Identifying Local Opportunities

Miami Herald

1. Former South Florida star posted a racial slur. Then she withdrew from her university

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• A freshmen soccer player at Georgia State University, Natalia Martinez, used a racial slur on her "finsta," which is her private Instagram. The athletic director suspended the player from the soccer team before she told the school about her intentions to withdraw. 
• The problem was that a petition was released that wanted the university to take a stronger stance on the situation. The petition has received almost 700 signatures.
• Some might say the problem was for the student, when in reality it was more of a problem for the university. In response to the petition the university released a statement. In this statement the university said it "not tolerate the language (Martinez) used in her post."

2. Woman falls overboard into the Gulf of Mexico from Carnival cruise

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• A 44 year old woman fell overboard from a Carnival cruise ship into the Gulf of Mexico. All authorities have been alerted and they are leading search and rescue missions.
• A huge problem is that this was the second incident of a woman falling over the side of one of Carnival's ships in the past week.
• Obviously, it is a problem for the families of these people and I doo feel for them. However, I see the main problem being for Carnival. This is a public relations nightmare. 2 women falling off in the same week, one is still missing and the other is confirmed dead. Carnival has to address this immediately. 

3. Hospice is shutting down in Key West, and there's a problem with the alternative

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• The VNA and Hospice of the Florida Keys will close on February 28th due to financial stress only worsened by Hurricane Irma. This hospice has been providing end of life services since 1984. 
• Besides the fact that this will leave no hospice care in the Lower Keys and will eliminate 22 jobs, the next closest hospice is a 2 hour (91 mile drive). 
• Besides the employees, the people who suffer the most from this are the 31 patients being cared for through VNA and Hospice. They have the major problem of finding new care. That is just what the poor people on their death bed need. 

4. Mom turns in son after seeing he was wanted for stealing 81-year-old woman's car

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• A 14 year old boy was arrested and charged with carjacking after a deputy said that he was one of three boys who stole an elderly woman's car. The boy's mother told the news that she was the one who turned him in.
• The problem here is a moral dilemma for the mother, should she punish him on her own or turn in her own son?
• As stated previously, the problem here was the mother's problem. I feel that she did the right thing but now she has to deal with the fact that her son knows she turned him in. 

5. Gossip Extra - Burnie's hijinks lead to another lawsuit against Miami Heat

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• The Miami Heat's mascot, Burnie, is involved in the most recent lawsuit towards the Miami Heat. During a game against the Toronto Raptors, security guard,Juanita Griffiths, was doing her job when Burnie bumped into her and injured her leg. 
• The problem is that this is the second lawsuit involving the beloved Heat mascot, Burnie.
• The problem is for the Miami Heat because it does not look good that their mascot keeps hurting people. A mascot is supposed to be a thing for kids, families and to represent the team's spirit. No one is going to want to let their kids near Burnie if he keeps hurting people.