UPDATE: Publix vaccine portal to open 3 days each week
PORT CHARTLOTTE, Fla. โ Publix reopened its online vaccine appointment portal at 7 a.m. Monday, but nearly all the slots were booked less than 90 minutes later, the grocer said. The expansion came after Publix began receiving additional vaccine doses through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. In addition to Publix pharmacies, Winn-Dixie, Walmart and Samโs Club stores are also offering vaccine appointments in Central Florida. A portion of the Florida Department of Veteranโs Affairsโ website is now dedicated to assisting those veterans with access to the vaccine. The state estimates there are about 30,000 WWII veterans and 100,000 Korean War veterans living in Florida, DeSantis said.
Travel restrictions would be political attack on Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis says
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. โ Following a report that the White House is examining possible U.S. travel restrictions to curb the growing number of COVID-19 variant cases, Gov. The Miami Herald reported Wednesday the Biden administration is considering domestic travel restrictions as new variants, including the more contagious variant first identified in the United Kingdom, continue to surge. Florida has more than 340 reported cases of the U.K. variant known as B.1.1.7., more than any other state. Not mentioning that Florida has more U.K. variant cases than another state, the governor highlighted the stateโs success reopening schools for in-person learning and its decreasing coronavirus hospitalizations. If Floridians are restricted from entering or leaving the state, DeSantis said he will challenge those.
Unemployed single mom asks: Where are 9 weeks of jobless benefits?
The DEO told her a question regarding possible fraud triggered a rejection for her first application for benefits in March. She said she was told to file again and was approved for state reemployment benefits but denied Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). Her DEO unemployment claims sheet confirms she started receiving state and federal jobless benefits on June 6. DEO press secretary Paige Landrum said because Black was eligible for state jobless benefits, the PUA benefits were no longer available to her. According to the DEO reemployment assistance claims dashboard, an estimated 651,000 claims are still listed as ineligible but 95%of Floridaโs jobless claims have been paid.
Man Tased, arrested at Legoland, Polk deputies say
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. โ An unruly guest was arrested at Legoland after deputies shocked him with a stun gun when he refused to leave the park. Richard Campana, 36, of Port Charlotte, faces charges of battery on a law enforcement officer and disorderly conduct after the incident earlier this week. Deputies said he appeared drunk and refused to leave the park when employees instructed him to, the Lakeland Ledger reports. When deputies arrived and asked the man his name, they say Campbell squawked "Pterodactyl." It took deputies 30 minutes to get Campbell into custody.