Gone are the days of dubious polls predicting a double-digit win for Biden — something most plugged in Floridians warned was farcical over the summer. Now that Election Day is in sight, we’ve made it back to tossup territory.

Fresh polling from the Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative shows the former Vice President leading President Donald Trump by three points, 49%-46%, with the balance undecided.

Joe Biden holds a slight lead over Donald Trump in Florida.

FAU’s results were mirrored in a Monmouth University poll that also dropped Tuesday. That measure predicted that, in a low turnout scenario, Biden would land a three-point win. If turnout trends higher, Monmouth predicts a 50%-45% result, advantage Biden.

Monmouth’s measure gives Biden more room for growth, however, with just 40% of Florida voters saying they were “not at all likely” to vote for him compared to 49% who said the same about the President.

In a vacuum, the polls are a double shot of good news for Team Biden, but the top-line has tightened considerably over the past few months — the last FAU BEPI survey in May found Biden leading Trump by six points, 53%-47%. Trump’s gains didn’t go unnoticed.

“Florida continues to be too close to call, but the enthusiasm still favors President Donald Trump, and that could be the difference,” said Kevin Wagner, a professor of political science at FAU and a research fellow of the Initiative. “With only 5% of the voters undecided, this election is less about persuasion and more about turnout.”

___

The Cybersecurity Forum 2020 kicks off today.

The event, co-hosted by the Foundation of Associated Industries of Florida, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, FloridaMakes and the Workers’ Compensation Institute will provide a comprehensive look at current technology and advancements in cybersecurity as it pertains to Florida business, such as defending from attacks by hackers, pirates, and foreign government agents.

Wednesday’s agenda starts with a primer on how businesses can protect their data, identify threats and respond to cyber breaches.

The curriculum will be covered in a series of panel discussions. The first, beginning at 9 a.m., will see top tech minds provide a “Long View on Cybersecurity” — or, how companies can best leverage solutions like artificial intelligence and machine learning to protect themselves.

Other panels will cover the financial risks of a cyber breach, how to predict the consequences of a breach, and familiarize attendees to new cybersecurity standards. There’s an addition for the times, too — AIF’s Tom Feeney will moderate a panel on the “lessons learned from the pandemic crisis” in the afternoon.

The day concludes with a keynote address from U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who in addition to being Florida’s senior Senator is the Acting Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

To watch a promo for the event, click on the image below:

—@Scontorno: On the road to the event, Trump supporters far outnumbered the handful of Biden backers who showed up to wave flags/hold signs/etc.

—@GovRonDeSantis: This week I was proud to recommend Judge Renatha Francis as a federal-district court judge candidate to President @realDonaldTrump & had the opportunity to appoint Judge Jamie Grosshans as Florida’s next Supreme Court Justice. Thank you for your service to our great state!

—@RepMattGaetz: Politicians have made it easier and easier to access student loans while at the same time making it harder to get rid of the debt. Those two forces combined have essentially created a generation of indentured servants.

—@NewsBySmiley: If a poll is released and no one writes it up, did it really happen?

CNN poll of polls: As of Sept. 13, the CNN average gives Biden a 51% chance of winning, with Trump at 43%.

FiveThirtyEight.com: As of Tuesday, Biden has a 75 in 100 chance of winning compared to Trump, who has a 24 in 100 shot. Even though the top-line numbers haven’t changed all that much, that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been movement at the state level. FiveThirtyEight also ranked individual states by the likelihood of delivering a decisive vote for the winning candidate in the Electoral College: Pennsylvania leads with 31.7%, while Florida comes in second with 15.2%. Other states include Wisconsin (9%) Minnesota (5.2%), Michigan (6.2%), Arizona (6.1%) and North Carolina (4.5%).

Most polls put Joe Biden ahead of Donald Trump, particularly in battleground states.

PredictIt: As of Tuesday, the PredictIt trading market has Biden in the lead, at $0.59 a share, with Trump priced at $0.44.

Real Clear Politics: As of Tuesday, the RCP average of polling top battleground states gives Biden a 49.7% likelihood of winning, with Trump getting 42.9%. Every poll used in the RCP model has Biden up from anywhere between 2 and 13 points.

Sabato’s Crystal Ball: One thing both sides agree on is that the race in the swing states will, on the whole, be closer than the national vote. In the polling averages, Joe Biden leads by 7-8%. Yet Biden’s lead in most swing states is smaller, and sometimes considerably smaller, than his national edge. Therefore, if the contest truly tightens in the next seven weeks, then Biden’s hold on some of the swing states will likely fall to a few points or less — and the makings of another Trump upset will emerge. This is the scenario that keeps hope alive in the Trump camp and causes Democrats to lose sleep with nightmarish flashbacks to 2016.

“Joe Biden targets vets, Hispanics during first Florida visit as Democratic nominee” via Zac Anderson, Antonio Fins and John Kennedy of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune — Biden used his first trip to Florida since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee to try to make up ground with Hispanic voters and hammer Trump on veterans issues, particularly his alleged comments denigrating American war dead. Biden returned multiple times to reports that Trump described dead soldiers as “losers” and “suckers,” which were relayed to the Atlantic Magazine by anonymous sources and confirmed by other media outlets. The former vice president said during a veterans roundtable in Tampa that wounded soldiers often told him they wanted to return to their units and asked if that sounds “like the heart and the grit and patriotism of a sucker or a loser?”

