5A- Identifying Local Opportunities

Assignment 5A- Identifying Local Opportunities 

1.  "A recent survey just ranked the happiest states in America. So how did Florida do?" , by Madeleine Marr

• https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article218117690.html
• This article, written on September 10th 2018,  discusses the ranking of the happiest states in America.  It discusses Florida's poor ranking of #29.  Studies are allocating this ranking to Florida's safety problems, high divorce rates, and unemployment rates.  
• The article blames Florida's ranking on the working environment.  “The state has one of the highest long-term unemployment rates, at 40.2 percent, a low job satisfaction score, and one of the lowest income growth rates, at 2.24 percent." So not only is unemployment low, but the article further discusses the volunteering rate as well.  Florida's volunteer rate is 18.3%, the lowest in the country. 
• The article also discusses Florida's extremely high divorce rates as a factor.  It has one of the highest separation and divorce rates at 25.09 percent. 
• The Problem:  Florida is ranked at 29, in regards to the happiest states in America.  Unemployment rates are skyrocketing, as well as separation and divorce rates. 
• The People:  Anyone living in the state of Florida looking for a job, or who recently got laid off is affected.  As well as families and the children of parents whose marriages are failing. 

2.  Editorial: Cheers & Jeers, author not noted 

• https://www.gainesville.com/opinion/20180907/editorial-cheers-and-jeers
• This article, written on September 7th, 2018,  discusses the cheers and "jeers" currently happening at UF.  The jeer I am elaborating on is the suspension of the Delta Chi Fraternity. 
• The article discusses how too many fraternities at numerous universities have seen students die due to hazing.  The author is calling upon UF and its administrators to instill safer practices regarding fraternities.  
• An 18-year old pledge was found unconscious after drinking vodka at a "big brother" ceremony.  The hospital states if he was brought 5 minutes later, he would have died.  In response, hard liquor has been banned at any chapter facility or event. 
• The Problem:  Too many pledges and fraternities are experiencing incidents and deaths in regards to hazing and alcohol.  Will a ban on hard liquor be enough? 
• The People: Fraternity brothers, and upcoming freshman looking to pledge fraternities.  The parents of pledges, fraternity brothers, etc.  Also, the school where these events are occurring. 

3.  Decline of Bees a Major Threat, By the Ledger (lakeland) 

• https://www.gainesville.com/opinion/20180907/editorial-decline-of-bees-major-threat
• This article, written on September 7th, 2018, discusses the bee population.  The bee population is rapidly declining, scaring legislatures as bees are responsible for about $15 billion dollars in our economy. 
• The decline in the bee population is due to insufficient diets, mites, habitat loss, disease and pesticides. At least 18 other states have enacted legislation towards protecting the bees, Florida has yet to become one of them.  
• Agriculture, is critical in Florida, and citizens are not being cognoscente of this.  Bees help with agriculture, and help to sustain it. 
• The Problem:  The bee population is declining rapidly. 
• People:  Anyone who eats honey, or anything the bees help to pollinate.  Farmers, who rely on bees for agricultural purposes. 

4.  Feces-filled Sewage flooded the streets. The city did nothing for 10 days, records show, by Sarah Blaskey 

• https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-gardens/article217790205.html
• This article, written on September 10th, 2018, discusses the catastrophe occurring in Opa-locka South Florida.  The city, has spent the last two years under a state of emergency, and recently has had sewage leaking into the street for 10 days until action was taken.  
• The citizens, continued to go to work, walk through the sewage, unaware that it was actually full of fecal matter.  This left them exposed to Ecoli, meningitis, etc. 
• The sewage system is broken, a pipe broke, and the city does not have the means to fix it.  It has constantly been patched, but it has reached its end point. 
• The Problem: The city is in a state of emergency, being exposed to fecal matter because of a sewage system that is broken but can not be fixed due to lack of money.  
• People:  The xitizens of Opa-locka are being exposed to fecal matter infested water, lack of effort, and an unstable community due to lack of money and care.  

5.  Rodent poop on bacon. Mold-like stuff on coleslaw. Inspections of retail food sellers. by, David J Neal 

• https://www.miamiherald.com/living/food-drink/article218101750.html
• This article, written on September 10th, 2018, discusses the food inspections that took place of numerous Florida grocery stores / food producers, and the citations/horror that was witnessed. 
• Not only was rodent poop found on bacon, but a yellow-like substance on the meat grinders and machinery.  Tails were prevalent, and food was still being served as if all was well. 
• Amongst more inspections, there was produce kept at wrong temperatures, no soap or sanitation for employees to wash their hands, etc. 
• The Problem: Certain grocery stores/ food producers aren't expecting inspections, and therefore are neglecting common sanitary and correct procedures.  People are being served bad food, exposed to rodent poop, and other unhealthy conditions.   Inspections do not happen often enough. 
• The People:  The consumers at these restaurants are being put at extreme risk.  They have no clue what they are actually eating.