State's COVID numbers have some snowbirds saying they'll skip Florida this year

For snowbirds across the border, many of whom are retired, Florida's continued new infections and hospitalization rates — and the sharp politics around mask and vaccine mandates — are of great concern, even for the vaccinated. There's another reason some will be staying away, too: Canadians can fly into the U.S. for nonessential purposes. But for those like the Parrys, who drive to Florida from Canada, there's the fact that the U.S. has extended limitations on nonessential travel at Canada and Mexico land and ferry borders until at least Sept. 21. [Source: Florida Today]

Vaccination requirement spurs hospital staffing worries throughout Florida

Two major Florida hospital systems say they will carry out a plan announced Thursday by the Biden administration to require hospital workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 --- but concerns remain about how it could affect staffing. Tampa General Hospital and the Tampa Bay region’s BayCare system said they will take steps to comply, but BayCare CEO Tommy Inzina issued a “letter to the community” that described a “conundrum” that hospitals have faced because of severe staffing shortages during the pandemic. [Source: News Service of Florida   ]

All-civilian crew for Inspiration4 flight on SpaceX Dragon arrives to Kennedy Space Center

The quartet will be the first all-civilian crew in space, riding in the SpaceX Dragon Resilience, which previously flew on the Crew-1 mission for NASA to the International Space Station. It will launch atop a Falcon 9 rocket from KSC’s Launch Pad 39-A targeting liftoff no earlier than 8 p.m. Wednesday. The exact window has yet to be announced by SpaceX, but will be narrowed down to five hours within three days of launch. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

The U.S. Education Department is investigating Florida over school mask mandate ban

President Joe Biden’s administration on Friday initiated an investigation into whether Florida’s ban on mask mandates violates the civil rights of students with disabilities. The investigation launched by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights comes after a weeks-long battle between Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Biden administration over the hot-button public health issue that has quickly morphed into a political fight. [Source: Miami Herald]

Tropical Storm Nicholas forms, unlikely to affect Florida

The peak of hurricane season was Friday, and right on cue, a number of potential storms are brewing in the Atlantic. As of Sunday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center was monitoring four areas of tropical disturbance — three in the Atlantic and one in the Gulf of Mexico — but Floridians need not worry, according to Dustin Norman, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. “At most, you may see some added moisture in the air that may enhance shower and thunderstorm coverage over the next five or six days,” Norman said. “But that’s it.” [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Tech Trail: Flying ‘taxis’ over Miami just got one step closer to takeoff [Miami Herald]
The dream of flying taxis lifting Miamians above traffic gridlock got closer to reality this week after the Federal Aviation Administration gave an initial approval to allow Palo Alto, Calif.,-based Archer Aviation to deploy its five-passenger, half helicopter-half airplane vehicles in the skies. The FAA’s so-called G-1 Issue Paper is one step in a series that must still occur for Archer to reach its goal of launching service in Miami and Los Angeles in 2024.

› Redwire reports six-month loss of $23.6 million [Jacksonville Daily Record]
Redwire Corp. reported revenue of $63.8 million and a net loss of $23.6 million in the first six months of 2021, according to a Sept. 10 Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The Jacksonville-based space technology firm became a publicly traded company last week by completing a merger with Genesis Park Acquisition Corp.

› Several Sarasota-Manatee employers: Need more time processing President Joe Biden's new COVID-19 vaccine requirements [Sarasota Herald-TRibune]
Following President Joe Biden's announcement of new vaccination rules for private sector employees, several large Sarasota-Manatee area companies said they needed more time to process what this means for them. Tervis, the drinkware manufacturer based in North Venice, had no comment. The same was true at Bradenton-based First Watch, which is in the midst of a quiet period mandated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as it moves toward an initial public offering.

› Delray Beach museum presents Japanese culture, educates and inspires [Florida Today]
You might be surprised to find Japanese gardens and a museum near Delray Beach. The 200-acre Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens features Japanese gardens with strolling paths and lakes along with a museum, theater, tea house, classrooms and cafe. It’s home to more than 7,000 Japanese art objects and artifacts.

Trend Mention

UF research spending at record $942.2 million in 2020 despite pandemic UF Research spending reached a record $942.2 million in fiscal year 2020, despite a two-month pause in most operations due to the pandemic. According to a new report to the National Science Foundation, research expenditures supported by the federal government increased to $397.2 million, while state and local expenditures increased to $169.2 million. Learn about ongoing UF research in areas such as Alzheimer’s, early childhood learning and agriculture.

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› Micanopy Dollar General gains approval despite opposition from residents, Native Americans [Gainesville Sun]
A new Dollar General store just outside the city limits of Micanopy won approval from Alachua County after 15 years of rejection over concerns it will detract from the town’s historical nature, harm an adjacent wetland and impinge on a Native American site. The Development Review Committee listened for about six hours to presentations and public comment that was largely against the store before voting Thursday night with no discussion to approve the final development plan.

› Battling extinction: Rare Florida corals rescued amid plague graduate from Orlando to New Jersey [WUSF]
The great rescue of Florida corals from a devastating disease crossed a milestone with the transfer of two batches of knobby cactus and flower cup corals from their Orlando refuge. The Florida Coral Rescue Center in south Orlando is rearing the largest collection of Florida corals brought in from the wild from just ahead of a fast-moving plague along the state’s southeast coast and Keys. A batch of 22 coral colonies, each more or less the size of a football, was sent to SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium on International Drive. Another group of 12 was airlifted to Adventure Aquarium in Camden, New Jersey.

› North Jacksonville's largest shopping center, River City Marketplace thriving after 15 years [Florida Times-Union]
River City Marketplace is the largest shopping complex in North Jacksonville — characterized by neighboring residents and city leaders as essential to the community. Just 15 years old, the outdoor shopping center near Jacksonville International Airport and UF Health North hospital continues to attract new businesses despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

› Southwest Florida manufacturer to acquire California company for $126 million  [Business Observer]
PGT Innovations announced it has signed an agreement to acquire Anlin Industries, also known as Anlin Windows & Doors, for approximately $126 million. Venice-based PGT, a national leader in premium windows and doors, including impact-resistant products and products designed to unify indoor/outdoor spaces, made the announcement last week.