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I-Team:

Do Airport X-ray Scanners Pose

A RISK TO TRAVELERS? While many airplane flyers wanted to mutiny this holiday season, outraged over government screeners seeing images of their body parts, the I-Team has been investigating what you can’t see: radiation and what it could mean for you.

ALSO INSIDE

I-Team: Pick-Pocketing Crooks Going High Tech Funding Cuts Would Quash Early Education Programs Alternatives To Gas Pump Sticker Shock Sorting Fact Vs. Fiction When It Comes To Cancer Dangers America’s Changing View On “Growing Old”

March 4, 2011

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March 4, 2011

I-Team: Do Airport X-ray Scanners Pose A Risk To Travelers?

Stroud’s letter with an evaluation by TSA and FDA endorsing the safety of the technology. It concluded that the X-ray security products and practices “Do not cause a significant risk to the public health.” Gillen asked Stroud, ”That is not ruling out that it doesn’t pose a risk?”

“You are absolutely right,” says Stroud.

MIAMI (CBS4) — While many airplane flyers wanted to mutiny this holiday season, outraged over government screeners seeing images of their body parts, the I-Team has been investigating what you can’t see: radiation and what it could mean for you.

“We are very concerned about that being imposed on travelers,” says Dr. Robert Stroud who spends his days and nights pouring over data searching for clues that could affect generations of men, women and children who now have to pass through the X-ray Backscatter machines before getting on an airplane.

From the campus of the University of California, San Francisco, the noted professor of biophysics shared his concerns over red flags he and his colleagues presented 9 months ago in a letter to the White House about what is called the Backscatter X-ray machine.

“I don’t think we do know what risk we are taking. X-rays are intrinsically ionizing radiation. They damage human tissue,” says Stroud.

For months, the federal government has been assuring the public that getting scanned is safe. TSA Spokeswoman Sari Koshetz met with Chief I-Team Investigative Reporter Michele Gillen, “We consider it a miniscule amount of radiation,” says Koshetz.

But Stroud isn’t so sure. That is why he says, he and his colleagues first wrote to the White House. Months later it responded to

The I-Team has been trying to get access to evidence the government has cited in its position that the X-ray scans are safe, such as the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab report. According to Koshetz, “Federal agencies and third parties including Johns Hopkins have studied the effects and dosage and they have convinced us that we are correct in our assessment that there is a minuscule amount of radiation being admitted by the scans.”

But what Stroud calls key data in the Johns Hopkins assessment is being withheld from the public. Literally blacked out.” The document is heavily redacted,” says a troubled Stroud.

“But it’s not just the redactions he finds of concern. The radiation safety evaluation was not conducted at the Johns Hopkins Lab in Baltimore, Maryland. The report admits “a spare system was not available to facilitate this.” Instead, it was tested at the manufacturer’s lab in California. The test was not performed on the exact configuration of the system in place in America’s airports.

Who at Johns Hopkins stands behind the study?

“There are no names on the document to say who actually wrote this document and who is responsible,” says Stroud.

The I-Team has tried to find out but the University will not reveal their names. But a spokeswoman did tell Gillen that the scope of the study has been misinterpreted – including by the government – that Johns Hopkins had not been asked to prove the safety of the scanners and it did not prove the scanners are safe.

Helen Worth, spokeswoman for the APL wrote the I-Team, ”APL was not asked to verify the safety of the scanner, merely to evaluate the technology. We determined that radiation dosage levels fell within American National Standards Institute guidelines. Our work did not involve determining the effect of that level of radiation on humans.”

Gillen raised this to Koshetz and asked: “A Johns Hopkins spokesperson is very concerned that the study is being misinterpreted and misused by the government. Have you ever heard that before?”

“No,” she responded.

Stroud says it’s time for outside scientists to take a closer look.

“I do think it is time for an independent investigation that really allows people to understand what the risk is that they take going through the scanner,” says Stroud.

And the next time he travels, if he has the option of choosing between the X ray scanner and the pat down, which will he choose?

“Oh, the pat down. Every time,” say Stroud.

The Backscatter X-ray machines are manufactured by Rapiscan. Company representatives did not return the I-Team’s calls requesting an interview.

The Backscatter X-ray machine, according to TSA, is currently deployed at 38 U.S. airports including Fort Lauderdale and Orlando in Florida.

