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16th straight day with COVID positivity rates below 10%
Statewide positivity rate falls to 5.5%
Miami Dade goes from 22% to 6.55%
White House Corona Task Force leader, Dr.Atlas comes to Florida
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BBC News
Are the government and media overdoing coronavirus? Is it time to move on and get back to normal life?
These are big questions, and given the parlous state of the economy, they deserve some attention.
Let me start with some positives, which may help encourage the viewpoint I see a lot on social media, that Covid is over, finished, done with.
The trend in deaths and serious illness continues to decline.
The number of patients in hospital who have a confirmed Covid-19 diagnosis has been falling for months.
At the peak in the UK there were around 20,000 - now it's fewer than 800.
At one stage whole intensive care units were full of Covid-19 patients, many of them on ventilators for several weeks.
Again, thankfully, the numbers on ventilators have continued to fall, from 3,300 to 64.
There are many ways of counting Covid-related deaths, but they all show mortality peaked in April and has been falling ever since.
If we look solely at those who died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test, this has fallen by 99% from nearly 1,000 a day to, on average, less than 10.
That compares to an average of 30 men a day who die from prostate cancer, and 30 women from breast cancer. Neither of these figures is read out nightly on the TV news, unlike the statistics for cases and coronavirus deaths.
Now we know what happened when the United Kingdom sent kids back to school.
There were very few coronavirus cases — and they were mostly among teachers, not students.
The United Kingdom’s new report, released yesterday, is the most comprehensive look yet at what might happen when hundreds of thousands of kids return to classrooms amid the coronavirus pandemic. The information could prove valuable and timely for schools in the United States, caught in the midst of a heated and politicized debate over the best approach for fall learning.
“I was surprised by how low the numbers were, to be honest,” said Emily Oster, a professor of economics at Brown University, who analyzed the report. “I thought they would be higher.”
U.K. schools saw infection rates of 0.02 percent among staff members and 0.008 percent among students.
The data, collected by the country’s public health agency, comes from reports from nurseries, preschools, elementary schools and secondary schools that reopened for a “mini” summer term in June after the country’s spring shutdowns.
If it were up to Joe Biden, the national shutdown implemented due to the coronavirus pandemic would never end.
When he accepted the nomination for president on the final night of the Democratic National Convention, he promised that if elected, he would pass a federal mask mandate as part of his effort to defeat the virus.
“It’s a patriotic duty,” he declared.
Of course, Biden didn’t bother to elaborate on this proposed mandate or explain how his administration would enforce it — because he knows that such a heavy-handed restriction would be legally dubious and almost impossible to enforce.
Under the U.S. Constitution, states have the primary duty to protect public health and safety. This is why many of them have been able to pass their own mask mandates, while others have simply encouraged residents to follow suit. No president may usurp that authority even during a pandemic. And no president would have the law enforcement personnel necessary to enforce it, either. At a time when there is supposed to be a national reckoning about excessive policing, do Democrats want to create a new policy that, if enforced, would require many more interactions between police and people in minority neighborhoods?
Masks do not fall under any of the president’s listed constitutional powers, nor under those of Congress. Yet, Biden keeps insisting that a federal mask mandate is not only possible, but necessary. Other Democrats agree. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in June that a national mask mandate is “long overdue,” and other congressional Democrats have claimed that President Trump’s refusal to pass one proves he doesn’t take the coronavirus seriously. But Democrats won't pass such a mandate through Congress because the whole exercise is nothing but an attempt to contrast their supposedly serious coronavirus response with Trump’s. As long as they can see ways to try and make the president look feckless and aloof, Democrats will persist in such attempts and scuttle back to their base and claim they’re the only party willing to act on behalf of the public — even though they’ve never actually followed through.
Reason
Human beings are often terrible at foresight and generally learn hard lessons chiefly from failure. That has certainly been the case for the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health officials, politicians, and the public, by means of repeated policy failures, are still learning what works when it comes to mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic.
