1. Title: Law preserves status quo for polluters.
Opportunity: Florida residents to engage their legislators to protect their interests and environment.
a) http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/15A9388BE6DE2E18?p=AWNB
b) Story: Robert Knight, an environmental scientist writes to the residents of Florida that the new bill that was just signed into law, the 2016 Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act" does not adequately protect Florida water. He details that many of Florida's water sources are subject to years and year of continuous pollution and that the police force and judicial system seldom enforce protection of water.
c) Problem: The new bill actually protects the interests of lobbyists, powerful agricultural businesses and other big businesses. These interests come at the cost of the residents of Florida and prevent a sustainable economy and further pollute Florida's waters.
d) Who it effects: Florida residents and the ecosystem
a) http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/15A9388BE6DE2E18?p=AWNB
b) Story: Robert Knight, an environmental scientist writes to the residents of Florida that the new bill that was just signed into law, the 2016 Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act" does not adequately protect Florida water. He details that many of Florida's water sources are subject to years and year of continuous pollution and that the police force and judicial system seldom enforce protection of water.
c) Problem: The new bill actually protects the interests of lobbyists, powerful agricultural businesses and other big businesses. These interests come at the cost of the residents of Florida and prevent a sustainable economy and further pollute Florida's waters.
d) Who it effects: Florida residents and the ecosystem
2. Title: Tiniest of snow events hits area
Opportunity: Gainesville residents get a chance to see snow/flurries, perhaps for the first time in their lives!
a) http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/15A9388B88910228?p=AWNB
b) Story: Gainesville for the first time in many years experienced snow/flurries fall from the sky on Saturday. Shortly after 9 am, people took to social media to post about the phenomenon. A rarity in the state of Florida.
c) Problem: Unfortunately it was not cold enough to accumulate snow on the ground. Some reports for sleet were filed.
d) Who it effects: Gainesville residents
3. Title: 24 hours, five brains, can you create an app?
Opportunity: Students can showcase their technical programming abilities to national companies for prizes.
a) Link: http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/15A9388BAA0B4288?p=AWNB
b) Story: UF hosted its second annual SwampHacks where students can push their programming skills to the limit in effort to win prizes. Located on the first floor of Marston Library, teams of maximum 5 must collaborate to design and execute innovative applications.
c) Problem: Students have only 24 hours to design, create and implement a functional application.
d) Who it effects: UF Students and students from the south east region
4. Title: Uber for seniors program to expand
Opportunity: Senior residents who are unable to drive or travel to the nearest bus stop have another travel option.
a) Link: http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/15A88EA7E221EE28?p=AWNB
b) Story: Gainesville City commission voted to extend the Freedom in Motion program to expand it to all senior residents in city limits. The program performed a pilot test program and deemed it successful after 102 rides. They gave participants up to $5 co-pay and smart phones, which were provided by Wells Fargo.
c) Problem: Senior citizens are increasingly becoming isolated to their homes as they lose their ability to drive and travel to the nearest bus stop.
d) Who it effects: Senior residents of Gainesville
5. Title: More than 300 march to say: Hands off our parks
Opportunity:
a) Link: http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/15A9388BC0BA7E30?p=AWNB
b) Story: More than 300 Gainesville residents protested openly about the proposed privatization of state parks. Protesters hope that their message will reach state legislatures in Tallahassee and that awareness will raise about the subject. There is a state-wide movement towards privatizing parks.
c) Problem: Privatization of state parks can lead to impairing the environment of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary, Jon Steverson, moved to open state parks to activities such as hunting, logging and cattle grazing to make parks self-sufficient.
d) Who it effects: Florida residents
Hi Kevin!
ReplyDeleteI liked the articles that you picked-- I wish I could have seen the other two that you didn't post yet! I especially liked your first article. It is a very down-to-Earth and important issue, especially for Gainesville, since we have so many natural aquifers and springs here!
Check out my blog post here: http://memazal.blogspot.com/2016/01/apparently-grass-isnt-always-greener.html
Cheers!
You can check out the rest now!
DeleteI found your article choices really interesting. I was actually awake that morning that there were snow flurries, except I was in the area that it was sleeting. It was funny to hear and see everyone freak out over seeing the snow, especially because I am from the Midwest so snow is normal there. You can see my article at: http://saraheverts.blogspot.com/2016/01/identifying-local-opportunities.html
ReplyDeleteHey Kevin, I liked the articles that you posted. Your last two articles made me realize that Gainesville has more than just the university and I should probably be more aware of the local community here. I wonder what will happen to the proposal about the state park, and what will happen to Paynes Prairie.
ReplyDeleteHello Kevin,
ReplyDeleteI found your article about the small snow flurries in Gainesville recently. I find this news article absolutely hilarious because while Gainesville residents were experiencing snow for the first time, my family in my hometown of New York City were forced to stay inside because of the severe snowstorm up north. One small comment on your post is the fact that the title of your article is the same size font as your explanations. It was hard to navigate between where one article began and another one ended.