Airports that employ the Backscatter X Ray Machine: Boston Logan International (BOS) Boise Airport (BOI) Bradley International (BDL) Brownsville (BRO) Buffalo Niagara International (BUF) Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) Chicago O’Hare International (ORD) Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG) Corpus Christie (CRP) Dulles International (IAD) El Paso International (ELP) Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL)

Gulfport International (GPT) Grand Rapids (GRR) Harlingen/Valley International (HRL) John F. Kennedy International (JFK) Kansas City International (MCI) LaGuardia International (LGA) Lambert/St. Louis International (STL) Laredo International (LRD) Lihue (LIH) Los Angeles International (LAX) Luis Munoz Marin International (SJU) McAllen Miller (MFE) Memphis International (MEM) Mineta San José International (SJC) Oakland International (OAK) Omaha Eppley Field (OMA) Orlando International (MCO) Phoenix International (PHX) Pittsburgh International (PIT) Port Columbus International (CMH) Saipan International (GSN) San Antonio International (SAT) San Diego International (SAN) (Source: TSA)

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I-Team: Pick-Pocketing Crooks Going High Tech MIAMI (CBS4) – It’s the latest battleground between credit card companies trying to make “smart cards” easier to use with more of your financial data and identity thieves trying to rip you off.

It’s such a hot topic, electronic pickpocketing was featured recently on the hit show “NCIS” showing an I-D thief harvesting credit card numbers from victims walking down the street.

“People pick pockets; actually take people’s wallets out of their pocket. This is far easier than that,” said Walt Augustinowicz of Identity Stronghold, a product designed to help you protect your identity.

But the CBS4 I-Team investigation found reality may be a lot different than all the drama.

It’s called electronic pick-pocketing: crooks read your account information inside the hitech chips of your latest “smart credit cards”.

Rene Hilton worries about identity theft whenever she uses her credit cards.

“I’m very nervous about that, I’m telling you I got goosebumps just thinking about something like that. They could pass right by me and they could get all my information just like that. It’s like a robbery.

That’s ridiculous,” said Hilton.

Innovative technologies like smart cards, speed passes, and intelligent passports all use small circuits to store your most private data.

Federal investigators confirm that illegally intercepting the information right out of your pocket is possible.

“The owner of the device that has the credit card may not know somebody’s reading it,” said Special Agent James Porter, who works out of the Miami field office of the U-S Secret Service.

That’s because the technology may be there in the future, but computer security analysts tell CBS4 Chief Consumer Investigator Al Sunshine it’s still not good enough yet to miniaturize a chip scanner into a simple, small device and read smart cards from several feet away without their owners’ permission.

But Walt Augustinowicz disagrees.

He makes protective envelopes used to protect smart cards from I-D thieves.

He says he’s been able to roam the street and intercept card numbers from consumers all over the country, all with their permission.

“We’ve done it Indianapolis, Pittsburg, Boston, New York, Toronto, on and on,” said Augustinowicz.

But when the I-Team asked him to sweep his scanner through the crowded streets of downtown Miami without tipping anyone off what he was doing, like an I-D thief, he couldn’t pick up any numbers. He didn’t know if it was because of equipment problems, him being nervous, or no smart credit cards being carried by anyone in

Miami.

And the U-S Secret Service confirms it’s not aware of any major identity theft rings involving electronic pick-pocketing and investigators discount the potential threat.

Agent James Porter adds, “I would be hesitant to say impossible, but impractical”.

The credit card companies say they build ”special counter-measures” and security codes into their latest smart cards to make them more difficult copy and use.

MasterCard told CBS 4 News, “If their card was ever compromised, they are, as with all Mastercard payment programs, not responsible for unauthorized transactions on their accounts.”

And computer crime specialists tell me the cyber-thieves still have plenty of other lowtech ways to steal credit card data, rather than turning to exposing themselves out in public looking for new victims while waving around electronic scanners.

Electronic Crimes Specialist James Porter adds, “Right now it’s a more low hanging

fruit theory where it’s easier for a criminal to just take somebody’s wallet that has a credit card in it or 5 credit cards in it, than to build a device that cost several hundred dollars in order to take multiple people’s credit cards.”

There are metal wallets and envelopes that can block smart cards from being read by ID Crooks.

Some new credit cards and high security government I-D’s are even being shipped in special envelopes that can prevent the chips being read by any unauthorized people.

Fighting electronic pick-pocketing isn’t much different from protecting your regular credit cards: double check your bills and if you see any unauthorized charges, notify your credit card company immediately.

And if you see anyone waving any strange electronic devices on any nearby sidewalks or walkways stay away from them, especially if they seem to be focusing on strangers’ wallets or pocketbooks.

I-TEAM:

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March 4, 2011

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FlunkingA High School Equivalency

(CBS4) –In today’s competitive economy getting a high school diploma or its equivalent has become almost mandatory for people struggling to find a job.

But the CBS4 I-Team discovered there’s an entire industry taking advantage of those who need that diploma.

And critics warn potential victims to beware, be careful and be smart before paying any online fees to a

owned and run by a man named William D. Pepitone.

The website for Stanford National High claimed to be a distance learning school “to

complete your high school education.” In o t h e r words, t h e

on-line that purport to be a GED program or offer GED credentials (that are not legitimate),” said CT Turner, associate director of marketing and public relations for the GED Testing Service out of Washington, D.C.

“Some of these programs, it’s a gamble (as to) whether the college or university will accept that credential (or diploma),” said Turner.

And that’s the problem.

