Omicron’s ‘fat tail:’ Why aren’t COVID infections falling faster?

The omicron wave has crested, but health experts fear infections aren’t falling as fast as they had hoped. The omicron variant fed Florida’s highest COVID-19 growth rate since the pandemic started nearly two years ago. Health experts predicted that the highly contagious variant would rapidly burn through the state’s population and depart as quickly as it had arrived. But the omicron wave has stuck around longer than predicted, exhibiting what experts call a “fat tail” — meaning infections aren’t going down as fast as they went up. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Controversial solar measure approved with changes

A Senate committee Tuesday approved a revamped solar-energy bill, but the changes did not satisfy the rooftop-solar industry and environmental groups. The Senate Community Affairs Committee voted 6-3 to back the measure (SB 1024), which has drawn fierce debate because of how it would affect the industry and people with rooftop-solar systems. The bill deals with what is known as “net metering,” which governs charges and credits between electric utilities and customers who have rooftop system More from the News Service of Florida.

‘We do only one thing.’ Raising Cane’s plans big Orlando expansion

Raising Cane’s is bringing its fried chicken finger meals — and not one other meat option — to Orlando. The chain of more than 600 restaurants is opening its first Florida restaurant in Miami Beach this year and has about 25 sites in the pipeline across the state, with about 10 in the Orlando area, Co-CEO AJ Kumaran said in an interview Tuesday. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

What is Amazon delivering to Miami now? Health services and home visits  

Amazon already dominates your online shopping. Now it’s hoping to persuade your employer to offer you its telehealth and in-person health services. The tech giant on Tuesday announced plans to expand home visits for health services including vaccinations, tests and physical assessments to more than 20 cities in 2022, including the Miami metropolitan area. More from the Miami Herald.

Luxury hotel expert dishes on Tampa Bay’s allure

Luxury hotelier Pendry Hotels & Resorts is building a 37-story luxury tower on the Hillsborough River with Miami-based developers Two Roads Development. The hotel, expected to open sometime in 2024, will include 220 rooms, a luxury spa and a rooftop pool on a deck overlooking the Hillsborough River, along with fare like an upscale restaurant, a lobby bar and café. On the floors above the hotel will be 207 condos. Reid Boren, managing partner at Two Roads Development, the Miami developer behind the project, say they've already secured $50 million in pre-sales. More from the Business Observer.