Business News: Food Truck Fights Back, Hospitals Require Vaccine

TAMPA BAY, FL — Here's the latest restaurant, retail and other business news from the Tampa Bay region.

Tampa Bay Hospitals Respond To Biden Order To Vaccinate Employees

Two of Tampa Bay biggest hospital groups announced they will require all physicians and hospital staff to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Aquarium To Turn Winter's Old Home Into Manatee Rescue Center

Clearwater Marine Aquarium is expanding its efforts in the fight to save manatees. On Tuesday, the aquarium unveiled plans to transform the former Winter Zone into a habitat to rehabilitate manatees for release.

• Also read: Aquarium Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary Of 'Dolphin Tale' Filming

4 Florida Hotels Raise More Than $7,000 for Hurricane Ida Victims

Just four days after Hurricane Ida struck Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama as a Category 4 hurricane around noon on Sunday, three Tampa Bay hotels and one in Fort Myers hastily hosted fundraisers, presenting the American Red Cross with a check for $7,000 to help the victims of the hurricane.

Tarpon Springs Food Truck To Appeal Court Decision On City Law

The owners of a Florida food truck are vowing to continue their legal battle against Tarpon Springs after a Florida court decided that they could not sue the city over an ordinance that requires independently operated food trucks to use someone else's name in order to operate downtown.

Tampa Bay Businesses Discuss Vaccine Passport Ban, Masks

In April, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order banning vaccine passports — documentation that indicates whether an individual has received the COVID-19 vaccine or not — in Florida. His administration will start fining businesses who ask customers for proof of their vaccination status $5,000 per violation.

Other Tampa Bay-area business news:

• Pick Finance Brain Of 'Squeeze the Juice' Writer Jennifer Lee
• Suncoast Hosts Serves As 'Walking Yellow Pages' In Venice: Owner
• First Watch Restaurant Chain Takes Steps To Go Public
• Developer Brings 350 Apartments To Seminole Heights, Ybor City
• St Joseph's Hospitals Named Among Nation's Top 100
• Comedy Club Latest Offering At Reimagined Wesley Chapel Mall
• Tuscan-Inspired Restaurant Adds To Midtown's Foodie Appeal
• NICHE To Provide Economical Apartments In Downtown Tampa