|
News Archive Index
09-29-2006
An advocacy group formed in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to keep tabs on the U-S Army Corps of Engineers has launched a Florida chapter. Levees – dot – Org is a non-profit, grassroots organization whose mission is to hold the U-S Army Corps of Engineers accountable for the design, construction and performance of the projects it builds. The group wants state and federal lawmakers to closely scrutinize the Corps and its many projects. Florida Atlantic University professor of urban and rural planning – Joyce Levine is the group’s new Florida Director. She says there are correlations between New Orleans and the area south of Lake Okeechobee…
“What we’re seeing here with the dike is an independent review group comes in, looks at the dike, goes over all the information about it and says you know folks, this is at very high risk of failure – particularly in a stronger hurricane. And we’re getting the same response from the Corps that we got before Katrina, which is Oh there’s nothing wrong with the dike, yeah it needs a few repairs but it’s got a lot of good years in it…this report is alarmist.”
Levine says after what happened in New Orleans…there’s no such thing as alarmist anymore.
----
An organization formed in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina has expanded into Florida. Its mission: to hold the U-S Army Corps of Engineers more accountable for its work. The state office of “Levees-dot-Org” is headed by Joyce Levine, a professor of urban planning at Florida Atlantic University. She points to a recent independent review of the dike around Lake Okeechobee as the primary reason for the expansion. The review concluded the dike had a 1 in 6 chance of failing if faced with a strong hurricane. Corps officials have called it ‘alarmist’.
“You know we’ve got a clash here of threat and protection, and the threat is getting bigger and the protection is getting weaker. So for them to say it’s alarmist and nothing more needs to be done than routine maintenance and repairs seems a little suspicious to me.”
The Corps is working to shore up parts of the dike that are leaking. The 300-million-dollar, 25-year project began earlier this year…but has been delayed because of complications.
09-29-2006
Election supervisors across Southwest Florida are getting ready for the upcoming general election in November. It’s a crowded ballot with candidates running for governor, Congress, state legislature and plenty of local races. But thanks to an old state law, Republicans will be listed at the top of every contest. And some are questioning if that’s fair. W-G-C-U’s Russell Lewis reports.
09-29-2006
REPUBLICAN FLORIDA CONGRESSMAN MARK FOLEY ANNOUNCED HE WILL RESIGN TODAY (FRIDAY) AFTER ALLEGATIONS HE SENT INAPPRPROPRIATE E-MAILS TO A TEENAGE, MALE, CONGRESSIONAL PAGE. CHAD PERGRAM REPORTS FROM CAPITOL HILL.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT SHOCKED WASHINGTON...ESPECIALLY REPUBLICANS...WHO ARE FIGHTING TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE HOUSE.
THE E-MAILS APPARENTLY CAME LAST YEAR...WHEN THE PAGE WAS 16. THE PAGE...WORKED FOR REPUBLICAN LOUISIANA CONGRESSMAN RODNEY ALEXANDER.
FOLEY REPORTEDLY ASKED THE BOY HIS AGE...AND WHAT HE WANTED FOR HIS BIRTHDAY.
IN A STATEMENT, FOLEY SAID HE IS QUOTE.."DEEPLY SORRY AND I APOLOGIZE FOR LETTING MY FAMILY DOWN...AND THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA...I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT.
HOUSE SEPAKER DENNIS HASTERT OF ILLINOIS...SAID HE WAS RECIEVING FOLEY'S LETTER OF RESIGNATION.
HASTERT
FOLEY'S WEBSITE STATES THE 6-TERM CONGRESSMAN...IS CO-CHAIRMAN OF THE MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDRENS CAUCUS...AND HAS SPONSORED LEGISLATION...ATTACKING THE CHILD PORN INDUSTRY.
09-28-2006
A group of Southwest Floridians spends every month during rainy season monitoring frogs. Lyn Millner caught up with some of them to find out what they hear and why they listen.
