Monday, 26 June 2006 01:00
Shaken Baby Class
The Children’s Home Society, or C-H-S warns people not to shake their babies. The agency offered a free course Saturday to alert people to the risks of Shaken Baby Syndrome. The course is in response to a baby who died recently after being shaken in Fort Myers.
The national information support and referral service says ten to 12 percent of all deaths due to abuse and neglect are attributable to shaken baby syndrome. C-H-S Case Manager, Katie Black, says the course will teach parents and caregivers alternative methods of dealing with children.
“A lot of times parents feel like if the baby’s crying, they should be holding the child. Its definitely okay to put the baby in a setting where they’re safe, and walk away until the parent or the caregiver feels their frustration level going down a little bit.
Black says she will discuss parenting tips along with ways to recognize Shaken Baby Syndrome and how to prevent it. The course is Saturday morning at 10 at the Children’s Home Society Office in Fort Myers.
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The Shaken Baby Alliance reported in 1998 that between 1000 and 3000 children are diagnosed with shaken baby syndrome every year. Parents and caregivers who attend the course will learn about the hazards of shaking babies. Children’s Home Society case manager, Katie Black, says stressed parents who resort to shaking their children can unknowingly hurt them.
“Some parents end up shaking the baby, not with an intent to harm the child, but purely out of frustration that they’re feeling. Let everyone know that has a child that you never ever ever shake a baby. Never shake a baby.”
Black says shaking can bruise a baby’s brain, possibly resulting in brain damage or death. The course is tomorrow (Saturday) morning at the Children’s Home Society office in Fort Myers. The organization is one of the largest non-profit child welfare agencies in Florida. It’s cared for abused children for more than one hundred years.
The national information support and referral service says ten to 12 percent of all deaths due to abuse and neglect are attributable to shaken baby syndrome. C-H-S Case Manager, Katie Black, says the course will teach parents and caregivers alternative methods of dealing with children.
“A lot of times parents feel like if the baby’s crying, they should be holding the child. Its definitely okay to put the baby in a setting where they’re safe, and walk away until the parent or the caregiver feels their frustration level going down a little bit.
Black says she will discuss parenting tips along with ways to recognize Shaken Baby Syndrome and how to prevent it. The course is Saturday morning at 10 at the Children’s Home Society Office in Fort Myers.
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The Shaken Baby Alliance reported in 1998 that between 1000 and 3000 children are diagnosed with shaken baby syndrome every year. Parents and caregivers who attend the course will learn about the hazards of shaking babies. Children’s Home Society case manager, Katie Black, says stressed parents who resort to shaking their children can unknowingly hurt them.
“Some parents end up shaking the baby, not with an intent to harm the child, but purely out of frustration that they’re feeling. Let everyone know that has a child that you never ever ever shake a baby. Never shake a baby.”
Black says shaking can bruise a baby’s brain, possibly resulting in brain damage or death. The course is tomorrow (Saturday) morning at the Children’s Home Society office in Fort Myers. The organization is one of the largest non-profit child welfare agencies in Florida. It’s cared for abused children for more than one hundred years.
Published in
WGCU News
Monday, 26 June 2006 01:00
Florida’s tight labor market
Florida’s red-hot job market is starting to hit employers where it hurts the most---in the wallet. Florida has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. And it’s even better here in Southwest Florida where the jobless rate is a microscopic 2-point-3 percent. With figures that low, it’s a job-seekers dream because there are plenty of available positions and workers can demand big perks and hefty salaries. Warren May is with the state agency that tracks unemployment. He says workers have been sitting on the sidelines but now they’re looking at new positions. And May says the state’s businesses will have to become experts in retention.
“They’re going to have to really look at their whole benefit package and offer a wide array of benefits that are really competitive because there’s going to be an awful lot of competition for that good worker you’ve got out there.”
May says every job sector in Florida has added jobs this year, giving prospective workers even more choices.
