Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute agreed to pay a $100 million criminal penalty as part of a federal investigation. The oncology group was charged with conspiring to allocate chemotherapy and radiation treatments for cancer patients in southwest Florida, a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice said. The Justice Department announced a deferred prosecution agreement resolving the charge, under which Florida Cancer Specialist admitted to conspiracy, agreed to cooperate with an ongoing investigation and agreed to maintain an effective compliance program. FCS separately settled related claims with the Florida Attorney General, the cancer practice said in its own statement. After learning about the issues, FCS brought on new leaders, enhanced employee training and bolstered its compliance program, the statement said.Florida Cancer Specialists is based in Fort Myers and has offices and physicians throughout the Tampa-St. Petersburg area.
Pinellas County residents can get a COVID-19 test at no cost starting today. Community Health Centers of Pinellas is offering the the tests without restrictions at three testing sites: 707 E. Druid Rd. in Clearwater; 7550 43rd St. N. in Pinellas Park; and 1344 22nd St. S. in St. Petersburg at the Johnnie Ruth Clarke Center. The test sites are open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Residents do not need to have symptoms or be a patient of Community Health Centers. The sites will provide same day walk-ups and drive ups, but appointments are recommended to decrease wait times. Make an appointment by calling 727-824-8181 and selecting option 0. A condensed electronic registration will be required at testing sites. Residents are asked to bring a valid ID.
The city of Tampa will close some streets downtown and in other neighborhoods as part of a 14-day pilot program to help businesses recover from shutdowns intended to slow the spread of Covid-19. The Lift Up Local economic recovery plan, which starts Tuesday, temporarily allows restaurants and retail businesses to expand their footprint onto the public rights-of-way or in privately owned parking facilities without meeting certain city code and permit requirements. Outdoor space may be used during normal business operating hours and tables must be separated by 6 feet. Part of Twiggs Street and Franklin Street downtown will close. So will part of 7th Avenue in Ybor City, Franklin Street in Tampa Heights, South Dakota Avenue/West Snow in Hyde Park Village, Grand Central Avenue in West River and South Howard Avenue in SOHO.
Suncoast Credit Union is donating $1 million to provide economic relief to those affected by Covid-19 in the communities the credit union serves. The donation is the first of its size during the credit union's 86-year history, a news release said. The credit union is donating the funds to 20 organizations that focus on healthcare, hunger and education. Several recipients will get $100,000 each, including Feeding Florida (statewide operation), Tampa General Hospital, Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and the city of Tampa's One Tampa Fund. Seniors in Service-Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Meals on Wheels of Tampa are in line for $50,000 each as is Feeding Tampa Bay. St. Petersburg College will get $25,000.
Oragenics, a Tampa drug development company, is focused on developing and commercializing TerraCoV2, a vaccine candidate that could provide specific immunity for Covid-19, after acquiring the company that holds a worldwide, nonexclusive license with the National Institutes of Health to the vaccine candidate. Oragenics (NYSE American: OGEN) acquired Noachis Terra Inc. in a cash and stock deal. Oragenics paid $1.95 million in cash and issued 9.2 million restricted shares of common stock as well as warrants to buy another 9.2 million shares. The acquisition marks a significant milestone for Oragenics, said Alan Joslyn, president and CEO of Oragenics, said in a news release. Although the research and potential applications covered by Noachis Terra’s NIH license are substantial, the Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved a vaccine for the prevention of Covid-19. Relying on the intellectual property obtained through the NIH license, Oragenics said it expects to accelerate activities to enter clinical trials in late 2020 or early 2021.
