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Positivity Rate Statewide Under 6% for two weeks
Lowest Hospitalization Rates since June
Today, Governor DeSantis is traveling to Pensacola to tour and survey damage from Hurricane Sally. He will also hold a press conference and recieve a briefing at the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center.
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Yahoo!News
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis provides an update on the damage caused by flooding and heavy rain brought on by Hurricane Sally....
Florida Politics
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday said he plans to visit Pensacola Thursday to assess Hurricane Sally’s “severe” impact.
Speaking to reporters from the State Emergency Operations Center, DeSantis said he is unaware of any fatalities directly caused by the storm, although two individuals were found dead in Santa Rosa County from non-storm related causes....
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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 9/17/2020
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22.83%
% of ICU Beds Available Statewide
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34.27% % of Pediatric ICU Beds Available Statewide
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24.00% % 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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WESH2
WINTER PARK, Fla. — It’s been six long months of the pandemic for families with loved ones in nursing homes.
Though not all nursing homes are reopening at the same time, one in Winter Park allowed visitors on Friday. Rick and Courtney Hilkert walked through the doors of the nursing home where their loved ones live, finally able to pay them a visit.
Courtney Hilkert went with gifts in hand...
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Agency for Persons with Disabilities
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ROOF Helps Residents with Disabilities Live Independently Fort Myers Florida Weekly Walls may form barriers between the rooms in a home, but sometimes walls and barriers take on new meaning when thoughts turn to independent residential living options for Southwest Floridians with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The mission of Residential Options of Florida is to overcome such walls and barriers and empower residents to live their best lives in the community by creating homes in which they can live independently....
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Bryan Foote was down on his luck when he stumbled across the CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion website back in June. Foote, 55, was a licensed captain giving tours in Crystal River when the COVID-19 pandemic started. The severity of the virus caused a business shutdown that left Foote, like many other Floridians, stressed and jobless.
For nearly 30 days, he searched online for another job, combing through listings on Indeed in an endeavor that led nowhere. That changed when he sought out the services of CareerSource. The organization set Foote up with a career coach who walked him through the job search process on a nearly daily basis....
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Department of Business and Professional Regulation
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Season of Sharing: As Florida Nursing Homes Reopen, a Sarasota Hairdresser gets her Job Back Herald Tribune
A silver lining appeared for Kathy Mitchell Tuesday morning after months of waiting.
Mitchell is a 61-year-old hairdresser who has worked at two different assisted-living facilities in Sarasota County for the last 15 years. Before the pandemic closed the facilities’ doors to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Mitchell walked into work one Wednesday morning in March.
She expected it to be another day of shampooing, cutting and coloring the hair of the residents in the facility. But she was stopped after walking through the door and told she could not return to work as Gov. Ron DeSantis’ order prohibited visitors from entering residential and long-term care facilities...
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Department of Children and Families
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Child Welfare Worker Appreciation Week Spotlight
Today's Child Welfare Worker Appreciation Week story comes from Palm Bay. One day, when several children were in the local DCF office, waiting to go to court, Child Protection Investigator Supervisor, Olivia Willis, noticed that one of the young girls didn’t have shoes that fit her. Without hesitation, CPI Supervisor Willis took off her shoes and gave them to the child – to keep. Olivia's supervisor said, "It is times like this that truly remind us why we all work in child welfare."
Thank you for showing so much love and respect for Florida's children, Olivia! Your selfless actions inspire us all.
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Department of Economic Opportunity
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Dane Eagle Promises Florida Department of Economic Opportunity will 'Turn New Leaf' Forrest Saunders
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The new director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is promising the department will "turn a new leaf" under his management.
Dane Eagle started his new role as head of the department Monday. Gov. Ron DeSantis tapped the former Florida House Majority Leader earlier this month after a failed primary bid for US House.
Eagle will now be responsible for the state's troubled unemployment system, which continues struggling to pay claims amid COVID's economic crisis....
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New rankings from U.S. News & World Report evaluate Florida colleges based on factors such as academic excellence and graduation rates.
FLORIDA — As students and colleges across the nation grapple with the effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, U.S. News & World Report on Monday remained steadfast with the release of its 2021 edition of Best U.S. Colleges, a list that includes more than 40 schools in Florida...
