News

Restaurants May "Label" Their Menus

Restaurants in Florida may not like it, but two Florida lawmakers have filed bills that would force them to disclose the number of calories and other nutritional information for every item on their menu. State Representative Ed Homan of Tampa says it will help people make healthier choices. State Senator Stephen Wise of Jacksonville says it will provide a real eye opener to people when they see how many calories are in their favorite meals at their favorite restaurant. It's called the Obesity Prevention act. Homan says it's not really any different from the information that is provided on pre-packaged foods. National studies have show that people who read labels tend to have diets that are lower in fat and purchase more fruits and veggies. But Homan says you can't make informed decisions if the restaurants are not giving you the proper information in the first place. Restaurants have complained about the cost to change menus and publish all that information--although many are already doing it.

]]> Restaurants in Florida may not like it, but two Florida lawmakers have filed bills that would force them to disclose the number of calories and other nutritional information for every item on their menu. State Representative Ed Homan of Tampa says it will help people make healthier choices.

Economist Calls for Rate Hikes

A Florida expert is urging the Fed to begin raising key interest rates this summer. University of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith says such a move would NOT contradict what the central bank has been saying for some time about interest rates. Snaith, who is the director of the UCF Institute for Economic Competitiveness says rates could be increased by one and a quarter or one and a half percent by the end of the year without putting the recovery in jeopardy , and that type of increase would be a hedge against inflation. Snaith says if you leave a loose money policy in place, like was done after the 2001 recession, you run the risk of creating the same problems that led to the 2008-2009 economic meltdown. Snaith admits the recovery is weak, but doesn't think the slight increases he is supporting will lead to any problems with the recovery. Right now interest rates from the central bank are at zero and he DOESN'T think leaving them there much longer would be wise.

]]> A Florida expert is urging the Fed to begin raising key interest rates this summer. University of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith says such a move would NOT contradict what the central bank has been saying for some time about interest rates.

Conver the Uninsured Week Kicks Off

Forty six million Americans are uninsured and next week focuses on getting those people coverage. "Cover the Uninsured Week," a worldwide intiative starts next week and Alachua County's "Choices" Health Services program is raising awareness, locally for the uninsured. CHOICES Program Manager, Marie Small says although "Cover the Uninsured Week" is a national initiative the number of uninsured in Alachua County makes it an even more personal and necessary. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation created the "Cover the Uninsured" initiative with hopes to increase accessibility to health care. Small says the local program, CHOICES does just that for Alachua County. Again, Small says CHOICES is available for ALL Alachua County Residents who qualify, but many people pass by the opportunity of having accessible health care because they don't know if they are eligible. Small says the criteria is on the CHOICES website at acchoices.com. Small understands not everyone meets these requirements, however she explains there are other options in Alachua County for affordable health care. The heated health reform debate in Washington, leaves Small hoping for a day when the "Cover the Uninsured" week will no longer be designated for awareness, but rather a week in celebration of "Coverage for the Insured." Small notes every year we get closer to "that day" through "Cover the Uninsured" week, when policy makers, health care professionals, grassroots organizers, faith leaders, business communities, and residents focus on the common goal of insuring everyone.

]]> Forty six million Americans are uninsured and next week focuses on getting those people coverage. "Cover the Uninsured Week," a national intiative starts next week and Alachua County's "Choices" Health Services program is raising awareness, locally for the uninsured.

Candidate Profiles: Francis Fitzpatrick and Nathaniel Sperling

Francis "Pat" Fitzpatrick is running for the district four seat of the city commission has the needs of the homeless on the top of his list. Fitzpatrick refers to his campaign as "the preferential preference for the poor." The reason for this is because he has decided to donate his campaign finances to assist charities who help the poor. Fitzpatrick declined to comment about issues other than those relating to the homeless.

Nathaniel Sperling is a true native of Gainesville who has lived and attended local schools since he was young. Sperling believes the city commission needs new blood and one who's willing to listen to his constituents and their concerns. Sperling says fiscal responsibility should be at the top of everyone's list and says he is the one people should depend on to bring a realistic approach to the commission. Sperling wants to focus his efforts to getting people back to work and providing for the needs of those who have been hit the hardest.

]]> Francis "Pat" Fitzpatrick is running for the district four seat of the city commission has the needs of the homeless on the top of his list. Fitzpatrick refers to his campaign as "the preferential preference for the poor."

Candidate Profiles: Richard Selwach and Mason Alley

Richard Selwach has been a businessman in Gainesville for the past 25 years. The self-described libertarian owns a Gainesville pawn shop and says he wants to cut wasteful spending and fix the city budget. The self-proclaimed business man, landlord, and University of Florida graduate takes firm stances against the proposed G-R-U bio-mass plant. Selwach wants to clean up the Koppers Superfund site and says R-T-S needs to raise its fares in order to be successful. Selwach also opposes the bill to modify Chapter Eight of the city’s Code of Ordinances to include protection from gender discrimination but does support legalizing marijuana.