A partial list of initial failures in the U.S. includes underestimating the virulence of the pathogen by some public health officials; a massive bureaucratic screw-up by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that delayed the rollout of diagnostic testing as the pandemic was taking off; the belief that airborne transmission was not a significant route of infection but instead the virus was chiefly passed along via direct contact with infected people and indirect contact with surfaces in the immediate environment; the early assertion that citizens didn't need to wear face masks to protect themselves from infection; epidemiological models making worst-case projections of millions of COVID-19 deaths by assuming that people wouldn't change their behaviors; the claim that the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine was a "game changer" as a COVID-19 treatment; and a president who has doggedly insisted since February that the virus would miraculously fade or disappear soon.
So what has been learned over the past eight months? While conclusions are still preliminary, researchers now calculate that the COVID-19 coronavirus is about three times more contagious than seasonal flu; the availability of diagnostic testing in the U.S. has greatly improved but is still nowhere near where it needs to be; airborne transmission contributes significantly to the spread of the disease; when the background rate of infections is high the widespread adoption of face masks is an effective and very economically valuable method for stemming COVID-19 infections; when epidemiological models took into account actual changes in human behavior, their COVID-19 death projections declined steeply; and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has concluded that hydroxychloroquine is not a useful COVID-19 therapeutic. But what about President Donald Trump's oft-repeated prediction that the virus will one day soon just disappear?
News4Jax
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida’s health officials reported on Sunday the lowest number of new coronavirus deaths in more than two months.
The Florida Department of Health tallied 14 additional COVID-19 deaths as the number of known cases of the coronavirus reported each day also continued to drop. It was the lowest daily death toll since June 22, when officials reported 12 new deaths.
One of the deaths reported Sunday was in Northeast Florida: the death of a 73-year-old woman in Putnam County, which has now recorded 37 deaths.
Florida’s total number of deaths since the pandemic began is now at 11,263. The average daily toll reported over the past week is 114.
Deaths from COVID-19 usually occur two weeks or more after diagnosis, so epidemiologists have said Florida’s fatality rate should shrink in the coming weeks if confirmed infections continue to shrink.
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Florida’s coronavirus cases maintained a downward swing Sunday, with the state reporting 2,583 new cases and another 14 deaths in the past 24 hours.
No deaths were reported in Broward or Palm Beach counties and only four were reported in Miami-Dade County.
State officials have tallied 621,586 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began — only 21,015 cases more than a week ago, reports from the Florida Department of Health show. As of Sunday, 11,263 people have died from the disease, including 144 people who lived elsewhere but died in Florida..
The deaths reported Sunday represent a sharp decline from the record 277 coronavirus deaths reported on Aug. 11. The one-day peak for new cases was July 12, with 15,300 infections.
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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 8/27/2020
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23.9%
% of ICU Beds Available Statewide
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40.36% % of Pediatric ICU Beds Available Statewide
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27.53% % of Available Hospital Beds Statewide
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Governor Advocates Getting an AntibodyTest - You Could Save a Life
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Governor Advocates Getting an AntibodyTest - You Could Save a Life
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Download any of these social media graphics below for your personal, business, or agency
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Department of Children and Families
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DCF’s First-Ever Virtual Child Protection Summit
Today, Secretary Chad Poppell and the team at DCF are kicking off the first-ever virtual Child Protection Summit! As Florida continues to follow health and safety guidelines implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, DCF is providing a unique training and education opportunity to more than 3,200 child welfare professionals, partners, and advocates from across the state.
The 2020 Child Protection Summit, held from August 31 through September 3, will allow Florida’s child welfare system to gather together, learn best practices, and strengthen skills to keep the workforce resilient, children safe, and families strong. Although the event isn’t in-person, the Summit will still be an informative experience with over 100 presenters and more than 70 engaging workshops to help attendees grow both personally and professionally. This is a new, exciting new experience that is sure to be beneficial for all attendees, allowing them to better serve Florida’s children and families moving forward.
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Division of Emergency Management
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Florida health officials report lowest COVID-19 death toll since June, over 2.5K new cases Source Fox 35 Orlando
The Florida Department of Health reported 2,583 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, with an additional 14 deaths.
The total number of cases in the state is now 621,586.
The total number of deaths is 11,119. The state’s health department tallied 14 new COVID-19 deaths as the number of known cases of the virus reported each day also continued to drop. It was the lowest daily death toll since June 22, when officials reported 12 new deaths.
Meanwhile, the number of patients being treated for COVID-19 remained at about 3,800 Sunday.
Florida’s COVID-19 cases on downswing with 2,583 new cases Source Ledger-Enquirer
Florida's coronavirus cases maintained a downward swing Sunday, with the state reporting 2,583 new cases and another 14 deaths in the past 24 hours.
No deaths were reported in Broward or Palm Beach counties and only four were reported in Miami-Dade County.
State officials have tallied 621,586 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began – only 21,015 cases more than a week ago, reports from the Florida Department of Health show. As of Sunday, 11,263 people have died from the disease, including 144 people who lived elsewhere but died in Florida.
The deaths reported Sunday represent a sharp decline from the record 277 coronavirus deaths reported on Aug. 11. The one-day peak for new cases was July 12, with 15,300 infections.
Sunday's daily report from the Department of Health reflects deaths that occurred over recent weeks, but were only confirmed in the past 24 hours. The new cases follow a lag between the collection of swabs over several days and the confirmation of positive results.
More than 4.6 million people have been tested for COVID-19 statewide since the pandemic began, producing an overall positivity rate of 13.49%, according to the Florida Department of Health. Nearly 3.98 million people have tested negative.
In South Florida, the overall positivity rates are 19.36% for Miami-Dade County, 14.19% for Broward and 13% for Palm Beach County.
On Sunday, Florida reported that its daily positivity rate, for new infections only, stood at 5.1%, up from 4.45% the previous day. This doesn't count people who previously tested positive.
Positivity is viewed as a key way to gauge the prevalence of the disease. Public health experts say the coronavirus is under control when the rate is 5% or below. Florida says its "target range" is below 10%.
Recent numbers mark a significant improvement over July, when the daily positivity rate for new infections was hovering around 15% across the state.
On Sunday, health officials reported test results for 60,074 people, thousands fewer than the 72,557 test results reported the previous day.
In South Florida, the daily positivity rates reported on Sunday dropped in all three counties. The rate was 4.49% for Broward County, a slight increase from the previous day's 4.27%; 4.7% for Palm Beach County, up from 4.45%; and 6.63% for Miami-Dade, down from 7.09% the day before.
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Agency for Persons with Disabilities
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Vero Beach special needs athlete cycling 3,521 miles in virtual Amerithon Challenge Treasure Coast Newspapers
Cycling is Billy Klingensmith's passion.
The 54-year-old special needs athlete from Vero Beach only picked up the sport about eight years ago, he said, wanting to try something new. Over the years he competed in 5K and 10K races, but the coronavirus pandemic gave him a new goal.
Klingensmith has been participating in the virtual Amerithon Challenge - a 3,521 mile journey from California to Washington, D.C. — since June 14. Now 10 weeks in, he has cycled 1,467 miles so far.
The online challenge is described as a way to "exercise your way across America without leaving your neighborhood."
"Cycling is fun. I enjoy it, and this is a great challenge," said Klingensmith, who is autistic and has a mild intellectual disability.
Klingensmith bikes about 25 to 30 miles every day, he said, mostly on the dirt roads of his neighborhood and down the long stretch of State Road A1A. It usually takes him over two hours.
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Florida Department of Corrections
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FDC’s Volunteer of the Month for August 2020 is Libby Fisher!
