Florida's economy takes $23 billion hit from empty cruise ships, ports

Tourism in Florida has taken a big hit due to the coronavirus pandemic. The losses are especially bad in the cruise industry. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a no-sail order for cruise ships in March. Major cruise lines like Carnival and Norwegian have cancelled sailings through the end of October. The Ports Council says the loss of cruises, along with a slowdown in cargo traffic, has led to a $23 billion loss for Florida’s economy. More from WUSF.

Will customers pay for utilities’ COVID-19 expenses? Some may.

State regulators paved the way last month for one of Florida’s major power companies to charge paying customers for money it lost from those who are delinquent on their bills because of the coronavirus. It also said Gulf Power Co. could track and charge customers for other pandemic-related expenses, both moves that other utilities may now seek to copy. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

FWC Blackwater Hatchery celebrates 80 years of sustaining Florida marine life

In the 1930s, the Blackwater Hatchery helped Florida families put food on the table. Today, it helps sustain and protect Florida's fishing industry and numerous species of vulnerable marine life. Friday marks the 80th year of operation for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Blackwater Hatchery, a facility that has tens of millions of juvenile fish to stock freshwater lakes and rivers across the Florida Panhandle. More from the Pensacola News Journal.

SeaWorld reports second-quarter loss of $131 million

SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. on Monday reported a second-quarter loss of $131 million, after reporting a profit in the same period a year earlier. On a per-share basis, the Orlando, Florida-based company said it had a loss of $1.68. The results fell short of Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for a loss of $1.08 per share. More from the AP.

Coronavirus in a hurricane: Can Florida nursing homes social distance if the power goes off?

The state Agency for Health Care Administration reports that all of Florida’s 693 nursing homes and all but one of its 3,112 assisted-living facilities now have generators — mandated two years ago — to keep frail elders cool during a prolonged power outage. But the state allows homes to use less-powerful temporary generators, which may require moving residents into a single large space — increasing their risk of transmitting the virus. More from the Tampa Bay Times.