Thursday's Afternoon Update
Florida pandemic economy has some looking at bankruptcy as an option
The coronavirus pandemic has forced some major corporations to declare bankruptcy, yet many continue to operate. Smaller businesses and people deep in debt have taken notice. The economic forecast is bleak in the short term. People are out of work and there are more layoffs to come. Federal and state assistance is lacking and for some declaring bankruptcy may be one of their few options. More from CBS Miami.
Florida will close all state-run testing sites for the weekend, bracing for storm
If you want to get a coronavirus test from the state, you’d better get it done by 5 p.m. Thursday. All state-supported drive-thru and walk-up COVID-19 testing sites will temporarily close right after due to threat of Tropical Storm Isaias. That means popular testing sites will be closed until Tuesday morning, by state order. More from the Miami Herald and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
DeSantis extends eviction and foreclosure moratorium until Sept. 1
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday night extended the moratorium on evictions and foreclosures until Sept. 1 in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic that has wreaked havoc on the economy. The ban, which was initially signed in April, was going to expire Aug. 1 but DeSantis extended it for the third time in as many months. Last month, the governor waited until four hours before it was set to expire before extending it. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
NASA’s Perseverance rover launches from Florida, beginning a decade-long quest to find out if Mars ever harbored life
America’s Mars Perseverance rover launched Thursday morning from Cape Canaveral and is on its way to the Red Planet to begin an 11-year quest to find out if it ever harbored life. Liftoff came right on schedule at 7:50 a.m. under mostly clear skies and just a few minutes after NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in southern California reported feeling minor shakes from a small earthquake. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Jacksonville City Council votes against raising property tax rate
The Jacksonville City Council on Tuesday voted 11-6 against an attempt to tentatively boost the property tax rate by 2 percent. The property tax rate for the city of Jacksonville will remain at 11.4419 mills, which raises about $11.44 in taxes per $1,000 of taxable property value. City Council Finance Committee Chairman Matt Carlucci proposed increasing that rate by one-quarter mill for the 2020-21 budget, saying it would generate an extra $16.6 million and give council a financial cushion during budget hearings with an option to boost investment in the city. More from the Florida Times-Union.
Industry Trends
Bicycle store owners see increase in demand as well as supply issues
During the pandemic, certain activities have gained popularity. More people are taking walks and jigsaw puzzles have sold out in some stores. People are also spending more time binge watching, bird watching, boating, baking and bicycling. The increase in bicycling has had big implications for Florida bike shops — some of which have seen a spike in sales in recent months.
» More from the Business Observer.
Profile
Non-profit encourages more women to enter cyber-security fields
Last year, Leticia Gammill, who oversees Cisco’s security- channel sales in Latin America and Canada from Fort Lauderdale, created a non-profit called LATAM Women in Cybersecurity to encourage more women in Florida and Latin America to enter the field. “Quite frequently, I am the only woman in business meetings discussing cyber-security,” she says.
» Read more from Florida Trend.