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Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced bold legislation to stop violent assemblies and protect law enforcement. The proposed legislation, the “Combatting Violence, Disorder and Looting and Law Enforcement Protection Act,” creates new criminal offenses and increases penalties for those who target law enforcement and participate in violent or disorderly assemblies. See the proposed legislation here.
Friday, 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.
Positivity Rate Statewide Under 6% for a month
Lowest Hospitalization Rates Since June
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Florida Politics
Following the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday evening that he would order flags at half staff cross the state in the late Justice’s honor.
Ginsburg, the Court’s second female justice, died in her Washington home Friday of complications from metastatic pancreatic cancer.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and to her family and friends,” the Governor tweeted. “I’m ordering flags throughout the state of Florida be lowered to half staff to honor her memory and recognize her lifetime of service to our great nation...."
Governor DeSantis Signs Bills on License Plates, Shark Finning
CBS Miami/NSF
Floridians will get a chance to buy new specialty license plates, including three for out-of-state universities, while efforts to prevent shark “finning” got a boost Friday, as Gov. Ron DeSantis signed 14 bills into law.
DeSantis also vetoed a measure (HB 789) that would have imposed a $1 fee for people with developmental disabilities who chose to have the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles put the letter “D” on identification cards. He signed a related bill (HB 787) that authorized putting the letter “D” on the cards.
“I believe making this option available to our fellow Floridians with developmental disabilities is good public policy,” DeSantis wrote in explaining the veto. “However, imposing an additional fee could unnecessarily discourage a number of eligible Floridians from choosing this service designed to increase awareness and promote greater inclusion and participation in the community...."
Washington County News
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis activated the Florida Disaster Fund to support communities that have been impacted by Hurricane Sally. To make a contribution, please visit www.VolunteerFlorida.org or text DISASTER to 20222 to make a one-time donation of $10.
“Today, I have directed the Volunteer Florida Foundation to activate the Florida Disaster Fund, Florida’s official private fund for disaster response and recovery,” said Governor DeSantis. “As a state, we must come together and make every resource available in order to help our fellow Floridians that have been impacted by Hurricane Sally.”
“The Florida Disaster Fund is an excellent way for the private sector and individuals to come together to support Floridians affected by Hurricane Sally,” said Volunteer Florida CEO Clay Ingram. “I thank all those who consider donating to this fund...."
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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 9/21/2020
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26.46%
% of ICU Beds Available Statewide
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43.04% % of Pediatric ICU Beds Available Statewide
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27.51% % 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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Telehealth Awareness Campaign
In the new world of social distancing due to COVID-19, the need for and use of telemedicine has increased across the state. While telehealth services are available, Medicaid members may not be aware that this service exists or how to access it. Additionally, some providers may not yet be providing health care services through telemedicine and need to receive education about how it can work effectively in their practices.
To address this need, the Agency for Health Care Administration is working with Medicaid health plans to launch a telehealth awareness campaign. Using consistent messaging from AHCA and the plans, the aim is to increase use of telehealth services and reduce gaps in delivery of care. Plans will aim to educate the public and Medicaid enrollees by:
Creating brochures on “Understanding Telehealth”
Promoting cellular and Wi-Fi coverage as an expanded benefit (if offered by the plan).
Sharing telehealth information via social media platforms (i.e. Facebook, Twitter).
Dispersing automated voice messages to members to inform them about telehealth.
Including telehealth information section on plan specific websites for members and providers.
Sharing an informational video about telehealth on websites and YouTube channel.
Sharing member virtual visit success stories on social media platforms and websites.
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Agency for Persons with Disabilities
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Program Helps People With Disabilities Get Back To Work Patch.com CareerSource Tampa Bay is reaching out to Hillsborough County residents with disabilities to help them regain employment and recover economically.
CSTB and the Social Security Administration's Ticket-to-Work program assists individuals with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 64, actively receiving Social Security Disability Insurance and/or Supplemental Security Income cash benefits.
"We're focusing on finding more remote based job opportunities for those with disabilities in our community," John Flanagan, CSTB CEO, said. "We're here to help all of those impacted by COVID-19. There are a number of untapped resources for those in our community with disabilities."
The goal of TTW Program is to help people with disabilities return to work and earn a self-sufficient wage in a competitive job market....
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Patch.com
CareerSource Tampa Bay is reaching out to Hillsborough County residents with disabilities to help them regain employment.
