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Positivity Rate Statewide Under 6% for two weeks and under 5% for one week
Lowest Hospitalization Rates since June
Today, Governor DeSantis announced Florida’s unemployment rate declined 35% from July. The rate is now 7.4%. Private-sector employment increased by 46,000 jobs in August.
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Pensacola News Journal
Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state is pouring hundreds of thousands of resources into Northwest Florida following Hurricane Sally including gasoline, generators, ambulance crews, food and drinking water.
DeSantis, along with other local, state and federal officials, surveyed the storm damage by air Thursday afternoon. He said while there were obvious signs of flood damage and standing water in some of the harder hit areas like Perdido Key, a lot of the impact wouldn’t be known until officials can get boots on the ground.
For right now, “We have all hands on deck,” DeSantis said. “We want to make sure to continue to keep people safe. (Conduct) rescues if needed. Get that power back on. And then, of course, we're gonna look at the damage and people that may have lost homes. We want to get them to a safe place...."
WKRG
PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG) — Governor Ron Desantis visited Pensacola Thursday and saw the flooding and damage then addressed the media at the Pensacola International Airport.
He said trucks are bringing in gasoline from Louisiana.
At the Circle K at Gregory Street and 9th Avenue, an employee told WKRG News 5 things got out of hand and they had to call in police to keep the peace...
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| COVID-19 by the numbers | COVID -19 Fatalities
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| ICUs and hospital beds by the numbers | as of 9/18/2020
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22.74%
% of ICU Beds Available Statewide
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36.21%
% of Pediatric ICU Beds Available Statewide
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24.45%
% of Available Hospital Beds Statewide
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Download or share any of these social media graphics below for your personal, business, or agency use.
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| Agency for Health Care Administration
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Medicaid Member Portal Phone App
The Agency for Health Care Administration recently launched the Florida Medicaid Member Portal App to coincide with the 2020-2021 Medicaid open enrollment period. Medicaid enrollees can use the App to check Medicaid eligibility and enrollment status, enroll in a Medicaid health or dental plan, go paperless by subscribing to email or text notifications, file a Medicaid complaint and more. The App launched in the Android store August 29 and is scheduled to launch in the Apple store later this fall.
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| Agency for Persons with Disabilities
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Camp Idlewild Shows Kids with Autism Favorite Camp Activities
WFLA
A new kind of camp is coming to Land O’ Lakes for kids with special needs. 8 On Your Side’s Lila Gross tells us what we can expect from Camp Idlewild.
Camp Idlewild of Florida is a place where campers are accepted and valued for who they are and for their unique differences.
The new organization has all the favorite camp activities like nature studies, swimming, arts & crafts, sports and games, treasure hunting adventures, hiking, dancing, music, drum circles, drama, horseback riding, pet therapy, yoga, canoeing, paddle boating, boat rides, archery, storytelling, star gazing, campfires and more..
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Retail, Hospitality and Tourism Virtual Job Fair
CareerSource Research Coast, Palm Beach County, and Broward have brought together some of South Florida’s top retail, hospitality and tourism companies and community partners to attract the best talent during a time when our region needs it most. All veterans receive an 8 a.m. early entry Sept. 23 as part of our commitment to Priority of Service in the areas of employment and training.
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Department of Business and Professional Regulation
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Clearwater Business Helps Struggling Small Businesses Affected By COVID
CBS Tampa
Small businesses are becoming a big focus as the pandemic is causing a tremendous strain on local small businesses. Some new statistics show that many won’t survive. A movement is happening right here in Tampa Bay aimed at helping revive those struggling businesses.
The movement is called, Save Our Town. Michael Plummer, Jr., owner of Our Town America, a local marketing company headquartered in Clearwater, Florida aims to continue connecting small local businesses with new Florida residents that might not otherwise have a chance to explore their new neighborhood due to the pandemic.
“It’s not like they’re walking around, exploring their community as they used to. I mean, they’re [leaving] their house with a destination in mind, ‘I’m going here, going to do that,” said Plummer.
“We have people who have been with us for years, decades, and they’re having to close their doors. It’s a struggle out there for every type of business. Every type of business, someone’s taking a hit,” said Plummer....
