Assignment 5A - Identifying Local Opportunities

Assignment 5A - Identifying Local Opportunities

Article 1. County inspects Pahokee 'plume'; Bacterial blob in water came from raw sewage; officials seeking source

• URL: http://bi.galegroup.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/essentials/article/GALE%7CA553618662/1d64e9258cbae58a03f31f8238e0abc6?u=gain40375
• Summary of article: A bluish bacteria was spreading along the surface of Lake Okeechobee near the city's marina this summer. 
• A long time resident Sam McKinstry was the first to notice the "plume" bacteria around the marina and began asking the city and county officials about it. According to Sam the lake has had a raw sewage problem for years and no one has done anything about. 
• Palm Beach County mayor Melissa McKinlay says that raw sewage likely caused the plume bacteria, but she insists it has not been an ongoing problem. Mckinlay sent a crew from the county's water utilities department to check it out. The crew said there is no spill from any of the county's water outlets, but they took a sample of the bluish plume bacteria to test it. 
• The results revealed there was a significant amount of a certain bacteria in the water, and that bacteria comes from raw sewage. So was Sam McKinstry right all this time? The people of Pahokee were very alarmed. 
• The article stated at that point in time they did not know where the raw sewage was coming from but the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is working with the city to find out more information. The city applied for a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to clear out the sewage and repair the docks but the funding has not come through. They hope once it does the dock will be up and running and the bacteria will be cleared out. 
• The problem: Bacteria produced by raw sewage found in Lake Okeechobee around the city of Pahokee's marina. 
• The people: This affects the residents of Pahokee, anyone living around Lake Okeechobee could also be at risk, the mayor Melissa McKinlay, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency

Article 2. 2 hurricanes, tropical storm spin in Atlantic Two hurricanes spin in Atlantic, a third storm strengthens; None poses threat to S. Fla., for now; Carolinas brace for Florence

• URL: http://bi.galegroup.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/essentials/article/GALE%7CA553618669/464542fbf90b5f96f7dfd1196752b2a0?u=gain40375
• Summary of article: It's hurricane season again for people living on the east coast of the United States. Hurricane Florence is supposed to hit the Carolinas this weekend while Hurricane Helene seemed to turn back out to sea, not posing a threat to us on the east coast. There is another tropical storm named Isaac that they believe will turn in to a hurricane and pose a threat to Puerto Rico but it is projected to weaken by the time it reaches them. 
• Governor's are telling everyone to be prepared for Florence as it can always get bigger as it approaches land. Some people are evacuating the area completely.
• Florence will cause the east coast of Florida to have huge waves that will be up to 5-10 feet. 
• The problem: Hurricanes pose a huge threat to communities, as we have seen in the past they can almost destroy a whole city. They can cause insane amounts of flooding, power outages for days on end, and even tear down houses if the winds are strong enough. Everyone needs to be prepared for the damages hurricanes can cause.
• The people: The people that will be affected the most are the people who live in North and South Carolina because that is where hurricane Florence will hit. People in Florida all the way up to Virginia need to be prepared for rain and huge waves hitting the beaches. They also need to be prepared for more hurricanes to come during the 2018 hurricane season.

Article 3. Traffic stop leads to attempted murder arrest Traffic stop leads to attempted murder arrest for West Palm-area man

• URL: http://bi.galegroup.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/essentials/article/GALE%7CA553896813/c8382e3aa59af451aba457017fa2c00a?u=gain40375
• Summary of Article: Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office reported a man facing attempted murder charges after trying to run over two deputies who pulled him over because his taillights were not working. 
• The man's name is Marieau Julme, age 35. When the deputies pulled him over, Julme opened the center console and the deputies saw small plastic bags that seemed to be filled with drugs. When they asked him to step out of the car, he put the car in drive and sped off, nearly hitting the two deputies. He aimed the car right at them forcing them to jump out of the way so they wouldn't get run over.
• Julme almost got away due to speeding off in traffic and losing another cop that was trying to chase him. He was later spotted on a different road and they pulled him over and made him step out of the car. He tried to run away but they caught him. 
• The Judge ordered that he would be held without bail on the attempted murder and aggravated assault charges.  
• The problem: Marieau Julme attempting to murder two deputies for pulling him over due to his taillights being out. He seemed to have had drugs on him so he tried to escape but deputies caught him. 
• The people: The deputies could have died, Julme is being held without bail, and Julme could have caused innocent people to get in serious traffic accidents due to speeding off but luckily no one was hurt.