The CBS4 I-Team could find no college or university that accepts Stanford National High School’s equivalency diploma.

And the questions surrounding Stanford National High only grow as you dig deeper.

Stanford High’s website said it’s accredited by a group called the “Regional School Accreditation Association, LLC.”

high equivalency program.

s c h o o l

CBS4 I-Team investigator Stephen Stock teamed up with the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting (FCIR) to uncover what critics call high school diploma mills issuing virtually worthless diplomas.

To anyone who would show up, it looks like a regular run of the mill condominium tucked away just off West Sunrise Boulevard and North University Drive in Plantation.

But according to documents listed with the Florida Secretary of State as well as other documents found on Florida’s Department of Education website, the condo located at 8126 NW 17th Manor in Plantation was the address of Stanford National High School.

Stanford National High touts itself as an online high school equivalency program

website for Stanford National High School touts it as a legitimate alternative for people who previously dropped out of high school and who now want to get a diploma.

But experts say consumers must beware of supposed schools that look good on the web but offer little in reality.

“Somebody can make a website look professional and the consumer might not be aware of what’s on there (the website),” said Dr. Mark Elgart, President and Chief Executive Officer of AdvancEd, the parent organization of the prestigious Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) a national educational accrediting agency located outside Atlanta, Georgia.

“It’s important for consumers to use an organization like us to verify the quality of the educational options they’re considering for their children (or themselves),” said Dr. Elgart.

“Unfortunately, there are a lot of programs

Guess where Regional School Accreditation Association LLC is located?

That’s right, the same place as Stanford National High.

Florida State Division of Corporation records list the Regional School Accreditation Association LLC at the same condo address, 8126 NW 17th Manor in Plantation, where Stanford National High School is located.

And guess who owns the Regional School Accreditation Association LLC? You passed the quiz: William D. Pepitone is listed as owner and director on Florida Division of Corporation records.

Broward County property records show the condo is also Pepitone’s home.

When the CBS4 I-Team went to the condo to ask questions, a woman identifying herself as Bill Pepitone’s wife answered the door.

“Why don’t you go to his school,” said the

woman.

I-Team investigator Stephen Stock asked to clarify “Which school? The one on South University?”

“4188 South University Drive,” the woman answered.

“4188 South University?” Stock said. “I’ll do that.”

So the CBS4 I-Team went to that address: 4188 S University Drive in Davie.

It is an address that was also once listed on Florida’s Department of Education’s private school directory for Stanford National High School.

At 4188 South University Drive in Davie, the I-Team found another school, Westlake Prep Academy.

It’s the same school where Pepitone’s son, Bryan, told the I-Team, that William D. Pepitone had once been headmaster and where on the telephone William D. Pepitone had earlier agreed to meet us to speak with us.

But when the I-Team investigator arrived at the pre-arranged time to meet William D. Pepitone a woman who answered the door identifying herself as Robyn said Pepitone had nothing to do with the school.

Florida Division of Corporation records list Robyn Pepitone as the registered agent, a director and contact person for Westlake Preparatory School, Inc., 4188 S University Drive, Davie, Fl. I-Team investigator Stock asked, “He (Pepitone) is not here?”

“Not today. No,” said “Robyn.”

“The Department of Education does not regulate private schools,” said Mc Nelly Torres, a reporter for the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting, “which I think adds to the problem.” continued

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I-Team: Flunking A High School Equivalency continued

FCIR Reporter McNelly Torres discovered that while dozens of organizations accredit hundreds of distance learning schools around the country… only a handful are officially recognized by the United States higher education community.

Torres’ investigation found that, often, the many on-line distance learning businesses issue diplomas that aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.

“We have always heard and seen the stories about high school diploma mills but the Internet has opened the floodgates for all these operations to propagate,” said Torres.

“I graduated, supposedly with honors on it (the diploma),” said Rodolfo Rodriguez of Davie.

The 24 year-old Rodriguez is an unemployed father who said he spent $350 to get an on-line diploma from another web based high school equivalency program, Continental Academy based in Miramar.

Continental’s diploma is accepted by some colleges but not accepted by others.

In fact, when Rodriguez went to enroll at one college to get a technical degree he was told the school would not accept the Continental diploma.

“I want to better my life for myself,” said

Rodriguez. “I want to go to college, you know. And (I want to) start a career. But I haven’t been able (to do that) because of this,” said Rodriguez as he held up the diploma that he hasn’t been able to use.

The CBS4 I-Team confirmed that Florida International University and Miami-Dade College both accept Continental’s on-line equivalency diploma when accepting potential students.

The GED Testing Service’s CT Turner said only one high school

But the I-Team also learned schools such as Barry University and the University of Miami do not accept an equivalency diploma from Continental. Torres discovered other universities such as Virginia Tech also do not accept Continental’s equivalency diploma.