09-28-2006
A nonprofit that rewards tipsters has denied an award in the long-unsolved killings of two civil rights activists, fueling criticism that the reopened investigation by Attorney General Charlie Crist's office did not solve it.
Central Florida CrimeLine said no one would get the 25-thousand dollar reward offered for information in the 1951 murders of Harry T. Moore and his wife, Harriette.
Last August, at the conclusion of a 20-month investigation, Crist announced that the killers had at last been identified. But a researcher who wrote a book about Moore, now says that Charlie Crist got it wrong.
Rick Stone reports with from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
The story was co-produced by Rhonda Miller of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
09-28-2006
Ivory-billed woodpeckers were thought to be extinct until 2004 when a fleeting video image, shot in an Arkansas swamp, was made public. The search for more conclusive evidence brought wildlife biologists to the swampy forests of the Florida Panhandle where they say they saw the bird, but failed to photograph it. The search resumes in November – funded it part by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. FWC Biologist Karl Miller says a positive I.D. could have wide ranging benefits.
“The river systems in north Florida are extensive and fortunately so much of the wildlife habitat in the old growth swamp forests in our state is still intact in North Florida and I hope that it would help to get a little more attention on preserving and managing that habitat for all wildlife not just ivory-bills
The researcher team from Auburn University also says it found what look like ivory-bill nesting cavities in large trees. This nesting season cameras will be trained on those trees in hopes of capturing images of what some call “The Lord God Bird”.
-----
Wildlife Biologists from Auburn University published a report this week that they’ve seen, heard and found the probable nesting sites of ivory-billed woodpeckers in the Florida Panhandle. But they failed to get a photograph of the rare bird that some ornithologists fear is extinct. So the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is going to help – providing funding to help capture the ivory-bill’s image. FWC Biologist Karl Milller says camera’s will be trained on tree cavities that are probable nesting sites.
“They do plan use a lot of remote cameras that will record birds coming and going from cavities so that is part of their search plan, they also will have enough people working out in the field to spread out and hopefully cover the area pretty intensively and do a lot of watching waiting and listening.”
The last documented sighting of an ivory-billed woodpecker was in 1944. A video image of 2004 sighting in Arkansas is still being disputed.
09-28-2006
Naval crews from some Caribbean and Latin American countries will soon do part of their training here in southwest Florida…thanks to a collaboration between the U-S Department of Defense, and the Lee County School District. The new program is called Operation Enduring Friendship. The Defense Department contracted with Naples Yacht, and ‘Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats of Cape Coral’ to build 8 interceptor ships. They’ll be used by the militaries of several Caribbean & Latin American countries to combat smuggling.
Lee Schools spokesman - Joe Donzelli – says once built, the vessels will need crews to maintain them…and that’s where the district comes in…
“We were approached because of the programs we have in place – specifically the facility at High Tech Central, which is located right here in Fort Myers. We were asked if we could provide the training component for this program…and we couldn’t jump at it quick enough.”
Donzelli says the new partnership comes with little cost to the district.
The first class gets underway in January with a crew from Panama. Another one from the Dominican Republic will follow after that.
-----
The Lee County School District’s High Tech Central will soon be home to a training program for naval crews from Latin American and Caribbean countries. The U-S Defense Department has tapped two local companies – Naples Yacht, and ‘Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats of Cape Coral’ –to build 8 military vessels.
District spokesman – Joe Donzelli – says they’ll provide the ships – and Lee County Schools will provide a place to teach their crews how to maintain them…
“As far as the military procedures that’ll all be done by the militaries of the respective countries. The training that’s going to be going on here is to make sure that those boats can operate so these individuals can do their job.”
Naples Yacht will hire specialized instructors…and pay for tools needed for the training.The first crew will come from Panama…and will get started in January. Next it’s the Dominican Republic and other countries after that.
09-28-2006
The circus could come home to Sarasota after nearly 50 years. Sarasota County Agricultural Fair Association officials are working with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey on plans for a new arena that could finally bring "The Greatest Show on Earth" back to town. Ringling Circus Museum curator Debbie Walk explained why the circus left Sarasota in the first place and initially went to Venice.