Article 4. Will Florida take high road by establishing marijuana banks?

• URL: http://bi.galegroup.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/essentials/article/GALE%7CA553896807/60f799a542428b1e9a3bcaae19efc71c?u=gain40375
• Summary of Article: Nicole Fried is a lawyer and medicinal marijuana lobbyist that has been trying to get banks to be open to funding medical marijuana. She is running as the Democratic candidate for Florida commissioner of agriculture.
•  Fried's campaign was terminated by Wells Fargo and BB&T after finding out her connection to marijuana businesses. She wants the state of Florida to open up it's own bank for the medical marijuana industry. She also believes Florida will one day legalize recreational use of marijuana just like 9 other states already have. 
• John Morgan, a lawyer that bankrolled the push for medicinal marijuana, tweeted that he is going to look at starting a fund where everyone can donate to get full marijuana legalization on the ballet for 2020. If it gets legalized we will need a lot of banking services for it. 
• This makes Nicole Fried's idea of starting a state-sanctioned marijuana bank the first important step of getting banks across the state to be okay with marijuana as it becomes a huge industry.
• Fried is also thinking about what to name the bank, and how it will affect the lingo and color schemes that banks already have. 
• If marijuana banks reach success, tellers will have to be trained for a new set of challenges.
• The problem: Banks are not open to backing marijuana activists due to potential problems with federal anti-money-laundering regulations. Marijuana has not been legalized in the state of Florida yet, but probably will at some point in the future.
• The people: Nicole Fried, who is the Democratic candidate for Florida commissioner of agriculture. John Morgan, a lawyer that bankrolled the push for medicinal marijuana. This also affects people that need medical marijuana for their health and people that are looking for it to become legalized for recreational use. 

Article 5. Wellington residents oppose plan; Builder wants over 200 homes on former golf course near Forest Hill

• URL: http://bi.galegroup.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/essentials/article/GALE%7CA553747737/506bf4b3764f676c5ea018200df9a7e4?u=gain40375
• Summary of article: Company representatives want to build over 200 homes on a former golf course in Wellington, FL. The Polo Club North project from 13th Floor Homes has gotten many concerns from residents who live near the golf course. They do not want homes being built there due to traffic safety reasons and density problems. Some residents were persistently clear that they do not want any development on the land. One resident suggested they build a park or preserve and called on Wellington to buy the land. 
• Company attorney Dan Daley said no matter what something will be redeveloped here, and its not a matter of if, if its a matter of when. He proposed plans of adding in new traffic lanes and keeping 27 of the 56 acres green space. 
• He states plans are subject to change and resident feedback will be key to letting these homes be built. 
• Polo Club North has not yet closed the deal on the land, but it is under contract to buy from Palm Beach Polo Inc.
• The golf course has sat vacant for 20 years, and other proposals for the land had been presented that were way worse than building homes. 
• Vice Mayor Michael Drahos told 13th Floor Homes he would not support it, due to the fact he had grew up there and he backed the residents that do not want the land taken over by new homes. 
• It will take a lot of time and a master plan amendment to change the property's use from open-space golf course to it becoming a residential area. 
• The problem: 13th Floor Homes is proposing a project called the Polo Club North to build over 200 homes on a golf course in Wellington that has been vacant for 20 years. Residents in the area as well as the Vice Mayor Michael Drahos, are against this plan.
• The people: It will affect the residents living in Wellington, Fl near the golf course by Forest Hill Blvd. It is also affecting the company 13th Floor Homes and Vice Mayor Michael Drahos.