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| Department of Children and Families
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Happy #ChildWelfareWorkerAppreciationWeek to this dynamic duo! Child Protective Investigator Supervisor, Michaela Robinson, and Sr. Child Protective Investigator, Amanda Sanchez, are part of our Critical Action Case (CAC) unit. Recently, Michaela and Amanda received a call from a community partner regarding a young woman who was in distress. They worked with multiple agencies to determine her identity, as she had given a false name and age. In doing so, they also discovered that she was a juvenile who had been on the run since May. But in the end, because of their teamwork, this young woman was able to receive the help and care that she needed.
Michaela and Amanda consistently show the true spirit of helping our community in crisis and protecting our most vulnerable!
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Education Beyond High School for All is Key to Florida's Economic Recovery
Florida Trend
Sometimes a crisis will transform a mission that’s important into one that’s urgent, too.
For some time, the data crunchers at the Florida College Access Network were reading tea leaves suggesting that Florida needed to boost the number of residents with a degree or credential after high school and close the opportunity gap that held back people of color.
Low-education jobs were at risk of being automated. The workers who recovered best from the Great Recession had at least some college. And the majority of Florida workers would be Black or Hispanic by 2030, yet those groups lagged in college degree attainment.
Then COVID-19 hit, and FCAN’s mission became the urgent cornerstone of Florida’s economic recovery.
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Department of Elder Affairs
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New Law Will Shrink Medicaid Waiting List
CBS 4: Miami
Nearly 60,000 poor, disabled and elderly residents are on a waiting list for placement in Florida’s Medicaid managed long-term care program. But the number of people on the list will be drastically reduced in the coming months. The Legislature this year passed a law to ensure that the list only includes the names of residents who are most at risk of nursing-home placement and that people with “low priority” scores will not go on the list. Of the 59,259 people on the list, only about 1,562 are considered in the high-risk category, according to Rebecca Roberts, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Elder Affairs...
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| Department of Environmental Protection
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DEP Develops Virtual Map App to Monitor Marine Debris
Recently, staff from the Northeast Florida Aquatic Preserves, Tomoka Marsh Aquatic Preserve and GTM Research Reserve have developed an ArcGIS Collector map and Survey123 survey streamline data on collection of derelict crab traps and marine debris within the managed areas.
This survey and mapping project will allow staff to create data points of collected debris using preferred digital devices such as cell phones and tablets. Once fully implemented, this new survey form and map will the paper surveys currently used. The new technology will also allow staff in the field to document removal of debris at any time. These innovations are part of DEP’s efforts to continue to protect Florida's natural resources more efficiently and safely throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
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| Department of Management Services
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The 2021 Open Enrollment Benefit Fair Webinar Schedule is live. Visit MyBenefits.MyFlorida.com to view plans and find a webinar date and times that works best for you. Check your eligibility before selecting a webinar, to ensure you can participate in the different plans.
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| Department of Transportation
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Tallahassee International Airport Serving as Logistical Staging Area for Hurricane Sally Relief
WCTV6
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) - The Tallahassee International Airport is currently serving as a Logistical Staging Area for state emergency operations in the wake of Hurricane Sally. The airport was notified by the state on Tuesday that it would be the best option for an LSA; they've been preparing since then. Deputy Director of Aviation Jim Durwin says quite a bit of equipment has already been transported west, but more is still coming in. The airport has converted a taxiway, lining up semi trailers, filled with water, food, tarps, and other supplies. You can also find generators, pumps, forklifts, lights, and all kinds of equipment in the parking lot. With all of these operations, TLH still has to continue regular daily services. "It's a challenge, but it's one that we're certainly up to, and we're proud to be able to participate in. We appreciate the opportunity to help out, because we know just how important that activity is," said Durwin. Durwin also says there could be aviation support coming to the airport, so you may see helicopters in the area in the coming days. He anticipates the LSA could be open for weeks, depending on the damage out west
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Innovation Park Receives $10.2 Million Grant, Hand delivered by US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross
WCTV News
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) - Innovation Park has received a $10.2 million Economic Development Administration grant to create the North Florida Innovation Labs.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross traveled to Tallahassee to award the check in-person and toured Danfoss Turbocor Compressors.
The new labs will be a 40,000 square foot facility, with many types of wet labs, engineering space, a tissue and bioculture area, and protoype development space. It will be the first mixed-use business incubator and accelerator in the region. Leaders say it will bring diversity to the industries in Tallahassee and Leon County.
