Staff Reports
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
The U.S. Green Building Council recognized the late Kristin Jacobs as one of seven “July sheroes who use their voices to advance equity and sustainability.”
Jacobs, the former representative for House District 96 in South Florida, died in April after a long and fearless battle with cancer. She was just 60 years old.
“The environment was her key issue throughout her political career and she testified before Congress, advocating for water quality regulations and prioritization of climate change in policymaking,” the group wrote of Jacobs’ accomplishments.
“President [Barack] Obama appointed her to a national ocean policy task force for her passion and efficacy within the environmental policy sector. The Parkland School shooting, which left 17 dead, was within her district and soon afterward, Jacobs supported reforms to raise the age to buy a rifle to 21 and tried to boost funding for school-based mental health services.”
“People in her community and within the state of Florida refer to her as a trustworthy person, an eco-warrior, a true friend and an incredible woman.,” the group continued.
One of Jacobs’ crowning accomplishments was the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Compact, which she spearheaded.
Obama praised the compact as “a model not just for the country, but for the world.”
As a Broward County Commissioner, Jacobs also started the Broward Water and Climate Academy, a series of four-day seminars teaching elected officials how to manage water supply, reclaimed water and drainage, as well as the possible effects of climate change.
Her final act as a lawmaker, one she fought for despite immense pain at the end of her illness, protected sharks in Florida waters from the inhumane practice of shark finning, in which sharks are caught, their fins remove and then often thrown back into the water to bleed to death.
Coronavirus Numbers
Positive cases:
— 229,367 FL residents (+8,875 since Wednesday)
— 3,351 Non-FL residents (+60 since Wednesday)
Origin:
— 2,769 Travel related
— 67,493 Contact with a confirmed case
— 2,682 Both
— 156,423 Under investigation
Hospitalizations:
— 17,167 in FL
Deaths:
— 4,111 in FL
Unemployment numbers
As of Wednesday:
Total claims: 2,958,663
— Confirmed unique claims: 2,735,980
— Claim verification queue: 206,232
— Claims processed: 2,529,748
— Claims paid: 1,662,431 (+6,910 since Tuesday)
Total paid out: $9.32 billion (+$250 million since Tuesday)
Evening Reads
“Supreme Court says Manhattan prosecutors can obtain Donald Trump’s financial records” via Axios
“Don’t be fooled, Trump is a winner in the Supreme Court tax case” via Josh Chafetz for The New York Times
“Behind new COVID-19 outbreaks: America’s patchwork of policies” via Arian Campo-Flores, Rebecca Ballhaus and Valerie Bauerlein of The Wall Street Journal
“Florida adds record 120 COVID-19 deaths, nearly 9,000 new cases” via Florida Times-Union
“Marco Rubio won’t support a second shutdown of Florida” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics
“Ron DeSantis dismisses Andrew Cuomo’s offer of help in coronavirus fight” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“Gov. DeSantis says he would have ‘zero concern’ sending his own kids back to school” via Jason Delgado of Florida Politics
“DeSantis sent more hospital staff to sell Florida; HHS refutes claim Governor submitted formal request” via Ryan Dailey of WFSU
“Nikki Fried slams DeSantis for skipping Cabinet meetings but holding COVID-19 press events” via Samantha Gross of the Miami Herald
“Amid criticism, Florida health department defends its contact tracing program for COVID-19” via Isaac Morgan of Florida Phoenix
“Incoming Senate President looks at COVID-19 options” via Dara Kam of News Service of Florida
“Florida Watch video demands face mask mandate” via Renzo Downey of Florida Politics
“Milton 24-year-old dies of COVID-19, youngest death in Northwest Florida” via Jim Little of the Northwest Florida Daily News
“Six months, six countries, six families — and one unrelenting, unforgiving epidemic” via Steve Hendrix of The Washington Post
“Republicans looking to holding the convention outdoors” via Josh Dawsey of The Washington Post
“Layoffs stuck at high level as 1.3 million seek jobless aid” via Christopher Rugaber of The Associated Press
“TikTok considers changes to distance app from Chinese roots” via Liza Lin and Shan Li of The Wall Street Journal
Quote of the Day
“We spent months saying they were certain things that were essential. That included fast-food restaurants, it included Walmart, it included Home Depot. If all that is essential, then educating our kids is absolutely essential. They have been put to the back of the line in some respects.” — Gov. Ron DeSantis, on reopening schools.
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