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Positive COVID test results continue to fall, now at 5.2%
11th straight day below 10%
US Business activity, real esate, and stock markets on the rise
Lockdowns worldwide contributing to greater death than the Coronavirus
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Reuters
(Reuters) - In signs an economic recovery may be picking up speed, U.S. home sales rose at a record rate for a second straight month in July, and purchasing managers in both the manufacturing and services sectors report business activity has accelerated at a brisker-than-expected pace this month.
With mortgage rates holding near record lows and a work-from-home trend apparently enticing many Americans to move further from city centers, the National Association of Realtors said on Friday sales of existing homes rose 24.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.86 million units last month from 4.7 million in June.
Home prices also shot to a record $304,100, and a shortage of inventory is making competition for houses fierce. The average time on the market fell to 22 days in July, a record low, from 24 in June, and nearly 70% sold in less than a month.
Combined with June’s 20.2% gain, home sales have mushroomed by nearly 50% in two months to fully retrace the cratering in residential real estate activity in the spring after the COVID-19 pandemic started spreading across the country. July’s sales rate was the fastest since December 2006, when the country was in the latter stages of the sub-prime mortgage housing boom.
City Journal
At the end of March, Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo issued an executive order directing police to pull over cars with New York plates at the state border and order them to quarantine for 14 days or face fines and possible jail time. New Yorkers were outraged. New York governor Andrew Cuomo claimed Rhode Island was motivated by fear and opined, “I don’t think the order was called for, I don’t think it was legal, I don’t think it was neighborly.” He threatened legal action. Rhode Island replaced the order with a new one mandating that all travelers with out-of-state plates undergo a 14-day self-quarantine.
Now, Governor Cuomo is doing exactly what he condemned a few months ago. Pursuant to his Executive Order 205, New York has created a list of more than 30 “restricted” states from which travelers must quarantine for 14 days if they enter the Empire State. Violators may be subject to a fine of up to $10,000. These restrictions make little sense, are overbroad, and penalize rather than protect New Yorkers. And they are, as a practical matter, unenforceable.
The resulting New York travel advisory—jointly issued with neighboring states of New Jersey and Connecticut—targets states with ten or more positive Covid tests per 100,000 population, an absurdly low starting point. That means a random traveler from such a state has only a one in 10,000 chance (0.01 percent) of being positive. But a sick person is less likely to be traveling than an asymptomatic person. Since half or more of Covid-19 patients are symptomatic, we could cut these odds by half.
The advisory also targets states where 10 percent or more of tests are positive over a seven-day rolling average. But this statistic alone is largely meaningless. It is dependent on the number of tests being performed and why they are performed. If testing is performed only on symptomatic people, or people who have reason to believe they have been exposed or are infected, the positivity rate will be higher. If testing is more general and widespread, the rate will be lower. The data point may indicate high infection rates in the community; more likely, it represents insufficient testing.
TownHall
A long-suspected fear of the Covid-19 lockdowns is starting to come to light. In many parts of the world doctors are pointing to a very real probability that lockdown orders are leading to people dying from other serious maladies as a result of avoiding hospitals. Heart attacks in particular are now looked at as a cause of death greater than the coronavirus itself.
Almost from the beginning of our pandemic lockdowns there have been questions raised over both the wisdom behind the decisions and the broad application of the quarantine orders. Recall early on that Americans were lectured about the necessity of a two-week lockdown “to bend the curve,” yet with the death rate plunging, we still have many areas in the country under harsh restrictions.
It was with no small amount of dark irony at Wednesday night’s Democratic National Convention that a segment was dedicated to the need to repair our handicapped economy. This was truly a brazen moment, as the people who were saying we need to get Americans back to work are from the same party that has had its governors arresting people for trying to go back to work. The goalposts have been repeatedly pushed further out; from bending the curve, to avoiding the second spike, to now awaiting a vaccine. Meanwhile, little press coverage has been applied to the effects of these orders.
Some have speculated that other effects created by the distancing can be just as harsh, from the psyche of children and the insufficient care for the infirm to suicides brought on by the anxiety. Now a study has come out from doctors in Colorado showing other grievous collateral damage has been taking place. One study in Colorado had doctors looking into the drop in cardiac cases in hospitals and noted it was a direct correlation to the quarantine orders.
Sun Sentinel
Florida positive test rates by day
As of Sat, Aug 22. The state noted the 11.9% on Aug 11 was due to a lab that submitted backlogged results.
Percentages will be adjusted after today. These are the test results received in the last two weeks from midnight to 11:59 p.m. each day. Duplicate positive tests from the same person count the first time only.
For the first time in over two months, the daily rate of positive COVID-19 test results for new cases in Florida dipped below 5% on Saturday — a sign of reduced spread of the coronavirus.
The state Department of Health reported a 4.89% positivity rate for results processed in the past day, which is for new infections only and doesn’t count people who previously tested positive.That’s the lowest since it was 4.41% on June 13, state statistics show, and the latest indication that the novel coronavirus is releasing the state from its deadly chokehold.
Public health experts say the virus is under control when the rate is 5% or below. Positivity is viewed as a key way to gauge the prevalence of the disease.