Joe Biden tears into Donald Trump during a visit to Florida to talk with veterans and military personnel. Image via AP.

“In Tampa, Biden hits Donald Trump for remarks on veterans” via The Associated Press — Biden tore into Trump for his reported remarks referring to fallen soldiers as “suckers” during a Tuesday campaign visit to Tampa. “Nowhere are his faults more glaring and more offensive, to me at least, than when it comes to his denigration of our service members, veterans, wounded warriors who have fallen,” Biden said at a campaign event with veterans at Hillsborough Community College. It marked Biden’s latest reaction on remarks describing offensive comments by the president toward fallen and captured U.S. service members, including calling World War I dead at an American military cemetery in France “losers” and “suckers” in 2018. Trump has denied the remarks. But the reported comments have given Biden an opening to press what Democrats believe may be an opening among veteran voters and military families, who broadly supported Trump in 2016.

“’A heart pumping blue blood:’ How fast-growing Orlando threatens Trump’s reelection” via Marc Caputo of POLITICO — The President must-win Florida to capture a second term. But the increasingly Democratic Orlando region stands in his way as one of the few places in Florida with a bench of Democratic officials and a grassroots infrastructure to go along with it. As a result, the Biden campaign and Florida Democrats think it can help deliver the crowning blow to Trump in November. That’s what brought Biden to Central Florida Tuesday, where he had a campaign stop in the Puerto Rican-heavy city of Kissimmee. While the visit was ostensibly about connecting with Hispanic voters in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the bigger target was populous Orange and Osceola counties, which have taken on heightened significance in 2020.

“Scientific American backs Biden in first-ever endorsement” via Nick Niedzwiadek of POLITICO — It’s the magazine’s first-ever White House endorsement in its 175-year history. The magazine’s editors wrote that they felt “compelled” to back Biden in his effort to unseat Trump. Scientific American cited Trump’s handling of COVID-19 and his skepticism of expert opinion and mainstream science on issues like climate change as the impetus for its decision. “The evidence and the science show that Donald Trump has badly damaged the U.S. and its people — because he rejects evidence and science,” editors wrote for its October issue.

“We’re seeing a lot less of Trump’s rallies on TV news in 2020” via Jeremy Barr and Elahe Izadi of The Washington Post — You’re seeing a lot less of President Donald Trump’s campaign rallies on television this presidential cycle. Particularly when they’re held indoors, during a pandemic, like his campaign stop in Henderson, Nevada, on Sunday night. Compared with coverage of Trump’s rallies during the 2016 election cycle, the major broadcast and cable news networks have been far less likely to go live with him on the stump. The one holdout has typically been Fox News, though the President’s favorite channel has lately been prone to cut in and out through parts of the speech that meander or conflict with its high-rated prime-time pundits. But when the President spoke at the Xtreme Manufacturing facility on Sunday, even Fox didn’t broadcast it.

—“Trump says he’ll be on Fox & Friends every week — but host Steve Doocy doesn’t agree to have him” via The Week

“Trump says football is ‘boring as hell,’ even as he stumps for more football” via Cindy Boren of The Washington Post — Trump returned to one of his favorite themes on the first Sunday of the NFL season, saying the sport is “boring as hell” in a campaign rally in Henderson, Nev. He made his point as he urged people to settle in and get comfortable, offering his rally as a diversion. “What do we have? Football’s boring as hell,” he told the crowd that had gathered at Xtreme Manufacturing just outside Las Vegas, where the Raiders have relocated. “It’s just not the same, right?” That continued a theme sounded by the president’s son, Eric Trump, who tweeted last week that “football is officially dead” after a report that Dallas Cowboys players had been given a “green light” to protest during the national anthem to raise awareness of social injustice and police brutality. “So much for ‘America’s sport.’ Goodbye NFL … I’m gone,” he added.

—“Trump shockingly shares post calling Joe Biden a ‘PEDO’ with ‘misleading’ vid of ex-VP whispering into woman’s ear” via Nicole Darrah of The U.S. Sun

“Pam Bondi to rally ‘Women for Trump’ in Jacksonville” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — Though Tuesday may have belonged to the Biden campaign, with the candidate finally visiting Florida, the Trump campaign plans a Wednesday surrogate counterpunch. Bondi, along with Lara Trump and campaign senior adviser Katrina Pierson, will be at Jacksonville’s Downtown Hyatt Regency Wednesday at 10 a.m. rallying a “Women for Trump” meeting. For Bondi, who is now with the Trump-connected Ballard Partners, the Jacksonville stop offers her the latest opportunity to provide some quotable red meat lines on behalf of the President. At last month’s Republican National Convention, Bondi focused her attacks on Biden and Hunter Biden, the somewhat-less-mentioned son of the nominee, whom Republicans seek to make a central issue of the campaign.

