Business briefs: Apple Watch users report problems with tattoos, heart rate monitor use

NEW YORK – It’s an annoying problem for the unlucky few: The Apple Watch’s heart rate monitor and even some other features might not work if you have a tattoo on your wrist.

Inked and irked Apple fans have dubbed the issue “TattooGate” on Twitter, complaining that they must choose between their body art and their stylish gadget. Apple, for its part, acknowledged the issue on its support website.

“Permanent or temporary changes to your skin, such as some tattoos, can also impact heart rate sensor performance,” the site reads.

The watch tracks heart rates through a common medical technique that measures how much light is absorbed by blood.

While the problem doesn’t occur with all tattoos, it may be more likely to affect people with dark red or black ink on the side of the wrist where they wear their watch, according to anecdotal accounts.

Construction spending drops in March

WASHINGTON – U.S. construction fell in March as an increase in nonresidential construction was offset by declines in home building and government projects.

Construction spending dropped 0.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted $966.6 billion in March after a flat reading in February, the Commerce Department reported Friday. Construction activity has fallen or shown no gain in four of the past five months, underscoring the economic toll from a severe winter.

Chinese police raid local Uber offices

BEIJING – Police in southern China raided the office of U.S. car-hailing app Uber after the Chinese government in January banned drivers of private cars from offering such services through apps.

A statement by the Guangzhou Municipal Transport Commission said police suspected Uber was operating an illegal taxi service without a proper business registration. It said police seized thousands of iPhones and other equipment used to run the business in the Thursday night raid in the city of Guangzhou. The commission also said it was cracking down on other car-hailing apps in the region and issuing fines of 30,000 yuan, or about $4,860.

Uber said in a statement Friday that it was cooperating with the authorities while continuing to offer the service to Guangzhou residents.

The transport commission said it recognized the limits of traditional taxi services in the area and was studying how online-based services could fill the need.

SeaWorld cited over workers’ safety

SAN DIEGO – SeaWorld San Diego has been cited for allegedly failing to train workers to safely interact with its killer whales.

U-T San Diego reported the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health issued four citations this week that carry nearly $26,000 in fines.

The citations say the park hasn’t kept employees aware of hazards involving the orcas. They say employees ride and swim with killer whales in the park’s medical pool – although keepers aren’t allowed in the Shamu Stadium pool during orca shows.

SeaWorld plans to appeal. It says the citations show a “fundamental misunderstanding” of what’s needed to safely care for orcas.

SeaWorld has battled negative publicity since the 2013 documentary “Blackfish” suggested the treatment of captive orcas provokes violent behavior.