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Florida’s tight labor market is helping the state’s workers get more money and enhanced benefits. It’s also been a headache for employers who are beginning to see their experienced employees leave for better offers. That’s true in Southwest Florida where the unemployment rate is a paltry 2-point-3 percent. Warren May is with the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation. He says just about anyone who wants a job can find one.
“People who have been sort of sitting on a job waiting for things to get better realize that things are better and now they’re starting to move to other jobs. It creates a very tight labor market for employers out there.”
May says employers need to look at their benefits package and offer a wide array of choices to help keep workers from leaving. He says there’s plenty of competition for good workers in Florida.
“They’re going to have to really look at their whole benefit package and offer a wide array of benefits that are really competitive because there’s going to be an awful lot of competition for that good worker you’ve got out there.”
May says every job sector in Florida has added jobs this year, giving prospective workers even more choices.
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Florida’s tight labor market is helping the state’s workers get more money and enhanced benefits. It’s also been a headache for employers who are beginning to see their experienced employees leave for better offers. That’s true in Southwest Florida where the unemployment rate is a paltry 2-point-3 percent. Warren May is with the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation. He says just about anyone who wants a job can find one.
“People who have been sort of sitting on a job waiting for things to get better realize that things are better and now they’re starting to move to other jobs. It creates a very tight labor market for employers out there.”
May says employers need to look at their benefits package and offer a wide array of choices to help keep workers from leaving. He says there’s plenty of competition for good workers in Florida.
Published in
WGCU News
Friday, 23 June 2006 01:00
Workforce Housing Symposium
This year, Florida lawmakers paid the most attention to affordable housing of any legislative session since 1992. Analysts say the outcome was both good and bad. They spoke Thursday at a workforce housing symposium in Fort Myers. WGCU’s Amy Tardif reports.
Published in
WGCU News
Friday, 23 June 2006 01:00
Scrap the Cap on Housing
Out of 20 affordable housing bills introduced in this year’s legislative session – an omnibus bill – 72 pages long – was passed. However one of the most important aspects of the bill was removed. It would have repealed a cap on the affordable housing trust fund set to take effect next year. If the cap remains, experts say there won’t be enough money to solve Florida’s housing crisis. Jaimie Ross – President of the Florida Housing Coalition -- says a dedicated revenue source means everything.
“We’re never going to be able to have every Floridian in the housing they want to be in because we have all these outside market forces that are driving the cost of our housing up. But we’re going to be very far along the way if we get our dedicated revenue source used the way it should be.”
Ross told those attending a workforce housing symposium in Fort Myers Thursday to lobby new leadership next year to make sure the cap is repealed. This year’s session did see some success though – there were modifications to the program for the working poor plus a pilot program for essential services personnel at the higher end of the income range.
“We’re never going to be able to have every Floridian in the housing they want to be in because we have all these outside market forces that are driving the cost of our housing up. But we’re going to be very far along the way if we get our dedicated revenue source used the way it should be.”
Ross told those attending a workforce housing symposium in Fort Myers Thursday to lobby new leadership next year to make sure the cap is repealed. This year’s session did see some success though – there were modifications to the program for the working poor plus a pilot program for essential services personnel at the higher end of the income range.
Published in
WGCU News
Friday, 23 June 2006 01:00
Ona Mine Update
The Mosaic phosphate company may have to redo its plans for a 20,000 acre mine in Hardee County that feeds into the Peace River Watershed. An administrative law judge says he will not recommend the Florida Department of Environmental Protection issue a permit for a mine in Ona, in Hardee County. Charlotte County had challenged it saying the Mosaic company’s plans for restoring the land after mining is complete, weren’t good enough. Attorney Charles Fletcher – who represents Charlotte - says this is the second mine the County has fought.
“And the second time an administrative law judge has agreed that the reclamation just simply is not sufficient to do what’s being promised. They need to recognize that this reclamation is not sufficient to restore the hydrology of the area, to restore the wetland vegetation.”
The mine in the first case is being permitted after both sides agreed to more restoration measures. It’s now up to the DEP to choose whether to follow the judge’s order and deny the Ona permit. Mosaic Fertilizer spokeswoman Kaley Miller says the company is at least happy the issue is moving forward.