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Department of Elder Affairs
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Point of View: A Different Type of Public Service: Clinical Trials Palm Beach Post
In a time with so much disagreement, I have found that the search for a cure for Alzheimer’s is important common ground in Tallahassee. This summer, I worked with Republican Rep. Scott Plakon, who tragically lost his wife, Susie, to Alzheimer’s, to create a new dementia director position in the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. I will always be a supporter of the search for a cure for this disease — as a son, as a legislator, a study partner and a care friend.
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Division of Emergency Management
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'In Attic HELP': From Chainsaw-Wielding Residents to Paramedics, see Sally's Rescue Stories Pensacola News Journal
Hurricane Sally drenched the Florida Panhandle early Wednesday morning, dumping over 20 inches of rain on Pensacola and bringing tropical storm-force winds, leaving hundreds throughout the area in need of rescue.
Escambia County water rescue teams saved 377 people from flooded areas, and paramedics responded to over 200 calls. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office said they saved more than 100 people from high-water situations...
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Department of Environmental Protection
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Rookery Bay Holds Virtual Training Program on Scientific Solutions
To meet the changing conditions presented by COVID-19, Rookery Bay’s Coastal Training Program has gone fully virtual with the successful “Science Solutions Webinar and Workshop Series.” Since this series began, more than 500 participants, both environmental professionals and community members, have learned from local and national experts about how scientific information and data impacts and supports environmental decision making. Just last week, more than 75 participants joined the Science Solution webinar “Rookery Bay Getting the Water Right Science,” where participants learned how scientific research and community values have integrated to address freshwater flows at Rookery Bay Research Reserve.
Interested parties can register for future webinars here.
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Department of Management Services
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Secretary Satter: Thank You, State Employees, for Your Service
DMS Secretary Jonathan Satter thanks State Personnel System employees for serving more than 7,960 hours as poll workers in counties during the 2020 Primary Election following Governor DeSantis’ issuing of Executive Order 20-149.
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Department of Transportation
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U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao Announces $1 Billion to Upgrade American Infrastructure Transportation.Gov WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary Elaine L. Chao today announced that the Trump Administration will invest $1 billion in American infrastructure through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grants program. The funding has been awarded to 70 projects in 44 states. “This Administration is making significant investments in infrastructure, and this $1 billion in BUILD grants will repair, rebuild, and revitalize transportation systems across America,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao. Fiscal Year 2020 BUILD Transportation grants are for planning and capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure and were awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant local or regional impact. BUILD funding supports roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports or intermodal transportation. Since 2017, the Administration has awarded nearly $4 billion in BUILD grants to improve America’s infrastructure...
A $25 Million Grant Goes To Big Bend Road And I-75 Improvements Florida Patch
BLOOMINGDALE - RIVERVIEW, FL — In one of Hillsborough County's fastest-growing areas, a major transportation corridor and interstate exchange project will improve safety and ease traffic for residents in the SouthShore region thanks in to a $25 million Federal Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant, officials said. Hillsborough County has been awarded the BUILD grant to help improve the Big Bend Road corridor and make it safer for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists as well as parents and children commuting to the two Hillsborough County schools on the corridor. Plans include a multi-modal roadway with wide shared use asphalt paths and bike lanes along Old Big Bend Road that connect new neighborhoods in the area to the schools, shops and recreational activities along the corridor....
SpaceX Plans to Launch 60 Starlink Satellites Central Florida News 13
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — SpaceX is expected to launch a Falcon 9 rocket with another batch of Starlink satellites from the Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday afternoon. SpaceX says the targeted time of the launch is 2:19 p.m. EDT., as the Falcon 9 will carry 60 satellites. The Falcon 9 will launch from Launch Complex 39A. At last check, the weather is at 60 percent favorability, according to the 45th Weather Squadron. The Starlink will form a constellation around Earth that will eventually comprise tens of thousands of satellites. The network, which will take years to complete, is intended to expand internet access to underserved areas....
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Green Shoots Bode Well For Southeastern States Our Regional Report on the Southeast finds many industries holding up behind the “doom and gloom” headlines.
There isn’t a single state in the country that hasn’t experienced a major economic blow in the past few months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet, EDCs in the Southeast say behind the “doom and gloom” headlines, many industries are holding up. Surprisingly, states are even reporting new investments in recent months as manufacturers, life sciences and tech companies seek to capitalize on growing healthcare needs and the “stay-at-home” economy...