“Ivanka Trump and Bondi to hold Tampa event on Thursday” via Steve Contorno of the Tampa Bay Times — The Trump campaign is calling the event a “political fireside chat.” Ivanka Trump will also be attending a fundraiser in Florida the same day. “Florida holds a special place in my heart and I am excited to visit Tampa once again to support my father’s campaign,” she said in a statement. She last visited Tampa in 2018, when she accompanied her father during a signing ceremony at Tampa Bay Technical High School for a bill that reauthorized $1.2 billion in spending for technical education.

Ivanka Trump will join Pam Bondi for a ‘political fireside chat’ in Tampa this week. Image via AP.

Assignment editors — Biden for President Florida hosts a “We Know Joe” Rural Kick-Off Call with Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, Sen. Audrey Gibson, and local small business owners and farmers, 11:30 a.m. Eastern time. Interested media should RSVP here no later than 9:30 a.m. Eastern time. Members of the public who wish to attend can RSVP here.

“Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin decided the 2016 election. We’ll have to wait on them in 2020.” via Zach Montellaro of POLITICO — The most important states in the 2016 election are among the least likely states to count their votes and declare a winner on election night this year. Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are expecting huge surges in ballots cast by mail in 2020, like most states preparing to vote during the coronavirus pandemic. But all three Midwestern battlegrounds, which Trump flipped in 2016 to win the White House after years of Democratic presidential victories there, are among the states where local election officials are not allowed to start processing mail ballots until Election Day, according to a POLITICO review of election rules in 13 key states.

Tweet, tweet:

“’Challenging my Jewishness’: Randy Fine, Ben Marcus spar in wake of Abraham Accords” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — The historic occasion of the Abraham Accords was one of celebration for many Florida Republicans. Reps. Fine and Jason Fischer said they were thrilled to be at the event, but not too long after the normalization deal was signed between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, hostilities broke out on Twitter between Fine and Fischer’s Democratic opponent in the November election, Marcus. By the end, Fine was saying that Marcus was “challenging his Jewishness,” in an exchange full of sharp elbows and personal attacks. “Challenging my Jewishness. Perhaps I think it best to keep my politics out of my congregation. I thought you Democrats were all about separation of church and state.”

Randy Fine and Jason Fischer at the signing of the Abraham Accords. Image via Twitter.

“Scott Plakon, Tracey Kagan spar over rural boundary, pandemic leadership” via Annie Martin of the Orlando Sentinel — A progressive attorney is challenging a conservative stalwart to represent western Seminole County in a rematch of a close 2018 contest for a seat in the Florida House. Republican Plakon narrowly edged out Democrat Kagan with 51% of the vote two years ago, but the tide could turn this year as both sides are expected to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars campaigning in the closely watched race. Kagan said she decided to try again, in part, because of the challenges facing the state as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. If Plakon wins reelection, it would be his fourth and last term representing District 29. “I’d like to help us solve one more crisis,” Plakon said.

What Tom Piccolo is reading — “Poll: Democrat Julie Jenkins leads incumbent Jackie Toledo by six points in bellwether HD 60 matchup” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics — Signaling a tight race and a potential upset, Jenkins leads incumbent Republican Rep. Toledo by six points according to a new poll. A St. Pete Polls survey among 466 likely HD 60 voters showed Jenkins leading outside the margin of error, 48% to 42% with 10% undecided. It’s a remarkable shift in a district Toledo won in 2018 by four points and in 2016 by 14 points and where Republicans carry 37% of registered voters compared to just 33.5% for Democrats. The poll suggests that what Democrats have been hoping that Trump would negatively affect down-ballot races is happening. Trump narrowly claimed the district over Hillary Clinton in 2016 by less than a point, but is far behind former Vice President Biden in the latest poll by seven points, with Biden claiming 51% of the vote to Trump’s 44%. Only 3% of voters are undecided in the district while only 1% plan to vote third party.

—“Republicans enjoy a cash advantage in most (but not all) Southwest Florida’s House races.” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics

—“Cash surge from Florida Democrats helps Ricky Junquera add $32K for HD 118 bid” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics

Alexandria Suarez endorses Jim Mooney for HD 120 — If August had gone her way, Suarez would be on the November ballot for House District 120. But with Suarez missing out on the GOP nomination, she’s urging voters to pick the next-best candidate. To her, that’s Mooney, who defeated her and another candidate in a close Republican primary. “Jim Mooney is a public servant and man of high ethical standards,” Suarez said. “Jim has been a longtime resident of the Keys who has served our community well and I believe he will do a great job for us in Tallahassee.” HD 120 covers Monroe County and part of Miami-Dade. The seat is currently held by Rep. Holly Raschein who is term-limited. Mooney faces Democrat Clint Barras in November.

Alexandria Suarez is endorsing her former opponent for HD 120.

“We’re going on offense across the country, and Florida is no exception,” said DLCC President Jessica Post. “Floridians are tired of extremist one-party rule in Tallahassee, and I’m so proud of the incredible group of challengers who have stepped up to hold the GOP accountable. Gov. DeSantis had one of the worst coronavirus responses in the nation, and it’s time to elect a Legislature that’s serious about tackling the issues we face.”