One of Libby’s favorite quotes is, “We are all more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.” She exemplifies this sentiment by the way she advocates for education and programming at Walton Correctional Institution and in her community. Libby began a book club in the Faith and Character dorm at Walton CI two years ago. In 2019, she founded a re-entry transition mentor program targeting inmates who are within six months of their release date and who do not have loved ones to assist with post-release plans. With the assistance of FDC staff, other volunteers and community resources, Libby’s program has assisted 20 inmates with finding housing, work attire and having identification cards upon release.
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Agency for Health Care Administration
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Coronavirus: Florida daily death toll lowest since June Florida Times-Union
Florida recorded its lowest daily death toll increase for more than two months, while statistics again showed a slowing spread of the coronavirus.
The Florida Department of Health recorded an increase of 14 deaths in Sunday's daily report. The cumulative total has now reached 11,563, including 11,119 Florida residents and 144 from outside Florida.
Putnam County recorded its 37th death from COVID-19 and the 448th to date in Northeast Florida.
The rise in deaths is the smallest since June 22, when the daily report added 12 deaths. Due to reporting lags, many deaths are not recorded in Health Department totals for days or weeks after they occur, and Sunday reports have traditionally included some of the lowest figures since the start of the pandemic.
The positivity rate for laboratory results received Saturday across Florida increased only slightly, to 7.30 percent. Positivity rates for much of Northeast Florida held largely steady, often increasing by fractions of a percentage point: Duval County rose to 3.51 percent, Clay County dropped to 7.02 percent, Nassau County rose to 6.67 percent and Baker County rose to 4.23 percent (but with a small sample size of 71 tests). Putnam County rose to 4.88 percent, and St. Johns County was the exception with a sharper jump to 7.41 percent — the county's highest single-day percentage since Aug. 17.
Across Florida, new positive tests increased by 2,583, for a total of 621,586 to date. Duval County added 107 cases, with 50 in Clay County, 35 in St. Johns County, 16 in Nassau County, 11 in Putnam County and three in Baker County.
Current COVID-19 hospitalizations also continued their decline. The Agency for Health Care Administration recorded 3,792 patients in hospitals with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19 as of 12:45 p.m., a decrease of seven from Saturday.
Duval County reported 219 patients, a decrease of four compared to Saturday. Baker County reported 1, unchanged; Clay County, 48, up 1; Nassau County, 8, up 3; Putnam County, 9, unchanged; St. Johns County, 9, down 1.
The Health Department released its report at 12:34 p.m., about two hours later than usual.
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Department of The Lottery
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Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs
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Most Popular State Veteran Monument
Florida’s Vietnam War Memorial, with its twenty-eight by fifteen foot U.S. flag, contains the names of all known Floridians killed in the war. Location: Across Monroe Street from the Old Capitol Building, Downtown Tallahassee.
Connecting Vietnam veterans with earned benefits, services and support is the top priority of Florida's teleworking veterans' claims examiners. For assistance on veteran-related issues, call (727) 319-7440 and they'll return your call within 24 hours. You may also email them at VSO@fdva.state.fl.us.
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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
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New Hunts On The Youth Hunting Program Calendar
The FWC has over 75 new hunts on the Youth Hunting Program calendar this fall for deer, wild hogs, small game and more. These mentored hunts provide youth who have never hunted before with opportunities to learn about conservation and gain new outdoor skills. These hunts will adhere to CDC guidelines related to social distancing. Temperature checks will be conducted on all participants before and during the weekend events, and participants will be required to wear a mask if staying 6-feet apart is not achievable. The Youth Hunting Program offers youth between 12 and 17 years of age mentored hunting opportunities. To participate, youth must successfully complete a hunter safety course and be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Volunteers provide places to hunt, meals and mentoring at these family-oriented events. If you have a friend, family member, co-worker or neighbor who has a young person interested in hunting, we hope you’ll encourage them to check out FWC’s Youth Hunting Program!
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Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
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Governor Encouraging Travelers To Get on a Plane and Come To Florida Travel Pulse
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is making a big push to revive the battered tourism industry in his state, encouraging potential visitors that air travel is safe and to get on a plane.