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Florida Department of Citrus
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In the first meeting of the new fiscal year, the Florida Citrus Commission received an update Wednesday on Florida Department of Citrus marketing activities as well as an overview of plans for the 2020-21 season. Over the summer, the FDOC continued efforts to drive sales of Florida Orange Juice through e-commerce programs featuring “The Original Wellness Drink” campaign. Since June, the campaign has reached 65.2 million impressions and driven $1.7 million in attributed sales of 100% orange juice with a campaign ROAS (Return On Ad Spend) of $5.14.
The 2020-21 campaign will expand on the previous year’s efforts with a goal to reach 750 million impressions and drive $10 million in attributed sales of 100% orange juice with a ROAS (Return On Ad Spend) of $3. This will be achieved through a broadening of the audience and activities such as e-commerce, paid display, paid search, paid social, organic social, influencer engagement, earned media and events. Messaging will continue to focus on nutrition and wellness while highlighting the premium quality of Florida Orange Juice. Creative concepts aim to tie orange juice consumption to the situation our consumers find themselves in today, including highlighting work from home and wellness routines.
Additionally, the FDOC provided an update on efforts to promote the latest FDOC-funded nutrition research which found 100% orange juice and hesperidin may help to lower blood pressure. The program resulted in earned media coverage in seven outlets, including Woman’s World and POPSUGAR, as well as advertorials in more than 600 outlets.
The Commission is expected to set the 2020-21 budget at its next meeting on Oct. 21. For more information, visit FDOCGrower.com
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Florida Department of Corrections
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Florida Department of Law Enforcement
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Multi-Agency Investigation Leads to Three Arrests in Fatal I-4 Shooting WTSP The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office announced the arrests of three people -- three weeks after a teen boy was shot and killed on Interstate 4 near Plant City. The arrests happened because of collaborations with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, FHP, Plant City Police Department and the Tampa Police Department...
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Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs
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Tampa Chapter of Florida Association of Veteran Owned Businesses Hosts Virtual Opening
Retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. James S. “Hammer” Hartsell is scheduled to deliver remarks today during the virtual opening of the Tampa Chapter of the Florida Association of Veteran Owned Businesses. Hartsell, who serves as deputy executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, is scheduled to join Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and NFL veteran and entrepreneur Vincent Jackson in the 3:30 p.m. launch.
FAVOB helps grow veteran businesses, as well as support and endorse employing veterans as they return from active and reserve duty to join the civilian workforce.
For registration information, visit https://bit.ly/3kgEOmR
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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
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FWC officers assisted local governments and law enforcement in the western Panhandle on Wednesday, September 16th after Hurricane Sally made landfall near the Alabama/Florida line. Officers conducted search and rescue missions and wellness checks utilizing shallow draft vessels, four wheel drive trucks and ATVs.
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Florida Housing Finance Corporation
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The Palm Beach Examiner
The City of Delray Beach Neighborhood and Community Services Department staff are assisting residents affected by Covid-19 apply with taxpayer-funded Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF). More than $224.573 is available for the fiscal year 2020-2021, and must be expended by Dec. 3, 2020.
Participants can use funds for rental and mortgage help payments or emergency repairs for persons who have experienced hardships related to the Covid-19 emergency as allocated by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) to assist qualified families. Properties must be within municipal boundaries. Must show proof of Covid-19 hardship. Rental payments can include water and utility payments. Emergency repairs can address emergency only conditions such as replacement or repair of roofs, plumbing and electric and/or existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)...
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Helping with Hurricane Sally Response and Recovery
One of the best ways that individuals can assist disaster survivors is by donating monetarily. During disasters, cash can be transported instantly and can be used to purchase essential supplies that are needed for both response and recovery activities. Goods donations (like food and clothing) can often be difficult to transport, store and distribute. Before donating, make sure that you confirm that there is a legitimate need and connect with reputable organizations when doing so.
For more information about how to volunteer when the conditions are safe, please visit www.volunteerflorida.org/hurricane-sally. Immediate assistance for affected areas is provided by first responders, government groups, disaster relief organizations and affiliated volunteers who have already trained to serve. Please do not self-deploy and always affiliate with a disaster relief organization before entering the affected area. For more information about safely serving during a COVID-19 environment, please click here.
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Department of Juvenile Justice
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Department of The Lottery
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Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
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