“A lot of the equivalency programs are not approved and they’re not the equivalent of a high school diploma or of a GED,” said Dr. Elgart of AdvancEd and the SACS. Continental’s Chief Administrative Officer Joseph Aguilera told I-Team Investigator Stephen Stock on the telephone that an actual high school diploma is best and that a GED is a better alternative than an equivalent diploma like Continental’s.

But Joseph Aguilera also insisted that an equivalency diploma, such as the one offered by Continental on-line, serves a purpose for some people.

“We’re an alternative,” said Aguilera.

T h e G E D course w o r k and test cannot b e taken online and it takes many hours to complete. equivalency diploma is accepted nationwide, the GED. And a GED cannot be completed on-line.

For that reason Joseph Aguilera said that online equivalency diplomas do have a valid role to play in the future of some people.

“It’s really the only high school equivalency credential that is accepted and is actually awarded by all fifty states,” said Turner.

William D. Pepitone did not return several messages left for him both by telephone and in person asking for his comment.

So why not just get a G-E-D?

After the CBS4 I-Team began asking questions Stanford National High’s website was taken down and its state business records showed the company dissolved and shut down.

Experts say some high school dropouts find the G-E-D to be difficult and time consuming.

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Funding Cuts Would Quash Early Education Programs and in Tallahassee, education funding appears to be on the chopping block.

In addition to funds for general education, financial support for the federal Head Start and Florida’s early education programs also appear to be in jeopardy.

During a visit to Crayons Child Care in Davie on Monday U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz said if the cuts are made some children would end up without early education classes.

“We know that by spending a little here now by helping parents afford to send their child to an early childhood education program, that more children will graduate from South Florida high schools,” said Wasserman Schultz.

The owner of Crayons Child Care said if the cuts happened some of her teachers would lose their jobs.

DAVIE (CBS4) – As the battle over the budgets wages in both the nation’s capital

“A good 35 percent of our kids in the center come from Family Central,” said

Giovannia Meza. “I question what would it be if there are no more funds for Family Central, no more funds for these children.

Where will these children go to have the connections that we give them every single morning at our school. What’s going to happen to our teachers who have a passion to teach them.”

program that provides free comprehensive services for from low-income preschool children.

Dana Marcos, a single mother of six, said she would have to pull out three of her children from Crayons if the funding is cut.

According to Wasserman Schultz, research has shown that the early childhood services provided by the VPK and Head Start programs have not only narrowed the achievement gap, they’ve also helped reduce crime and delinquency rates.

“As of right now if it were cut I would immediately be unemployed if there was no child care because I can’t afford to continue to pay for what the expense is. Even with Family Central there is still something to pay,” said Marcos.

Statewide 9,148 Florida Head Start students will lose their funding on March 4th and be forced to drop-out of these early learning programs should cuts passed by the Republican-led House of Representatives advance, according to Wasserman Schultz.

Head Start is a national, federally-funded

In Broward County, more than 16 thousand children are currently on a wait-list for the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) program funds.

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Cutting Corners: Fabulous Finds At The Salvation Army than just saving money, it is saving lives.

The spruced up Salvation Army store on Bird Road in Miami has men’s clothes, from dress shirts to tshirts, women’s wear, from pant suits to sportswear, and all kinds of shoes.

“It gives a great bargain. We offer good values. We do not have cheap stuff. We have really good values,” said Christopher Wallace, Store Manager of the Salvation Army.

MIAMI (CBS4) – A new store with a familiar name is making a comeback after a four month remodel and it’s doing more

“All the money from our family stores in Miami go to Fund the rehabilitation center of guys who are on drugs and alcohol,” said Captain Jay Ward who heads the Miami Dade Chapter of the Salvation Army.

Wallace is not only the store manager; he is also a former Salvation Army client.

“The Salvation Army has given me three things: love, freedom, and a purpose,” said Wallace.

The values extend from house wares to furniture.

A former addict, he is sharing his newly found purpose with others who will shop at the store looking for more than bargains, but a chance to save a soul.

“We have people in our warehouses that restore furniture both the upholstery and the wood work,” said Wallace to CBS4’s Jorge Estevez.

“When they want to donate stuff that is pretty dear to them, they know it is going to a place that is going to affect lives,” said Wallace.

And while the 10,000 square foot store is great way to cut corners, it also saves lives.

The Salvation Army Store opens for business this Saturday at 9 a.m. All donations are tax deductable.

March 4, 2011

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Alternatives To Gas Pump Sticker Shock

MIAMI (CBS4) – Many drivers say they have sticker shock after watching the price at the pump inch up two to four cents a gallon for the last couple of weeks.

Winn-Dixie shoppers can get a rewards card which gives customers a nickel off per gallon at Shell gas stations for every $50 spent on groceries.

This week concerns over the crisis in Libya have caused the prices to jump 20 cents or more seemingly overnight at some stations.

That has some people considering fuel alternatives.

To stretch every gallon you pump into the tank, stick to the speed limit, avoid excessive braking, remove excess weight from your vehicle and make sure your tires are inflated at the proper pressure.