The Gov. made his remarks after first meeting with theme park executives this week and, on Friday, with officials from JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines at both Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Miami International Airport, according to NPR.
“The fact of the matter is, the airplanes have just not been vectors where you've seen a lot of spread of the coronavirus,” DeSantis said.
Spirit Airlines Chief Operating Office John Bendoraitis reiterated DeSantis’ stance.
“We've had zero outbreaks on Spirit,” he said, “and really we've had zero guests come forward and say they've had any kind of problem onboard the aircraft.”
Indeed, catching the virus on a plane has been far less prevalent than the problem of whether passengers are wearing their face masks.
More importantly, DeSantis noted that after a spike in coronavirus cases in Florida the state is going back down again.
“If you go back six weeks and look at to where we are at now, I mean, we’ve had really strong, durable declines in almost every indicator,” he said. “The number of COVID-positive patients who are hospitalized in the ICU is down 49 percent from the July peak. The number of COVID-positive patients just hospitalized generally is down 54 percent from the peak. In Broward, the number of COVID-positive patients hospitalized is down 57 percent from the July peak. In Miami-Dade, COVID positive hospitalizations are down 60 percent.”
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Florida Department of Law Enforcement
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BusinesSafe, an ongoing initiative of FDLE and the Florida Fusion Center, is working to involve local businesses in protecting the safety and well-being of Florida’s residents and visitors from threats – man-made or natural.
BusinesSafe provides sector-specific Fact Sheets for businesses to follow. These sheets are categorized by the type of business and are patterned after a program that was created by the New York City Police Department after the attacks of September 11, 2001. This information is designed to help businesses identify suspicious activities which may result in a threat to business establishments both public and private.
BusinesSafe also issues biweekly articles sent directly to business owners, community leaders, and other interested parties, each of which focuses on a different type of threat Florida’s businesses may face. What follows is the latest article, on arson attacks, which was issued on August 26: BusinesSafe Threat Topics: Arson Attacks Arson is the willful and unlawful burning of property. Arson attacks primarily occur when an individual sets fire to property with a criminal intent and may result in extensive financial and personal losses, including increased insurance premiums, loss of business revenue, and a decrease in property values. Because fires spread quickly, arson attacks may also result in serious physical injury for first responders and nearby residents.
Arson attacks require little to no expertise and planning. Therefore, this tactic may be used as an unsophisticated attack method and can be carried out at a variety of locations. Motives for arson attacks include crime concealment, extremism, profit, revenge, and vandalism. Arson may also be used by violent extremists as part of a complex coordinated attack to hinder first responder efforts.
• In July 2020, a man was charged with setting fire to a Catholic church in Ocala, Florida. The individual reportedly drove a minivan through the front doors of Queen of Peace Catholic church and set the foyer on fire with gasoline. There were no reported injuries; however, the structure sustained extensive damage. Man Charged in Florida Arson Attack
• In February 2020, four teens set fire to a defunct train station in Delray Beach, Florida. While attempting to put out the fire, a firefighter was reportedly thrown to the ground by the force of the fire and suffered burns to his neck and ears. Four Teens Face Arson Charges after Fire Destroys Train Station
• In January 2020, an individual spread a flammable substance on nine cars and set them on fire at a car dealership in Pompano Beach, Florida. The dealership owner’s sister stated that the business did not have insurance and would have to cover the cost of the arson attack out of pocket. Officials Search for Arsonist behind Attack at Pompano Beach Car Dealership Ways to Protect Yourself from Arson Attacks: • Install and regularly update all security systems, smoke detectors, appropriate fire suppression system, and other fire safety equipment. • Train employees to secure all doors, windows, skylights – especially entrances on alleys and keep your property well-lit at night. • Join and participate in a local business watch. • Review information from the U.S. Fire Administration on fire prevention and stay updated on any fire activity in your area. • Be on the lookout for and report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement. Resources: The Department of Homeland Security provides security awareness for fire used as a weapon in soft targets and crowded places. Fire as a Weapon: Security Awareness for Soft Targets and Crowded Places
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence provides guidance on recognizing arson with a nexus to terrorism. Recognizing Arson with a Nexus to Terrorism
To sign up to receive BusinesSafe directly to your email, visit our website.
