Covid-19

The major portion of the request --- more than $12.5 million --- is aimed at helping trial courts deal with a projected backlog of more than 990,000 cases due to COVID-19,

DeSantis made the case for quarantining symptomatic students and staff, but avoiding closing entire campuses.

Florida and the nation saw upticks last week in first-time unemployment claims as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pummel the economy, according to estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The Leon County school board has approved a salary increase for teachers. Beginning teacher salaries will rise by almost $6000 – to $43,304 a year.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will be giving $1.5 million to Florida A&M University to create a separate COVID-19 testing and processing laboratory facility for its students, faculty, and staff.

Survivors of 9/11 whose lungs were damaged by toxic, chemical-laden dust have been reporting severe symptoms from COVID-19. Tallahassee resident Christina Ray Stanton, who lived in Manhattan during 9/11, is one of them.

The Senate will pay $200 hourly to the hospital for providing services – and an increased rate of nearly $270 per hour for “physician-specific” services.

Before the Senate returns to Tallahassee for an organizational session in November, it aims to have a plan in place.

The University, along with public health officials, is conducting contact tracing. Those who have been in contact with the Thrashers are advised to follow CDC guidelines.

Florida shut down school and college campuses in March, with students shifted to online learning. DeSantis and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran have pushed heavily to reopen classrooms for the new school year.