MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Nordstrom announced Friday the store in Dadeland Mall in Miami-Dade County will not survive the coronavirus pandemic’s economic crisis. Nordstrom will also be closing its Cafe Bistro at 7231 N. Kendall Dr. The store closed March 17 and the company promised employees pay and benefits during the two-week period. Erik Nordstrom, the company’s chief executive officer, released a statement on Tuesday saying the pandemic accelerated the plan of investing in digital capabilities. Nordstrom first released the complete list of the stores, which also includes one in Naples, to Business Insider.

Without a vaccine to prevent the coronavirus disease, economists warn the downturn in the leisure and the hospitality industries is just beginning. On Friday, the feds reported the unemployment rate surged to 14.7% -- erasing a decade of job gains in one month. Some economists estimate the U.S. unemployment rate actually nears 24%. Without a vaccine, economists expect a lot of false starts. I fear that we are going to see yet another round of layoffs even as workers are called back.”More expert opinions:

Ron DeSantis and the Department of Children and Families announced Thursday the extension of two federal programs to help poverty-stricken families during the coronavirus pandemic. DCF reported receiving nearly one million applications for public assistance. According to DeSantis, nearly 3 million people in Florida benefit from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides a monthly supplement to buy food with the help of a debit card. The U.S. Department of Agriculture funds SNAP and the Department of Health and Human Services funds the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, which provides cash assistance for families’ living expenses. To deal with the increasing demand for public assistance, DeSantis and DCF Secretary Chad Poppell invested more resources on the state’s Economic Self-Sufficiency program, which handles the applicants’ eligibility.

WASHINGTON – More than 3.8 million laid-off workers applied for unemployment benefits last week as the U.S. economy slid further into a crisis that is becoming the most devastating since the 1930s. Some outside reviews suggest that the number of job losses is likely even higher than is captured in the weekly unemployment claims. White Americans made up 55% of workers seeking jobless aid in March, African-Americans nearly 15%. This figure is much lower than the total number of people who have sought unemployment aid since the virus struck, in part because it lags behind by one week. Many laid-off workers in the United States are still struggling to obtain unemployment aid.

More than 1,000 drivers picked up free Farm Share groceries on Monday morning at Dolphin Mall in Miami-Dade County. Florida House Rep. Ana Maria Rodriguez, of Doral, was among the dozens of volunteers at the drive-through food distribution event at the city of Sweetwater. Sweetwater Police Department Chief Placido Diaz said many of the drivers started to line up on Monday night. Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz has been volunteering at food distribution events for weeks. For more information about how to help sponsor a Farm Share food load, view this page.

HIALEAH GARDENS, Fla. – Drivers in need during the coronavirus pandemic started to arrive at about 2 a.m. on Wednesday to Hialeah Gardens High School. Within a few hours, an L-shaped line of cars curved from Hialeah Gardens Boulevard and stretched on Okeechobee Road. A Farm Share truck arrives early Wednesday morning to Hialeah Gardens from the non-profit organization's warehouse in Homestead. We opened a compassionate call center in our city, so Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., we have phone lines going, if residents need anything." Sunrise residents can call 954-746-3670 or email CompassionOfficer@sunrisefl.gov for more information.

TANZANIA – The head of the U.N. food agency warned Tuesday that, as the world is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, it is also “on the brink of a hunger pandemic” that could lead to “multiple famines of biblical proportions” within a few months if immediate action isn’t taken. According to WFP, the 10 countries with the worst food crises in 2019 were Yemen, Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Syria, Sudan, Nigeria and Haiti. Beasley said in many countries the food crisis is the result of conflict. “The truth is, we do not have time on our side, so let’s act wisely — and let’s act fast," Beasley said. “I do believe that with our expertise and partnerships, we can bring together the teams and the programs necessary to make certain the COVID-19 pandemic does not become a humanitarian and food crisis catastrophe."