ABC News
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea counted its 11th straight day of triple-digit daily jumps in coronavirus cases as officials tighten social distancing restrictions nationwide to combat what they describe as the biggest crisis since the emergence of COVID-19.
The 266 cases reported by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Monday came after three consecutive days of over-300 increases, although infection numbers tend to be lower at the start of the week due to the lesser number of tests in weekends.
The KCDC said 202 of the new cases came from the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, home to half of the country’s 51 million population, where health workers have struggled to track transmissions linked to various sources, including churches, restaurants, schools and workers.
Infections were also reported in major cities throughout the country, including Busan, Daejeon and Sejong.
Miami Herald
Florida’s Department of Health on Sunday confirmed 2,974 additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the state’s known total to 600,571. There were also 51 Florida resident deaths announced, bringing the resident death toll to 10,325.
There were no new non-resident deaths, leaving the non-resident toll at 137.
Sunday’s newly confirmed cases is the second lowest single day count reported since June. On Monday, Florida reported 2,678 cases.
Throughout the pandemic, the newly confirmed cases reported on Sundays have tended to be lower than the other days of the week because fewer people work in labs and enter data on the weekends.
Confimed COVID-19 cases in South Florida
Note: The Florida Department of Health says that each county’s percent positivity for new cases (people who tested positive for the first time) does not include retests (people who have tested positive once and are being tested for a second time).
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COViD-19 by the numbers | COVID -19 Fatalities
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ICUs and hospital beds by the numbers | Current as of 8/24/2020
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22.16%
% of ICU Beds Available Statewide
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42.23% % of Pediatric ICU Beds Available Statewide
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25.47% % of Available Hospital Beds Statewide
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The Governor and First Lady Address the Pandemic and Mental Health
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Academic support centers working to tutor students in new learning environments WCTV
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) - With students moving to virtual learning more than normal this year, one thing that may be in high demand is tutoring.
Academic support programs from FSU as well as in the Tallahassee community say that resources are available for all students.
“So we try to really help the student transition from high school to college successfully and then also on to graduation,” explained Academic Center of Excellence Director Courtney Barry.
Barry speaks about the mission of the academic support programs at FSU and how they’re giving students a chance to improve their standings in the classroom, even remotely.
“It’s actually helped me increase my grade in a class, in organic chemistry from almost a failing grade to a passing b which is a big accomplishment for me,” said FSU senior Gabrielle Perez.
The FSU academic platforms allow students to get one on one help for whatever subjects that give them difficulty, including math and sciences.
“So the tutor can be seen, the student can be seen and then a white board will be used for a display function to be able to talk about equations and formulas and different aspects of contact related work,” said Barry.
Tutoring may also be a resource for grade school remote learners as well. Organizations like SolutionSkills, INC are primed to help those who need extra attention in the classroom.
“You know being able to engage with them in an online environment is something that we wanted to make sure we did a good job of,” explained SolutionSkills, INC CEO Randy Vickers.
The organization has had a home in Tallahassee for thirty years and they are still encouraging others that asking for help is okay.
“Sometimes they just think it’s going to be an extension of the classroom of teaching and it’s not,” said Vickers. “So let’s kind of play to your strengths and work on your weaknesses and try to help you find some success.”
For those looking for help in the virtual learning world, Perez offers some advice.
“I would say take it seriously and also challenge yourself. Don’t let this just be kind of just be whatever,” explained Perez.
FSU is set to start resume classes Monday August 24th and Leon County Schools start Monday August 31st.
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Department of Children and Families
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Department of Emergency Management
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Laura expected to reach Category 2 strength, Marco downgraded to tropical storm South Florida Sun Sentinel
The twin hurricane threat to the Gulf coast altered Monday morning, with Marco weakening to a tropical storm but Laura forecast to reach strong Category 2 force before striking later in the week.
Tropical Storm Marco, with top wind speeds of 50 mph, was expected to approach the Louisiana coast late Monday or early Tuesday, according to the 8 a.m. Monday update from the National Hurricane Center. The storm is expected to continue weakening.
Tropical Storm Laura, a far more formidable threat, will reach Category 2 hurricane strength, with top wind speeds of 105 mph, by the time is slams into the coast of Louisiana or Texas late Wednesday or early Thursday, according to the latest forecast.
At 8 a.m. Tropical Storm Laura was just south of central Cuba and producing top winds of 65 mph. The storm is expected to intensify once it clears Cuba and starts passing over the warm open water of the Gulf. The storm is expected to become a hurricane by early Tuesday.
The two storms are products of what’s shaping up to be a historic hurricane season, one that fulfils forecasters’ observations that ocean temperatures and climate patterns had come together to create nearly ideal conditions for storm formation. The storms materialized just as the Atlantic entered the peak of the season, a period that runs through mid-October and reaches its own peak on Sept. 10.
The middle and lower Florida Keys, from Craig Key to Key West, was under a tropical storm warning as of 5 a.m. Monday as Laura continues to churn in the Caribbean.
For Marco, a storm surge warning is in effect from Morgan City, La., to Ocean Springs, Miss., as well as Lake Borgne, meaning that there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours, according to the NHC.
