Florida tourism numbers show a strong comeback from pandemic, but will that last?

Spring and summer travel numbers suggest a strong comeback for Florida tourism amid the pandemic, but officials continue to monitor the spread of the Delta variant and spikes in COVID-19 cases statewide as potential disruptors to the recovery. Data released by Visit Florida and Visit Orlando showed that during the second quarter of 2021 — which includes April, May and June — hotel occupancy and demand, as well as airport passenger traffic, all soared from the same period in 2020 when COVID-19 nearly shut down the tourism industry. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Florida COVID update: 23,335 new cases, state continues to see increasing hospitalizations

Florida reported 23,335 new COVID-19 cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday, according to Herald calculations of CDC data. On Wednesday, the state also reported eight new deaths the day before. In all, Florida has recorded at least 2,978,433 confirmed COVID cases statewide and 41,149 deaths. In early August, the CDC changed the way it reported new cases and deaths in Florida. According to statements from the Florida Department of Health, a complete renewed set of data is given to the CDC daily, which may include changes to previous days daily totals. [Source: Miami Herald]

DeSantis proposes bonuses to recruit law enforcement officers to Florida

Gov. Ron DeSantis plans to ask the Legislature next year to provide $5,000 bonuses to help recruit law enforcement officers to Florida. The bonuses are part of a package of proposals that DeSantis announced Tuesday at a Fraternal Order of Police conference in Indianapolis, according to the governor’s office. State lawmakers could take up the issues during the legislative session that will start in January. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Florida’s home prices spike ‘well in excess of recent norms,’ but could cool soon

With the number of existing homes being listed for sale increasing, Florida’s sellers’ market that spurred a 24.3% spike in single-family home costs over the last year could simmer down in coming months, said Florida Realtors Chief Economist Brad O’Connor. “Florida’s red-hot rate of home price growth could begin to cool down somewhat in the coming months,” he said, “although that will also depend on whether interest rates start to trend higher again, as well. For now, though, the numbers continue to astound.” [Source: The Center Square]

E-commerce company challenges state pot restriction

E-commerce company Leafly has carved out a niche as one of the nation’s leading shopping sites for all things cannabis. Leafly and similar websites allow visitors to peruse the stock available at medical marijuana dispensaries, place orders online and pick up and pay for the goods at local storefronts. But Florida health regulators this year stopped medical marijuana operators from using Leafly and other third-party sites to process patient pre-orders, saying the services violate a state law banning operators from contracting for services “directly related to the cultivation, processing and dispensing” of cannabis. [Source: News Service of Florida]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Want to get from Miami Beach to Miami without a car? A ferry has started service again [Miami Herald]
The ability to get from downtown Miami to Miami Beach, and vice-versa, in 15 minutes is possible again in the most Miami of ways. Along Biscayne Bay. That’s thanks to the recent relaunch of the Poseidon Ferry service. On its soft opening on Monday, Aug. 16, the private company whisked about 60 people across Biscayne Bay for its first full day of service since hitting dry dock in January due to the COVID pandemic and permitting, according to Poseidon’s CEO, Jonathan Silvia.

› Central Florida has festival fever this week, weekend and beyond [Orlando Sentinel]
Looking for something to do in Orlando? Festivals provide entertainment this week, weekend and beyond in Central Florida. At the theme parks, SeaWorld Orlando’s Craft Beer Festival is back, featuring more than 100 craft brews, wines, seltzers and cocktails — plus food. It runs select dates through Sept. 12. There’s also the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival with a variety of limited-time food and beverage offerings at Walt Disney World. The fest runs through Nov. 20.

› West Tampa cigar factory with iconic clock tower will be a winery and bar [Tampa Bay Times]
The Y. Pendas y Alvarez Cigar Factory’s century-old clock will ring again. When the factory was built in 1909, the clock tower was the second in the area, tallest in the state, played music in a syncopated gong on the hour and lit up at night. After the factory stopped producing cigars in the 1950s, the building fell into disrepair. The clock has not worked for decades.

› Corporate jet hub eyed for Homestead Air Reserve Base [Miami Today]
A 2020 county effort to sign an agreement with the Air Force that could bring corporate jets and cabin-class helicopters to the Homestead Air Reserve Base is still awaiting an Air Force response. The runway for the effort has been long and takeoff remains in holding mode. Conversations between the parties date back to 2015, when county commissioners approved a first resolution directing the mayor to begin negotiations and pursue a joint use agreement.

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› Florida county declares pandemic state of emergency amid hospital resource shortage [The Hill]
A Florida county voted unanimously on Tuesday to declare a state of emergency as hospitals are becoming increasingly strained amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay proposed issuing the emergency order after all 12 beds in the intensive care unit at a local medical became occupied, 11 of which were for patients with COVID-19.

› Port Tampa Bay: Cruises could return to Tampa by October [Tampa Bay Times]
After an absence of more than 18 months, Port Tampa Bay officials are preparing for cruise ships to return to Tampa this fall. “We are encouraged to see the cruise industry slowly starting back up across the county,” Wade Elliott, the port’s vice president of business development, said during a Tampa Port Authority board meeting on Tuesday. “We anticipate that we will begin to see regular sailings from Port Tampa Bay starting again in mid-October, so we’re excited about that.”

› Cirque du Soleil’s new Disney show sets opening date [Orlando Sentinel]
The new Cirque du Soleil show at Walt Disney World finally has a new opening date — more than a year and a half after the COVID-19 pandemic halted the production. Called “Drawn to Life,” the show was in final rehearsals and just a few weeks away from debuting when the pandemic shutdown brought the entertainment industry to a halt. The show — the first created jointly by Cirque du Soleil and Disney — is now scheduled to open at Disney Springs on Nov. 18.

› Customers to fund $10 million FPL Virginia Key expansion [Miami Today]
Florida Power & Light (FPL) will soon commence a multi-million-dollar expansion project from Virginia Key, one that will ultimately be paid for by its customers. The company offered details about the project to the Virginia Key Advisory Board. Attending was David Weda, an engineer with FPL. Pressed on the total cost of the project by board members, Mr. Weda said it will be more than $10 million.