5A – Identifying Local Opportunities
1.
Title: UF Health monitors rumors of coronavirus spreading to Gainesville
Title: UF Health monitors rumors of coronavirus spreading to Gainesville
Story: UF Health directors are monitoring
students who were in contact with someone who has traveled from Wuhan, China to
Gainesville, Florida before the coronavirus quarantine took place in Wuhan.
Students who were in contact with the family member who traveled before the quarantine
was effective are currently being monitored and the threat level is relatively
low. There have been no known reports of the coronavirus in Alachua County and
none of the students who have been in contact with the person who traveled from
China have displayed any symptoms. The UF International Center has identified
four people who have traveled from China to Gainesville within the past two
weeks and will provide anyone traveling to China with resources and information
regarding the virus. The Miami International Airport will begin to test travelers
for coronavirus in a quarantine station in order to prevent the spread of the
disease. Students are encouraged to wear a mask and carry hand sanitizer to
prevent the spread of the virus.
Problem: The spread of coronavirus to Gainesville or Alachua county from students and family members who have traveled from Wuhan, China to Gainesville, Florida. While the threat level is still relatively low, the potential of an outbreak occurring is still possible and the UF International Center has identified four people who have traveled from China to Gainesville within the last two weeks. The disease has spread in multiple countries with no vaccine against the virus. Chinese officials have released the death toll from the virus which has risen to more than 130 people since Wednesday. The outbreak was first reported in Wuhan, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States.
Who has the Problem: Students who attend the University of Florida or have been exposed to friends and family that have traveled to China recently are at risk of contracting the coronavirus. The students who were in contact with the family member who traveled before the coronavirus quarantine was effective in China have the problem along with those who are registered to travel to China in the near future. Although the threat level is still relatively low in Alachua county, students should still be aware and wear a mask and carry hand sanitizer to prevent the spread of the virus along with contracting it from peers. If an outbreak occurs, people should report it to local health officials and disease control.
Problem: The spread of coronavirus to Gainesville or Alachua county from students and family members who have traveled from Wuhan, China to Gainesville, Florida. While the threat level is still relatively low, the potential of an outbreak occurring is still possible and the UF International Center has identified four people who have traveled from China to Gainesville within the last two weeks. The disease has spread in multiple countries with no vaccine against the virus. Chinese officials have released the death toll from the virus which has risen to more than 130 people since Wednesday. The outbreak was first reported in Wuhan, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States.
Who has the Problem: Students who attend the University of Florida or have been exposed to friends and family that have traveled to China recently are at risk of contracting the coronavirus. The students who were in contact with the family member who traveled before the coronavirus quarantine was effective in China have the problem along with those who are registered to travel to China in the near future. Although the threat level is still relatively low in Alachua county, students should still be aware and wear a mask and carry hand sanitizer to prevent the spread of the virus along with contracting it from peers. If an outbreak occurs, people should report it to local health officials and disease control.
2.
Title: Local vape shops lose profits due to
recent tobacco law
Story: A new law has been passed that raised the
national age requirement for buying tobacco and electronic cigarette products
to 21. This law is meant to stop teen vaping and prevent vape-related illnesses.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that there has
been a total of 2,711 vape-related hospitalizations resulting in lung injury
since January. Thirty-seven percent of the people hospitalized were ages 18 to
24. The Food and Drug Administration revealed that more than 5 million U.S.
teenagers in middle and high schools were vaping last year. Escape 2 Vape smoke
shop was opened in Alachua county in June 2015 by Mary Ewing and her husband. Ever
since the ban, local vape shops have been affected, losing customers and
business after the law was passed. Many vape shop businesses don’t believe that
they will close but have noticed the significant drop in customers and sales after
the law had been passed in Alachua county.
Problem: The law that has been passed now requires those that purchase tobacco and electronic cigarette products to 21, resulting in lower sales and lower employee pay in local vape shops. Shop owners have noticed that their customers have begun to drive out of the country to purchase vape products because the new law is not going to stop teenagers from trying to acquire the products illegally. Other Alachua businesses have also been affected, such as Grab Bag Co. and Brewsters Smoke-n-Brew. Shops have attempted to run radio advertisements to increase business, but they haven’t proven to be successful thus far. Owners and employees doubt that the businesses will close but notice a decrease in stocks.
Who has the Problem: Students under the age of 21 who purchase and use tobacco and electronic cigarette products. Local vape shops in Alachua county that have experienced and reported lower sales and lower employee pay. Mary Ewing and her husband, who are the owners of Escape 2 Vape smoke shop and their customers who are between 18 and 20 years old. Kyle Manning, an employee of Grab Bag Co. who’s noticed that the store has lost about 10 to 20 percent of their customers after the law was passed. Brewsters Smoke-n-Brew vape shop who has lost 30 to 40 percent of their business within the past few years.
Problem: The law that has been passed now requires those that purchase tobacco and electronic cigarette products to 21, resulting in lower sales and lower employee pay in local vape shops. Shop owners have noticed that their customers have begun to drive out of the country to purchase vape products because the new law is not going to stop teenagers from trying to acquire the products illegally. Other Alachua businesses have also been affected, such as Grab Bag Co. and Brewsters Smoke-n-Brew. Shops have attempted to run radio advertisements to increase business, but they haven’t proven to be successful thus far. Owners and employees doubt that the businesses will close but notice a decrease in stocks.
Who has the Problem: Students under the age of 21 who purchase and use tobacco and electronic cigarette products. Local vape shops in Alachua county that have experienced and reported lower sales and lower employee pay. Mary Ewing and her husband, who are the owners of Escape 2 Vape smoke shop and their customers who are between 18 and 20 years old. Kyle Manning, an employee of Grab Bag Co. who’s noticed that the store has lost about 10 to 20 percent of their customers after the law was passed. Brewsters Smoke-n-Brew vape shop who has lost 30 to 40 percent of their business within the past few years.
3.
Title: Future of Gainesville Lucky’s Market
remains unclear
Story: Lucky’s Market has planned to close all of
its Florida locations by February, but six of the Gainesville location has been
purchased by Aldi’s Discount Grocers. On Monday, Lucky’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy,
but many are skeptical about what Aldi’s plans to do with the newly acquired
locations. Around 80 employees at Lucky’s are losing their jobs, being released
from the position until the store closes in February. Many people knew that all
of Lucky’s Market locations were closing in Florida, but it was reported
recently that six of the Gainesville locations would have a potential new fate.
Lucky’s Gainesville store director, Bill Muccio, did not know that Aldi’s was
purchasing the store, and it was not mentioned by the company. However, it was
released that Aldi as a company was acquiring several Lucky’s Market locations
in Florida, but it was not specific about which locations. The laid-off
employees are currently seeking new jobs in other grocery stores in Florida.
Problem: The closing of all of Lucky’s Market locations in Florida, resulting in nearly 80 employees currently working at Lucky’s losing their jobs. Lucky’s Gainesville store director, Bill Muccio, was unaware of the fact that Aldi’s Discount Grocers was planning on purchasing six Lucky’s Market stores in Florida, including the Gainesville location. The employees that are losing their jobs will be gradually released from their position until the store closes in February. Muccio is currently working with local Whole Foods Market, Fresh Market, Winn-Dixie, and Publix stores to set up recruiting tables for Lucky’s recently laid-off employees. As for speculation regarding the fate of the store, it is currently unknown.
Who has the Problem: Around 80 employees currently working at Lucky’s Market locations in Gainesville, Florida and the six Lucky’s Market stores that were purchased by Aldi’s Discount Grocers. Lucky’s Gainesville store director, Bill Muccio, was unaware that Aldi’s Discount Grocers was purchasing Lucky’s Market locations because no one from the company had mentioned it. The vice president for the National Real Estate of Aldi U.S., Dan Gavin, had confirmed that the company, Aldi was acquiring several Lucky’s Market locations in Florida, but it wasn’t specified which locations were being purchased by them. Those being laid off by Lucky’s are currently dealing with the problem of finding new jobs.
Problem: The closing of all of Lucky’s Market locations in Florida, resulting in nearly 80 employees currently working at Lucky’s losing their jobs. Lucky’s Gainesville store director, Bill Muccio, was unaware of the fact that Aldi’s Discount Grocers was planning on purchasing six Lucky’s Market stores in Florida, including the Gainesville location. The employees that are losing their jobs will be gradually released from their position until the store closes in February. Muccio is currently working with local Whole Foods Market, Fresh Market, Winn-Dixie, and Publix stores to set up recruiting tables for Lucky’s recently laid-off employees. As for speculation regarding the fate of the store, it is currently unknown.
Who has the Problem: Around 80 employees currently working at Lucky’s Market locations in Gainesville, Florida and the six Lucky’s Market stores that were purchased by Aldi’s Discount Grocers. Lucky’s Gainesville store director, Bill Muccio, was unaware that Aldi’s Discount Grocers was purchasing Lucky’s Market locations because no one from the company had mentioned it. The vice president for the National Real Estate of Aldi U.S., Dan Gavin, had confirmed that the company, Aldi was acquiring several Lucky’s Market locations in Florida, but it wasn’t specified which locations were being purchased by them. Those being laid off by Lucky’s are currently dealing with the problem of finding new jobs.
4.
Title: GPD continues use of highly-criticized
facial recognition program
Story: The Gainesville Police Department is using
a highly criticized facial recognition program despite having been ordered by
New Jersey’s attorney general to stop using due to privacy concerns. The program
is Clearview AI, which utilizes profiles and partial images of faces to explore
online databases such as social media, mugshots, and other websites to identify
subjects. Clearview AI contains more than three billion images from Facebook, YouTube,
Venmo, and millions of other websites. This program has been employed to
investigate and solve cases of identity theft, shoplifting, credit card fraud,
murder, and child sexual exploitation. The Gainesville Police Department bought
the license for the program in September and has conducted more than 2,000
searches. However, the department has faced backlash for using this technology
because some people believe that rights have been violated through using
Clearview AI. The Gainesville Police Department’s spokesman, Jorge Campos states
that anything that is put on Facebook and is made public is accessible to all.
Problem: The use of Clearview AI, a facial recognition program, by the Gainesville Police Department has resulted in backlash because of people believing that rights have been violated through use of the program. Clearview AI has been highly criticized due to its use of profiles and partial images of faces to explore online databases in order to identify subjects. The three billion images in the system are claimed by Clearview AI to have originated from social media such as Facebook, YouTube, Venmo, and millions of other websites. The Gainesville Police Department has relied on and used facial recognition systems in the past, but those programs didn’t rely on profiles and partial photographs.
Who has the Problem: The Gainesville Police Department and more than 600 law enforcement agencies that have used Clearview AI within the past year. New Jersey’s attorney general has ordered the state’s police to stop using the program due to privacy concerns. The police department discovered Clearview AI through CrimeDex, an online network utilized by law enforcement and investigators to prevent crime. The Gainesville Police Department is debating if they should attribute Clearview AI as the source of their information or if it should be kept general and described as being discovered through the use of investigative techniques. No unauthorized usage has been reported for the program and once something is uploaded online, the person has lost control of access to the photo.
Problem: The use of Clearview AI, a facial recognition program, by the Gainesville Police Department has resulted in backlash because of people believing that rights have been violated through use of the program. Clearview AI has been highly criticized due to its use of profiles and partial images of faces to explore online databases in order to identify subjects. The three billion images in the system are claimed by Clearview AI to have originated from social media such as Facebook, YouTube, Venmo, and millions of other websites. The Gainesville Police Department has relied on and used facial recognition systems in the past, but those programs didn’t rely on profiles and partial photographs.
Who has the Problem: The Gainesville Police Department and more than 600 law enforcement agencies that have used Clearview AI within the past year. New Jersey’s attorney general has ordered the state’s police to stop using the program due to privacy concerns. The police department discovered Clearview AI through CrimeDex, an online network utilized by law enforcement and investigators to prevent crime. The Gainesville Police Department is debating if they should attribute Clearview AI as the source of their information or if it should be kept general and described as being discovered through the use of investigative techniques. No unauthorized usage has been reported for the program and once something is uploaded online, the person has lost control of access to the photo.
5.
Title: UF students feel impacts of Australian
wildfires
Story: Australia’s fire season began in July,
with more than 16 million acres of land being destroyed in New South Wales and
Victoria, two states in Australia. The cause of these fires has been a combination
of high temperatures, record-setting drought and lightning strikes. The fires
have killed millions of wildlife and destroyed more than 2,500 homes. By the
time the rest of the world was aware of the damage that had been done to
Australia, it was too late. Countless wildlife has been devasted by the fires,
killing plants and animals indirectly by eliminating their food and resources.
A UF associate professor in wildlife ecology and conservation, Steve Johnson,
raised concerns about koalas due to their diet predominantly consisting of
eucalyptus leaves. Many eucalyptus forests were damaged from the fires because
of the forests containing volatile compounds that enable them to easily burn. The
wildfires started during the summer but didn’t make global news until many
months later.
Problem: The impacts of the fires in Australia have devastated plants and animals, killing millions of wildlife. UF students were disappointed at how long it took for the rest of the world to know of the Australian wildfires. By the time the world noticed, the damage had already been done. A UF associate professor in wildlife ecology and conservation, Steve Johnson, estimates that it will take years or decades before people become aware of the ecological damage from the fires. Other students have also expressed sadness at how long it took for the wildfires to make international news, since they started during the summer. The impacts of these fires have affected students more than 9,000 miles away in Florida.
Who has the Problem: Millions of wildlife and residents of Australia, who have been affected by fires. Several UF students have been impacted by Australian wildfires more than 9,000 miles away because of the potential threat they caused towards friends and family. By the time the rest of the world had taken notice, most of Australia had been damaged by the fires. Countless wildlife and local plants and animals have also been devastated by wildfires because they have indirectly eliminated food and resources. It will take years or decades before the rest of the world is aware of the magnitude of fire damage. Many people believe that the news about the fires took too long to hit international news.
Problem: The impacts of the fires in Australia have devastated plants and animals, killing millions of wildlife. UF students were disappointed at how long it took for the rest of the world to know of the Australian wildfires. By the time the world noticed, the damage had already been done. A UF associate professor in wildlife ecology and conservation, Steve Johnson, estimates that it will take years or decades before people become aware of the ecological damage from the fires. Other students have also expressed sadness at how long it took for the wildfires to make international news, since they started during the summer. The impacts of these fires have affected students more than 9,000 miles away in Florida.
Who has the Problem: Millions of wildlife and residents of Australia, who have been affected by fires. Several UF students have been impacted by Australian wildfires more than 9,000 miles away because of the potential threat they caused towards friends and family. By the time the rest of the world had taken notice, most of Australia had been damaged by the fires. Countless wildlife and local plants and animals have also been devastated by wildfires because they have indirectly eliminated food and resources. It will take years or decades before the rest of the world is aware of the magnitude of fire damage. Many people believe that the news about the fires took too long to hit international news.
Hello Arlene, you have written a wonderful post with a wide array of topics, sources, and information. I had no Idea that possible corona-virus cases were in Florida. I was impressed that all your articles were specifically from Gainesville I myself drew sources from several papers around Florida. I think the problem found in number four the use of facial recognition software in the police department is very interesting. I didn't think something like that would cause such a problem, also why is the New Jersey attorney general involved? I have so many questions, why is it considered a breach of privacy if it is all public? A possible change to the post is more of a focus on local opportunities instead of international ones like the Australian wildfires.
ReplyDeleteHey Arlene,
ReplyDeleteit is evident that you have put in a heaping amount of research on these and I appreciate that! I found number 4 very interesting. I have not heard of this Clearview AI that is a big problem. It is strange to me that many people are upset that Gainesville Police Department are using it to track down criminals. In a world full of way to identify people, I think this would be a useful tool to do so.
Hi Arlene,
ReplyDeleteI really liked your in-depth answers regarding who has the problem in each situation. I did not think to add specific people. I also wanted to say that I found it interesting that you see different problems then most people do in regards to certain happenings. For example, in the last example you talked about how it took to long for the news of the wildfires to hit the media. That is an issue that most people would overlook, but it presents a whole new opportunity for a company. I enjoyed your viewpoint on these very popular news headlines.