If the peak surge occurs at high tide, a surge of 2 to 4 feet is forecast, according to the NHC advisory.
Early Monday, all hurricane warnings were canceled and downgraded to tropical storm warnings, with tropical storm conditions expected in the next 12 to 24 hours, the NHC said. A tropical storm watch was in effect for the Louisiana coastline from Morgan City to the mouth of the Pearl River.
Tropical storm watches were also in effect for Intracoastal City to the Mississippi/Alabama border, Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Metropolitan New Orleans.
Tropical Storm Laura’s forecast has it at hurricane strength on Tuesday and Wednesday. Laura’s predicted path as of 5 a.m. Monday had it making landfall near the Lousiana-Texas border late Wednesday or early Thursday.
But by Friday, Laura was “expected to produce rainfall of 5 to 10 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches across portions of the west-central U.S. Gulf Coast near the Texas and Louisiana border north into portions of the lower Mississippi Valley,” the National Hurricane Center said.
Both storm tracks are unusually close to each other. If and how the two storms will interact with each other are highly uncertain, forecasters said.
A tropical storm warning was in effect for the Florida Keys from Key West to Craig Key as of early Monday. as is the Dry Tortugas, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, and portions of Cuba.
A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area within a given time frame. A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected. In this case, the watches and warnings refer to the next 12 to 24 hours.
“Residents should continue to monitor the storm and be prepared for severe weather, 20-30 mph winds with gusts up to 50 mph, and strong squalls,” said Shannon Weiner, emergency management director of Monroe County, which includes the Florida Keys.
Hazardous weather is expected in the Keys early Monday through early Tuesday, Weiner said Sunday.
Laura, which was moving west-northwest at 21 mph, was expected to strengthen to a hurricane by early Tuesday in the central Gulf of Mexico.
Heather Carruthers, the mayor of Monroe County, which includes the Florida Keys, declared a state of emergency on Friday, ordering the mandatory evacuation of all live-aboard vessels, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, travel trailers, and campers. The order was rescinded Sunday morning, citing the latest forecast.
Also on Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis sent a letter asking President Donald Trump to declare a pre-landfall emergency in 34 counties, including Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.
Marco is the 13th named storm of the hurricane season. Tropical Storm Laura was the 12th storm of the year, matching the record for the most number of tropical storms before September. The only other time that happened was in 2005, the year of Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma.
The next named storms of 2020 are Nana, Omar, Paulette, Rene, Sally, Teddy, Vicky and Wilfred.
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There have been glimmers of hope in the fight against coronavirus.
Sunday marked the eighth consecutive day where the Florida Department of Health reported fewer than 5,000 new cases.
The FDOH reported 2,974 new COVID-19 cases Sunday. The new cases bring the state’s running total since March to 600,571 cases.
The state also announced 51 new fatalities, bringing Florida’s death toll from the virus up to 10,462. That number includes 10,325 residents and 137 non-residents who died in Florida. New COVID-19 deaths are often delayed in reporting to the state DOH and those new deaths could have occurred within the past few weeks.
The state is recording an average of 156 coronavirus fatalities per day this month, which likely makes COVID-19 the state’s No. 1 killer during that period. Cancer and heart disease each average about 125 deaths per day, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The positivity rate, which represents the number of people who tested positive for the first time compared to the overall number of tests reported by the DOH for the day prior was 5.52% on Sunday.
Health officials agree the rate should be under 10% for two weeks to show infections are on the decline. Saturday marked the 10th day the rate was below 10% in Florida.
Many people who test positive for COVID-19 will have mild or no symptoms at all, which is why it is important to monitor hospitalizations and deaths attributed to the virus.
As of Sunday morning, there were 4,578 patients currently hospitalized with coronavirus in Florida, according to the state Agency for Healthcare Administration.
The Florida Department of Health reported 139 new hospitalizations on Sunday, bringing the overall total to 36,468 since March.
Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have also been declining. Late Saturday morning, 4,773 patients were being treated for the disease in Florida hospitals compared to Friday’s 4,909 and Thursday’s 5,340. That number has fallen from a peak above 9,500 on July 23.
On the surface, Saturday’s COVID-19 numbers released by the Florida Department of Health look extremely good. There were 4,311 new cases with a positivity rate of 4.89, the lowest the state has seen since the 4.41% recorded on June 13.
The two-week positivity rate average is 8.12%, which is just a little higher than the 5% rate recommended by the World Health Organization for reopening and a bit lower than the 10% rate the state says it is aiming for.
One big reason for the decline in positivity rates is improved numbers in the two trouble spots — Miami-Dade and Broward counties. After showing positivity rates between 14.9-26.3% throughout July, Miami-Dade County has now seen four straight days of single digit rates, while Broward County, which was between 10.8-22.5% in July has been in single digits since August 4.
There were 107 new deaths reported with Saturday’s numbers, raising the total to 10,274 resident deaths and 137 non-resident deaths.
There is a bit of a lag time in reporting deaths to the Florida Department of Health, as evidenced by the the FDOH numbers. Beginning Aug. 13, the department began showing the number of COVID-related deaths per day and also the number of deaths reported by FDOH on the same day.