TAMPA, FL — CareerSource Tampa Bay is reaching out to Hillsborough County residents with disabilities to help them regain employment and recover economically.
CSTB and the Social Security Administration's Ticket-to-Work program assists individuals with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 64, actively receiving Social Security Disability Insurance and/or Supplemental Security Income cash benefits.
"We're focusing on finding more remote based job opportunities for those with disabilities in our community," John Flanagan, CSTB CEO, said. "We're here to help all of those impacted by COVID-19. There are a number of untapped resources for those in our community with disabilities."
The goal of TTW Program is to help people with disabilities return to work and earn a self-sufficient wage in a competitive job market.....
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Department of Business and Professional Regulation
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Bars Allowed to Reopen for First Weekend Since Shutdown ABC 7 Fort Myers
This weekend marks the first time bars without a food license have been allowed to open their doors across the state.
Governor DeSantis made the announcement last week that bars could open at 50% capacity beginning Monday, September 14th.
For Buddha Live Owner Ozzie Morrobel, the announcement was great news, but he’s concerned other bars might take advantage and break the rules....
Volusia Deputies Bust Unlicensed ‘Contractors’ Accused of Ripping Off Residents After Tornado WKMG Orlando In an operation dubbed “Extreme Makeover: Fraud Edition,” Volusia County deputies busted multiple suspects accused of pretending to be contractors advertising for home repairs following a tornado last month that caused millions of dollars in damage, according to a news release.
On Wednesday and Thursday, deputies in Deltona and DeLand, where an EF-2 caused more than $7 million in damages last month, arrested eight unlicensed contractors, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office....
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Department of Children and Families
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DCF is Walking into Wellness
DCF's Office of Well-Being is kicking off the fall season with a Walk into Wellness challenge. Today starts the first day of this six-week physical activity program. Walk into Wellness is designed to promote physical well-being for all fitness levels. While many popular walking challenges focus on tracking steps, Walk into Wellness will track daily physical activity minutes. The Office of Well-Being has created a Microsoft Teams group where participants can share progress, get encouragement and inspiration, and receive more healthy tips and resources.
The Office of Well-Being was created as a support system for our staff to prioritize personal wellness throughout the agency. Building a stronger, healthier team, allows DCF to continue building stronger and healthier families. Walk into Wellness is just one of the many wellbeing initiatives coming out of the Office of Well-Being.
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Campus Notes: Florida State Sets School Record with Nine Fulbright Scholars The Tallahassee Democrat Florida State University sets school record with nine Fulbright Scholars
Nine Florida State University faculty members have been selected as U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program award recipients, setting a new FSU record for most Fulbright Scholars in one year.
The faculty chosen plan to teach and conduct research as part of opportunities funded by the U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program during the 2020-2021 school year....
Assistance for Homeless Families with Schoolchildren Coming to Bay County Panama City News Herald
PANAMA CITY — Homeless families with school-aged children in Bay County will soon have access to more aid from the state to help them get back on their feet.
The Florida Housing Finance Corporation has unanimously voted to expand the Homeless Families With Schoolchildren Initiative into Bay County. The program assists homeless families in regaining housing stability and economic self-sufficiency, while also ensuring their school aged children remain on track with their education.
The state of Florida has over 90,000 children that are considered homeless and it has been an issue in Bay County since Hurricane Michael. Thousands of students in Bay District School's system were considered homeless last year and according to Yvonne Petrasovits, executive director of Doorways of NW Florida, it is still a problem....
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Department of Elder Affairs
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The National Council on Aging hosts Falls Prevention Awareness Week each September to remind older adults and their loved ones about the importance of creating a safe and falls-free environment. There is increasing awareness around falls prevention, and this year, Falls Prevention Awareness Week is September 21-25, 2020. The Florida Department of Elder Affairs encourages all older adults to check out resources on home safety, exercise, nutrition, and daily habits related to falls prevention.