For example, some Miami commuters are ditching their car keys for a Metrorail pass; for two dollars riders can travel from Dadeland to Downtown Miami, regular riders save even more by buying a monthly pass for ten dollars. Tri-Rail trains are perfect for those with a longer commute.

Riders can travel from Miami to West Palm Beach for eleven dollars round trip and avoid the hassle of I-95.

To find the cheapest gas in your neighborhood check out: GasBuddy.com FloridaStateGasPrices.com

If the trains don’t exactly get you where you want to go, why not ‘share a ride’ with South Florida Commuter Services. You can register online for free for car pools of 1 to 4 people or van pools of up to 12 people.

If catching a train or sharing a ride is not your thing, check out promotions that can save you at the pump.

BP has a program that gives drivers $10 off every 40 gallons of gas purchased. But if you want to take advantage of this special offer, you’d better hurry because it ends at the end of the month.

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Moneywatch: Living The ‘Frugalista’ Lifestyle what they can to save money.

One South Florida woman is living proof that you can be frugal without giving up too much. Natalie McNeal wrote about her experiences in a new book called “The Frugalista Files: How One Woman Got Out Of Debt Without Giving Up The Fabulous Life.”

MIAMI (CBS4) – Despite some reports that the economy is getting better many families are still doing

Another perfect example of being able to live the frugal life is Violette Sproul who left a corporate job to start www.Femfessionals.com.

It is now a booming business which gives professional women a chance to network.

Sproul said last year she put everything she had into starting the business.

“We watched every single penny and every single dime. We definitely cut back on things that were really insignificant,” Sproul told CBS4’s Jorge Estevez.

She cut back on things like hair color, premium cable channels, daily lattes, and lawn services. She also found free family activities, searched for coupons, shopped discount stores and set grocery budgets for her family.

“Trying to explain to the children, we cannot purchase that and we cannot do all these things that we used to do just for a short term period was tough,” said Sproul.

It was a job well done, according to McNeal, founder of www.Frugalista.com a blog created to help people save money.

“I had credit card debt, a student loan and a car note. I was dealing with it. I needed to come up with a plan to cut it out,” said McNeal.

CBS4 news was with the Frugalista two

years ago when she went 30 days without spending on extras.

“I saved about $400 dollars, then a light bulb went off. I knew that ‘Hey, this is a new lifestyle for me. I can take control of my money’,” said McNeal.

McNeal said her best three tips if you want to become a ‘frugalista’ are: 1. Cut out expenses 2. Find a way to earn more money 3. Take a career risk These are all the things Sproul did to help get her business off the ground which makes her a ‘frugalista’.

“I really don’t need to get my nails done every single week. My hair could have a little bit of gray in it, I do not need to get it covered. It is a learning experience you will have forever,” said Sproul.

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Study: Cell Phone Emissions Cause Brain Stimulation antenna was to the head.

MIAMI (CBS4) – A new study published in the Journal of American Medical Association may re-ignite the debate over whether cell phone frequencies have negative health effects on the body.

The article, posted Tuesday, found that electromagnetic radiation from a cell phone’s antenna appears to activate regions of the brain near the signal to unusually high levels, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The study, led by a well-known neuroscientist at the National Institute of Health opens the debate if the nation’s 300 million cell phones manipulate how humans think and act.

“Because there’s been such a massive expansion in cellphone use these past 15 to 20 years, it behooves us to try to understand whether, if we use these devices repeatedly and intensively for years, do they have lasting effects?” said study leader Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, who researches how addiction affects the brain.

To conduct the study, researchers examined the brains of 47 healthy test subjects using positron emission tomography, commonly known as PET scanning. They found a marked increasing the brain cell activity, due to cells consuming energy nearby from cellular phone signals.

They also found that different parts of the brain were affected by cell phone emissions, depending on how close the phone’s

Scientists ran several tests that to rule out that the increased brain activity was the result of stimulation, such as someone talking on the other end of the phone.

They connected the phones to a recorded message, but the live audio signal was muted so the test subjects heard silence. The result: same activity levels in regions of the brain.

Despite all of the findings, the study did not conclude that cell phone frequencies cause brain cancers.

Source: The Los Angeles Times

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Heartbeat: The Truth About Congenital Heart Defects C B S 4 n e w s anchor

Shannon Hori was shocked to learn that her son Colt had a rare congenital heart defect that required open heart surgery when he was just two days old. Since that time two years ago, she has learned how many families are impacted by congenital heart defects.

Eight out of 1,000 children are born with a congenital heart defect. In fact, it’s the number one birth defect and twice as many children will die from congenital heart defects as in all childhood cancers combined.

Sonia Perez is the founder of Angel’s Pediatric Heart House, a non-profit organization which offers support to families

with a child with a congenital heart defect.

She started it in 2004, shortly after her husband Dr. Angel Perez died. He was a pediatric cardiologist.