On July 30, there were 147 deaths but 244 reported by FDOH. The opposite scenario occurred on Aug. 1, when there were 132 deaths but just 63 reported by FDOH.
In Highlands County, the numbers were much better, as there were just 18 new cases out of 654 tests, yielding a positivity rate of just 2.68%. The two-week average for the county is 8.23%, which is pretty much in line with the state numbers.
The median age for the new cases was 46, which is right there with the overall median age of 48 for cases in the county. The county has seen a higher median age than the state median (41), which is one reason why Highlands County has a higher hospitalization rate and death rate than the state average.
There were no new deaths reported in the county, so the count remained at 53, and there were a reported 28 currently hospitalized, which is down eight from yesterday.
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Biosysco to Locate Equine Medical Technology Division in Ocala Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership The Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership (CEP) joins Enterprise Florida and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity today in announcing that Biosysco, a life-sciences company, will locate its new equine medical technology division in Ocala. The company will initially locate offices on the CEP’s Power Plant Business Incubator campus. “Biosysco is extremely pleased to become part of the Ocala and Florida business community,” said Steve Schmidt, Partner, BioSysco. “We believe this is the perfect fit for the development of our equine medical therapy division. As the Horse Capital of the world, Ocala offers us worldwide access to industry resources and we are excited about the growth opportunities for our equine medical division”. Biosysco is a life science technology company that has developed a proven, patented, proprietary, medical therapy solution for humans and animals called SigmaQ. SigmaQ activates and restores muscle damage at a neurological level, non-invasively and without drugs. Biosysco utilizes its SigmaQ platform to identify and develop therapy solutions for multiple industries. Biosysco currently has offices in Chicago and London. “Florida is proud to be the home of new advancements in the equestrian industry,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “We are excited to welcome Biosysco to our great state and wish them all the success.” “The City of Ocala is pleased to welcome BioSysco and their equine medical technology division to Ocala,” said City of Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn. “Congratulations on your expansion into the equine industry and for making an investment into our thriving business community. We are thankful you have chosen Ocala as your new home and wish you continued success as you develop technology to serve the growing equestrian needs of our area. We are looking forward to a very bright future for this company.” “Biosysco’s expansion into Florida is a considerable achievement for the development of Florida’s economy,” said Jamal Sowell, President & CEO of Enterprise Florida, Inc. “Florida is proving to be a pioneer in the growth of the life sciences industry.” “Second-stage company recruitment is a new area of focus at the CEP,” said Angie Lewis, Chair of the CEP Board of Directors. “We are excited to welcome BioSysco to Ocala. We look forward to attracting more of these high-growth companies as we continue to further diversify our local economy.” To learn more about Biosysco, visit their website at www.Biosysco.com
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Agency for Persons with Disabilities
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Boy with cerebral palsy runs 5K over 10 days for Ronald McDonald House WFTS
Running a 5K can be challenging as it is, but imagine doing it while living with cerebral palsy. That’s what one 11-year-old is trying to accomplish.
Fred Ginman may not have the legs of an athlete, but he certainly has the heart.
"That’s the message I think Fred has to everyone, 'don’t stop even though we are under coronavirus times,'" said mother Isabella Amaral.
Fred is on day three of a 10-day 5K. The goal is 10 laps a day, or 500 meters, around the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay courtyard.
"The physical therapy we do here it's very modern, very sophisticated, and it's giving Fred hope," said Amaral.
Fred and his mom are from Brazil. They have spent more than 600 nights at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay since 2012, as Fred receives treatment for cerebral palsy. The goal is to one day walk on his own.
"That's our dream, that's our goal, that's what we envision every night, we envision walking freely on the beach," said Amaral.
The family said Ronald McDonald House has been there for them every step of the way and now they want to return the favor. All money raised in support of Fred's Fun Run will go back to helping families like their own.
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Florida Department of Law Enforcement
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Joint Investigation Leads to Arrest and Seizure of Currency and Narcotics
On August 20, the Tallahassee Police Department, along with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, served a narcotics search warrant at 1857 West Pensacola Street. Tips to TPD and FDLE led investigators to believe the subject was trafficking in narcotics, and joint efforts between the agencies established enough evidence to obtain a search warrant for the residence. The warrant service revealed LSD, paraphernalia, currency, gun parts, and ammunition. The subject, Dawyght Moore, was taken into custody and transported to the Leon County Detention Facility where he will face local charges as well as an out-of-state warrant. TPD is committed to enhancing public safety and addressing the illegal sale of narcotics. If you see this type of activity, report it by calling TPD at 850-891-4200 or Crime Stoppers at 850-574-TIPS. Arrested Dawyght Moore, 27, charged with possession of LSD with intent to sell, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of drug paraphernalia, and armed home invasion robbery (warrant-violation of parole).
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Department of The Lottery
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He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $1,615,000, Florida lottery officials said. The Margate Mini Mart will get a $4,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket. The $10 Monopoly Bonus Spectacular Scratch-Off game was launched in July and features more than $162 million in cash prizes, including four top prizes of $2 million. Colon is the first person to win the game’s top prize, officials said. The game’s overall odds of winning between $10 and $2M are 1-in-3.44.