“The proposed project will help promote economic diversity and resilience in the wake of Hurricane Michael,” said Secretary Ross....
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| Florida Department of Corrections
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FDC and ICE Begin Implementation of Immigration Enforcement Partnership
Program designed to protect citizens, foster safe communities and uphold the law.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement to implement the Federal 287(g) Program. The goal of this program is to enhance public safety by identifying criminal aliens received into a correctional facility.
“We take our responsibility to protect our citizens, foster safe communities and uphold the rule of law very seriously,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “I directed Secretary Inch to find opportunities within FDC to participate in programs that facilitate greater cooperation in immigration enforcement with the federal government, and I’m pleased that the implementation of this important program is moving forward.”
On August 17, Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Mark Inch signed a Memorandum of Agreement with ICE to partner in the 287(g) Program, after a thorough review and approval process by the 287(g) advisory board. Northwest Florida Reception Center will be FDC’s first location of the Federal 287(g) Program. The program establishes guidelines and conditions for ICE to gather citizenship information and immigration status of an inmate to make a final determination of further proceedings. It also provides a framework for FDC personnel to be selected, trained and approved by ICE to perform certain functions as a Designated Immigration Officer within the correctional institution.
“Federal, state and local officers working together provides a tremendous benefit to public safety,” said Secretary Inch. “Common sense partnerships like this help law enforcement achieve our mutual goals.”
“Communities across Florida are safer today because of the Florida Department of Corrections joining the ICE 287(g) Program,” said ICE Miami Field Office Director Michael W. Meade. “This partnership will ensure criminal aliens are not released back onto our streets, increasing public safety across the state.”
The Florida Department of Corrections joins 75 law enforcement agencies in 21 states which have a current “Jail Enforcement Model” agreement with ICE.
A copy of the completed Memorandum of Agreement can be found at: www.ice.gov/doclib/287gMOA/287gJEM_FL_DOC_FL_08-21-2020.pdf
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Florida Department of Law Enforcement
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FDLE Member Wins State/Federal Law Enforcement Officer of the Year
Florida Daily
At the first virtual Florida Missing Children's Day ceremony Monday, a number of citizens and public servants were honored for their extraordinary efforts to protect Florida's children.
FDLE Special Agent Supervisor Patrick Crough, of FDLE's Fort Myers Regional Operations Center, is the winner of the 2020 State/Federal Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award.
In two separate cases last year, Special Agent Supervisor Crough rescued two Guatemalan teenagers who were smuggled into the United States illegally and trafficked. In the first case, an 18-year-old male was forced to work at a landscaping service, was physically abused, had his wages stolen and was forced to live in a storage shed. In the second case, a 16-year-old female was sexually abused by her trafficker and his brother. Both victims were rescued...
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| Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs
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Governor DeSantis Signs POW/MIA Recognition Day in Florida Proclamation
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the annual POW/MIA Recognition Day in Florida Proclamation.
The annual observance, commemorated annually on the third Friday in September, is an opportunity to honor and recognize our brave service members who are classified as Prisoners of War or Missing in Action.
The POW/MIA flag is flown daily over the Florida Capitol, rest areas along Florida’s Interstate Highways, and at Florida’s State Parks to honor POW/MIAs and their service.
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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
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Florida Housing Finance Corporation
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INDIAN RIVER COUNTY ― Indian River County has launched two new COVID-19 relief funds.
The Rental and Mortgage Payment Assistance program will assist households affected by the pandemic with rental and mortgage payments.
The IRC CARES program will distribute personal protective equipment supplies to small businesses located within Indian River County.
The Rental and Mortgage Payment Assistance program will provide up to $1,500 per month for up to three months to households that require assistance due to a reduction or loss of income caused by COVID-19....
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Senators Introduce Bill to Safely Bring Back Cruising in US
Travel Pulse
Two United States senators introduced a new act establishing a task force to address the changes needed to allow cruise lines to resume operations.
According to an official statement, Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio introduced the Set Sail Safely Act on Wednesday in coordination with a Private Sector Advisory Committee to establish a Maritime Task Force.
With cruise lines currently under a No Sail Order established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) until September 30, the Set Sail Safely Act has been developed to help prepare for the industry’s inevitable return....
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Department of Economic Opportunity
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| Department of Juvenile Justice
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| Department of The Lottery
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| Division of Emergency Management
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| Florida Department of Citrus
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| Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
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