Jan 26, 2021
Hospitals told to look to health departments for vaccines
With frustrations mounting amid a constrained supply of COVID-19 vaccines, Florida’s top public-health official urged hospital executives on Tuesday to turn to county health departments if they need to vaccinate newly hired staff members and patients.
Jan 26, 2021
GOP lawmakers target big tech after Trump ban
Trying to return former President Donald Trump and other banned conservatives to social-media platforms, two Florida lawmakers filed proposals Tuesday that would prohibit state agencies and local governments from contracting with some tech-industry giants.
Jan 26, 2021
Citizens board approves 2021 rate hike recommendations
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s Board of Governors on Tuesday approved a pair of rate hike recommendations that make Citizens rates more competitive with private insurance company policies to slow the flow of policyholders returning to the Florida’s insurer of last resort.
Jan 26, 2021
Business COVID-19 protections backed in Senate
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday approved a proposal that would give Florida businesses that “substantially” comply with public-health guidelines broad protection from coronavirus-related lawsuits filed by customers and employees.
Jan 25, 2021
Citizens eyes rate hike, as insurance changes proposed
Citizens Property Insurance Corp. could increase residential rates by an average of 7.2 percent this year, as the state-backed insurer contends with a flood of new policies and troubles in the private insurance market.
Jan 25, 2021
By the numbers: County unemployment rates
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity on Friday released a December unemployment report. Here are the county-by-county unemployment rates:
— Osceola County: 8.7 percent
— Miami-Dade County: 7.3 percent
Jan 24, 2021
Legislator proposes sales-tax holiday to prepare for disasters
A Senate Republican on Friday filed a bill that would provide a sales-tax “holiday” around the start of hurricane season for people who buy disaster-preparedness supplies.
Jan 23, 2021
Florida deaths top 25,000; Local two-county tally at 683
More than 25,000 Florida residents have died since the COVID-19 pandemic hit early last year, according to numbers released Friday by the state Department of Health.
The department reported a major increase Friday of 272 resident deaths, bringing the total to 25,011. Florida also passed another troubling milestone this week, when it topped 9,000 deaths of residents and staff members of long-term care facilities — with the vast majority involving seniors in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Jan 22, 2021
Trump administration gives Medicaid gift to Florida
Former President Donald Trump’s administration gave Florida’s health-care system one last parting gift before he left office Wednesday to return to his adopted home state.
Jan 21, 2021
State pandemic chair says businesses will remain open
Businesses will remain open for the economic well-being of the state even as COVID-19 cases continue to surge in Florida, the head of a Senate select committee on the pandemic said Thursday.