COVID-19 deaths, infections continue to fall in Florida

Florida’s fever may have finally broken. New COVID-19 infections continue to fall, dropping to about 8,000 cases per day. And for the first time in 10 weeks, the number of coronavirus deaths has fallen. Infections in Florida fell to 56,325 over the most recent seven-day period of Sept. 17-23. That’s about 8,000 cases per day, according to data released by the state on Friday. It’s the lowest weekly infection rate in the state since early July. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Florida’s major theaters mount comebacks, but with COVID-era guest policies enforced

Last week, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale and Tampa’s Straz Center were two major theater venues in the Sunshine State to announce new COVID-19-era guest policies. Fellow performing arts theaters are following and finalizing plans to keep shows on, all the while noting the persistent dangers of the coronavirus — namely the highly contagious delta variant. [Source: Miami Herald]

Hurricane Sam has strengthened to a Category 4. It hasn’t made a major turn yet

As predicted, Hurricane Sam now blows with Category 4, 145 mph winds according to the National Hurricane Center. It still should miss Florida after it turns. But, as that hasn’t happened yet, the U.S. East Coast should still pay attention to Sam. Sam and a disturbance are in the Atlantic Ocean. More from the  Miami Heraldand the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

DeSantis hikes surgeon general salary by 72%, as other agency heads get increases, too

Florida’s new surgeon general received a pay raise of 72% compared with his predecessor, as leaders of several state agencies under Gov. Ron DeSantis saw their paychecks grow last week under a hike approved by the Legislature this year. The biggest increase was for Dr. Joseph Ladapo, the new surgeon general who also runs the Department of Health. Scott Rivkees, the last person in the job, received $145,000 a year, but Ladapo will earn $250,000. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Afghan refugees could resettle in South Florida soon

In the coming months, South Florida may be an unlikely landing place for an unknown number of Afghan refugees who fled the Taliban regime. It’s more common for Afghan refugees to resettle in areas with more affordable housing and more robust public transportation, according to local refugee assistance organizers. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Puerto Rican startup Amasar works to expand distribution of breadfruit-based products to Florida [Orlando Sentinel]
While Marisol Villalobos was living in Italy after her husband Jesús Martes got relocated for his job in the pharmaceutical industry, they were able to receive care packages with all sorts of Puerto Rican items, but one. That’s when the idea of the company Amasar was born. “My confirmation godmother sent me a huge package to Milano and inside that package there was a breadfruit,” Villalobos said, “because over there I got everything except breadfruit.”

› Miami’s arts are back. Here’s how they’ve changed because of the pandemic [Miami Herald]
Finally, the unplanned 18-month intermission for arts and culture in South Florida has drawn to a close. With season openings staggered throughout the fall, dancers and actors and musicians will share indoor theater spaces with audiences eager to become part of the communal thrill of a live performance. After a digital-ascendant 2000-2021 season, arts groups and cultural organizations have planned, revised and tweaked 2021-2022 lineups aimed at a return to normal — whatever “normal” may now mean.

› Tampa Bay groups got $38M in MacKenzie Scott grants. How will they spend it? [Tampa Bay Times]
The last thing Jessica Muroff expected about a year into her tenure as CEO of the United Way Suncoast was a call saying one of the world’s wealthiest women wanted to give her $20 million. “My fraud flag was waving so high,” Muroff said. “I was like, ‘What do you mean somebody wants to give us $20 million and I can’t talk about it?’”

› Cinemark executive: Jacksonville ‘a fantastic movie town’ [Jacksonville Daily Record]
A Cinemark Holdings Inc. senior executive says Jacksonville likes its flicks. “You guys are a fantastic movie town,” said Chanda Brashears, senior vice president of investor relations, public relations and corporate communications. “We have really loved serving the Jacksonville movie-goers. They are eager to go to the theater,” she said Sept. 16 as the 14-screen Cinemark Jacksonville Atlantic North and XD opened at northwest Kernan and Atlantic boulevards.

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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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› Restaurants Whiskey Joe's, Fysh coming to Beachwalk mega-project in St. Johns County [Florida Times-Union]
Two new-to-Northeast Florida restaurants are among five businesses planning to open at Beachwalk St. Johns, a master-planned development under construction in northern St. Johns County. Whiskey Joe's Bar & Grill and Fysh Bar & Grill top the list of new tenants recently signing leases at the Shoppes at Beachwalk.

› Room to spare for surgeons, robots at $300 million Tampa surgery center [Tampa Bay Times]
The six-story Taneja Center for Surgery at AdventHealth includes a new 24-bed critical care unit, 96 private patient rooms and 18 operating rooms that will allow surgeons to operate on more patients with heart and digestive problems, neurological issues and to perform surgeries to arrest cancerous tumors.

› Disney World dresses up for birthday after pandemic’s party pooper threat [Orlando Sentinel]
Walt Disney World is barreling into its golden years as the resort begins the extended celebration of its 50th anniversary. Disney is introducing three new shows, a family-friendly dark ride and dozens of golden character statues, and it’s tweaking the iconic theme park centerpieces and installing other enhancements for the festivities.

› It’s hush-hush, but a speakeasy and kitchen is opening in Fort Lauderdale [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Behind a 400-pound bulletproof vault door at Chops + Hops Axe Throwing Lodge lies Mama Hank’s, a new Flagler Village kitchen and full-liquor speakeasy lounge opening Sept. 23. The 1,000-square-foot Mama Hank’s has 30 seats, an island bar and warehouse bay door that rolls up for alfresco drinking, and will share its kitchen with Chops & Hops.