Ron DeSantis said Florida has issued 121,000 payments to people who filed for unemployment insurance benefits. DeSantis also said Florida has also issued 23,000 payments to people who are unemployed and qualified for the federal supplement checks. Florida’s benefit is $275 a week and the federal benefit is $600 a week. “We need to get people paid,” DeSantis said. DeSantis also issued an executive order to avoid forcing people who receive the unemployment insurance benefit to file bi-weekly updates on their employment status.

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – Thousands of people continued to line up on Thursday at temporary food distribution sites in South Florida during the coronavirus pandemic. Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank C. Ortis said drivers started to line up at 6 a.m. to receive free food at Memorial Park. Christina Sorensen, the director of the Pembroke Pines Recreation & Arts, said it was the first time they held an event during the pandemic there. There were similar scenes at food distribution sites in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. He is among the millions who are suffering financially because of the mitigation strategies to save lives during the pandemic.

“We obviously have got to be thinking about what the next steps are for the State of Florida,” DeSantis said. In South Florida, that may begin with the reopening of parks and outdoor spaces, then move to restaurants, with masks and proper social distancing. The task force will also consider the reopening of public schools amid the coronavirus pandemic, which epidemiologists around the world are fighting with mitigation strategies that include social distancing and isolating both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. “If it’s safe, we want kids to be in school,” DeSantis said. “I think most parents want that.”DeSantis said he will be announcing the members of the task force later this week.

MIAMI – The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Tuesday the Federal Aviation Administration will award more than $896 million to 100 airports in Florida. The airport receiving the most funding in the state is Miami International Airport with nearly $207 million. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport will receive nearly $135 million. Palm Beach International Airport will receive $36.6 million. North Perry Airport, Miami Executive Airport, Palm Beach County Park and North Palm Beach County General Aviation will each receive $69,000.

Later Monday afternoon, a steady stream of cars flowed into Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School for a student meal distribution. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to loom, the number of people who need food is rising. If the numbers tell the story of need in Miami-Dade County, they’re perhaps most striking at the schools. The week of March 16-20, Miami-Dade County Public Schools distributed 222,518 meals across all its district schools. WHERE TO GO: Miami-Dade County Public Schools student meal distribution sites

NEW YORK – Small business owners hoping for quick help from the government’s emergency $349 billion lending program were still waiting Tuesday amid reports of computer problems at the Small Business Administration. A large percentage of community banks — small banks that serve rural areas and small towns — have been unable to get logged into the system as well. Brock Blake, CEO of Lendio, a marketplace for loans, also said he was hearing complaints about the SBA’s computer system from bankers. There also was confusion about loan documents; the terms of the loans are different from standard SBA loans and therefore new documents would be needed. Many owners were also waiting to hear whether they’d get economic injury disaster loans, separate from the paycheck loans.

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But despite the suffering, the benefits that the state is supposed to pay workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own remained out of reach for many. Paulina, who asked to not be identified by last name, said she has been trying to file for unemployment for the last two weeks. Ron DeSantis asked Floridians for patience on Monday. The $2 trillion federal aid package is supposed to help the unemployed, including gig workers, with $875 a week for 13 weeks. ALSO SEE: How to file for unemployment benefits during coronavirus pandemic

Ron DeSantis said he was very concerned about the increase in flights from New York’s hot zone to Florida. DeSantis said airlines struggling through the shutdown were not eager to put a stop to the flights. “It is just reckless, reckless behavior,” DeSantis said about people who are choosing to travel from New York to Florida as they flee the devastating effects of the outbreak. DeSantis said Florida’s hot zone is in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. DeSantis estimates more than 40,400 people have already lost their jobs in Florida.

South Floridians who are struggling financially over the public health restrictions to contain the COVID-19 pandemic moved closer toward receiving federal aid. The Senate cleared a new relief package with a 90-8 vote on Wednesday. President Donald Trump said he is ready to sign the new bill, which had bipartisan support. The $1 trillion plan is meant to cover the cost of testing for COVID-19, extend paid sick and family leave and strengthen unemployment insurance. The Treasury Department expects to be able to send direct payments to workers who are facing a financial loss because of COVID-19 by early next month.