We caught up with her at Jackson’s Holtz Children’s Hospital as she was delivering care packages there to children with congenital heart defects, something she does every month at three South Florida hospitals.

“I believe they’re (the families) so brave and courageous,” Perez said. ”Everything they go through and they inspire me.”

The Jatib family has been through a lot.

Their son Zach, 5, has had three heart surgeries.

“Never thought in a million years that he could have a heart defect. I didn’t even know much about heart defects,” said Zach’s mom Dayna Jatib.

But thanks to organizations like Angel’s Pediatric Heart House, they’ve now met other families going through similar

situations.

“You definitely enter into a new family because you’re not alone. You’re not alone,” said father Omar Jatib.

Anyone can have a child with a congenital heart defect. Sometimes, likes in Zach’s case, the defect is diagnosed before the baby is born. Most of the time, the cause is unknown. The defects can range from mild to severe.

Dr. Marco Ricci is the surgeon who performed the life-saving heart surgery on Shannon Hori’s son Colt. He works at Jackson’s Holtz Children’s Hospital.

“The reality is we can’t help everybody. The prognosis has improved substantially. Able to go to school, do things every other child can do,” Dr. Ricci said.

As for Zach, he says that the one thing he’s learned is what his Mommy and Daddy have taught him.

“I’m blessed,” he said.

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Sorting Fact vs. Fiction When It Comes To Cancer Dangers i s , what i s safe a n d

M I A M I (CBS4) —

Can using mouthwash cause cancer? What about drinking diet sodas? There are a lot of myths about what can and can’t cause cancer. So CBS4 News spoke to an expert to try and separate the fact from fiction.

Kim and Mike Reeves used to live life without thinking much about what they were putting in their bodies. “Anything and everything,” Mike said of his diet. “Just [ate] what looked good, felt good, and tasted good.”

That was until they were hit with a diagnosis that changed everything. Mike was diagnosed with Stage 3 esophageal cancer.

Healthy otherwise, his doctor told the couple the cause of his cancer was basically everyday life. “We asked him what was the cause, and his answer was environmental factors – the air we breathe, the food we eat,” explained Mike.

Dr. Thomas Froehlich, a cancer researcher, says it’s tough trying to figure out what’s myth and what’s fact. “The real question

what’s not?” Dr. Froehlich said. “I think we’re a long way from fully understanding that.”

According to Dr. Froehlich, there are a lot of the myths about cancer development in humans that are based on flimsy studies and a lack of evidence. “It’s easy to generate fear, but it’s much harder to generate understanding and truth,” he said.

Take artificial sweeteners, for instance.

Some studies have shown that sweeteners like saccharin or aspartame, which are found in several diet drinks, could increase your risk for cancer. But, Dr. Froehlich says a lot of these studies were done on mice, which don’t always mimic the complex bodies of humans. Froehlich also says each of the studies had one thing in common. “Some of the early studies were with saccharin, and they were exposing [the mice to] 40 to 100 times the concentration that human beings would ever be exposed to,” he said.

The doctor says a problematic study is also to blame for the myth that some deodorants can cause breast cancer. Those studies looked at a compound called parabens, which was found, in some

antiperspirants and in some breast tumors.

However, he says nobody matched that data with data from normal breast tissue to see if parabens were found there as well.

What about mouthwash? Can repeated use of mouthwash cause cancer? Dr. Froehlich says no. He says the basis of this myth was born from an inference made between those who ingest excessive amounts of alcoholic drinks and the occurrence of head and neck cancers.

He also says it’s not true that statin drugs, which lower LDL or bad cholesterol, can cause cancer. It was first thought the drugs themselves increased risk for the disease, but new research suggests that’s not the case. It’s more about the actual LDL level than the drug. “You don’t want to get it too low because that could conceivably increase your risk,” said Dr. Froehlich.

“It’s not the statin drug itself.”

In the 1990s, a study came out linking bras to breast cancer, but Dr. Froehlich says that’s false, too. He said that study examined overweight or obese women, and believes their cancers were attributed more to their weight than anything else. It was also thought in the 90s that hair dye could be the cause of bladder or brain cancers. While that may have been the case in the 1940s and 50s, Dr. Froehlich says the chemicals used in those early hair dyes have long since been removed, and the chemicals used in today’s dyes have been proven safe.

But, there is one cancer myth you might have heard that could prove to be true. Can

cell phones cause cancer in your head or brain?

While Dr. Froehlich says there has been an increase in brain cancers, the answer is still unknown. “Many, many millions of dollars are being spent to figure out is there a causal link between electromagnetic radiation produced by cell phones, and the rise in incidences in brain tumors,” he said.

When it comes to cell phone, Froehlich recommends using ear buds or bluetooth systems, which emit far fewer amounts of the electromagnetic radiation. The doctor says the bottom line is, if you hear that something may increase your risk for cancer, be skeptical about the results of that study until you learn more information.