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Florida Housing Finance Corpration
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How to Help with Hurricane Laura Response and Recovery Activities
One of the best ways that individuals can help those affected by Hurricane Laura 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 be hard to store and even harder to distribute. For more information about where to donate or how to affiliate with a volunteer organization, we recommend reaching out to Louisiana and Texas’ state service commissions. Similar to Volunteer Florida, Volunteer Louisiana and One Star Foundation in Texas coordinate volunteers and donations before, during and after disaster. For more information, please visit www.volunteerlouisiana.gov and www.onestarfoundation.org.
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Department of Business and Professional Regulation
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Gov. DeSantis extends renewal fees for alcohol licenses through the end of 2020 amid pandemic WTSP Tampa
Florida businesses can now renew their liquor licenses through Dec. 31, 2020 thanks to an executive order from Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The governor said the executive order was a decision to support businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19.
Secretary of Department of Business and Professional Regulation Halsey Beshears commented on the extension Friday evening.
"Governor has extended the renewal fees for alcohol licenses through the end of the year. While they can’t be waived yet, this offers some relief till we get the bars open. This came as a result of our meetings. Thank u @GovRonDeSantis! thanks to all owners from our meetings."
In June, Florida banned alcohol consumption at bars in response to a rise in COVID-19 cases across the state. While the state has moved through phases of reopening, the decisions on opening bars to the public has stayed the same.
Beshears met with bar and brewery owners last month to look into how to safely reopen bars. No action on the topic has yet to be taken.
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CareerSource Suncoast and Sarasota are presenting the 25th Community Entrepreneur Opportunity course Tampa Bay Business Journal Entrepreneur school: CareerSource Suncoast and Sarasota are presenting the 25th Community Entrepreneur Opportunity course. This free 10-week virtual course will teach entrepreneurs how to create and launch a business. It begins Sept. 8. Classes will be held Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and CareerSource Suncoast’s business accelerator, THRIVE, will provide support. Visit careersourcesuncoast.com/CEO/ for more.
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Department of Juvenile Justice
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Florida Department of Elder Affairs
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Senior Resource Alliance Receives Volunteer Florida Grant
The Florida Department of Elder Affairs is pleased to announce that one of our Area Agencies on Aging, Senior Resource Alliance, is one of five grant recipients of the $360,000 awarded by Volunteer Florida. The grant will assist in implementing an AmeriCorps program. Karla Radka, President and CEO of Senior Resource Alliance, said, “The pandemic has given us the opportunity to rethink our services and use telephone reassurance and video to be able to deliver workshops and remain in contact with our seniors and caregivers. We have also provided home delivered meals through an innovative partnership with local restaurants. “This grant comes at a perfect time to take account of where we stand regarding the needs of our community. “Our main purpose is to take a deep look based on research and surveys, and then focus on health, education, social support, and support for independent living. Our area is one of the livable communities, so we are looking at all those aspects to improve the quality of life of seniors and the services and support they receive.” “This work is in collaboration with our providers, who are equally passionate and eager to serve. Leveraging the collaboration is key for the wellbeing of seniors and caregivers. We are leading this effort, but our providers are key to being able to move the needle on issues that affect our seniors.”
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Department of Management Services
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Department of Environmental Protection
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One Step Closer to Sending More Water South Starting EAA Reservoir Project Construction On August 28, the state of Florida reached a major milestone in the ongoing effort to expedite and complete key Everglades restoration projects. South Florida Water Management District staff conducted initial test blasts that mark the groundbreaking of principal construction to build the A-2 Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) that the District is building as its portion of the project. The EAA Reservoir Project is one of the most important Everglades restoration projects. The project reduces harmful discharges to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries from Lake Okeechobee and sends more clean water south to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay.
