5A - Identifying Local Opportunities

1.  Florida Pet Rescues Prepare for More Lost Pets during Hurricane Season
Link: https://www.wuft.org/news/2019/09/11/florida-pet-rescues-prepare-for-more-lost-pets-during-hurricane-season/
Story:  Pets go missing all the time, but the numbers of missing pets increase during hurricane season or during storms.  As homeowners prepare and hunker down for a potential storm, their pets will often escape and become lost.  Angela Shore offers advice for how to prevent your pets from becoming lost, and how to recover them if they do make their way out of your home.
Problem:  Pets get lost and are sometimes mistaken as strays, resulting in owners feeling hopeless and concerned if their pets will ever make it back or survive.
Who has the problem:  Both the pets and the pet owners, as well as animal shelters experience problems when pets go missing.  When households don't properly secure their animals before a storm, many make it out and fill up the animal shelters, often not leaving enough room for more lost pets.  This could result in a pet not surviving, and the owners being heartbroken.

2.  Alachua Highlights Car Seat Safety during Child Passenger Safety Week
Link: https://alachuacounty.us/news/Article/Pages/DOH-Alachua-Highlights-Car-Seat-Safety-during-Child-Passenger-Safety-Week.aspx
Story:  Almost 50% of all child car seats are not used correctly, ranging from being installed incorrectly to the child not being fastened into the seat well enough.  Alachua county is bringing light to the campaign to raise awareness of car seats not being utilized correctly.
Problem:  Child car seats are very often being misused, resulting in fatal and severe injuries when involved in accidents.
Who has the problem:  Children that are placed in these poorly secured car seats are subjected to a lot of danger if that vehicle is involved in a collision.

3.  Gainesville Man Accused of Raping a Woman in August Arrested
Link: https://www.alligator.org/news/gainesville-man-accused-of-raping-a-woman-in-august-arrested/article_cb3a0b4c-d5dc-11e9-b7ba-93ac9487f3f1.html
Story: Edward Spaulding was linked with a DNA sample taken from a rape test kit.  He was accused of raping a UF student behind a bush after smoking crack.  He was charged with sexual assault and for failing to register as a sex offender.
Problem: A UF student was brutally raped by 61 year old Edward Spaulding and was rendered unconscious due to him aggressively choking her.
Who has the problem:  The rape victim is the main person that had the problem, but it could have been anybody that could have fallen victim to Spaulding.  As long as there are sex offenders walking among us, anyone could have the problem.

4.  Alachua County jail detention officer arrested following battery accusations against employee
Link: https://www.alligator.org/news/alachua-county-jail-detention-officer-arrested-following-battery-accusations-against/article_f31db72a-d5d8-11e9-9ecd-fbb18456e768.html
Story: Detention officer Hathcock was arrested after pushing his girlfriend to the ground, who has also been recording years worth of abuse through picture evidence.
Problem: Alachua county jail employed an unstable individual to take up the position of detention officer, a position demanding of high responsibility and integrity.
Who has the problem: Mainly the girlfriend of Hathcock is victim to this problem, but it could also be anybody else that Hathcock has abused.  This article brings to light the prevalence of abuse.

5.  City Commission repeals plastic ban, raises GRU rates
Link: https://www.alligator.org/news/city-commission-repeals-plastic-ban-raises-gru-rates/article_cbb76770-d5e3-11e9-9a5e-2fe54a48b3cd.html
Story: A few residents and small business owners have stepped up to the city commission voicing their concerns for the ban of single use styrofoam cups and plastic bags, as well as a few various Florida statutes that prohibit local governments from banning plastic bags and styrofoam cups.
Problem: Gainesville has run into legal issues in their efforts to ban the use of plastic bags and single use styrofoam cups.
Who has the problem: The city of Gainesville has the problem with enacting the ban into local law.