Many of the Spotlight candidates are incumbents running for reelection in swing districts, including Reps. Joy Goff-Marcil, Geraldine Thompson, Jennifer Webb, Delores Johnson and Cindy Polo. Also making the DLCC list are Reps. Loranne Ausley and Javier Fernandez, who are running for Senate.

Cindy Polo is among the Democrats going on the offensive in a variety of legislative campaigns throughout the state.

Non-incumbents getting a shoutout include Kayser Enneking in HD 21, former Rep. Patrick Henry in HD 26, Tracey Kagan in HD 29, Andrew Learned in HD 59, Jim Bonfiglio in HD 89 and Patricia Sigman in SD 9, one of the Senate districts where Democrats are confident they score a flip.

The DLCC rolled out the list with a heavy dose of optimism, claiming that Democrats are “within striking distance of majorities in both chambers” despite a 71-46 split in the House. It is closer in the Senate, where Republicans hold a 23-17 advantage heading into an election with two competitive seats on the board.

To watch the ad, click on the image below:

“Police reform? Not here, say Sarasota City Commission candidates” via Timothy Fanning of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune — The six candidates for the City Commission Nov. 3 election all said some form of police reform is not needed in Sarasota, despite recent cries from activists to the city’s current elected leadership to do otherwise. One candidate, former City Commissioner Terry Turner, even suggested that the “toxic” national environment surrounding law enforcement and calls for racial justice is somehow misguided in Sarasota. “People are asking questions because of that national environment,” said Turner, who is running for District 2, which largely encompasses downtown. “We need to guard against the calls to re-imagine the police or defund the police.”

“Survey shows Governor’s approval rating down even as COVID-19 numbers improve” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics — DeSantis has seen his approval rating fall nearly 20 points since May following a summer surge in COVID-19 cases. Those metrics on the virus have since improved. The Governor’s approval ratings have not, according to the Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative. DeSantis now has a net neutral approval rating, with 43% of voters approving of the Governor and 43% disapproving. That’s a sharp drop from his +19 approval in May, when 51% approved of his job as Governor and only 32% disapproved. The FAU BEPI findings mirror other surveys in recent months, which show the Governor’s support dropping consistently. The same can’t be said of Trump‘s approval, at least according to the FAU BEPI survey. Trump sits at a -2 rating in the latest version of the poll, with 47% approving of his job performance and 49% disapproving.

Even as COVID-19 numbers improve, Ron DeSantis’ popularity rating with Florida voters continues its fall. Image via Colin Hackley.

“Florida: We can’t afford Trump’s jobless aid anymore” via Gary Fineout of POLITICO Florida — DeSantis is scrapping the extra $300 in weekly benefits because the state pays its unemployed workers too little to meet a 25% matching requirement. Florida appears to be the first state in the nation to halt the program because of its cost. Republican and Democratic state legislators were surprised by the DeSantis decision, which was revealed without fanfare. Hundreds of thousands of unemployed residents remain in desperate need of financial help due to the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing economic shutdown, and more than 3 million people in Florida have applied for some form of state or federal unemployment help since mid-March. “It’s baffling,” said state Sen. Annette Taddeo, a Miami Democrat.

“Assisted-living facilities in Florida no longer have to test staff for the coronavirus” via Romy Ellenbogen of the Tampa Bay Times — Assisted-living facilities in Florida no longer have to test staff for the coronavirus after two emergency mandates from the Agency for Health Care Administration expired Sunday. The statewide orders were issued in mid-June and required nursing home and assisted-living facility staff to be tested every two weeks for COVID-19. Workers wouldn’t be let inside unless they had tested negative for the virus. Nursing home staff are still required to be tested under federal guidelines from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. But workers from assisted-living facilities won’t be, according to an alert AHCA sent to health care providers. “With the expiration of the state Rule 59AER20-4, assisted-living facilities will no longer be required to routinely test staff,” the state’s alert read.

“Thousands gone from Tampa Bay schools, early student counts show” via Jeffrey S. Solochek of the Tampa Bay Times — As they prepared to reopen classrooms in August, school district officials across Tampa Bay made one point clear: They chose to do so, at least in large part, because of the money. Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran told districts that their per-student funding would be protected at pre-coronavirus projections if they established plans that included in-person instruction from the outset of the academic year. Corcoran’s order also allowed districts to get full funding for the students regardless of whether they attended online or on campus. Or if they didn’t show up at all. And that is happening.

Richard Corcoran’s assurance that pre-coronavirus school funding would continue, even if students do not show up at all. And that is what’s happening. Image via The News Service of Florida.

“Sarasota County School Board: Masks likely for entire year” via Ryan McKinnon of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune — The Sarasota County School Board took steps toward extending an emergency temporary mask policy on Tuesday, advertising a new rule that would remain in place for the entire school year, if the board approves the policy next month. The board’s current 90-day mask policy will expire in November. The new proposed policy mirrors the current rule, which requires all students and staff to wear a mask while at school, with rare medical exceptions. Local health officials met with the board during a workshop, emphasizing that masks and social distancing have driven down the infection rate since it spiked midsummer, and telling the board there was no clear finish line in site at this point.