“When you left the wagons and the street parades behind you, you didn’t need the big piece of land. And they moved into something that was much more useful for the arena show. They left Venice in the 1990’s and now they are getting ready for the next season at the Tampa fairgrounds.”
Current circus owner Kenneth Feld built the company into an enterprise that includes three Ringling Brothers shows and six Disney On Ice performances, all of which could train in Sarasota. The new 60,000-square-foot facility could open in a year hosting community events in addition to winter circus rehearsals.
09-27-2006
GOP Gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist stumped in Southwest Florida yesterday -- promising tax relief for homeowners if he wins in November. His challenger, Democrat Jim Davis, promises the same. W-G-C-U’s Valerie Alker reports.
09-27-2006
A group of national experts is in Fort Myers Tuesday to hold a discussion about the sustainability of this nation’s food supply. They’re expected to touch on big topics like the globalization of food and also some simple things consumers can do to make a difference. Rick Clugston is executive director of Earth Charter U-S-A. He says Americans need to reexamine their food priorities.
“Part of it is, it’s a question of what’s a better way to get our food. What’s a better way to eat...something that makes us healthier, something that makes the planet healthier, something that makes a better life for animals, a better life for workers, a better life for rural communities.”
Clugston spoke on W-G-C-U’s Gulf Coast Live.
09-26-2006
A weeklong action dubbed “Operation Return to Sender” has resulted in the arrests of 163 illegal immigrants in Lee and Collier counties. The operation involved local sheriff’s departments and U-S Immigrations and Customs Enforcement or ICE. Operation “Return to sender” was aimed primarily at illegal immigrants who had ignored deportation orders and were on the lam. Twenty-six of the people detained had previously been convicted of violent crimes. Robert Weber of ICE was the special agent in charge.
“We have zero tolerance for these individuals who terrorize our community and we will use every law enforcement tool available to protect the law abiding citizens of our country”
The people arrested come from 11 different countries - primarily the Caribbean and Latin America. About sixty percent of the arrests happened in Collier County – with the rest in Lee. It’s estimated there are nearly a million illegal foreign nationals living in Florida.
-----
Sheriff’s deputies from Lee and Collier Counties joined forces last week with agents from U-S Immigration and Custom Enforcement to arrest illegal aliens. At a press conference Monday in Naples – they announced “Operation Return to Sender” netted 163 arrests. Twenty six had previously been convicted of violent crimes. And Collier Sheriff Don Hunter says illegals are having a big impact on crime in his county.
“We looked at our jail – we determined that on the average and in the main we’re running about 22 to 26 percent of our jail population is foreign nationals, illegally present, self admitted – illegally present in the united states.”
Furthermore Hunter says, out of 17 outstanding warrants for murder, at least 10 suspects are also foreign nationals. 84 of the people arrested were dubbed criminals by virtue of violating immigration laws. Operation “Return to Sender” was the largest number of arrests ever made by federal immigration authorities in Southwest Florida.
09-26-2006
New real estate numbers are out for Southwest Florida and they show a continued slowdown. Another month and another steep drop in the number of homes sold. Home prices in August remained basically flat or a bit lower over the same period last year. But home sales keep plummeting: 45-percent fewer sales in Naples, 29-percent in Lee County and 30-percent in Charlotte. Florida Association of Realtors spokeswoman Marla Martin says that’s just a return to real estate normalcy.
“Historically, you know going back three or four years, what you’re seeing is not really what’s happening in terms of sales. It’s just a reaction to what was probably the best year yet. Last year, the peak year.”
The median home price in Naples last month dipped to 469-thousand dollars. Fort Myers/Cape Coral was 264-thousand. Punta Gorda checked-in at 210-thousand and Sarasota 310-thousand. The median is the price where half the homes sell above that amount and half below.
