocking information they’d rather competitors — and the public — not see. State insurance laws allow companies to designate as “trade secret” any information they assert could put them at a competitive disadvantage if disclosed. The onus then falls on a member of the public to challenge whether that designation is allowed under state law — a potentially expensive prospect that could require lawyers and court hearings. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Florida shatters daily record with 3,207 new coronavirus cases

Florida added another 3,207 coronavirus cases Thursday, shattering the previous daily record as the state emerges as an alarming hot spot among places grappling with a resurgence of the disease. Thursday’s new record topped the 2,783 cases reported just two days earlier by the Florida Department of Health, which had been the third record-setting total in less than a week. There now have been 85,926 coronavirus cases reported in Florida since the outbreak began and 3,061 deaths. The state reported 43 additional COVID-19 deaths Thursday. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, the AP, and the Tampa Bay Times.

Dust from the Sahara Desert is putting a pause on hurricane activity

The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season had one of the most active starts in history, with three named storms forming by June 1 for the first time ever. But the tropics have been quiet ever since. You can thank dust from the Sahara Desert for that. A massive dust storm that’s been moving west from central Africa is creating a pocket of dry air. That dry air is slowing down tropical activity as it passes through the Atlantic Ocean, and it could last for the next couple of weeks. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Carnival Corp. reports second quarter losses, will shed 6 ships in next three months

Carnival Corporation reported second quarter revenues of $700 million, down from $4.8 billion last year, as cruising remains banned in the U.S. amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In a financial filing Thursday, the company said it saw an adjusted net loss of $2.4 billion, or $3.30 earnings per share, during the second quarter. The company will be divesting of six of its ships in the next 90 days to shrink capacity as it burns through around $650 million per month. [Source: Miami Herald]

New research team aims to increase blackberry yields in Florida

Blackberries ripen in Florida in May and June, so it’s an ideal time to be thinking about how to grow more of them. Those who produce blackberries in Florida want to increase their yield, and UF/IFAS faculty want to help farmers boost their output. Unfortunately, a UF/IFAS team also knows that those who grow blackberries face barriers in the market. Like all crops in Florida, blackberries can grow better if they improve their tolerance to the heat, humidity and wet climate of the state. [Source: UF | IFAS]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› In shift, Florida Keys now requiring face masks until June 2021 [Orlando Sentinel]
Visitors to the Florida Keys will need to bring along face masks or face a $500 civil fine. In a Wednesday vote, the Monroe County Commission shifted from an earlier stance on face coverings, and now requires everyone including employees and customers to wear face coverings in any establishment.

› Ready to get back in a movie theater? These cinemas are opening in Miami-Dade and Broward [Miami Herald]
Popcorn won’t be popping at mainstream movie theaters until July, but some independent cinemas are turning on their projectors and opening their doors soon. Miami-Dade and Broward counties have issued emergency orders that have allowed for the reopening of movie theaters if they submit a plan. That’s the same process for casinos, museums and arcades, some of which have already opened.

› Misfits Gaming represents Florida with variety of teams on global esports stage [Palm Beach Post]
For two over months, the schedule for sporting events has remained mostly blank. But while COVID-19 has put a halt to athletes on the fields and courts, esports has sprung to the forefront of the entertainment industry. Esports, a label that refers to digital video-game competitions, includes popular global games such as Call of Duty, Fortnite, League of Legends, Overwatch, and many others. And organizations such as Misfits Gaming Group, which includes The Florida Mayhem, an Overwatch team, and the Florida Mutineers, a Call of Duty team, are helping to lead that charge.

› Southwest Florida Black business owners see outpouring of support after George Floyd protests [Naples Daily News]
In the wake of the high-profile death of George Floyd, some Black-owned businesses in Southwest Florida have seen an outpouring of love and support from locals. In recent times, not only have Black business owners been thrashed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but they've also had to contend with the emotional turmoil that comes with witnessing the infamous video of Floyd's last moments.

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› St. Petersburg firm finds winning formula in government contracts [Business Observer]
Eric Knellinger lost his wife to cancer, and now he’s battling it himself. Despite those personal challenges, more than a decade into leading US Federal Contractor Registration, the fast-growing St. Petersburg company he founded in 2009, he has no plans to slow down and sees only more solid growth ahead. Revenues have increased nearly 20% since 2017, to $12.3 million last year.

› New Anna Maria pier set for ‘soft’ opening [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
No ribbons will be cut, no speeches given, but the long-awaited opening of the Anna Maria City Pier is nonetheless a notable event. The rebuilt pier — originally destroyed by Hurricane Irma in 2017 — will finally become open to the public on Friday, but there will be several conditions made necessary by the coronavirus pandemic. The city of Anna Maria Island, according to mayor Dan Murphy, will eschew the pomp and circumstance of a formal “Grand Opening” and opt for a “Soft Opening” instead.

› South Florida pandemic transportation changes could become permanent [Miami Today]
Miami-Dade’s transportation picture has been in flux since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, and many changes – including new safety strictures, increased telecommuting and a rise in non-motorized mobility – could prove permanent, experts say. “This is a lifetime event that’s really going to change a lot of things, including transportation, how people work and where,” said Javier Betancourt, executive director of the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust. “And if anyone tells you they know for sure what’s going to happen, they’re lying to you.”

› Pasco wants Super Bowl fans to take notice of their ‘Sports Coast' [Tampa Bay Times]
For Pasco County’s tourism promoters, the stars have aligned providing a rare opportunity. In February the biggest sports event anywhere, the Super Bowl, is scheduled to be in Tampa, delivering tens of thousands of sports enthusiasts, NFL corporate sponsors and others interested in the unique spectacle near the doorstep of Pasco County’s newly-rebranded Sports Coast.