SHARE:
Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
› COVID-19 positivity rate in Leon County jumps to 20%, eclipsing statewide percentage
COVID-19 cases in Leon County have well surpassed 1,000 per week, while hospitalizations remain comparably steady. Between June 10-16, there were 1,880 new infections in Leon County and the positivity rate was 20%, surpassing the statewide positivity rate of 17%, according to a bi-weekly report from the Florida Department of Health. Two weeks earlier, DOH reported 911 new infections and a 16.5% positivity rate in the capital county.
› Tampa launches housing assistance hotline
The city launched a housing information line Tuesday to help residents learn how to avoid eviction, deal with landlords and access housing and mortgage assistance. Mayor Jane Castor’s announcement came less than a week after City Council members unanimously approved asking the mayor to create a $400,000, two-person tenant advocacy office to help residents affected by ballooning housing costs.
› Taiwanese tea chain Happy Lemon opening its first Florida location in Orlando
A Taiwanese bubble tea shop is opening its first-ever location in the Sunshine State, and they've got Orlando dead in their sights. The first Florida outpost of Happy Lemon will be located just 4 minutes from the University of Central Florida at 11565 University Boulevard. The store is currently hiring baristas and back-of-house workers ahead of its opening.
› Longtime Sarasota furniture store owner, philanthropist Ed Kalin dies at 101
Longtime Sarasota businessman and philanthropist Ed Kalin never really settled on a traditional hobby. He played golf a little bit, fished here and there. He owned a boat for a time. Then, in the 1960s and '70s, Kalin started doing some real estate deals. That became his passion, outside work and family.
In case you missed it:
