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Monday's Daily Pulse

Florida revenues plummet after the coronavirus shutdown

Florida's economy is taking a hit because of the coronavirus, according to a revenue report released by the state Senate president on Friday. Republican Senate President Bill Galvano sent a memo to senators saying the state’s revenue in the month of April was down about $780 million from what was originally predicted. That includes sales taxes that were about $695 million below predictions. [Source: AP]

Brace for insurance shock: windstorm premiums are soaring in Florida again

Home insurance is getting a whole lot more expensive, a wallet punch for residents of a state that already has the highest property insurance rates in the nation, not to mention a staggering unemployment problem from a surging pandemic. Major insurance companies are raising wind-storm premiums in Florida as much as 33 percent and dropping tens of thousands of customers, signaling an end to the nearly decade-long lull in prices. [Source: Miami Herald]

Business groups worry about ‘patchwork’ mask rules

Business groups say a “patchwork” of local face mask ordinances across Florida is creating confusion for store owners and customers. Several cities and counties from the Panhandle to South Florida have approved requirements for face coverings to be worn in public settings. But other local governments have stayed out of the issue, and Gov. Ron DeSantis has refused to issue a statewide mandate. More from the Panama City News Herald and WUSF.

Despite virus spike, N.B.A. is ‘very comfortable’ with Florida plan

Despite what Adam Silver, the N.B.A. commissioner, described as an “increased” level of concern over a significant rise of coronavirus cases in Florida, the league moved forward on several fronts Friday by formalizing its plans to restart the 2019-20 season at Walt Disney World near Orlando. [Source: NY Times]

Families plead for Florida to find safe way for nursing home visits

With no end in sight to the coronavirus lockdown at Florida’s senior-care facilities, family members and their advocates are pleading with Gov. Ron DeSantis to find a safe way to allow limited, in-person visits with loved ones — as 17 other states have already announced plans to do. The move is critical to keep the emotional well-being of elderly, frail residents from deteriorating further, supporters claim. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Changing lives through medicine

With the help of the Florida Lottery Bright Futures Scholarship, Lauryn Brown, raised in Tallahassee, enrolled at Florida State University at age 16 and graduated in December 2019 with a degree in interdisciplinary medical sciences. Lauryn’s goal of a career in medicine — “to change the way people go about their lives” — is coming into focus. [Sponsored report]

Trend Mention

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Entries are being accepted now through August 1, 2020 in entry categories that address key technology clusters and critical issues impacting the southeast: Agriculture/Environmental, Health Care/Bio, IT/Tech, Energy, plus a Wild Card category. Click to learn more!

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Attorney General announces $700,000 for Floridians victim to COVID-19 scams
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced Friday more than $700,000 is now available to help you recover from scams related to the coronavirus pandemic. Florida remains under a state of emergency since Gov. Ron DeSantis issued the declaration back in March. The attorney’s general office says they received more than 7,000 reports of stores price gouging and of scammers trying to steal money.

› South Florida beaches to close for July Fourth weekend
The mayors of Broward and Palm Beach counties said Sunday their beaches would be closed. Miami-Dade County made its announcement on Saturday. After the other counties decided to close for the holiday weekend, Palm Beach County Mayor Dave Kerner told the South Florida Sun Sentinel it would be “highly irresponsible” to keep beaches open. Later, Kerner said on CNN that the county would follow the lead of Broward and Miami-Dade. Palm Beach County will issue an official order with specifics on Monday, he said.

› Pinellas tourism leaders fear more COVID-19 fallout, cuts tourism marketing budget
Just as it looked like Pinellas County’s tourism industry might be rebounding, local business leaders are bracing for another COVID-19 crash. As the elected officials, hoteliers and members who comprise the county’s Tourism Development Council met Friday to discuss Pinellas’ tourism development budget for the upcoming year, the day’s grim news made its way into their conference room on Ulmerton Road.

› Mayor to bankruptcy judge: South Florida benefits if Miami Herald is locally owned
As a decision nears in federal bankruptcy court on the future ownership of the Miami Herald, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has asked a judge to consider the public interest — and the vital role of local journalism — when weighing the fate of the Herald’s parent company.

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› Another outbreak in the Florida Keys. County reports 8 new cases of dengue fever
Eight new cases of dengue fever have been confirmed in the Upper Florida Keys, the state health department said Friday. The patients received medical attention and are expected to make full recoveries. This makes 10 reported cases of dengue so far in the Keys this year, according to the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County.

› Lakewood Ranch company wins U.S. Senate recognition
Medical lab and supply distribution firm Mercedes Scientific has been named U.S. Senate Small Business of the Week. U.S. Senator, Marco Rubio, R-Miami, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship announced the recognition for Lakewood Ranch-based Mercedes in a June 24 video message.

› Fort Lauderdale cites 12 businesses for breaking coronavirus rules
Waitresses without masks. Customers drinking at the bar. Bars pretending to be restaurants. All three can and will get you in trouble these days in Broward County as coronavirus cases hit a meteoric rise in South Florida. Just ask Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar on Las Olas, where the staff served up margaritas and other spirits long after happy hour on Friday night. That all changed when city code officers walked in and shut the place down for operating as a bar before Broward County has said bars and nightclubs can reopen.

› Orlando Health begins layoffs, employees say
Orlando Health is laying off an unknown number of workers, according to several employees who were recently let go. The former employees, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, said some of the layoffs are being performed under the guise of performance evaluations or for no clear reason.