Identifying Local Opportunities

Article 1

Title: Settlement money won’t restore Ohio city upended by opioids

Link: https://www.gainesville.com/ZZ/news/20190912/settlement-money-wont-restore-ohio-city-upended-by-opioids

Akron Ohio had a large opioid problem in 2016. 340 people overdosed and died that year from the widespread drug use. The city of Akron is set to receive a settlement from the creators of oxycontin. However, the money that Akron will receive could not possibly remedy the situation. Akron is unsure what it will do with the $3.7 million it gets from the Purdue Pharmaceuticals settlement.

The problem in this story is the widespread use of opioids. Akron was experiencing almost one death a day to hard drugs in 2016. No amount of settlement money will fix that issue, it must be prevented in the first place. This problem was experienced by all the residents in Akron. Those that weren't directly impacted still felt the aftermath within the community.

Article 2

Title: Vaping-linked lung problems surface in Florida

Link: https://www.gainesville.com/news/20190910/vaping-linked-lung-problems-surface-in-florida

Vaping has become an epidemic in Florida and across the nation. With reports coming out that people are being hospitalized for vaping, there is now a sense of urgency around reducing and regulating their use. 450 people have become ill and 5 people have lost their lives because of vaping. Many people have begun calling the vaping problem an epidemic.

The problem in this story is that vaping has now been uncovered as a dangerous alternative to smoking. The whole purpose of vapes was that it was a healthier way to consume nicotine. Now people are addicted to vaping nationwide and it is proven to be a dangerous consumption method. This problem affects teens across America. Many people including myself are addicted to vaping which may have detrimental affects on our health. It also affects the family members of the people that vape.


Article 3

Title: High-priority violations: Alachua County restaurant inspections (Sept. 2-7)

Link: https://www.gainesville.com/photogallery/LK/20190910/NEWS/910009985/PH/1


Many restaurants in Alachua County were found to have major health violations. While some of the violations were minor, a good deal of them present real health issues to anyone that would decide to eat at one of these restaurants. Issues like the presence of rodents and improper storage of food are  unacceptable from a place that serves food to the public.

The problem in this story is that many restaurants lack the proper level of health safety. Many restaurants become lazy and let their kitchens because cesspools for germs, rodents, and unsafe food. This problem affects anybody that lives in Alachua County. Anybody that visits a restaurant like this is in danger of becoming sick.


Article 4

Title: Tomorrow is Hunger Action Day, a day to help those who go hungry

Link: https://mycbs4.com/news/local/tomorrow-is-hunger-action-day-a-day-to-help-those-who-go-hungry

50,000 people in Alachua County don't have proper access to food. Many children in Alachua County go to sleep without knowing when there next meal will be. Many people help out through donations but that is only a temporary solution.

The problem in this story is that many people in Alachua County are dealing with hunger. When tens of thousands of people are going hungry every day, there is a pretty sizable poverty issue. This affects any of these 50,000 people that have to go to sleep hungry each night.

Article 5

Title: GPD: Steady uptick in car break-ins in Gainesville

Link: https://mycbs4.com/news/local/gpd-steady-uptick-in-car-break-ins-in-gainesville

Recently, there has been a rise in car break-ins in the City of Gainesville. People have been walking through parking lots and apartment complexes checking doorhandles looking for open cars. The best and only way to prevent this is to lock your car.

The problem in this story is that people have resorted to stealing items from cars or stealing cars themselves. This is a sign of a deeper poverty issue in the City of Gainesville. This problem affects anybody in Gainesville that owns a car.