Identifying Local Opportunities

Good Afternoon Everyone,

We are back and better than ever! This week we are going to discuss five local opportunities from newspapers around the state of Florida. Lets get started.

1. Title: "OBAMACARE FALLS SHORT FOR SOME; Middle-income families make too much for aid, but still are hit with high deductibles"

Link: http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sort=DA-SORT&docType=Article&tabID=T004&prodId=GPS&searchId=R1&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&contentSegment=&currentPosition=2&searchResultsType=SingleTab&inPS=true&userGroupName=gain40375&docId=GALE%7CA440457869&contentSet=GALE%7CA440457869

The story talks about the Affordable Care Act and some issues regarding middle income families. The article uses a middle income couple as an example to show how some families who make too much for aid under the Affordable Care Act, are paying outrageous amounts for health insurance. Furthermore, the article also talks about how the family has to give up things like fixing a car or putting off retirement, just to afford health care for the family. Although the article only cites one specific family, this is a problem for many families around the country who lie just above the line to receive aid through Obamacare.

2. Title: "MENTAL HOSPITALS LACK RESOURCES, OFFICIAL SAYS; Senators hear testimony about the failings"

Link: http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sort=DA-SORT&docType=Article&tabID=T004&prodId=GPS&searchId=R2&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&contentSegment=&currentPosition=5&searchResultsType=SingleTab&inPS=true&userGroupName=gain40375&docId=GALE%7CA439966145&contentSet=GALE%7CA439966145

The story discusses budget cuts affecting the amount of resources at mental hospitals. Recently, several mental hospitals reported an increase in the amount of incidents including violence because of the lack of funding. It discusses the argument of a senate member for cutting the funding. The Senate member believes there is no exact amount of funding to fix the problem in mental hospitals and that there needs to be an organize plan versus solely throwing money towards something. The lack of funding not only affects the patients but the people caring for the patients. The people caring for the patients at mental hospitals always face the possibility of being the recipient of a violent outbreak. 

3. Title: A FUNDAMENTAL FAILURE

Link: http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sort=DA-SORT&docType=Article&tabID=T004&prodId=GPS&searchId=R2&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&contentSegment=&currentPosition=4&searchResultsType=SingleTab&inPS=true&userGroupName=gain40375&docId=GALE%7CA438767906&contentSet=GALE%7CA438767906

The article talks about fundamental schools, and how they are failing to do what they were originally made to do. Many are disappointed that fundamental schools are changing from opportunities in lower income african american communities to upper class white communities. Many argue that fundamental schools are now allowing students in based on politics as opposed to need. The problem is that the new schools are taking away opportunities from lower income african americans. It is difficult for many of these students to succeed coming from a poor background, and fundamental schools were made to help solve that problem. Unfortunately, it appears that fundamental schools are drifting away from their primary purpose.

4. Title: Concerns grow over Charter Com­mu­ni­ca­tions' planned purchase of Bright House

Link: http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/concerns-grow-over-charter-communications-planned-purchase-of-bright-house/2262387

The article talks about the possibility charter communications acquiring Bright House Networks. Many fear that this will cause a monopoly of TV and cable service in the Tampa Bay area. Competitors fear the merger will give them the power to pressure programmers to keep their content off of online video services. Also, the merger would give Charter Communications over half of the internet speed market and the cable market in the Tampa Bay area. The merger would give them a large control over other tv service providers. The immediate problem is for competitors of Charter Communications in the Tampa Bay area, but the merger could leave to further problems for customers down the road.

5. Title: Florida leads U.S. in new HIV cases after years of cuts in public health

Link: http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/florida-leads-us-in-new-hiv-cases-after-years-of-cuts-in-public-health/2262471

The story discusses potential reasons as why Florida leads the nation in HIV infections. Politicians wonder whether spending has increased the risk of infection as it has risen in Florida while dropping everywhere else in the country. There are two main problems given after reading the story. One is that the HIV infection rate is rising in Florida, the other are the policies taken by our local government to fix it. Many others believe top leadership do not believe the HIV problem to be a top priority, as it is rarely talked about. Instead, talk about other problems like child obesity. This problem is one for all Florida residents, as the increase in HIV infection increases the chances of any one person contracting the disease.