“The dark side of campus efforts to stop COVID-19” via Grace Watkins of The Washington Post — As many college students returned to school during the past month, they were greeted by a new kind of campus police. Already equipped with military equipment and, in many cases, statewide jurisdiction, campus police have acquired new powers in the name of containing COVID-19. Departments are carrying out “policy enforcement for social distancing, face coverings” and “court-ordered or administratively ordered quarantine.” Many campus police are increasing their patrols both on and off-campus and partnering with municipal police to shut down student gatherings. Schools like the University of Notre Dame and Boston College have hired details of city or state police to supplement their campus police. Other departments are “actively involved in contact tracing” and investigating the identities of rule-breaking students. Some schools, like West Virginia University, have directed students to call the campus police to report distancing violations.

“FGCU president says students could end up suspended for breaking COVID-19 rules” via Pamela McCabe of the Naples Daily News — Florida Gulf Coast University is seeing fewer reported COVID-19 cases on campus than other state universities, and it wants to keep it that way. Mike Martin, the president of the Fort Myers school, said he just filmed his 10th video update related to the coronavirus. In it, he urged students to fall in line with the new health and safety protocols that are meant to keep the virus from spreading. Those who refuse to do things like wear face masks, avoid crowds and practice distancing efforts could end up suspended — and not just from club life on campus. “For those who are not prepared to accept the realities of the time we live in, I don’t believe they are mature enough to be university students,” Martin said.

Broward Mayor Dale Holness is hiding COVID-19 information. Why?

“Coronavirus spread in young people worries county health director” via Jane Musgrave of The Palm Beach Post — With Palm Beach County schools set to reopen next week, the county’s health director said she has grave concerns that the mixing of students, teachers and other staff will accelerate the spread of the deadly coronavirus. In recent days, those between the ages of 15 and 25 have accounted for 33% of all new coronavirus cases, Dr. Alina Alonso said, pointing to charts from state health officials. With university students back in classes, Alonso there is no mystery about why cases among young people are soaring. “What is happening is they’re partying late at night, large congregations, house parties,” she told county commissioners. “They’re having fun like any in that age group like to do.” While young people are unlikely to suffer serious health consequences, they can spread the virus with tragic results.

“County Commissioner’s daughter in hospital with COVID-19” via Hannah Morse of The Palm Beach Post — In a sobering warning to COVID-19 naysayers, Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay announced Tuesday that her 19-year-old daughter tested positive for the virus and was in the hospital. She said she received a text message at 2 a.m. from her daughter, a University of Central Florida student, saying she had “excruciating shooting leg pains.” McKinlay’s daughter tested positive for the virus over the weekend, the commissioner said, and is being treated in an Orlando-area hospital emergency room. Her daughter returned to UCF last month to continue her studies in criminology. She has no underlying health issues and is “perfectly healthy,” McKinlay said. “When she texts me that she’s scared, I don’t want any other mother to ever have to get that text message and feel the way I feel right now,” McKinlay said.

Chris Latvala on his battle with COVID-19: ‘It’s the sickest I have ever been.’

“Downtown Orlando bars reopen on rainy Monday” via Trevor Fraser of the Orlando Sentinel — On a rainy Monday evening, sounds of life began emanating from bars in downtown Orlando for the first time in months. Beginning Monday, DeSantis lifted restrictions on drinking establishments, allowing bars without food kitchens to reopen at 50% capacity indoors with people seated at socially-distanced tables for service. Many downtown bars still were not open, and the streets were relatively free of people, but it was unclear which establishments would have normally been closed on a Monday and the impact the day of the week may have had on turnout. This is the second time bars have been allowed to reopen during the pandemic. After being ordered to shutter on St. Patrick’s Day, bars were allowed to reopen on June 3, only for that privilege to be taken away a couple of weeks later due to a surge in cases.

“Tampa Mayor Jane Castor to Pinellas: Don’t scrap masks. To bar owners? Watch it.” via Charlie Frago of the Tampa Bay Times — Castor said lifting any local mask orders would be a “grave mistake,” and promised to lobby St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and Pinellas County Commissioners to think twice about modifying or lifting that county’s mask order next month. The same goes for Pasco County, she said. Pinellas Commissioners had discussed possible changes in October at a recent meeting. Regional cooperation has never been more important, Castor said. The three-counties comprise a single commuting whole, with people working in one county and living in another. “The mission should go together,” she said, adding she intends to call Kriseman to discuss strategy. Her chief of staff John Bennett, a former Pinellas County assistant administrator, is also working the phones.

“Gasparilla ‘a go’ for now as major parades face cancellations amid pandemic” via Jeff Patterson of WFLA — The Gasparilla Parade of Pirates is one of the largest single-day parade events in the United States. But will it still go on as planned in 2021 amid the coronavirus pandemic? On Monday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade will be a “virtual event” and spectators will not be present for the largest parade in the U.S. While the Rose Bowl Parade which is held on New Year’s Day in California canceled its annual parade in July. Tampa Mayor Castor says the 2021 Gasparilla parade scheduled for Jan. 30 is on for now. “Hopefully we’ll be able to have a vaccine and really with the wearing of the masks and everything that has been asked of our community and the way that our community has stepped up we will be able to have some form of a Gasparilla celebration,” said Castor.

