Florida’s new & improved jobless rate leads to scaled-back benefits

Unemployed Floridians Face Scaled-Back Benefits — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Image by: Blueee77 TALLAHASSEE, Fl. — Floridians laid off in the upcoming new year will get seven fewer weeks of unemployment benefits because of the state’s improved jobless rate for 2021.  On Tuesday, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced that a formula used to determine

Spike in COVID-19 cases causes closures, cancellations, and long lines throughout South Florida

COVID-19 Testing — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Image by: zstock As several South Florida counties reach a “high” risk level for COVID-19 transmission, residents are experiencing extremely long testing lines, store closures, and event cancellations. With the holidays & Christmas approaching quickly, testing sites are experiencing exceptionally long lines. Tropical Park, a 24/7 PCR testing and

FWC & USFWS respond—Florida’s manatee facing crisis will get a bit of extra help

Manatee Eating — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Image by: somdul The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced an expanded effort on Wednesday to respond to the ongoing manatee unusual mortality event along Florida’s Atlantic coast. Just in 2021, more than 1,000 manatees have died across the state of

Florida manatees are starving while wildlife organizations are scrambling to save them

Manatees — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Image by: Lukasz Machowczyk In Florida, an ecological issue has led to the deaths of over 1,000 manatees. The slow-moving marine mammals graze on seagrass in shallow coastal areas, but a massive die-off of seagrass has left them with barely any food to eat.  The lack of food is most

Miami Beach celebrates the start of Hanukkah in true South Florida style

World’s Largest Electronic Menorah — Hanukkah Celebration — Courtesy: Paramount Miami The world’s largest electronic menorah will shine across South Florida’s skyline during the eight nights of the Jewish “Festival of Lights.” In a video provided by the Paramount Miami Worldcenter, the 60-story skyscraper’s LED-lit menorah went on display Sunday evening, the first night of

Giant invasive Burmese pythons are slithering their way up Florida

Burmese Pythons — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Heiko Kiera Following several years of close speculation, invasive Burmese pythons have been spotted making their way up north in Florida. “We have finally, unhappily, sighted a Burmese python in the interior of the refuge,” University of Florida wildlife professor Frank Mazzotti, who heads Fort Lauderdale’s Croc Docs research team,

With the end of daylight savings time around the corner, lawmakers continue the fight to make it permanent

Daylight Savings Time — Courtesy: Shutterstock — New Africa The latest end of daylight savings time is Sunday morning, but the sun continues to set on legislative attempts to put a stop on the clock. One Florida congressman has shed more light on the effort to put an end to the annual tradition. The earliest

Florida manatee deaths soar as toxic algae blooms and pollution choke off their food source

Manatee – Courtesy: Shutterstock — Jacob Loyacano Nearly 1,000 of Florida’s beloved manatees have died since the start of the year, mostly due to starvation, wildlife officials stated.  According to mortality statistics provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the 984 manatee deaths recorded so far in 2021 more than doubles last

Halloween forecast: South Florida will feel the coolest weather in 6 months this weekend

Halloween Florida Fall Weather – Courtesy: Shutterstock — William C. Bunce Mother Nature may deliver some frights — followed by a treat — a more autumn-like if not downright chilly Halloween weekend. A line of severe storms ahead of a powerful cold front is expected to travel across the North Florida region starting Wednesday night

COVID-19 cases decline in Florida: Health experts are optimistic we are reaching the end of the Delta wave

COVID-19 Vaccine – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Prostock-studio The COVID-19 case positivity rate has continued to decline for the eighth week in a row in the Sunshine State. It is now sitting at 3.8% for the week of October 8. Just this week, the FDA vaccine advisory panel unanimously recommended booster shots for those