Tech Data has joined the Smart Cities Council as a North American Lead Member. Tech Data (Nasdaq: TECD), an IT distributor headquartered in Clearwater, is the first and only IT distributor and solutions aggregator to partner with the Smart Cities Council, a global coalition of leading companies advised by top universities, laboratories and standards bodies. Membership in the council positions Tech Data to help communities address their most pressing digital transformation challenges, Colin Blair, vice president, IoT and data analytics for North America at Tech Data, said in a news release. As a lead member, Tech Data will sponsor and serve on the selection committee for the 2020 Smart Cities Readiness Challenge, designed to help cities, towns and municipalities of all sizes throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico improve local conditions.
The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship at Florida State University is now taking applications for the Seminole 100. It's an annual program that honors the 100 fastest-growing FSU alumni-owned or alumni-led businesses. To qualify for the 2021 program, companies must have been founded by Jan. 1, 2017, with 2017 revenue equal to or greater than $100,000 and 2019 revenue equal to or greater than $250,000. Applications are online here. A revenue verification form also is required. The deadline to submit the application and revenue form is July 31.
One of the nation's longest standing leadership programs, Leadership St. Pete, has redirected its yearly charitable effort to support Covid-19 relief given by the City of St. Petersburg's Fighting Chance Fund through the creation of a virtual 5K race. The “Fighting Chance 5K” is a virtual 3.1 mile race that can be completed any time between May 15- May 31. Participants can choose their own running route and may choose to break up the 5K among multiple days. All of the proceeds from the $35 entry fee will go directly to the Fighting Chance Fund and participants are encouraged to donate above $35 if they so choose. Participants will receive a custom medal and race bib and a digital race bib will be emailed to the participants' provided email address to fill in the name of the small business - or businesses - that the runner is supporting. As the month goes on, Leadership St. Pete plans to roll out numerous maps of 5K courses and trails, including a waterfront 5K, a Pinellas Trail route, and routes within neighborhoods. Family participation is encouraged and registration is currently open. To register for the Fighting Chance 5K visit www.stpete.com/fightingchance. To make a donation directly to the Fighting Chance Fund, please visit https://bit.ly/3bsO4jS or text the code LSP to 71441.
Eighty-eight workers at the Marriott St. Petersburg at 12600 Roosevelt Blvd. were laid off, as the hotel deals with the downturn in business and occupancy caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The layoffs began on March 27, according to an April 1 Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification sent to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity that was just made public. The mass layoff is expected to be temporary, the Marriott said.
Tyrone Square in St. Petersburg is scheduled to reopen Monday, May 4, according to a memo from Simon Property Group, which owns the mall. The mall has been closed since mid-March. Simon plans several Covid-19 safety protocols when the mall reopens, including employee screening and safety protections and enforced social distancing. Food court seating will be limited, while play areas, stroller and valet stations, and drinking fountains will be temporarily closed, among other steps. International Plaza in Tampa will reopen on Wednesday, May 6 at 11 a.m. and operate on a reduced daily schedule. There will be signage and decals to help customers practice social distancing. The center will be cleaned and disinfected throughout the day and after-hours, with a focus on high-touch, high-traffic surfaces, a notice posted on the shopping center's website said.
Bay Area Auction Services has scheduled a public auction on May 27 for the inventory of the former Hoffbräuhaus St. Petersburg. The brewery/restaurant closed earlier this year and the operator last month was ordered to pay $7.16 million to the company that owns the downtown St. Petersburg property. Furnishings, electronics and kitchen equipment will be auctioned, Bay Area Auction Services said in a notice on its website. The auction will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 27, with a preview from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, and at 8 a.m. on the day of the auction. It will take place at the Hoffbräuhaus location, at 123 4th St. S. in St. Petersburg. Some items also are being auctioned online.
Florida state parks will partially reopen on Monday, May 4. The list of parks set to reopen includes Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin. The parks will reopen access to trails, and some day use areas, including some beach access with limited facilities and access to active recreation only, including walking, jogging, swimming and fishing. No sunbathing, chairs, canopies or coolers will be allowed in beach areas at this time, a news release said. Visitors will be asked to practice proper social distancing and to limit group size to 10 or less and to stay six feet apart.