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Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
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Barton named FHCA Administrator of the Year
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – The Florida Health Care Association has named Liz Barton, administrator of the Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Port Charlotte, as its Nursing Home Administrator of the Year for 2020.
Barton has been administrator of her home since its opening in 2004. She was informed of the honor via a recent Zoom meeting with her family and colleagues from the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Barton, who supervises 175 health care professionals and support staff, was the first veterans’ home administrator to graduate from the FHCA Leadership Class in 2019. Her skilled-nursing facility is rated a Five-Star Quality Rated Facility by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
The Florida Health Care Association, founded in 1954, represents more than 600 long-term care centers in Florida in helping to shape public policy.
Please note: Florida has a very broad public records law. Most written communications to or from state officials regarding state business are public records available to the public and media upon request. Your e-mail communications may therefore be subject to public disclosure.
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Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
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The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) announced on Thursday that there is more than $27 million now available to local governments in communities impacted by Hurricane Michael through the Rebuild Florida Voluntary Home Buyout program. Hurricane Michael hit the Sunshine State back in October 2018.
The Rebuild Florida Voluntary Home Buyout Program is designed to provide funding for local governments to purchase residential property in high flood-risk areas to help reduce the risk of impact from future disasters. The funds are allocated through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program. In Florida, CDBG-DR funds are administered through the Rebuild Florida program.
Local governments, within the federal and state Most Impacted and Distressed (MID) areas, are eligible to apply for funding to acquire lots that are adjoined or adjacent to each other or single properties. Funds can also be used to leverage CDBG-DR funding as match for projects that are also eligible for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs.
The deadline to complete an application is November 30, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. (EST). DEO staff will be available to provide technical assistance to communities during the application process. For more information about the program, including how to complete an application, visit the Rebuild Florida Voluntary Home Buyout Program’s webpage.
To provide local governments with more information about the Rebuild Florida Voluntary Home Buyout Program, DEO will host a webinar at 2:00 p.m. (EST) on Wednesday, September 9, 2020. Click here to register.
DEO is the governor-designated state authority responsible for administering all HUD long-term recovery funds awarded to the state. Rebuild Florida uses federal funding for Florida’s long-term recovery efforts from the devastating impacts of natural disasters.
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WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Brick or Treat, Legoland Florida’s annual Halloween event, will return in October with a new safety measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event will feature the usual lineup of activities, including Lego characters, seasonal shows and trick-or-treating around the park.
To keep trick-or-treating safe, six themed locations will implement social distancing protocols and contactless candy distribution. Employees at the trick-or-treating locations will wear face coverings and gloves, Legoland said.
Visitors will also be able to interact, at a distance, with characters such as Rockin’ Frankenstein, Mummy, Lord Vamprye,
Scarecrow, Spider Lady and more. The characters will appear on elevated platforms with spacing of six feet or more.
Brick or Treat, which is included with park admission, will take place every weekend in October.
Visitors will be required to undergo temperature checks and follow social distancing protocols as part of the parks health and safety initiatives.
For more information about Brick or Treat, visit legolandflorida.com.
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Florida Department of Corrections
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FDC Licensure Initiative Creates Improved Pathway to Success Inmates in state institutions are now able to obtain professional licensure prior to release.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In line with the mission to provide further opportunities for success upon release, FDC staff collaborated with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) to implement a professional licensing application and testing process within FDC institutions. This initiative provides a pathway for eligible inmates who have completed required vocational coursework to take state board exams.
“This initiative is indicative of our commitment to restoration and rehabilitation efforts within Florida’s correctional system. Obtaining professional licensure prior to release removes potential barriers and allows returning citizens to seamlessly transition into an in-demand and sustainable career,” said Secretary Mark Inch. “We look forward to seeing FDC program graduates return to their communities with a professional license in hand, ready for work.”
Prior to these coordinated pathways for licensing, inmates within FDC institutions who completed vocational courses for careers which required a professional license were not able to take exams until after they were released, sometimes months after completion of coursework.
Three inmates from Lowell Correctional Institution’s cosmetology program have already seized this opportunity. The program graduates applied to the State of Florida Board of Cosmetology for licenses, passed the state exam and received their official professional cosmetology licenses, all prior to their upcoming release. The three have plans to seek employment opportunities and begin work as cosmetologists immediately upon release.
For more information on FDC programs, visit our Office of Programs and Re-Entry website.
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Florida Housing Finance Corpration
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At the regular board meeting today the approved moving forward with rapid testing, food delivery and additional public health campaigns using CARES Act funding provided by the . The Board, working under a quorum of three members, passed all measures 3-0.
Commissioners previously approved rent, mortgage and utility assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic through an agreement with the to receive in Coronavirus Relief Funds. These funds will cap at per family for qualifying tenants and homeowners affected by COVID-19. There is a 10-day advertising period required before online applications can be submitted. More information will be released as soon as possible.
