Tuesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 6/4/2019

Florida consumer sentiment tumbles in May

After reaching its highest level in 17 years, consumer sentiment among Floridians plummeted 5.3 points in May to 96.4 from a revised figure of 101.7 in April. The last time consumer sentiment dropped more than five points was four years ago, in May 2015. All five components that make up the index declined. Read the report from UF News and see more from WJXT.

Florida unveils app to report price-gouging

The next time you feel like you're getting price-gouged and want to report it, there's an app for that. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody just unveiled a new anti-price-gouging app. It's part of her plan fight gouging as hurricane season begins. Moody says the app will make it easier for people to focus on making it through a disaster -- not filing paperwork. More from WOFL and WPTV.

Twenty-six people apply to be Florida's Chief Resilience Officer

A Hurricane Michael survivor and former White House staff member are among the applicants for the DeSantis administration’s new position of chief resilience officer. Florida joins a growing number of states funding a position just to deal with climate change. More from WLRN.

Office Depot asks to dump county’s $500,000 incentives contract to create jobs

Office Depot had agreed in 2014 to create 378 additional jobs and to retain the 1,950 jobs then at its Boca Raton headquarters, according to an amended incentive agreement with the county. But Palm Beach County commissioners are set to vote Tuesday on the termination of Office Depot’s $100,000-a-year incentives agreement, which was in the form of tax refunds. Office Depot asked the county to end the five-year contract. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Florida resort owner owes $51,000 in back pay and fines for mistreating Jamaican workers

A company that manages several Panama City Beach resorts and restaurants owes $38,513 in back pay, and will pay $12,695 in civil fines after Department of Labor violations over the treatment of H-2B visa workers from Jamaica. More from the Miami Herald.

Business Profile
Naples Soap Company

A 10-year-old Naples-based retailer of proprietary skin care and beauty products made from natural ingredients is going national. Naples Soap Company has partnered with Dillard’s department stores to offer a selection of its top-selling bath bombs, which will soon be available in 261 stores in 29 states, as well as online at dillards.com.

» More from the Business Observer.

Transportation
The interstate is crumbling

The state dubbed it the I-4 Ultimate for its grand scope. For some here, it’s more like the ultimate headache. A reconstruction of 21 miles of congested interstate highway through the heart of Orlando will build or rebuild 140 bridges, redesign 15 interchanges, move exits and add new toll lanes, in a $2.3 billion project to smooth traffic through one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities.