5A – Identifying Local Opportunities

1.

• Title: Class B biosolids: DEP discusses water pollution from human waste spread on farmland (TC Palm)
• https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/indian-river-lagoon/health/2019/01/23/biosolids/2642871002/
• The article mainly discusses how class B biosolids affect farmland and how it pollutes water sources. The beginning of the article talks about how a committee discussed ways to potentially tweak the way biosolids were spread across farmlands, but it appeared not much change was going to happen. The main discussion in the article is kind of talking about the pros and cons of spreading biosolids across farmland.
• The main problem in the article is the harm that spreading biosolids across farmlands may have on nearby water sources if it isn't properly monitored.
• The people this problem would affect would be the farm owners because these owners use these biosolids as a fertilizer for whatever they're growing and if they can't use it then their crops may not grow as well. In addition the environment would be affected by this problem because of the biosolids polluting the water sources around the farmlands. 

2.

• Title: Treasure Coast businesses, agencies help federal workers impacted by shutdown (TC Palm)
• https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/st-lucie-county/2019/01/23/treasure-coast-businesses-agencies-help-federal-workers-hit-shutdown/2656459002/
• The article discusses how local Treasure Coast businesses are helping government workers with their lives following the government shutdown. The article then discusses different examples of this such as Treasure Coast Food Bank reaching out and letting these federal agencies know that their services are open to these government workers that are in a time of need.
• The main problem in this article is the aftermath of the government shutdown and how it's affecting federal workers. The article does talk about many local businesses helping these people in need.
• The people this problem would affect are the people who have no work right now because of the government shutdown. This includes all federal workers and in the end, their families because if a family's only source of income was from government positions, then they're out of luck.

3.

• Title: Red tide, algae blooms: Reducing nutrients is best way to prevent pollution, say DEP, FWC (TC Palm)
• https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/indian-river-lagoon/politics/2019/01/23/red-tide-algal-blooms/2655776002/
• The article discusses red tide and algae blooms and the best ways to reduce these occurrences. The main culprits of the problem are the discharges from Lake Okeechobee that are dumping excess amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus, which are the main factors for these blooms. In addition lawn fertilizer and leaky septic tanks end up putting more nitrogen and phosphorus in the waterways as well. Scientists say red tide occurs naturally, but when it occurs so close the shore it is caused by the excess nutrients discussed earlier. People have had to be medically treated from exposure to red tide and algae blooms which caused people to be nauseous and some people to get feverish.
• The main problem in this article is the higher than natural frequency of red tide and algae blooms caused by the higher levels of nitrogen and phosphorus present in the water mainly from Lake Okeechobee discharges.
• The people this problem would affect would be anyone living near the waterways where the discharge of Lake Okeechobee has affected. In addition, some people's jobs are affected too because if they work along the water where these blooms occur, they may experience sickness and the only way to try and fight this is by wearing a mask.

4.

• Title: Timber industry hit by Hurricane Michael needs years to recover (TC Palm)
• https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/florida/2019/01/22/florida-timber-industry-decade-recover-hurricane-michael/2652536002/
• The article discusses the aftermath of Hurricane Michael destruction on the timber industry in Florida. 1.4 million acres of land had major tree loss, meaning that over 75% of the pine trees in Florida were destroyed. The article further discusses how much money land owners would have to pay per acre just to get rid of the timber that has fallen. In most cases land owners will have to pay roughly $1000 per acre just to get rid of the trees. 
• The main problems in this article are the ridiculous prices to clear trees off peoples' properties and how this negatively affects the timber economy and that it will take many years for it to actually recover. In addition from an environmental point of view, the amount of trees lost from Hurricane Michael will be hard to replant all at once.
• The people this problem would affect are the areas where Hurricane Michael hit the hardest in Florida and companies in the timber industry that just lost a great amount of their trees from a natural disaster.

5.

• Title: Will Florida pass a statewide beach-smoking ban? Indian River wants to be even tougher (TC Palm)
• https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/shaping-our-future/2019/01/22/florida-ban-smoking-beach/2615506002/
• The article discusses how a bill proposed by Senator Joseph Gruters would ban smoking on all Florida beaches. The reason for this is because they want stricter laws in place and their logic is that they've banned smoking in places like restaurants, why can't they implement something like this for Florida beaches. An example given of this is seen in Vero Beach where they passed a resolution to create tobacco free zones at parks and recreational ones, even though there is no enforceable law against it in these areas.
• The main problem in this article is the discussion of banning smoking on the beach and that will affect many people who are avid smokers.
• The people this problem would affect are the people who love to smoke outdoors in public areas because they are mainly limited to doing it outside instead of indoor facilities.