'Data Dump' May Skew Latest COVID-19 Numbers
(Tallahassee, FL) -- Miami-Dade County's latest COVID-19 numbers may be skewed by what the governor calls a data dump. The state health department yesterday reported over 41-hundred new coronavirus cases in the county, which is about 26-hundred more than the day before. Governor Ron DeSantis, though, says some of those cases date back to June, and they were just released by a lab in Miami Gardens that hadn't released data in almost two months. DeSantis says the data was stale and not indicative of current trends.
Brevard School Official Discusses COVID Notification Policy
(Titusville, FL) -- Parents in Brevard County won't get all the information they might want if a teacher gets the coronavirus. District official Nicki Hensley recently said if a teacher tests positive, parents may get a letter notifying them, but, in order to protect the teacher's privacy, the letter won't specify which teacher. She also says buildings would be closed to clean and disinfect. A Merritt Island mother of two tells Florida Today sending her kids back to school feels like a roll of the dice, and it's stressful not knowing how COVID cases will be handled.
Volusia County Asks State For Clarity On School Funding
(DeLand, FL) -- There are two issues school leaders in Volusia County want the state to clear up before classes resume this month. The school board this week decided to ask the governor and education commissioner to ensure the district won't lose funding for having some students learn remotely in the fall semester. The board also wants the state to waive the school grade calculation for the upcoming school year. The board says spring testing scores will likely be affected negatively by the disruption in learning caused by the pandemic.
USF Doctors Discuss Vaccine Pilot Program
(Tampa, FL) -- Florida's elderly population may be why it will be part of a program to test a COVID-19 vaccine. State health officials announced this week that Florida is one of four states that will work with the CDC on a vaccine pilot program. USF Dr. Michael Teng says Florida makes sense since it has so many high-risk patients that may be first in line for a vaccine. No details on the program have been released, but USF Dr. Jay Wolfson tells 10 Tampa Bay it will help the government decide how to coordinate distribution of the vaccine.
Former Sergeant Arrested In Child Sex Sting
(Tampa, FL) -- A former law enforcement officer is among those caught in a child sex sting in Hillsborough County. Sheriff Chad Chronister yesterday announced 16 arrests through Operation Small Talk. One of the suspects is former Manatee County Sheriff's Office Sergeant Stephen Utter. He and the other suspects are accused of arranging online to meet for sex with underage victims, who turned out to be undercover detectives.
Pumpkin Spice Season Beginning Soon At Dunkin'
(Canton, MA) -- Pumpkin spice season is starting very soon at some Dunkin' locations. Eager customers around the country can get the pumpkin spice latte by next Wednesday as the rollout begins. A new chai latte will also be available, but only for a limited time. Dunkin's limited fall menu will also include pumpkin flavored coffees.
Tennessee Woman's Driver's License Has Photo Of Empty Chair
(Hickman County, TN) -- A Tennessee woman got a new driver's license after receiving one with a chair as her ID picture. Jade Dodd renewed her license online, but when the card arrived she immediately noticed her license had a photo of an empty chair where her face should have been. Dodd contacted the D-M-V to correct the error. They said the mistake resulted from the wrong photo being saved to Dodd's profile. They sent Dodd a new license with her picture on it.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
1997, the cartoon "South Park" debuts on the Comedy Central Network.
1961, the East German government closed the border between the east and west sections of Berlin with a barbed wire fence. The move was made in order to keep people in the eastern section from moving to the non-Communist western side. The fence was later replaced by a concrete wall. The Berlin Wall stood until 1989.
1914, the first U.S. bus line was created. Carl Wickman started Greyhound.
1907, the first taxicabs hit the streets of New York City.
1889, William Gray patented the coin operated telephone.