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Tuesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida stands alone as sole state without federally approved accountability plan
President Donald Trump's administration has in many ways held up Florida's education system as a model for the nation. It's hired many former Florida education officials to top jobs in its own education department. Yet Florida's proposed plan to meet federal Every Student Succeeds Act standards is now the only one that remains unapproved by Secretary Betsy DeVos. More from TBO.com.
Sarasota set to increases property tax rate for 2019 fiscal year
The Sarasota City Commission increased the tentative property tax rate proposed for the coming year to reflect a slight tax rate hike that a divided commission approved last week. The commission on Monday in a 3-2 vote set the tentative property tax rate for the coming year at $3.26 per $1,000 of assessed value — a 2.85 percent increase from the current rate of $3.17. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Correct Craft CEO: Boating industry endangered by tariffs
The CEO of one of Central Florida’s biggest boating companies told U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson on Monday his industry could be among the hardest hit by the Trump administration’s tariffs, potentially costing thousands of jobs, including 200 in Orlando. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
How a Boca Raton company grew to dominate the boutique fitness industry
By 2012, Orangetheory expanded to 11 states. By 2015, there were 300 studios, with international locations in Australia, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico. By last year it was deemed one of the fastest-growing women-owned businesses—and the fastest-growing fitness franchise. More from Fast Company.
From Florida Trend's Archive
» Franchising fitness for the masses
Orlando jobs' wages drop for first time in a year and a half
Wages in Metro Orlando for the year’s second quarter dropped for the first time in 18 months, according to data tracker PayScale. Orlando full-time workers’ pay fell almost twice as steeply than the national average – 1.7 percent compared with 0.9 percent nationally. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Recreation
Scallop season returns to Pasco County
There are big changes coming to the Pasco County Gulf waters. For the first time in decades, there will be a scallop harvest. Gov. Rick Scott announced details Monday as local scallop lovers are getting their gear ready.
» More from FOX 13 and see the announcement from Gov. Scott, here.
Retail Trends
Tampa Bay business owner on what Prime Day is like as an Amazon seller
Amazon doesn’t even give its sellers a heads-up on which July day the mega online retailer is selecting for its biggest sale of the year, Prime Day. But out of her natural sponges workshop in Tarpon Springs, Theo Prodromitis knew to start getting ready more than a month ago.
» Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.
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