Gasparilla is on, for now.

“Immokalee could remain COVID-19 hotspot this fall, human rights group says” via Liz Freeman of the Naples Daily News — The Coalition of Immokalee Workers is calling on state authorities to ramp up fighting COVID-19 so Immokalee doesn’t remain an infection hotspot when the population soon doubles. Roughly 15,000 migrant workers are starting their return for the fall harvest season and will stay until May in the rural farming community east of Naples. Crowded living and side-by-side work conditions make it ripe for the coronavirus to spread quickly, according to the human rights organization. The coalition predicted in April that Immokalee would become an epicenter for COVID-19 infection; there is risk of a second major outbreak without more help, coalition representative Nely Rodriguez said.

“Manatee County officials credit mask mandate with slow decline of COVID-19 infection rate” via Emily Wunderlich of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune — As COVID-19 positivity rates keep creeping downward in Manatee County, officials continue to emphasize the importance of wearing face coverings — and the possibility of another outbreak. “Masks are absolutely helping us control the spread of the virus in our community,” said Dr. Jennifer Bencie, head of the county’s Department of Health. “We are absolutely, in the last three to four weeks, seeing a change for the better, and I believe it is because we’re doing the preventive, mitigative measures that are necessary, including masks and social distancing,” she said. County commissioners extended the local state of emergency for another week and with it, the emergency resolution requiring masks in indoor spaces where social distancing is not possible. They also formalized an amendment to the resolution, excluding churches from the mandate.

The White House downplayed the severity of coronavirus ‘across the board,’ says Bob Woodward. Image via AP.

“The biggest obstacle to a broadly deployed coronavirus vaccine: The GOP base” via Aaron Blake of The Washington Post — The Trump campaign and the Republican Party have launched an effort to attack Democrats as unnecessarily skeptical of whatever becomes of the coronavirus vaccine, sometimes going as far as to label them anti-vaccine. But even as they do so, their own base remains the most reluctant to take the vaccine, outpacing Democrats and independents in that regard. Last week, conservatives criticized Democratic vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris for saying she didn’t trust Trump on the vaccine. Harris said she worried health officials “will be muzzled, they will be suppressed, they will be sidelined” during the vaccine approval process.

Incomes in the United States were on the rise, but so were the uninsured. Image via AP.

“COVID-19-era economy in Florida ranked 19th best among 50 states” via The Center Square — With a June jobless rate of 10.4% and a five-year annualized employment growth rate of negative 0.7%, the Florida economy finished 19th best in a new ranking by the website 24/7 Wall St. The state’s annualized gross domestic product growth through the first quarter of this year stood at 2.8%, the financial news website reported, while its poverty rate came in at 13.6%. In ranking the health of state economies during the COVID-19 pandemic, 24/7 Wall St. looked at four metrics: the five-year GDP growth, employment statistics, the jobless rate and the poverty rate.

“Raymond James to lay off 4% of workforce” via Jay Cridlin of the Tampa Bay Times — Raymond James Financial has announced it’s laying off nearly 4% of its workforce. The financial services company began laying off hundreds of employees on Tuesday at locations around the country, including its St. Petersburg headquarters. As of Tuesday, the company had about 13,900 employees, including 5,000 in Tampa Bay. That would put the total number of layoffs at more than 500. A company spokesman declined to say how many local employees would lose their jobs, or where the losses would occur but said that the cutbacks would return the company to employment levels comparable to early 2019.

“Federal money will pay for fourth week of benefits” via The News Service Of Florida — Florida has been approved for an extra week of $300 payments to jobless people through the federal Lost Wages Assistance program, the state Department of Economic Opportunity said. An original application was designed to provide additional money to eligible Floridians for the weeks ending Aug. 1, Aug. 8 and Aug. 15. The approval adds the week of Aug. 22. Trump issued a directive on Aug. 8 to use Federal Emergency Management Agency money for the program. Only Floridians who are eligible for at least $100 a week in state assistance and are out of work because of the pandemic are eligible for federal funding.

“Total holiday spending seen rising this year, despite COVID-19” via Jordyn Holman of Bloomberg — Retail sales in the U.S. will actually grow this holiday season, according to new projections from Deloitte, despite ongoing economic uncertainty and higher unemployment brought on by the pandemic. Underpinned by e-commerce, spending will increase 1% to 1.5% in the November through January period, Deloitte said in a statement, with the total seen around $1.15 trillion. Growth at that rate would represent a slowdown from last year, which saw sales rise 4.1%, according to the National Retail Federation. “We just had a lot of fear and uncertainty behind us and I think there’s a chance we’ll spend,” Rod Sides, a Deloitte vice chairman, said in an interview.

—”Hong Kong reported zero new cases of daily community transmission” via The New York Times

—”New Zealand on Tuesday reported zero new cases of community transmission as it begins to loosen restrictions” via The New York Times

—”Sweden lifts ban on elderly care visits as coronavirus threat eases” via Claudio Bresciani of i24 news

Newly named Supreme Court Justice Jamie Grosshans is a member of a group devoted to using the law to preach the Gospel. Image via Colin Hackley.