“Based on a preliminary review of the recommended order on remand it appears that with some very minor exceptions the judge has made findings of fact that are consistent with the positions we presented.”
In 2004, a coalition of Southwest Florida counties and environmentalists challenged the state permits for Mosaic to expand phosphate mining into the Peace River basin. They claimed it would destroy the hydrology of the land that provides drinking water to three Southwest Florida counties.
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An administrative law judge has issued an order saying he will not recommend a permit be granted for a proposed phosphate mine near Ona in Hardee County. Charlotte County challenged the permit, saying the mining would affect the freshwater flow to the Peace River. The river is a drinking water source for Charlotte, Sarasota and DeSoto counties and the city of North Port. Attorney Charles Fletcher says Charlotte County is very happy with this ruling.
“It’s an affirmation of the county’s position all along that reclamation as proposed by the mining company is not sufficient. That the myth that reclamation basically creates natural lands is just not true.”
The judge said Mosaic Fertilizer’s plans to restore the land after it’s finished mining are not sufficient. But company spokeswoman Kaley Miller says they’re also happy.
“We’re certainly pleased to see the process moving forward again. Keep in mind that the actual issuance of the permit must come from the Florida department of Environmental protection. The administrative law judge was to make findings of fact on certain issues. So he offered no conclusions of law or other recommendations.”
The case now goes back to the state DEP. The secretary can ignore the order and grant the permit OR ask Mosaic to rewrite its restoration plan. If the permit IS granted, Charlotte County has said it will appeal.
“And the second time an administrative law judge has agreed that the reclamation just simply is not sufficient to do what’s being promised. They need to recognize that this reclamation is not sufficient to restore the hydrology of the area, to restore the wetland vegetation.”
The mine in the first case is being permitted after both sides agreed to more restoration measures. It’s now up to the DEP to choose whether to follow the judge’s order and deny the Ona permit. Mosaic Fertilizer spokeswoman Kaley Miller says the company is at least happy the issue is moving forward.
“Based on a preliminary review of the recommended order on remand it appears that with some very minor exceptions the judge has made findings of fact that are consistent with the positions we presented.”
In 2004, a coalition of Southwest Florida counties and environmentalists challenged the state permits for Mosaic to expand phosphate mining into the Peace River basin. They claimed it would destroy the hydrology of the land that provides drinking water to three Southwest Florida counties.
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An administrative law judge has issued an order saying he will not recommend a permit be granted for a proposed phosphate mine near Ona in Hardee County. Charlotte County challenged the permit, saying the mining would affect the freshwater flow to the Peace River. The river is a drinking water source for Charlotte, Sarasota and DeSoto counties and the city of North Port. Attorney Charles Fletcher says Charlotte County is very happy with this ruling.
“It’s an affirmation of the county’s position all along that reclamation as proposed by the mining company is not sufficient. That the myth that reclamation basically creates natural lands is just not true.”
The judge said Mosaic Fertilizer’s plans to restore the land after it’s finished mining are not sufficient. But company spokeswoman Kaley Miller says they’re also happy.
“We’re certainly pleased to see the process moving forward again. Keep in mind that the actual issuance of the permit must come from the Florida department of Environmental protection. The administrative law judge was to make findings of fact on certain issues. So he offered no conclusions of law or other recommendations.”
The case now goes back to the state DEP. The secretary can ignore the order and grant the permit OR ask Mosaic to rewrite its restoration plan. If the permit IS granted, Charlotte County has said it will appeal.
Published in
WGCU News
Friday, 23 June 2006 01:00
Cold Case Crackdown
Law enforcement agencies from around Southwest Florida started a new effort Thursday to solve ‘cold cases’. There are hundreds of unsolved murders and missing person investigations that go back twenty years or longer. Now authorities think they’ve found a new way to find the suspects. W-G-C-U’s Russell Lewis has the story.
Published in
WGCU News