Wednesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 5/8/2019

Orlando employers have a problem: Low wages are prompting workers to leave for better jobs

Some employers looking to hire in Orlando’s white hot job market are facing a new reality: To keep workers, they may have to raise wages. Low compensation — whether it be through wages or benefits — is one of the top reasons employers are struggling to keep talent at a time when Orlando’s labor force is larger than any time in its history, according to a survey conducted by OrlandoJobs.com of 81 companies representing more than 210,000 workers in Central Florida. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Pensacola Beach is running out of hotel rooms as tourism demand grows, experts say

A growing demand for hotel and condominium rentals on Pensacola Beach is pushing up room rates and changing the lodging business across Escambia County, local tourism marketing experts learned Tuesday. The information was part of a marketing trends workshop hosted by Visit Pensacola. More from the Pensacola News Journal.

International fertilizer firm acquires Sarasota company

Italpollina, a producer of organic fertilizers, beneficial microbials and 100% vegetal-based biostimulants, has acquired Sarasota-based Horticultural Alliance Inc. Horticultural Alliance specializes in an organic approach to plant health and maintenance through mycorrhizal inoculants and beneficial bacteria in horticulture. James Quinn founded the firm in 1997. More from the Business Observer.

Welbilt’s first-quarter sales grow, but tariffs don't help

Welbilt executives said Tuesday that cost increases associated with inflation and the tariffs accounted for the biggest part of the factors that put a dent in its adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization. It reported a net loss for the quarter of $2.6 million and adjusted earnings of 5 cents per share. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Cities complain that in the session just ended, Legislature stepped on local control

When the legislative session ended on Saturday, local governments across Florida began to take stock of the powers that had been stripped away from them and given to the state. They include the ability to ban plastic straws, require tree removal permits and regulate vegetable gardens. Local governments also face new restrictions on community redevelopment agencies. More from the Miami Herald.

Entertainment
Miami may seal Ultra Music Festival future

Whether the Ultra Music Festival is allowed a second year on Virginia Key could be decided this week by the Miami City Commission. And this time, the city’s advisory body for all things on the barrier island – the Virginia Key Advisory Board – has formally objected to holding Ultra there.

» More from Miami Today.

Regulations
‘Carfax for boats’ law will alert buyers to vessels’ shady pasts

That shiny Boston Whaler you’ve been looking at on Craigslist? The fresh paint could be hiding a serious hull breach that its owner didn’t spend the money or time to properly fix. And if you bought that boat, you wouldn’t know about that breach until it was too late. That would change under a new Florida law requiring boat titles to disclose whether vessels have been wrecked.