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Department of Environmental Protection
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Governor and DEP Announce New Funding for Springs Projects
Last week, Governor DeSantis and DEP announced funding for several initiatives to protect and restore Florida's springs. Through this funding, the state will support 21 new springs projects as well as ongoing multi-year projects. This is in addition to $100 million dollars that we were able to secure for springs grants the previous year. Over the first two years of the DeSantis administration, Florida's springs have received and unprecedented investment of $150 million. These springs projects range from land acquisition to septic to sewer conversion, to enhanced water quality monitoring, and additional restoration efforts that will improve the quality of water throughout Florida and reduce the effects of harmful algal blooms. Governor DeSantis also touted an addition to the state’s Aquatic Preserve System, Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve. This historic declaration was a result of House Bill 1061, which passed during the 2020 legislative session. This is the first aquatic preserve to be added to Florida’s preserve system in more than 30 years! The new preserve will protect 400,000 acres of seagrass and connect with three existing preserves –Big Bend Seagrasses, St. Martins Marsh and the Pinellas County Aquatic Preserves– to form the largest contiguous stretch of protected seagrass in the Gulf of Mexico. Seagrass is also critical habitat for manatees, and wide variety of fish and shellfish which serve as the backbone for the state’s multi-billion dollar fishing and seafood industries.
Water quality is also one of the biggest priorities of aquatic preserves. Preserve scientists and staff regularly collect water quality data, including critical nutrient data, that guides effective management actions that are needed to ensure the protection of the preserve and adjacent waters. This new Aquatic Preserve extends the range of protected waters along the Gulf coast.
These restoration efforts reflect ongoing, collaborative partnerships between the department, water management districts, community leaders and local stakeholders. Combining efforts and resources allows for more efficient and comprehensive water restoration, and DEP is proud to work alongside other state agencies and stakeholders to continue Protecting Florida Together.
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Department of Economic Opportunity
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Florida Jobless Rate Drops to 7.4 percent; Okaloosa is Lowest The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — With the state gaining back more than half of the jobs lost since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Florida’s unemployment rate dropped to 7.4 percent in August.
That represented a major decrease from an adjusted 11.4 percent mark in July amid an accelerated push to reopen businesses. The new rate, an estimate from mid-August, projected 753,000 Floridians were jobless from a labor force of 10.138 million people.
Okaloosa County has the lowest unemployment rate at 4.5 percent. The Gainesville region was second at 4.9 percent.
The state lost almost 1.18 million non-agricultural jobs from February to April as the pandemic hit, but it has gained back 631,600, according to the Department of Economic Opportunity....
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Apopka Voice The Florida Department of Health in Orange County encourages residents to contact their healthcare provider or pharmacy to get vaccinated against the flu as soon as possible. Once vaccinated, it takes about two weeks to offer protection. Getting the flu shot each year is important, but reducing illness and hospitalization from flu is even more critical this year to protect frontline health care workers and hospital systems who will continue to care for people with COVID-19 and other illnesses. Also, having the flu and COVID-19 at the same time could lead to a negative outcome.
The flu and COVID-19 are respiratory illnesses, but until there is a steady vaccine supply against COVID-19, the way to help prevent these two viruses from circulating at the same time is to get your flu vaccine now....
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Department of The Lottery
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Brevard County Woman Claims $1 Million Prize Playing Florida Lottery Scratch-Off Game Space Coast Daily
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Florida Lottery announced that Michele Payne, 48, of Palm Bay, claimed a $1 million top prize from the $5 MONOPOLY™ BONUS SPECTACULAR Scratch-Off game using a secured drop box located at the Jacksonville District Office. Payne chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $815,000.
Payne purchased her winning ticket from Racetrac, located at 9490 108th Avenue in Vero Beach. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket...
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Department of Management Services
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Here’s Brunch, A Pop-up, Weekend Email About Final Weeks of the 2020 Campaign — 9.20.20 Florida Politics
After Justice Ginsburg died Friday evening, President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered flags at half-staff. But the process to lower flags across the state meant public servants had late nights to honor the Supreme Court giant properly.
DeSantis heard the news with the public as he returned to the Governor’s Mansion following an afternoon in Hernando County. Shortly after 10 p.m., DeSantis tweeted his condolences to Ginsburg’s family and friends and ordered flags statewide to be lowered to half-staff an hour later.
Ordering flags lowered means ASAP, not the following morning. Calls immediately went out to the Department of Management Services team and maintenance supervisor James Harrison, who drove 35 miles from Wakulla to lower flags in the Capitol Complex. That included climbing the ladder to the cupola atop the Historic Capitol Building...
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Department of Transportation
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Division of Emergency Management
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Penscola News Journal
When Robert Duke was a child he was fascinated by lineman.
“We had some family friends who owned a restaurant, Adrian’s BBQ, and we used to eat there all the time but so would the lineman,” he said Saturday, leaned up against a pickup. “I used to love checking out their trucks, their equipment. I just loved it. Then when it was time to pick something to do, it was either this or farming.”