The reservoir is one of more than two dozen projects that Gov. DeSantis directed SFWMD to expedite on his second day in office with the signing of Executive Order 19-12. To make expediting these projects possible, Gov. DeSantis has also secured record Everglades restoration funding to support this project.
DEP and EPA Promote Commitment to Protect Water Quality and Coral Reef Restoration in Tampa, Florida
On Friday, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein joined U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Associate Deputy Administrator Doug Benevento, Region 4 Administrator Mary Walker and chief executive officer of The Florida Aquarium, Roger Germann for a tour of The Florida Aquarium. The tour provided an opportunity for discussions concerning the Aquarium’s coral reef restoration work in South Florida. Also discussed were National Estuary Program activities that work to protect and restore water quality in the Tampa area. The tour was followed by a media availability.
"It was an honor to visit the Florida Aquarium and see the continuing work being done on coral reef restoration,” said EPA Associate Deputy Administrator Doug Benevento. “Improving water quality is a priority of the Trump Administration and we will continue to work with our state and local partners to achieve this goal.”
“EPA continues to strengthen relationships with our partners in Florida to protect water quality and assist with the restoration of the coral reef,” said EPA Region 4 Administrator Mary S. Walker. “We look forward to continuing that relationship into the future.”
“DEP and EPA have forged partnerships with The Florida Aquarium and other leaders that have been instrumental in the current efforts underway to protect Florida’s Coral Reef,” said DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein. “We know this work wouldn’t be possible without the commitment and support of leadership at the federal and state level, as well as collaboration of our partners. We are committed to continuing to strengthen our partnerships for protection of this critical natural resource.”
“Saving the Florida Reef Tract is a top priority of The Florida Aquarium and our coral scientists are achieving historic firsts in coral conservation thanks in part to our partnerships with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection,” said Roger Germann, President & CEO of The Florida Aquarium. “Today’s meeting with Associate Deputy Administrator Benevento, EPA Region 4 Administrator Walker and FDEP Secretary Valenstein gives us, and the coral conservation community, tremendous hope because it’s clear their shared vision and commitment, along with the Governor’s, to solving the issues facing Florida’s coral reefs is a significant focus.”
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Department of Transportation
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SpaceX successfully completes historic polar orbit launch from Florida's Space Coast in decades Source WTSP CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. — Sunday evening SpaceX completed something Florida has not seen in decades-- a polar orbit launch. While the weather was iffy, SpaceX's teams managed to secure a "go" for liftoff, sending up Falcon 9 with SAOCOM 1B, a satellite for Argentina's space agency. The launch took place from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral's Space Launch Complex. Two rideshare payloads were also aboard Falcon 9: Tyvak-0172 and PlanetiQ’s GNOMES-1. Now, what is a polar orbit launch? Glad you asked. It means Falcon 9 flew a southern trajectory along the eastern coast of Florida on its way to space. It marked the first time SpaceX has completed such a launch from the Cape. Most polar orbit launches occur at California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base due to the fact that conducting one from Florida puts the rocket's trajectory over land. The historic launch even caught the eye of Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin who caught a glimpse of the launch from his backyard. "Falcon 9’s launch and first stage landing in my backyard. Well done @SpaceX," Aldrin tweeted. The rocket's three deployments and the first stage landing of Falcon 9 have been completed. SAOCOM 1B was officially in orbit 14 minutes after launch. Falcon 9's first stage previously launched astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station aboard the Crew Dragon capsule. The historic launch marked the first crewed mission from U.S. soil since the end of the Space Shuttle era in 2011. SpaceX was also supposed to its twelfth batch of Starlink satellites for the company broadband internet network Sunday morning but had to stand down due to weather. The next launch window is set for 9:29 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1.
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