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Thursday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Retailers shift mindset — and sometimes size — but continue to grow across Florida
The vast number of people pouring into Florida is fueling growth as more retailers, both familiar and new, open stores, relocate rather than close or expand. At the same time, many retailers are adjusting to changes in buying habits by going with smaller spaces that satisfy traditional shoppers while servicing those adopting new ways of buying. More from the Business Observer.
South Florida struggling to emerge from ‘life-threatening’ floods
Drivers were stuck in cars, travelers were stranded at the airport, streets were impassable, school and court were canceled and a man was spotted swimming through a downtown Fort Lauderdale street as South Florida started to emerge from what one city is calling a 50-year rain event. More than 20 inches of rain poured down on Fort Lauderdale in just six hours Wednesday, and more is possible, the National Weather Service Miami said. A flash flood emergency was extended to at least noon Thursday for Fort Lauderdale, Lauderhill, Hollywood, Dania Beach and Sunrise, a “life-threatening situation” in which people should seek higher ground. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and CNN.
What keeps Central Florida’s mayors up at night?
Four of the region’s mayors told League of Women Voters members Wednesday they sleep well at night, but worry in their waking hours about a range of topics like gaps in mental health funding, preserving history and public safety. The forum, titled “What Keeps Them Awake at Night?” featured mayors Jerry Demings of Orange County, Buddy Dyer of Orlando, Phil Anderson of Winter Park and Angie Gardner of Eatonville, who answered questions posed by former county mayor Linda Chapin. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
City of Largo sold contaminated fertilizer for months, records show
Richard Mushaben feared for months that the city of Largo was selling fertilizer tainted with a toxic element that can cause cancer at high concentrations. Mushaben is a biosolids operator at the city’s wastewater reclamation facility, where he helps treat human sewage and convert it into fertilizer products. Those products are sold to private companies, who spread the fertilizer pellets onto lawns, parks and golf courses. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
LendingTree division cutting 200 jobs in Jacksonville
Ovation Credit Services Inc., a division of LendingTree Inc., filed a notice with state officials saying it will close its Jacksonville facility in the next few months, putting 200 people out of work. The company’s letter sent April 6 under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act did not give a reason for the closure. However, LendingTree said in a March 24 Securities and Exchange Commission filing it was planning to cut 13% of its employees as part of a workforce reduction plan. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Out of the Box
Florida lightning strike results in groundbreaking find, researcher says: ‘Never seen this… on Earth’
A professor at the University of South Florida discovered something never-before-seen on Earth after analyzing a dirt sample that was struck by lightning. The phosphorus material, he said, was observed for the first time in solid form on this planet. “We have never seen this material occur naturally on Earth,” said Matthew Pasek, professor of geosciences.
» More from WFLA.
Profile
Post-merger manager
Steve Fisher, a 20-year veteran of Central Florida’s banking industry, joined Truist in 2021 as the area's middle market banking lead and became regional president last September when Sandy Hostetter retired from the position. Fisher talks about his role as “chief integrator” following the 2019 merger of BB&T and SunTrust Bank and subsequent rebranding to Truist.
» Read more from Florida Trend.
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