The Escambia County Rapid Testing Program will allow for 30,000 tests to be administered by through . These tests could be used for residents without COVID-19 symptoms and for residents without insurance. This funding will also provide 20,000 ID NOW Rapid Test Kits administered by Community Health Northwest Florida.
The Board also approved food delivery through nonprofit partners and churches as part of the Escambia Serves Food Assistance and Relief Program, allowing to continue to serve residents through food distribution programs.
Funding in the amount of was approved for public health campaigns through Visit Pensacola as it relates to Coronavirus-related resources for out-of-town visitors. Efforts will focus on publicizing the resumption of activities and steps taken to ensure a safe experience during COVID-19.
A special board meeting will take place on at to continue the discussion about the Escambia County CARES Act plan and implementation. will meet to address and put forth additional details and requirements for its residents and businesses seeking the more than from the . Additionally, the special meeting will include discussion on Accenture's report about the strategic organizational assessment of procurement processes.
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Volunteer Florida Awards $120,000 in Funding to Support Disaster Resiliency in Florida Communities
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Volunteer Florida announced that $120,000 in funding would be distributed to support 17 Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and Citizen Corps programs throughout Florida.
CERT and Citizen Corps are training programs that prepare Floridians to help their families and neighbors in the event of a disaster in their community. Volunteer Florida administers funding for these programs in partnership with the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “Volunteers strengthen the work of emergency management officials and play a key role in response and recovery efforts in Florida’s communities,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “I applaud the hundreds of Floridians who will become trained through the CERT and Citizen Corps programs this year as a result of this funding.” “Florida’s communities are safer, stronger and more resilient as a result of the CERT and Citizen Corps Program,” said Volunteer Florida CEO Clay Ingram. “During this next year, we look forward to supporting these organizations that will train and empower Floridians to take action when disaster strikes.”
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Department of Business and Professional Regulation
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Ormond Beach Observer
As of the end of July, about 53,000 people in Volusia County have filed for unemployment this year, with over 1,000 more filing weekly, said Robin King, president and CEO of CareerSource Flagler Volusia during a Zoom into Eggs and Issues virtual event on Thursday, Aug. 13.
“This number is important to me because a percentage of them will become the new talent pipeline," King said. The pandemic's impact on the workforce was one of the topics targeted during the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce morning event. While King said it's too early to talk about potential consequences of the changes to the workforce as situations remain fluid due to the coronavirus, she said it is clear there has been a great impact to the global economy. And with that have come big changes in the workplace, with employers and employees needing to adapt quickly to new working conditions — specifically an enhanced focus on remote work and the need to digitize companies — as well as developing new working behaviors. “I was speaking to a local financial advisor last week who used the words: ‘Tossed out of the office to work from home,"' King said.
Every industry has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the hospitality and food service industries taking the hardest hits. On the other side of the spectrum, manufacturing, construction and educational services have been the least hit industries during the ongoing health crisis.
Polling results: A poll conducted during the event, which was virtually attended by about 30 people, found that 86% said some of their employees were working remoting at this time, as compared to 14% who said all employees were working remotely. 50% said employees were scheduled to return to the office in the next month, and conversely, 50% said employees would return in the next six to 12 months. 88% considered themselves to be a "safe employer" during the pandemic; 13% said they were unsure. In addition, King said some industries are booming. She cited a Florida Trend article that reported the cyber security industry continues to hire employees, and that communication platforms are emerging during the pandemic. Take Zoom, for example, the very medium through which the Eggs and Issues event was held. When speaking about trends in the workforce during the pandemic, King cited statistics from an April Gallup poll, which states the percentage of employers who offered a flexible work schedule or remote work options grew from 39% in mid-March to 57% by the end of that month and early April. The poll also states that 62% of Americans worked from home during that time, and, that three in five workers would prefer to continue working remotely as much as possible once health restrictions were lifted. “Those who say that all their staff are going to be coming back within the next year might have to take a look at how they’re going to attract the future workforce," King said. The overarching theme, King said, of the new needs of the workplace is, "New world. New skills." With the rapid ongoing changes, hiring professionals will need to seek remote workers with self-motivation, independence and adaptability. “All those were important skills before—they become critical," she said. While digitizing businesses is the first key to building back the economy, King said the second key is investing in the wellbeing and needs of the workforce. “That is the key to our economic recovery," King said. The event also featured School Board Member Linda Cuthbert and Interim Volusia County Schools Superintendent Dr. Carmen Balgobin, who gave an overview on school reopening measures.
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Department of Juvenile Justice
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Bethune-Cookman will research juvenile-justice issues The Daytona Beach News Journal Bethune-Cookman University has signed an agreement with the state that links the school's resources with improving the services offered by the Department of Juvenile Justice. Researcher Randy Nelson and some B-CU students will be diving deeper into how to improve the juvenile justice department's continuum of services — prevention, diversion, intervention, residential and aftercare. Also, as part of the deal, the department will provide internship and job opportunities to B-CU students in criminal justice, sociology, psychology, education, political science, and health science. "DJJ is excited to partner with Bethune Cookman University, a prestigious institution of higher learning, to further the department’s research efforts and provide opportunities for students interested in making a difference in Florida’s juvenile justice system,” department Secretary Simone Marstiller said in a prepared statement. Nelson, who has long studied disparities in law-enforcement contact with youth of color, joined Bethune-Cookman in 2014. He is director of the B-CU Center for Law & Social Justice and department chairperson of the master's in criminal justice administration program. The partnership will allow him to build on work he started in 2009, when he conducted a review of DJJ services. He looked at children who completed programs in the system in 2006-07, and their recidivism rates the following year. He also found the Black male youth had lower completion rates than their white male counterparts and higher recidivism rates. The Black males made up 42% of all the youth in detention, and 45% of those receiving residential services, far exceeding the percentage of Black youth receiving prevention and diversion services. Things haven't changed much. In 2018-19, about 1.9 million children between the ages of 10 and 17 were living in Florida, and of those, 21% were Black.
Yet 50% of the juvenile arrests were of Black youth, 65% of those transferred to adult court were Black and nearly 58% of those sent to secure detention were Black, data on the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice website show.
Nelson said the agreement is "not only a first for a Florida HBCU, but any institution of higher learning in Florida." B-CU offers a juvenile justice reform certificate program in partnership with the Annie E. Casey foundation. A couple of B-CU students are interning with the DJJ's research and data department. "This gives them a leg up to enter the field," Nelson said. "One of the things juvenile justice reform requires is hiring, training and developing leaders."
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Florida Department of Elder Affairs
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Department of Management Services
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Department of Enviromental Protection
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DEP Announces Support to Help Communities Prepare for Rising Sea Levels
TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida Resilient Coastlines Program (FRCP) announces that nearly $2.3 million in grant funding has been awarded to 34 recipients for fiscal year 2020-21. This funding will strengthen resilience initiatives for 30 coastal communities in 17 coastal counties in Florida.
The Resilience Planning Grants (RPG) and Resilience Implementation Grants (RIG) are provided through DEP's Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection’s Florida Resilient Coastlines Program. These grants are specifically designed to assist local governments in preparing for the current and future effects of rising sea levels, including coastal flooding, erosion and ecosystem changes.
"Florida continues to lead the nation in resiliency and preparedness," said DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein. "These grants help balance the needs of our resources while protecting residents' homes and livelihoods in coastal communities."
RPGs provide financial assistance to aid cities and counties in promoting resilience planning, including complying with the “Peril of Flood” statute, which helps to ensure coasts will recover and move forward faster after natural disasters. The legislation requires coastal communities to include a coastal management element in their comprehensive plan that analyzes the current and future effects of flooding from sea level rise, storm surge, precipitation and other sources.
RIGs assist coastal communities in implementing their adaptation and resilience plans by supporting nature-based options for erosion and flood control, including coral reef and mangrove restoration, elevating public structures and projects specifically included in existing adaptation/resilience plans.
The grant application cycle for fiscal year 2021-22 opened Aug. 1, 2020 and closes Oct. 9, 2020. If your coastal community would like to be considered for an FRCP grant, visit FRCP Resilience Grants for information and applications. You can also view previous grant awards. The FRCP also hosts a quarterly Coastal Resilience Forum webinar for those who want to network with their counterparts in other cities and counties, and learn more about coastal resilience and other funding opportunities
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Department of Transportation
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Space Florida Announces Support of Aerion Supersonic’s New HQ at Orlando Melbourne International Airport Space Coast News.com
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Space Florida announced a multimillion-dollar investment in Aerion Supersonic to provide financing, structure and development assistance to build Aerion’s new global headquarters, “Aerion Park.” Aerion Supersonic is planning to produce the AS2 supersonic business jet, the world’s first, at the manufacturing plant to be located at Orlando Melbourne International Airport on more than 60 acres of vacant airport property located at the northwest corner of MLB. According to Space Florida, construction is expected to begin on Aerion Park before the end of 2020. Aerion is prepared to reshape the general aviation industry with the AS2 – the first privately built supersonic commercial aircraft ever which is designed to reach speeds of over 1,000 mph with the ability to accept 100 percent biofuels. The 12-passenger aircraft aims for Mach 1.6 with a supersonic natural laminar flow wing for a minimum projected range of 4,750 miles. A $4 billion development cost is anticipated, for a market of 300 over 10 years and 500 overall for $120 million each.