“Unless you have two or more studies that prove the same thing, you probably should disregard it until another study comes out and backs up the findings of the first study,” he advised.

For the Reeves family, though, their brush with cancer was enough to make them rethink how they’re living their lives, and what they’re teaching their children. For them, it’s all about making a decision that they believe is right for their family.

“They can’t tell me that it doesn’t [cause cancer], but they can’t tell me that it can, you know, and I’m not willing to take that chance anymore,” Kim Reeves said of her viewpoint. “Do the research, do the due diligence, and make the decision that fits you best.”

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March 4, 2011

25

Hospital Giving New Spin To Healing Experience power of medicine by making a trip to t h e hospital seem more like a spa visit.

MIRAMAR (CBS4) – A Broward County hospital is looking to bolster the healing

nursing officer Maggie Hansen.

“They’ve actually studied the impact of rhythm of t o n e , musical p i e c e selection on the healing process,” s a i d Memorial Hospital in Miramar c h i e f

Music is just one of the ways Memorial Hospital is incorporating alternative healing methods with traditional hospital therapies.

“We’ve also incorporated massage in our mother/baby area our new moms are very anxious and we have a doula service offering them massage,” Hansen said.

Soon-to-be mom Jennifer Perez of Hollywood decided to take full advantage of her massage just days before she delivered a healthy, baby girl.

“I feel like I got run over by a truck but this helps a lot especially to prepare you to go home,” Perez said.

For patients with fear or anxiety about surgery, there’s aromatherapy to help calm their fears and help with other ailments.

Patients are greeted with music and water effects as well as soothing landscapes played on televisions around the hospital.

There’s even an executive chef who visits patients in their rooms.

“He talks to patients about food selections

that we offer because we want to be culturally sensitive we serve a lot of different cultures in the community,” Hansen said.

And it’s not just simple sound and touch therapy that’s helping patients out. Now, there’s a furry friend who patients can turn to for help.

“This year, Compass, a two-year-old golden retriever joined us after being trained for two years to work with patients in a healthcare setting,” Hansen said.

For patients like Janice Hetfield of Miami Lakes, Compass made the months of painful therapy from a shattered knee much more bearable.

“Over the months without compass there I would not be at the current range of motion,” Hetfield said.

Currently, two Memorial facilities offer the healing experience and ultimately the plan is to make it a system-wide program.

For information call: 305-477-1699

CBS4 Newspaper

March 4, 2011

27

Fitness Pioneer Stresses America Needs To Shape Up At five foot four, fitness pioneer Denise Austin is a p i n t s i z e d powerhouse. The 52-year mother of two is one of the most recognized faces in fitness television.

For more than 25 years, her upbeat energy and unique ability to cheer people on while pushing them on has earned her millions of fans worldwide.

AVENTURA (CBS4) — It’s never too late to get in shape. Just ask exercise expert Denise Austin who is famous for how she helps people get moving and get in shape.

a positive attitude that’s so important.

Honestly, I believe if you wake up happy you will feel great, you can do it.”

If anyone can do it, Denise can. In 1979 she graduated with a degree in exercise physiology and soon met her mentor Jack LaLanne “I met jack in 1981. He gave me my first start on TV,” said Denise. Since then, Denise has created 85 workout videos and sold more than 20 million copies “Now I have a new DVD called ‘Quick Burn Energy’ and then I have another one called ‘Shrink Your Fat Zones’,” said Denise.

“There’s an energy that comes into the room when you enter the room. What is it?” asked CBS4’s Lisa Petrillo.

Her newest book ‘Get Energy, Empower your Body, Love your Life’ is flying off store shelves. Each weekday morning from 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. Denise can be found on The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television.

“Thank you,” replied Austin. “I think it’s

“For 15 minutes I put you through the

paces to tone up. On different days I work on different body spots like your abs, or your legs and your rear end,” she explained. “You want to look great from behind and have a nice tight tushy!”

Denise was promoting her books, DVD and television at Equinox at the Aventura Mall on Tuesday where she put Lisa Petrillo through a workout designed to firm abs, tone the arms, and tighten the tosh.

“If you don’t squeeze it no one else will,” yelled Denise during the workout.

She’s a woman who lives what she teaches, a lifestyle and job she does not take for granted.

“My job is not over, said Denise. “I have a lot to do. We have to get Americans in shape and we’ve got to do it now.”

For more information, go to http:// www.thebalancingact.com/deniseaustin

For information call: 305-477-1699

CBS4 Newspaper

March 4, 2011

29

America’s Changing View On “Growing Old” growing old. To hear Marilyn Goldaber and Mac Seligman tell it, their golden years have been something to treasure.

“Well you’re sitting next to the luckiest man in the world,” chimed Seligman.

“You’re sitting next to the luckiest woman. You know that we say that to each other every day,” said Goldaber.

MIAMI (CBS4) – When we talk about aging, it’s often in negative terms such as losing one’s looks or dying alone.