-----
Southwest Florida’s formally red-hot housing market continues to show signs of a slow-down. New sales numbers for August released today (yesterday) show home prices remaining flat or a little lower. But the biggest statistic is a steep decline in the number of homes sold. About one-third less in Lee and Charlotte Counties...and almost a 50-percent drop in Naples. Florida Association of Realtors spokeswoman Marla Martin says this is the slowdown economists had predicted and it’s no cause for concern.
“Sales pace is slowing down. It’s becoming a more normal market which is hard for people to remember because we’ve had five years of a very fast pace of sales. And that means that buyers and sellers are more into balance.”
Martin says buyers now have more time to examine prospective homes without fear of them selling so quickly. She also notes prices continue to come down and sellers are offering extra incentives for a quick sale.
09-26-2006
Several beaches on Sanibel and Captiva remain closed because of an increase in bacteria. Lee County Health officials say the bacteria may have come from animal droppings and human waste carried to the Gulf of Mexico in storm water runoff. Advisories are posted saying the area is unsafe for swimmers. Health officials say the bacteria could cause skin infections, abdominal pain and diarrhea. The Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau’s Nancy Hamilton says she’s not hearing many complaints.
“I’m sure some of our guests are disappointed. I know that hoteliers are sort of pointing out other options to people, which are move to some of the other beaches or of course most of the resorts have swimming pools and kids love to play in those too.”
Workers discovered the high levels during testing at Blind Pass
Beach on Captiva and Bowman's Beach and Tarpon Bay Park Beach on Sanibel. Poor conditions also exist at the Cape Coral Yacht Club and at Lynn Hall Park on Fort Myers Beach. Testing will be done again this week.
09-26-2006
Forecasters at the Key West office of the National Weather Service are this year’s 2006 Fantasy Fest grand marshals. That’s ironic because they were the bearers of bad news last year when Hurricane Wilma forced a six-week postponement of the event. Matt Strahan is the Meteorologist in charge.
“It was really quite an honor to be selected to do this but really the staff and I are very surprised that after last year when Wilma delayed the Fantasy Fest that they wanted anything to do with the weather people.”
Last year, Key West's weather office moved to a new 5 million dollar state-of-the art building. Meteorologists forecast for the Florida Keys and for shipping interests in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
The 2006 Fantasy Fest runs from October 20th to the 29th.
09-25-2006
Wal-Mart already has competition for its new generic drug discount program. Minneapolis-based Target will match the retail giant’s discounts on nearly 300 common generic drugs.
Starting last Friday consumers in the Tampa Bay area can get 30-day prescriptions of the drugs for just 4-dollars. Brad Ashwell with the Florida Public Interest Research Group calls it damage control for Wal-Mart, which tipped him off to the program several days before announcing it. But he says it’s still good news for consumers.
“I mean I still think the drug industry is really the worst of the two evils – they definitely need to reigned in. And if Wal-Mart can do it that would be great.”
Ashwell says Target’s discount matching is encouraging, too… because it could pressure Wal-Mart to extend the new program, and force other competitors to follow suit. Wal-Mart says it will offer the program across Florida in January – and nationwide after that.
-----
Consumer advocates say Target’s move to match Wal-Mart’s generic drug discount program comes as no surprise…but could help people even more in the long run. Both Wal-Mart AND Target now offer 1-month prescriptions on nearly 300 common generic drugs for just 4-dollars at their Tampa area stores. While many of the drugs are already available to those WITH insurance at the same price or less, the discounts will be an immediate help to the UN-insured.
Brad Ashwell with the Florida Public Interest Research Group says consumers might not feel the real benefit until later…
“They have a lot of buying power and if they and now Target can pressure the drug industry – and maybe even give the drug industry incentives to create more generics – that would be a great thing. It would lower the cost of drugs for millions of Americans, and it would lower the burdens on Medicaid and Medicare…and could have a really profound effect.”
Wal-Mart plans to offer the discount program statewide in January – and then eventually nationwide. Ashwell says Wal-Mart is still far from a model corporate citizen – especially when it comes to employee healthcare. And that Target’s response is simply about staying competitive, nothing more.
1 2 3 4 Next >
|