Mason Alley, a screenwriter and media consultant is running for the City of Gainesville's District Four City Commission seat and has lived in Gainesville since 2005. Alley helped start a state-wide ministry in California to assist migrant farm workers during his years spent working on the west coast and says he wants to generate job growth here in Gainesville. the Tampa native says his competitors don't promise which is why he's in the race to begin with. e is a member of River Cross Church, where he helped launch small groups and joining member-volunteers in their service to help the homeless and the needy. Through his community service and leadership...Alley has helped local organizations including the Ronald McDonald House, Bread of the Mighty Food Bank, and the Gainesville Women’s Resource and Medical Clinic among others.

]]> Richard Selwach has been a businessman in Gainesville for the past 25 years. The self-described libertarian owns a Gainesville pawn shop and says he wants to cut wasteful spending and fix the city budget.

Candidate Profiles: Randy Wells and Penny Wheat

Colorado native Randy Wells moved to Gainesville in 2003 and serves on the City Plan Board and is Chair of both the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Board and Gainesville’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. Wells says unlike his competitors for the seat, he's been on the ground working in district four. In addition to tending to the constituents in District Four, Wells says maintaining a strong relationship with bordering neighborhoods and businesses is for the best interest.

Also a city commission candidate for the fourth district seat, Penny Wheat is chair of the Alachua County Energy Conservation Strategies Commission and she served as Alachua County Commissioner for two terms. Wheat advocates transparent government and says her strong support of neighborhoods should not go unnoticed. A UF Levin College of Law graduate, Wheat also co-founded the Citizens for a Scenic Florida. Wheat says tight spending is key to city growth and improvement.

]]> Colorado native Randy Wells moved to Gainesville in 2003 and serves on the City Plan Board and is Chair of both the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Board and Gainesville’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. Wells says unlike his competitors for the seat, he's been on the ground working in district four.

Bradford County Remains Identified

The Medical Examiner's office has positively identified the remains found in a Bradford County Cemetery earlier this week as Pamela Hall. Hall was last seen July 2, 2003, but wasn't reported missing until November of that year. The case is now being investigated as a possible homicide. Authorities say at the time of her disappearance, Hall was wanted on several worthless check warrants and was a known drug user.

]]> The Medical Examiner's office has positively identified the remains found in a Bradford County Cemetery earlier this week as Pamela Hall. Hall was last seen July 2, 2003, but wasn't reported missing until November of that year.

Suwannee Mother Charged With Child Abuse

A Suwannee County woman has been charged with one count of an intentional act of child abuse after her baby was born addicted to oxycodone. Authorities were tipped off by an unidentified source that 24-year old Penelope Fortescue was taking drugs while she was pregnant. Her daughter was born on December 18th of last year and Fortescue was charged last month. Various groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the American Medical Association, oppose punishing pregnant women for their behavior, because it may prevent them from seeking proper prenatal care. Fortescue was charged with possession of cocaine in 2007.

]]> A Suwannee County woman has been charged with one count of an intentional act of child abuse after her baby was born addicted to oxycodone. Authorities were tipped off by an unidentified source that 24-year old Penelope Fortescue was taking drugs while she was pregnant.

UF Researchers Looking To Produce To Help Fight Cancer

A fruit in supermarket aisles is gaining credibility in Western medicine for its anti-cancer powers. The papaya's dramatic anti-cancer effects have been studied in a wide range of lab-grown tumors. University of Florida researcher, Doctor Nam Dang and his colleagues in Japan have studied the papaya and how it works with cancerous tumors of the cervix, breast, liver, lung and pancreas. The researchers made a tea with an extract from dried papaya leaves. The larger the doses of the tea that were given, the stronger the anti-cancer effects. Dang says the papaya extract did not show any toxic effects on normal cells, which is common and harmful in many cancer therapy treatments. For the next step in researching this anti-cancer fruit, Doctor Dang will identify the specific compounds in the papaya extract that actively work against the cancer cell lines.

]]> A fruit in supermarket aisles is gaining credibility in Western medicine for its anti-cancer powers. The papaya's dramatic anti-cancer effects have been studied in a wide range of lab-grown tumors.

Retirement Savings Funds Drying Up

While college seniors struggle to find a job after school, senior citizens are struggling to find a way to live after their jobs end. A survey done by the employee benefit's research insttute shows 43 percent of people aged 25 and older have under 10 thousand dollars saved for retirement. Associate state director for advocacy for AARP Florida, Nancy Stanton, says the issue is that some people don't even have an income to save.
As people run out of money, social security is one of the backup plans in people's minds. Stanton says she knows that talks are ongoing about social security and unemployment benefit reform.
She says one of the problems too is that generational gap. Many people assume they are going to have their kid take care of them, but if the jobs aren't there for the younger generation they don't have the money to take care of their aging parents. So instead of taking care of the aged parents, she says sometimes it's the opposite.
For those without jobs, or on a fixed income are facing a tough situation. She says it's definitely a day to day process, such as keeping utilities running and food on the table.
With stock prices lower than they were, people who had a sizable amount invested don't have as much money on their returns. She says hopefully as the economy turns around so will this problem of retirement. The Employee benefits research institute findings show that 43% in 2010, as opposed to 39% in 2009, have under 10 grand in savings. The findings were done on a survey of almost 1200 people over age 25.