She’s 82 and he’s 92 and they recently got married.

Mac was a bomber pilot in World War II, a journalist and the he worked as a marketing executive. In her lifetime, Marilyn was a school teacher, social worker, mother and grandmother.

Both were widowed when they found each other.

But as America’s elderly population increases the notion of aging is changing. A Miami psychiatrist learned this when he asked his patients to share their stories about

“This year the first baby boomers are turning 65. So just imagine the creativity and the energy baby boomers are going to bring to late life,” said Miami psychiatrist Marc

Agronin.

Marilyn and Mac are just two people featured in a new book called “How We Age” written by Agronin.

“The book really grew from my experiences working as the psychiatrist for the Miami Jewish Health Care system over the last 11 years,” said Agronin who feels that Americans have routinely and incorrectly looked at aging in negative terms.

“We tend to focus more on declining and slowing with age, eventual death. And what I learned is it’s a very narrow focus and it’s only half the story.”

Mac admits aging isn’t always easy.

“The biggest downside I would say is that I keep forgetting things. Tell me something and five minutes later ask me about it and I won’t remember.”

Marilyn believes women face different obstacles with aging, “Watching your whole persona, which is to us how we look, disintegrate.”

Despite the downsides, Agronin theorizes that our nation is undergoing a revolution in terms of what it means to grow old.

“The same passions, the same desires that we had when we were in our 20s, 30s and 40s, people will still have in their 80s and 90s. Wanting to still be independent, wanting to still engage in activities they did earlier in life. I also found that older people tend to focus more on the positive,” said Agronin.

For Marilyn and Mac they look forward to what’s ahead having relished a life well lived.

“Concentrate on or think about memories that are worthy of memory,” Seligman advised.

“Make the best of it. Be interested in everything you can be,” added Goldaber.

Agronin said aging is more than an inevitable decline that it can also be a period of vitality, wisdom, creativity and ultimately hope.

CBS4 Newspaper March 4, 2011 Edition

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31

March 4, 2011

Horoscopes provided by www.starlightastrology.com

Virgo (Aug. 24-Sept. 22)

Leo (July 23-Aug. 23)

Cancer (June 22-July 22)

Gemini (May 22-June 21)

You should teach children some of your unique creative talents.

Don’t deny yourself this month. You will find that friends or relatives may not understand your needs. You will have a problem sorting out your true feelings when it comes to your relationship. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Saturday.

Jealous coworkers may try to sabotage your attempts to get ahead. Try to have patience and refrain from being judgmental. If you’ve been really busy, try to schedule some time to spend with loved ones.

Involvement in groups will be favorable and lead to valuable information. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

Try to include friends and relatives in your activities. Don’t blame others for your own stubbornness. Take care of any paperwork concerning institutional or governmental agencies. Your love will not be willing to listen to your criticism. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

Get involved in groups that are creative in nature. Work diligently and you will get ahead this month. Put your time and energy into home improvement.

Driving too fast or double parking will result in difficulties with officials. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)

Sagitarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Taurus (Apr. 21-May 21)

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Your nerves are frazzled. Your irritability will lead to family squabbles. You can convince others to follow suit. Beware of someone who is trying to make you look bad. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Thursday.

Come to your own conclusions rather than taking the word of someone else. Don’t let your stubborn nature get the better of you. Discuss your objectives with partners or peers. Confronting a situation will only result in indignation and misunderstandings. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

You will be tempted to shop till you drop.

They may cost you dearly. Don’t get involved in joint ventures. You may find that your quick wit and charm will help you in obtaining allies.

Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Thursday.

Get out and enjoy some entertainment.

Your pilgrimage may end up being fruitless. Be diplomatic when dealing with in-law.

Think about starting your own small business, Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20)

Aquarius (Jan. 21-Feb. 18)

Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 20)

You don’t like confrontations at the best of times; however, you may find them difficult to avoid. Those you work with may have little consideration for the underdog. The information that you gain can be used in every aspect of your life. You may cause a fuss if you come on too strongly in public. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

Get together with those you find men tally stimulating. Chances are you split up the last time because you didn’t really want to make a commitment.

You’ll need to exercise control. Travel will be favorable and bring you the greatest rewards. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

You should sign up for creative courses.

Concentrate on your work. You are going through a period of questioning. You can deal with large institutions or government agencies successfully this month.

Spend some quality time with the one you love.

Your talents will shine at work. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday.

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L O C A L .

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SUDOKU

INSTRUCTIONS: Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit. So must every column, as must every 3x3 square.

9 4

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2 9 1 8 4 9 5 6 4 3

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Sudoku provided by www.puzzles.about.com

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February 18th Solution

Your family may be feeling neglected and unloved.

Take a look at the possibilities of starting a small part time business with friends or relatives.

Don’t hesitate to sign up for creative courses or physical fitness programs. Avoid being intimately involved with clients or colleagues. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Tuesday.

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