Now he’s been doing the same work for 34 years with Gulf Power, responding locally and all across the country in times of natural disaster.
Duke was one of about 14 men at the intersection of North R Street and West Hayes Street Saturday working to restore power to the residents there. About 2 p.m. he leaned his arm over the bed of a truck to eat some lunch with a couple other guys. He was about halfway through his 16-hour shift....
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Florida Department of Corrections
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Florida Department of Corrections Sergeant Saves Citizen in Distress
On September 16, Okaloosa Correctional Sergeant Joshua Dunham was traveling home from work when he came upon a body of water flowing across a roadway as a result of flooding caused by Hurricane Sally. Sergeant Dunham saw a person in distress and immediately entered the water to assist him. With the assistance of two others, Sergeant Dunham successfully rescued the person from the stormwater and returned him to safety and the care of EMS. Excellent job by Sergeant Joshua Dunham!
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Florida Department of Law Enforcement
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During Suicide Prevention Month, Law Enforcement Remembers the Victims from its Own Ranks FDLE
A record 228 current and former law enforcement officers took their own life in 2019, fifteen in Florida alone. Nationally, this was the third year in a row that more LEOs died from suicide than in the line of duty.
The numbers, tracked by non-profit group Blue H.E.L.P. (https://bluehelp.org/), illustrate an unspoken threat faced by many law enforcement officers – depression, anxiety, and suicide. Despite having one of the most stressful jobs in modern society, many LEOs suffer in silence, not reaching out – or being reached out to – until it’s too late.
Thankfully, efforts to increase awareness of the issue and increase help for suffering officers seem to be bearing fruit, as LEO suicide deaths are trending slightly lower than last year, according to Blue H.E.L.P.’s most recent numbers. This dip is especially remarkable considering the mental health toll taken by the COVID-19 pandemic and the sweeping anti-police sentiment and protests that have marked much of 2020, though the longer-term effect of those dual stressors remains to be seen.
But there is much work to be done. From awareness groups like Blue H.E.L.P. and the Honor Hike Foundation to destigmatization of depression and other mental health issues to increased availability of and access to suicide prevention resources, law enforcement agencies and community groups alike continue to combat this oft-forgotten epidemic.
During Suicide Prevention Month, law enforcement agencies across the country remember the victims from their own ranks and continue efforts to rein in this silent plague for good, ensuring that no one who dedicates their lives to protecting and serving their community should be forgotten when they need help the most.
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Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs
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Senate Passes Bill to Name St. Augustine VA Facility After Vietnam War Hero
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott applauded the Senate passage of legislation to name a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic in St. Johns County after Private First Class Leo C. Chase, Jr., the first man from St. Johns County to be killed in the Vietnam War.
This new VA outpatient clinic is located at 207 Stratton Road, St. Augustine, Florida, and, if signed by the President, would be designated as the “Leo C. Chase, Jr. Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.’’ Rubio introduced this legislation in May 2019 alongside Representatives John Rutherford and Michael Waltz, who introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. The bill now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration. “At 23 years old Private Chase was killed while serving with an Airmobile unit in Vietnam just five days before he would have gone home. Private Chase’s life served as an inspiration to others before and after his death,” Rubio said. “While we can never repay his sacrifice to our nation, I am proud that the Senate has passed legislation that will name the new VA clinic in St. Augustine after an American hero who made the ultimate sacrifice.” “We can never truly express our gratitude for the men and women who serve our nation, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms,” Scott said. “I’m proud to honor the life and service of Private First Class Leo C. Chase, Jr. with this legislation, and I applaud its passage in the Senate.”
Army Private First Class Leo C. Chase, Jr. was killed on November 15, 1965 in the Ia Drang battle dramatized in the book and film, We Were Soldiers. Chase was a rifleman in Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry. He flew into landing zone X-Ray in the Ia Drang Valley of South Vietnam, near the Cambodian border. The helicopter troops were immediately attacked by thousands of soldiers of the 320th, 33rd, and 66th regiments of the North Vietnamese Army in a battle that lasted four days. Outnumbered nearly ten to one, Chase and the other members of his platoon bravely repulsed many massive ground assaults from the Viet Cong, all the while taking fire from enemy snipers. In the end, Chase and many other members of his platoon lost their lives, but not without accomplishing their objective. The American lines held because of the courage and sheer determination of the Seventh Cavalry.