]]> While college seniors struggle to find a job after school, senior citizens are struggling to find a way to live after their jobs end. A survey done by the employee benefit's research insttute shows 43 percent of people aged 25 and older have under 10 thousand dollars saved for retirement. Associate state director for advocacy for AARP Florida, Nancy Stanton, says the issue is that some people don't even have an income to save.

Unemployment Numbers Up

The unemployment rate in Florida tied an all-time record high... 11 point nine percent. That's 2 percent higher than the national average. The last time Florida's rate was this high was 1975. In her monthly press conference, Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation economist Rebecca Rust talked about how the industries are faring in Florida.
She says there are a few characteristics that can be credited to the decline in jobs.
She says the metro areas of Gainesville and Tallahassee are tied for the lowest unemployment rates in the state at 8 point 9 percent, mainly due to the high number of state jobs.

]]> The unemployment rate in Florida tied an all-time record high... 11 point nine percent. That's 2 percent higher than the national average. The last time Florida's rate was this high was 1975. In her monthly press conference, Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation economist Rebecca Rust talked about how the industries are faring in Florida.

Jarred Harrel Faces More Charges

A person of interest in the case of Somer Thompson, the 7 year old girl who was found in a Georgia landfill, is now facing an additional 13 charges. That brings the total number Jared Harrell is facing up to 55... Chief Assistant State Attorney Dan McCarthy breaks those charges down.
McCarthy says the amount of charges Harrell is facing isn't abnormal for cases like this.
McCarthy says the Clay County Sheriff's Office will continue to investigate if there are more charges that should be filed. If convicted, Harrell faces life in prison.

]]> A person of interest in the case of Somer Thompson, the 7 year old girl who was found in a Georgia landfill, is now facing an additional 13 charges. That brings the total number Jared Harrell is facing up to 55... Chief Assistant State Attorney Dan McCarthy breaks those charges down.

Candidate Profiles: Craig Lowe and Don Marsh

Craig Lowe is running for city mayor and has served as a city commissioner since 2003, serving District four for the past seven years Lowe worked in support of the city of Gainesville's wild spaces, public places amendment. He also helped block the construction of a coal-fired power plant. He emphasizes that he will protect our neighborhoods by making sure the Kopper's Superfund Site clean-up is coordinated and resolved and by harnessing and diversifying our sources of energy, we can draw in more workers into our local economy. Lowe is the only candidate who has been elected to a public office.

Don Marsh, also running for Mayor, owns a window cleaning business. According to his web site , he started his own business after not being able to find a job. Marsh wants to improve the job market in Gainesville, which he says has had very little growth. He also says the city needs to be regulated because of budget deficits and its inability to meet the homeless needs. Marsh wants people to vote so the majority of the people can make the city's decision as opposed to a minority.

]]> Craig Lowe is running for city mayor and has served as a city commissioner since 2003, serving District four for the past seven years Lowe worked in support of the city of Gainesville's wild spaces, public places amendment. He also helped block the construction of a coal-fired power plant.

Candidate Profiles: Ozzy Angulo and Monica Leadon Cooper

Ozzy Angulo is a fresh face to Gainesville politics and a former US Marine who says he's in touch with the average resident since he doesn't play with party politics. In the past few years, Angulo has experienced the trials of being a business owner from opening a deli in Melrose to managing a local Taco Bell. By talking to his customers, the New York native says he understands what ordinary people are going through, one of the main aspects of his campaign platform. Angulo's approach to solving Gainesville's problems is by empowering its residents to make decisions and taking charge of their future.

Monica Leadon Cooper, also running for Gainesville mayor, wants to resolve issues like assisting the homeless and sharing the decision making process with the people. Cooper, a University of Florida graduate says we have to eliminate wasteful spending. One of her priorities as mayor would be to provide for the safety and well-being of the community including cleaning up the Koppers Superfund site and providing help for the homeless. She also promotes the idea of small business growth and development while practicing fiscal responsibility.

]]> Ozzy Angulo is a fresh face to Gainesville politics and a former US Marine who says he's in touch with the average resident since he doesn't play with party politics. In the past few years, Angulo has experienced the trials of being a business owner from opening a deli in Melrose to managing a local Taco Bell.

Gatornationals Expects A Crowd

Race car drivers are revving up their engines, and Gainesville is the starting line. The 41st annual Gatornationals event at the Gainesville Raceway will take place this Thursday through Sunday. Gainesville Tourism Program Coordinator John Pricher says this event has traditionally brought an improtant source of revenue for the local economy. He says this year, however, tough economic conditions have caused many to shorten their stay, which ultimately means less money for hotels and related industries. He says the event will still bring plenty of loyal fans that keeps the city bussing as if it were a football game day.

]]> Race car drivers are revving up their engines, and Gainesville is the starting line. The 41st annual Gatornationals event at the Gainesville Raceway will take place this Thursday through Sunday.