Florida’s December surge now the most severe of the pandemic

Florida on Monday reported 39,032 new COVID-19 cases from the weekend, pushing the 7-day average higher than its previous peak during the summer delta surge, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After record-setting days ahead of Christmas, the cases reported for Saturday and Sunday were markedly lower: 21,077 on Saturday and and 17,955 on Sunday. More from the Orlando Sentinel and the Miami Herald.

Florida Democrats, stung in 2020, are slipping even further behind GOP in 2022 vote

Democrats are losing ground when it comes to active registered voters. Florida Republicans forged ahead of Democrats in registered voters in October for the first time in modern history. In 2008 the lead was more than 500,000 voters and as recently as the 2016 general election Republicans were 134,242 behind Democrats. As of Nov. 30, the GOP has 25,000 more active registered voters, of the about 10.2 million registered in total for both parties. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Two laws, lower workers' comp rates to take effect

A pair of bills signed this year by Gov. Ron DeSantis, involving vehicle rentals and notaries public, will become law Saturday. Meanwhile, also starting Saturday, Florida employers will see an average 4.9 percent decrease in workers’ compensation insurance rates. The vehicle-rental measure (SB 566) sets insurance and other requirements for people who take part in peer-to-peer car-sharing programs. [Source: News Service of Florida]

SpaceX’s proposed launch site draws concerns about environmental damage

SpaceX has proposed building a launch and landing site for its Starship rockets at the north end of Kennedy Space Center in an area wedged between the historic pads built for moon rockets and Canaveral National Seashore. The potential for regular or prolonged closures of the beach-access road and the destruction of coastal wetlands resulting from SpaceX’s launch and landing site has drawn Audubon Florida’s concern. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Nearly $1 million worth of handbags stolen from luxury boutique store in Florida

Thirteen one-of-a-kind Hermes handbags valued at a total of nearly $1 million were stolen from Only Authentics boutique in Palm Beach during a smash-and-grab incident earlier this month. These incidents, which have been dubbed "grab and go" or "smash and go" thefts, involve people taking expensive items and running off, rather than traditional shoplifters who snag items here and there while shopping around. Some of these thefts are also considered organized retail crime, referring to professional shoplifting rings. [Source: USA Today]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› After nearly 100 years, Central Florida drug store closing its doors [Orlando Sentinel]
For nearly 100 years, Little Drug Co. has been a pharmacy, lunch counter and all-around place to meet and shop. That all comes to an end on Tuesday, as the store becomes yet another victim of COVID-19, a shrinking customer base and rising costs. “It’s sad to see the place close,” said David Sikes, owner and head pharmacist of Little Drug Co. since 1972. “As a lot people have said, ‘it’s an institution, it needs to stay here,’ but unfortunately that’s not going to happen.”

› Free fridges, popularized amid pandemic, keep going in St. Pete and Tampa [Tampa Bay Times]
Several months ago, a nondescript white refrigerator took up residence on the 8400 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street in St. Petersburg. A sign on the side of the fridge, facing the street, spells out its ethos. “Free food,” it says. “Take what you need, leave what you can!” While mutual aid efforts aren’t new, free fridges have proliferated during the pandemic.

› COVID cancels a ‘Nutcracker performance by Miami City Ballet. Will the show go on? [Miami Herald]
A lot of little (and big) fans wanting to see a holiday classic in Miami on Sunday afternoon were left disappointed. The Miami City Ballet’s performance of George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” at the Arsht Center was called off because someone involved in the production had a “breakthrough case” of COVID. It’s unclear whether the affected person is involved in the production of the show or is a dancer.  

› Winter Park-based hotel company to launch high-end hotel brand next year [Orlando Sentinel]
Greg Spencer, CEO of Timbers Company in Winter Park, is a traveling man. Between work and three to four family vacations per year (when there isn’t a pandemic happening), he estimates he racks up 250,000 miles annually. So he has advice for tourists looking to get the most out of their trips: take up jogging.

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› ‘Very busy:’ Miami-Dade libraries see big demand for free take-home COVID tests [Miami Herald]
Amid increasing concerns over the new COVID-19 variant, long lines for free COVID tests were reported across Miami-Dade County on Monday as county libraries held giveaways for take-home test kits. In Coconut Grove, the branch library gave away its supply of more than 400 tests before the library was set to open at 9:30 a.m.

› St. Cloud developer pays $150 million for Osceola’s Green Island Ranch [Orlando Sentinel]
St. Cloud’s Gentry Land Company and Wheelock Street Capital completed a blockbuster deal last week in Osceola County, paying $150 million for the nearly 6,000-acre Green Island Ranch property south of Lake Tohopekaliga, according to a report in GrowthSpotter. Gentry President Reed Berlinsky told GrowthSpotter the development team made an offer that was “a tad bit over” the $140 million list price and agreed to close the deal in a single transaction, which was important to the sellers.

› Titusville air show, Cocoa Beach powerboat races get $73,000 county grants [Florida Today]
County commissioners have approved "major event" grants of $73,000 apiece for a Titusville air show and a Cocoa Beach powerboat race, hoping that the popular spectacles will bring more tourism to the region. Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve grants for the Thunder on Cocoa Beach Super Boat Grand Prix powerboat race and the Space Coast International Air Show at Space Coast Regional Airport. Both events are scheduled for the same weekend in April.

› Citi hiring 100 auditors across Jacksonville and Wilmington, Delaware [Jacksonville Daily Record]
Citi announced Dec. 16 it will hire more than 100 workers across Jacksonville and Wilmington, Delaware, for its Internal Audit team. Citi Internal Audit comprises more than 2,000 workers that provide coverage across the company’s global businesses and products. The team provides independent assessments of the company’s governance, risk management and internal controls. It reports to Citi’s senior management and regulators globally.