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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is seeking public feedback from all interested parties on draft rules related to high-risk nonnative reptiles. Invasive species management is a high priority for the FWC because these animals negatively impact native fish and wildlife, cause damage that is costly to repair, and can pose a threat to human health and safety.
At the agency’s July meeting, Commissioners unanimously approved staff recommendations to create new rules to address the importation, breeding and possession of high-risk reptiles.
The proposed rule changes to Chapter 68-5, F.A.C., specifically address pythons, tegus, green iguanas and other high-risk nonnative snakes and lizards and include reporting requirements for permittees, biosecurity requirements to limit escape of these high-risk species and some additional clarifying language.
Beginning Sept. 29, staff will be holding 10 online workshops to present proposed rule changes and collect public comment on this important topic. Staff will use this information to help improve the final rule language, which will be brought before the Commission at a future meeting.
Prior to the workshops, people are encouraged to take part in an online survey, which will help staff determine what topics to cover at the workshops. All interested parties are encouraged to take part in the survey.
Close coordination with stakeholders and the public is important for helping to ensure the best outcome for final rules.
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Florida Housing Finance Corporation
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Florida Politics
A Cinderella dilemma
Compared to the $2.2 trillion allocated when the president signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March, the $250 million of that money allotted to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation seems like small change.
But it makes a world of difference to tens of thousands Floridians impacted by the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic who can take advantage of rent and mortgage assistance programs administered by Florida Housing....
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Execs Say US Cruises Could Restart, Based on Success in Europe Travel Pulse Cruise industry stakeholders in the U.S. are optimistic that cruising’s largely successful restart in Europe bodes well for the American cruise industry.
Cruise executives have cited this European precedent in their efforts to get the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to lift its ‘No Sail Order,’ which is currently set to expire on September 30, but which many expect will be extended following the agency’s review. The deadline to respond to the CDC’s request for public input about the potential resumption of large- and small-ship cruising is just days away, reported Travel Weekly.
MSC Cruises and Italian line, Costa Cruises, resumed activities in August and early September at limited passenger capacities, with strict health and safety measures in place and starting with one ship each. Both now plan on launching second ships to continue sailing the Mediterranean.
Such smaller-ship operations as Hurtigruten, SeaDream Yacht Club and Ponant Cruises had already been operating in Europe, beginning as early as June. Among them, only Hurtigruten reported a large-scale COVID-19 outbreak, which occurred in August and forced the company to suspend sailing on all three of its ships.
Hurtigruten’s CEO, Daniel Skjeldam, issued an apology and attributed the onboard infection to weaknesses in the cruise line’s internal processes. It turned out that crew members from the Philippines had been COVID-tested prior to departing their country, but weren’t re-tested upon arrival in Norway, prior to boarding the ship, and infected individual(s) must have slipped through.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio told Miami-Dade County officials earlier this month that the cruise industry’s recent successes in Europe ought to prove to the CDC that U.S. cruise lines could also safely resume service, as long as the proper protocols are in place....
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Governor DeSantis Activates Florida Disaster Fund in Response to Hurricane Sally
On Friday, Governor Ron DeSantis activated the Florida Disaster Fund to support communities that have been impacted by Hurricane Sally. To make a contribution, please visit www.VolunteerFlorida.org or text DISASTER to 20222 to make a one-time donation of $10.
“Today, I have directed the Volunteer Florida Foundation to activate the Florida Disaster Fund, Florida’s official private fund for disaster response and recovery,” said Governor DeSantis. “As a state, we must come together and make every resource available in order to help our fellow Floridians that have been impacted by Hurricane Sally.”
“The Florida Disaster Fund is an excellent way for the private sector and individuals to come together to support Floridians affected by Hurricane Sally,” said Volunteer Florida CEO Clay Ingram. “I thank all those who consider donating to this fund.”
The Florida Disaster Fund is the State of Florida’s official private fund established to assist Florida’s communities as they respond to and recover during times of emergency or disaster. The fund is administered by the Volunteer Florida Foundation. Funds will support disaster relief organizations active in responding to and recovering from Hurricane Sally. In partnership with the public sector, private sector and other non-governmental organizations, the Florida Disaster Fund supports response and recovery activities. Donations to the Florida Disaster Fund are made to the Volunteer Florida Foundation, 501(c)(3) charitable organization and are tax deductible.
Full release available here: https://www.volunteerflorida.org/governor-desantis-activates-florida-disaster-fund-in-response-to-hurricane-sally/
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Department of Juvenile Justice
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Florida Department of Citrus
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Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
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