Identifying Local Opportunities

“The Fight to Win Republican Support for LGBTQ rights in Florida Divides Activists” by David Smiley from The Miami Herald
https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0123%21January%2B23&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/171227B19E47E848
Senator Joe Gruters who is also the chairman for the Republican Party of Florida, has sponsored a bill filed in the Senate, that will keep employers from discriminating from the LGBTQ community. The non profit organization SAVE is supporting this however, other activism group are not. The opposing groups are saying that the new bill is a downsized version of the Florida Competitive Workforce Act, which also keeps private business and landlord from discriminating against the LGBTQ community. SAVE thinks that splitting up the anti-discrimination problems into different bill would be the more effective way to get more conservatives on board. Other activist believe SAVE is leaving out the rights of trans people to appeal to the conservatives.
The Problem: LGBTQ activists are dividing and fighting each other because of a bill supported by a Republican man does that does not cover all the rights they want protected. They feel that their rights are being compromised for this conservative Senator.
The People: Anyone who identifies as part of the LGBTQ community. SAVE employees and Senators and other government officials.

“Recall Expanded Again for Heart, Blood Pressure and Kidney Drug Over Possible Carcinogen” by David J. Neal from The Miami Herald
https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0123%21January%2B23&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/17121EC969E22718
Torrent Pharmaceuticals has expanded its recall on the drug Losartan for the second time this month. An amount of N-nitrosodiethylamine was found in the active ingredient. NDEA was classified as a possible carcinogen and amounts exceeding the acceptable intake were found in Losartan, causing a recall.
The Problem: Amounts of a possible carcinogen were found in the active ingredient in the drug Losartan causing recall of the drug.
The People: Anyone who has to take Losartan, the pharmacies that carry and distribute it, and the scientists who create it.

“Delray Beach Decides it Wants Trees, Not Bike Lanes on Swinton Ave.” by Lulu Ramadan from The Palm Beach Post
https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20190122/just-in-delray-beach-decides-it-wants-trees-not-bike-lanes-on-swinton-ave
Delray beach halted a $2.6 million plan to add bike lane to Swinton Avenue. During a town hall meeting people voiced their concerns because adding the bike lane would result in the removal of 100 trees along the avenue which would alter the historic landscaping. As a result, they decided to use the money to repave the avenue to add more sidewalks, which would not cause the removal of any trees.
The Problem: 100 trees were almost removed from Swinton Avenue to make way for new bicycle lanes.
The People: People who ride bicycles, people who walk on Swinton Avenue, and conservationists.

“County Votes to Stop Using Prison Labor” by Sarah Nelson from The Gainesville Sunhttps://www.gainesville.com/news/20190122/county-votes-to-stop-using-prison-labor
Commissioners voted to end the use of prison labor for county work. The states’ Department of Corrections gets paid $500,000 for the county work, while prisoners and paid nothing in return for doing hard labor. Commissioner Mike Byerly was against this change and even questioned its ability to make a step towards prison reform. The inmate’s position will be filed with full time employment opportunities
The Problem: Prison inmates were performing hard labor on county work projects without getting any sort of compensation except for 10 days off their sentences.
The People: Prison inmates, people looking for employment, State Department of Corrections employees, the correctional officers who oversee the inmates, and the workers who train the inmates on how to perform the tasks.

“County Raises Tobacco Buying Age to 21” by Sarah Nelson from The Gainesville Sunhttps://www.gainesville.com/news/20190122/county-raises-tobacco-buying-age-to-21
Alachua County is the first county to increase the legal age for buying tobacco to 21 years old. The new rule is made to stop youth from buying tobacco products, however they will not be penalized if they do so under the age of 21. Tobacco vendors must buy a sales license that costs $230 each year and they cannot sell their products within 1,000 feet of a school. Officials hope this will positively affect the youth.
The Problem: Vapes, e-cigarettes, and other tobacco products are being bought and used by young children at an alarming rate.
The People: Student who buy tobacco products, and vendors who sell these products, such as smoke shops.