Aerion Park’s integrated campus will feature facilities for support research, design and production for Aerion’s supersonic aircraft, which will create almost 700 new jobs on the Space Coast. “We are incredibly honored and thrilled to bring this news to our community at a time when it’s needed the most,” said Greg Donovan, A.A.E., executive director at Orlando Melbourne International Airport. “We are proud to be the location of the future where Aerion will innovate, create and introduce new technologies and products to the aviation industry worldwide.” Orlando Melbourne International Airport is an award-winning airport, named Florida’s 2019 Commercial Service Airport of the Year by FDOT and #1 Most Scenic Airport Approach in the U.S.A. by PrivateFly.com. Located on the Central Florida coast, MLB serves nearly 500,000 passengers annually with current nonstop service to Philadelphia (PHL) and Charlotte (CLT) on American Airlines, and Atlanta (ATL) on Delta Air Lines. We are building the next generation of high-speed transportation networks that will revolutionize global mobility without leaving a carbon footprint on our world,” said Tom Vice, Aerion Supersonic Chairman, President & CEO. “Our AS2 business jet – the world’s first privately built supersonic aircraft – is the first stage in that exciting endeavor. Having evaluated a number of potential locations for our new home, we are excited to partner with Florida and the Melbourne community to create a sustainable supersonic future.” The decision to launch the assembly of the AS2 at MLB, located in the heart of Florida’s Space Coast, will allow Aerion to tap into the highly-skilled local workforce as well as attract some of the best aerospace talents in the world to Melbourne, Florida. “The impact Aerion will have on our community and the state will be truly extraordinary,” said MLB Director of Marketing and Business Development Mark Busalacchi. “In addition to the major workforce investment Aerion plans to make at the airport, there will also be hundreds of indirect jobs that will have a lasting effect in fueling our local economy.” Airport officials have worked to recruit Aerion to Florida since December 2018 with collaboration between several economic partners including the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, Enterprise Florida, Inc., Space Florida and the City of Melbourne. “Brevard County is home to the pioneers of space exploration and now the pioneers of sustainable supersonic transportation,” said Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast President and CEO Lynda Weatherman. “Aerion Park raises the profile of the Space Coast as the premier site for the most innovative aerospace companies in the world and is an example of what can be accomplished, even in the most challenging times, when the EDC and its state and local partners work together.” Aerion, the industry leader in supersonic travel, is pioneering a new generation of high-speed mobility solutions that significantly reduce the time and friction of travel while leaving no carbon footprint behind. “Aerion is an excellent addition to our tenant base, affirming MLB as a global epicenter for the aviation, aerospace and defense industries,” said Melbourne Airport Authority Chairman Jack L. Ryals, C.C.I.M. “They will also add an entirely new dimension to our airfield with leading-edge technology.” MLB’s airfield has been completely revived over the last few years with three rehabilitated runways and a new air traffic control tower. Additional taxiway and roadway improvements are on the way to accommodate Aerion’s operational plans thanks to funding support from Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin Thibault and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. With the recent announcement of TUI UK’s arrival in 2022, plans are underway to invest millions of dollars into MLB’s terminal to provide an ultimate travel experience for all airport customers. MLB has positioned itself on the global stage as an epicenter for aviation, aerospace and defense, home to Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, Embraer, Collins Aerospace, Thales, and now Aerion Supersonic.
These are the roads to Florida’s future | Column Tampa Bay Times Florida needs innovative ideas to ensure a promising future. The Multi-use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance (M-CORES) program is exactly the kind of plan that will change Florida’s future for the better. This plan to create new roadways throughout Florida, in one form or another, has been discussed for decades. As a growing state, we must see it through, and to make sure it is done right, we must see it through now. Florida continues to attract hundreds of new residents every day. Our state leaders must anticipate and plan for future growth to ensure Floridians, as well as those visiting the state, are able to travel our roadways freely and safely. This is one of the main goals of M-CORES — to thoughtfully plan now for future growth, before it is too late. In addition to addressing traffic concerns, the plan also calls for exploring other various types of transportation, including freight and passenger rail, trails and public transit. Alongside a growing population, Florida needs a growing economy. And in the midst of the current pandemic, it is especially important to look for opportunities to help our economy recover and come back stronger than before. The M-CORES program is expected to encourage economic development and job creation in areas that are particularly in need of revitalization. And additional corridors and transportation options can also encourage increased trade and commerce, a unique opportunity Florida is primed to seize as a peninsula with multiple ports. During my time as governor of Florida, an especially devastating storm, Hurricane Charley, hit our state. We saw then the need to provide our state and citizens with safe, ample and accessible routes so Floridians do not have to worry about safely relocating their families in the event of an evacuation. Working with Florida’s committed public servants leading up to and during the numerous storms we weathered, we also learned that while we cannot plan natural disasters, we can anticipate and prepare accordingly. The M-CORES program helps us do just that by providing additional evacuation routes and options for emergency personnel to safely and efficiently do their job. In addition to all the great things I know M-CORES can accomplish, I also believe it can do so while balancing the protection of our state’s natural resources and the environment with the infrastructure required. Florida has precious water, waterways, lands and wildlife, and the M-CORES plan takes these important aspects into account. The protection of Florida’s environment is, and rightfully should be, a top priority of the M-CORES plan. I am pleased the task forces currently examining the corridors are made up of a wide variety of experts and representatives from environmental organizations, including the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and local water management districts, among many others. The M-CORES plan has long been needed. Florida is growing, and we can’t stop it, nor should we. We need to be rising to meet this demand, rather than shrinking from it. And the time to do so is now. By being practical with the way we do this – making the corridors multi-use with different modes of transportation, utilities and broadband – the M-CORES plan has the potential to deliver many benefits for Florida. All of which can be done while still protecting the vital natural resources we have been blessed to steward. I encourage Florida decision-makers — local, regional and state — to come together to support this smart growth plan. It is what is best for Florida, our current and future citizens, and our environment.
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