As Congress debates more COVID-19 aid, Florida businesses hope for relief

Lawmakers in Congress are debating a second COVID-19 relief bill, and with that, more funds for the Paycheck Protection Program. In Florida, small businesses have exhausted money from the program and are waiting for more aid. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 70% of Florida businesses received PPP loans. The program covered eight weeks of employee payroll while lockdowns were in place. After the program was launched, it ran out of money in two weeks. It was later replenished in late April, and more businesses were able to opt-in. [Source: WLRN]

Looking for extra holiday income? In South Florida, jobs are still available

Jimmy Knips, owner of famed local holiday retailer The Christmas Palace, has reason to be joyful. Foot traffic has been picking up and his online sales are robust enough to keep Santa delivering packages til dawn. But the Grinch — in the form of the pandemic — has stolen some of the elves that usually look for extra work at the holidays. “There were a lot more applicants in previous seasons,” he said. He received just over 100 applications; he’s used to fielding hundreds more. [Source: Miami Herald]

White House task force report warns Florida — again — to increase mask-wearing, limit indoor gatherings

A White House Coronavirus Task Force report about the state of the pandemic in Florida made public Saturday urges state leaders to take immediate action to slow the virus’ spread. Officials should close or severely limit indoor dining, limit capacity at bars and issue stronger policies around mask wearing, the report states. Those are the same public health measures that Gov. Ron DeSantis has publicly assailed for months as ineffective. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the Orlando Sentinel.

Florida on pace to break record for weapon applications

Floridians are on pace to break a record for the number of applications for concealed weapons licenses this year. State officials said this week that license applications typically go up in an election year, but the pandemic also is likely driving the higher volume of applications. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is on pace to process 305,043 new applications and 143,749 renewal applications in 2020, according to Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. [Source: AP]

‘Reef goats’: Seaweed-loving giant crabs could help save corals in the Florida Keys

Among the many problems facing Florida coral reefs, from pollution to climate change, is the explosion of algae that smothers once healthy tracts, blocking baby corals from growing. One possible solution: More ‘reef goats’ — native crabs that graze on algae and seaweeds. A study by Florida International University showed that increasing the abundance of the Caribbean king crab, found in Florida waters and throughout the Caribbean, can reduce algae overgrowth and help restore the natural balance, improve coral health overall. [Source: Miami Herald]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Fire at Wild Florida destroys snake exhibit at Osceola attraction [Orlando Sentinel]
A fire Sunday morning at the snake exhibit of Wild Florida killed all of the reptiles inside. Sam Haught, co-owner of Wild Florida, said a heating device malfunctioned and the fire destroyed the enclosure. Osceola County Fire Rescue and St. Cloud Fire Department extinguished the blaze at the wildlife attraction in Kenansville, which offers airboat tours, a gator park and drive-through safari.

› St. Johns County gambling facility plan challenged [St Augustine Record]
The state’s approval of a plan to open a pari-mutuel facility near St. Augustine has drawn a legal challenge from another gambling operator down Interstate 95. Daytona Beach Kennel Club Inc., last week filed a challenge to a decision by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation to allow the relocation of a long-existing gambling permit to the site of the planned facility in St. Johns County.

› Legoland plans major expansion with more rides, attractions [Orlando Sentinel]
Legoland Florida Resort is planning a major expansion of rides and attractions on land being now used for a parking lot, according to a report in GrowthSpotter. Plans recently filed in the Southwest Florida Water Management District reveal that the Winter Haven park’s parent company, Merlin Entertainments Group, is seeking to clear about 4½ acres of its parking lot to build a new section for its 145-acre theme park. The application calls the project Legoland Venus.

› Tampa Bay area breweries take home top awards at national competition [Business Observer]
Big Storm Brewing Co.’s Maple Rum Huracan Imperial Stout was awarded the gold medal at the 2020 U.S. Beer Open Championship, an event founded in 2009 that drew more than 6,000 entries across 140 categories this year. Maple Rum Huracan Imperial Stout, according to a press release, was the top beer in the Rum Barrel-Aged Beer category. Big Storm’s sister brewery, Punta Gorda-based Fat Point, was also victorious: Its Big Boca Ale won a silver medal in the English Summer Ale category.

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› Opera Tampa goes outdoors for 2020-2021 season [Tampa Bay Times]
As coronavirus case numbers rise, the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts continues to pivot in the way they present performances. The center announced that Opera Tampa’s revised 2020-2021 season will be performed on the outdoor Riverwalk Stage.

› Facebook donates $1 million to Miami Foundation to tackle racial inequity [Miami Herald]
Miami’s racial divisions run deep. One of the most powerful businesses in the world wants to help close the gap. On Friday, Facebook announced it was donating $1 million to The Miami Foundation’s Racial Equity Fund, created earlier this year to tackle racial injustice.

› Southwest Airlines adds non-stop service to St. Louis, D.C. from Jacksonville [Florida Times Union]
Southwest Airlines is adding new daily nonstop flights to the nation's capital as well as the city of the Gateway Arch from Jacksonville International Airport. The new flights to St. Louis Lambert International, as well as Ronald Reagan and Washington National airports begin on March 11, JIA officials said.

› Snowcat Ridge reopens, has seven days to avoid being closed again by Pasco County [Tampa Bay Times]
The Snowcat Ridge alpine sledding park reopened on Friday, a day after Pasco County officials shut it down for numerous safety violations. But it opened under a seven-day temporary certificate of occupancy granted by the county. Snowcat Ridge will be closed again if it doesn’t pass final inspections by then, said Pasco County spokeswoman Tambrey Laine.