Here's your morning news briefing for Thursday
There's a backlog at U.S. ports. Here's how Biden hopes to get you your goods, faster
You might want to start shopping for Christmas presents now. A supply chain backlog means goods will be in short supply and prices will go up. On Wednesday, President Joe Biden addressed the issue saying the White House is working with major retailers to move to 24/7 operations to meet demands. Read more here.
Getting a COVID vaccine booster? Study suggests Moderna or Pfizer work best
If you got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as your first COVID-19 shot, a booster dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine apparently could produce a stronger immune response than a second dose of J&J's vaccine according to a highly anticipated study released Wednesday. Read more about it here.
Florida's ban on mask mandates could become state law
Amid a series of legal battles, Florida Senate Republican Keith Perry filed a proposal Wednesday that would put a ban on school districts requiring students to wear masks into state law. The bill is filed for consideration during the 2022 legislative session and is in line with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ high-profile attempts to prevent mask and vaccination mandates. Read more here.
Save the manatees
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is asking lawmakers for more money to help manatees after a record 968 have died so far this year. Read more here.
Pace's Woodbine, West Spencer Field roads to be studied
In Santa Rosa County, Woodbine Road in Pace has been the center of traffic woes for many driving in the north-end of the county. On Tuesday, Santa Rosa County commissioners approved a five-year, $2 million contract with Mott MacDonald for engineering design and professional services. That and other highlights from the meeting can be found here.
A good listen
The latest Code Switch podcast shares how the Seminole Tribe of Florida is fighting for the past decade to get back remains of tribe members that have been stored by the Smithsonian Institution. It asks the question who gets the right to decide the fate of these remains.