“State of emergency expanded for Hurricane Sally” via The News Service of Florida — More of Florida’s Panhandle was put under a state of emergency by DeSantis as a meandering Hurricane Sally continued to threaten the Gulf Coast. With the National Hurricane Center forecasting “historic life-threatening flooding” in some areas, DeSantis added Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Walton, and Washington counties to an emergency order. Escambia and Santa Rosa counties were put under the order Monday afternoon. DeSantis also lifted tolls on the Garcon Point Bridge, which spans part of Pensacola Bay, until noon Wednesday.

“Florida CFO mobilizes search and rescue teams as Hurricane Sally crawls toward Gulf Coast” via Jason Delgado of Florida Politics — Two urban search and rescue teams will deploy to the Florida panhandle Thursday in response to Hurricane Sally, Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis announced. The two teams, staffed roughly by 100 fire service members, will provide lifesaving services and equipment to the area. Their capabilities, among others, include search and rescue, emergency medical care, and damage reconnaissance. The teams, which also possess swift-water capabilities, can coordinate operations with the Florida National Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. “With Hurricane Sally bringing massive storm surge and flooding to parts of the Panhandle this week, we have mobilized Florida’s Urban Search & Rescue Task Forces 3 and 5 in support of the recovery efforts following this storm,” Patronis said.

Hurricane Sally begins battering the Gulf Coast. Image via AP.

“Deloitte Medicaid contract spurs challenges” via Jim Saunders of The News Service of Florida — The technology contract, which could be worth $135 million, has drawn scrutiny because the state Agency for Health Care Administration decided to award it to Deloitte this summer amid an uproar — and litigation — about problems with an online unemployment-compensation system that the company helped develop. IBM and Accenture LLP, which unsuccessfully sought the Medicaid contract, filed challenges to the Agency for Health Care Administration’s decision, with the cases sent Monday to the state Division of Administrative Hearings. While IBM’s challenge focuses on details of the contracting process, Accenture also raised the issue of the unemployment system and more broadly criticized Deloitte.

“Appeals court eyes armed school ‘guardians’” via Dara Kam of The News Service of Florida — An appeals court heard arguments in a legal challenge to Duval County’s “school safety assistants.” A lawsuit filed in 2018 alleges that the program runs afoul of a long-standing state law banning people who aren’t law enforcement officials from bringing guns to schools. Duval County school officials, however, argued that a state law passed in the aftermath of the 2018 mass shooting in Parkland created an exemption for school guardians. Siding with the school board, Duval County Circuit Judge Robert Dees acknowledged that school guardians are not included in exceptions to Florida law allowing firearms on school campuses. But he found that the 2018 law authorizing guardians “in support of school-sanctioned activities” allowed school safety officers to be armed.

New and renewed lobbying registrations:

Sebastian Aleksander, The Aleksander Group: Gamma Defense, Omega ATC

Dane Eagle: Department of Economic Opportunity

Amanda Jay: ACT

Jim Rimes, Enwright Rimes Consulting: Conservatives for Clean Energy

A new report by The Washington Post brings to light what residents of Orlando have known for years, poverty in the shadow of The Magic Kingdom. Image via the Orlando Sentinel.

“Vern Buchanan: ‘Unconditional Surrender’ statue will stay on Sarasota’s bay front” via Timothy Fanning of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune — Sarasota City Manager Tom Barwin has told U.S. Rep. Buchanan that the city’s iconic “Unconditional Surrender” sculpture will remain on the bay front. That announcement came in an afternoon tweet Tuesday from the congressman and well before Sarasota’s elected officials were poised to discuss the issue publicly. “Congratulations Tom, you and the city made the right decisions,” said Buchanan. “That’s what the people of our community wanted overwhelmingly.” Barwin, reached by phone, did not immediately respond to a phone call request comment. Per the city’s charter, the city manager cannot make policy decisions. In his tweet, Barwin allegedly told Buchanan that the sculpture would be moved temporarily during construction of a roundabout on Gulfstream Avenue and U.S. 41., but will be returned to the bay front area after the work is done.

The Abraham Accord signed at the White House brings formal ties between Israel and two Arab states.

“St. Petersburg developer and Israel supporter Mel Sembler attends Abraham Accords signing” via Josh Solomon of the Tampa Bay Times — When Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain penned their historic diplomatic agreement deal on Tuesday, St. Petersburg development magnate, former ambassador and Republican fundraiser Mel Sembler was there. Sembler, 90, who is Jewish, has always been an outspoken supporter of Israel, and has accompanied several politicians to the homeland. His devotion to Israel has earned him wider notice. “I’m a good friend of Bibi Netanyahu’s, and many other prime ministers,” Sembler said. Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, was in Washington to sign the deal, along with Emirati Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the foreign minister of Bahrain.

