Florida News – Highlights from around the state – April 1st
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the some of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, issued a directive that K-12 schools should remain virtual, and students off campus, until at least May 1st. The timeline is based on President Trump’s current executive action extending social distancing guidelines through April 30th.
- Broward officials still haven’t decided on a plan regarding Holland America’s cruise ships heading towards Port Everglades with sick passengers and four already deceased. The first ship is currently set to arrive Thursday. Current ideas include the US Coast Guard intercepting the ship before arriving in port.Of the more than 1,200 passengers on board are 138 U.S. citizens.
- In a meeting with Senator Rick Scott, HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson,said all evictions and foreclosures will be halted until at least May 17th. The order applies to all FHA mortgages in Florida.
- Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity said they received a minimum of 329,000 unemployment claims during the month. This includes a record 222,054 claims in the most recent week. The numbers could still go higher as the state’s website was temporarily down due to the surge in traffic late last week.
- AG Ashley Moody said her office has received 1,200+ reported cases of price gauging since her office activated Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline. This has resulted in her office taking action to address 1,900 merchants/sellers, issuing 56 subpoenas, deactivating over 100 online listings and recovering $79,000 being issued as refunds. Florida’s hotline number is 866-9NO SCAM. You may also download the NO SCAM app.