“Nancy Pelosi says House to stay in session until COVID-19 relief bill done” via The Associated Press — Speaker Pelosi said Tuesday the House will remain in session until lawmakers deliver another round of COVID-19 relief. “We are committed to staying here until we have an agreement, an agreement that meets the needs of the American people,” Pelosi said. Pelosi told her Democratic colleagues on a morning conference call that “we have to stay here until we have a bill.” That’s according to a Democratic aide speaking on condition of anonymity but authorized to quote her remarks. Pelosi’s comments came as moderate Democrats signed on to a $1.5 trillion rescue package endorsed by the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, a group of about 50 lawmakers who seek common solutions to issues. The plan contains many elements of COVID rescue packages devised by both House Democrats and Republicans controlling the Senate, including aid to schools, funding for state and local governments, and renewal of lapsed COVID-related jobless benefits.

A new report shows a history of racial disparity in death penalty cases. Image via AP.

“In Florida, schools under pressure to get rid of police officers” via Jessica Bakeman of WLRN — After a school shooting left 17 people dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, the county sheriff’s office decided to arm its school-based deputies with automatic rifles. Nine days after the Feb. 14, 2018 shooting, Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie said issuing the weapons was “a stopgap measure to create a heightened sense of security.” Olivia, a freshman at the time at another Broward County school, remembers getting off the bus and making eye contact with one of several police officers with AR-15s. She is one of many Black students who say the presence of armed law enforcement officers in schools makes them feel less safe.

“Springtime Tallahassee retires controversial Andrew Jackson float” via TaMaryn Waters of the Tallahassee Democrat — For the first time in its history, Springtime Tallahassee’s traveling float featuring Jackson will be removed and replaced with the Governor and first lady of Springtime. The move aligns with sweeping calls nationwide to remove controversial figures from public spaces, particularly those deemed racially offensive. Joel Jarrett, president of the Board of Directors for Springtime Tallahassee, said the decision was based on “everything going on in the world.” Some locals lambasted Jackson’s depiction in the parade since the former U.S. president owned roughly 160 slaves and signed the Indian Removal Act, also known as the “Trail of Tears.” The legislation displaced an estimated 60,000 Native Americans and is credited for 3,000 deaths between 1830 and 1850.

“Lake Worth Beach commission ponders dumping Columbus Day for Indigenous Peoples Day” via Jorge Milian of The Palm Beach Post — Less than a month before Columbus Day, Lake Worth Beach officials are being asked how to reconsider the federal holiday. An agenda item on Tuesday’s city commission meeting proposes that Lake Worth Beach join a growing number of cities and states that have opted to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day and dump Columbus Day. Commissioner Omari Hardy thinks it’s time the city stop celebrating the Italian explorer. “It’s important not to honor dishonorable people,” Hardy said.

“Boos aren’t necessarily a sign of racism” via Brent Batten of the Naples Daily News — Millions of sports fans want nothing more from the game than for their team to win and for their favorite players to dazzle them with their athletic ability. The fans who disapprove of protests taking the place of patriotism in the pregame and who tune out the in-game admonishments understand that those with a platform, like star athletes, have a right and even an obligation to speak out. They can and should use their position, their wealth and their influence to affect change because much remains to be done. But the supplanting of that message with moments traditionally reserved for patriotism and a game that has served as a diversion from such worries is too much for some. Hence the boos and the tuning out.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— The DOH also reported more than 3,100 newly confirmed cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections since the start of the pandemic is just shy of 669,000.

— Gov. DeSantis expands the state of emergency for Hurricane Sally. Originally it was limited to the western end of the Panhandle. Now, the emergency zone includes everything from Pensacola to just west of Tallahassee.

— Speaking of storms, the Public Service Commission signs off on a deal to compensate Gulf Power for all the money they spent rebuilding their system after Hurricane Michael tore through the Panhandle almost 2 years ago.

— Don’t feel too bad for power companies, though. They’re still getting almost $290 million.

— The first votes for Florida’s General Election have been cast — all 42 of them. These were the first of the mail in ballots reported to the state elections office.

— Joe Biden brings his presidential campaign to the Sunshine State, hosting a roundtable in Tampa to talk about our service members, and our President.

—Biden shares his thoughts on the military and Trump.

— And finally, a Florida Man was shot in the face after complaining about how long it was taking to get his smoothie. Plus, the story of three Florida teens who could become Florida Men. It all depends on whether prosecutors decide to try them as adults.

To listen, click on the image below:

Apple’s Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams unveils Apple Watch Series 6, a more affordable version of its smartwatch to help broaden the appeal to budget-conscious consumers during the pandemic. Image via AP.

“Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights makes partial return” via The Associated Press — Universal Studios in Orlando will make two of its previously canceled Halloween Horror Nights haunted houses available to theme-park goers starting later this week. The theme park announced July 24 that it was canceling the popular extra-ticket Halloween event due to the coronavirus pandemic. Universal’s premier-level passholders who register for the event will have an opportunity to preview the houses called Revenge of the Tooth Fairy and Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives on Friday afternoon, theme park officials announced. Regular theme park visitors will be able to view the houses on Saturday and Sunday for no additional charge. They will use Universal’s Virtual Line system once in the park to receive a time to go through the mazes.