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ALSO INSIDE I-Team: Reyka Murder Remains A Mystery S. Fla. Fights For Chunk Of Fed. Education Money

Hurricane Guide: Business Preparation Thousands Of S. Fla. Homes For Sale Under $50K Many Americans Confused Over Pain Relief Meds Madonna Wants To “Dress You Up” Dolphins Not Among NFL’S Elite Teams

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August 20, 2010

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I-Team: Reyka Murder Remains A Mystery Reporting Carey Codd

opened fire on Reyka as he checked the plates on the cars. The plate on the white sedan -- believed to be either a Ford Crown Victoria or Mercury Marquis -- was stolen.

Pompano known as the Hole. It is now vacant but in 2007 Pappacoda alleges Johnson and Joshua frequented the area.

Their focus is on two apartments -numbers 2 and 11.

our calls seeking comment.

The affidavit picks up the case from there.

Pappacoda asserts BSO zeroed in on apartment 2 where he claims Tim Johnson stored several guns.

“If they had ample evidence to charge him, both you and I know they would have,” Gottlieb told CBS4 News.

But Pappacoda believes Gerald Joshua’s gun -- a 9 millimeter -- was being stored in apartment 11 behind a refrigerator.

But Pappacoda and the private eye stand by their theory. They believe the information they’ve provided BSO lays out a strong framework for a criminal case that solves the Reyka murder.

The document quotes a woman identified as Jane Doe who claims to have overheard a telephone conversation between Johnson and another man just after the shooting.

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) — On the three-year anniversary of the unsolved murder of Broward Sheriff’s Sergeant Chris Reyka, the CBS4 News I-Team is taking a hard look at a theory of what happened in the crime that is being revealed for the first time.

Someone shot Reyka five times as the veteran officer checked the license plates on two suspicious cars at a Pompano Beach Walgreens in the early morning on August 10, 2007.

The following is a transcript of a conversation between the private investigator and the woman: PRIVATE EYE: What exactly did you hear in that phone call?

JANE DOE: Um, that Timothy Johnson called (THE WOMAN’S FRIEND) and said that the robbery didn’t go right and somebody killed the police officer.

PRIVATE EYE: Ok and did he make any indication during that call as to who killed the police officer?

JANE DOE: The n----- with dreads.

No one has been arrested for the murder.

CBS4 News uncovered an arrest affidavit written by a South Florida attorney, Joe Pappacoda, and a private investigator, Dan Riemer, that outlines a theory of who killed Reyka and the events that followed the shooting.

The affidavit, of which details have remained secret until now, gives specifics about the possible murder weapon and the mysterious white sedan seen in surveillance video driving on Powerline Road minutes after the shooting.

The CBS4 News I-Team also sat down with Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti to get his reaction to the specific details of the theory.

The theory focuses on a trio of accused armed robbers who terrorized South Florida drugstores in 2007. The three men are accused of robbing at least a dozen Walgreens and CVS stores in Broward and Palm Beach Counties. They were arrested in December 2007.

According to the theory outlined in the affidavit, two of those men -- Timothy Johnson and Gerald Joshua -- are placed at the Walgreens on the night of the murder.

According to the theory, a female friend of Johnson’s was also present in a second car --a rented PT Cruiser.

According to the theory, Gerald Joshua

CBS4 asked Sheriff Lamberti about the phone call.

“We have that same information,” Lamberti told CBS4’s Carey Codd.

“We’ve looked at that. I’m just not gonna comment right now on whether that’s accurate, inaccurate. Whether we’re able to prove it or disprove it.”

Pappacoda and Riemer began looking into the Reyka case on behalf of their client, Consuela Jones. Jones is a former girlfriend of Johnson’s. She was arrested in January 2008 and accused of paying someone $100 to break into a Pompano Beach apartment, remove four guns possibly involved in the Reyka homicide and get rid of them.

After more than a year in jail, Jones was released last August. Pappacoda said Jones was falsely accused.

“The state didn’t have a case,” he said.

“There was so much evidence to the contrary of all the allegations she was accused of that that was the end of it.”

One possible reason -- the Sheriff’s Office never recovered the 9 millimeter gun used to murder Reyka.

However, Pappacoda and the private investigator have a theory about what happened to the gun. Pappacoda believes the gun was in an apartment complex in

“There was a 9 millimeter tucked up in a broken down refrigerator underneath the back motor in a plastic baggie at the same time the police were sitting on apartment two to get a search warrant for apartment two,” Pappacoda told CBS4’s Carey Codd.

“That gun made it’s way out of apartment 11 after the police were done searching that premises.”

Pappacoda says whatever happened to the gun after that is a mystery. Lamberti agrees.

“We’ve never been able to confirm that,” Lamberti said. “Some of the information that came out of the report you’re referring to, that they were thrown in a particular canal, we dove that canal. We did recover weapons. None of them were the murder weapon.”

Lamberti also said BSO divers searched a Pompano Beach rock pit searching for the white sedan, based on information from the private eye. However, despite numerous searches, the vehicle was not in the pit.

Admittedly, Lamberti is frustrated the gun, car and stolen license plate on the car have never been recovered. He adds that BSO seriously looked at every detail of the affidavit given to them.

“Every lead we’ve been given regarding the guns and the vehicle, we’ve followed and none of them have panned out,” Lamberti said. “They’ve not turned out to be credible.”

As for Johnson and Joshua, Lamberti calls them “persons of interest” in the case but says there are other targets, also.

“They are not exclusively persons of interest,” he said. “We are looking at other suspects.”

Lawyers for Gerald Joshua did not return

Tim Johnson’s lawyer, Michael Gottlieb, said his client denies any involvement in the murder.

“There is a lot of circumstantial evidence and sometimes that’s the best evidence you can get to go to a trial,” Pappacoda said. “I think part of the reason why it’s taking so long is they’re waiting for that one linchpin piece of evidence that’s gonna prove to them with certainty who the triggerman is and I don’t think they’re ever gonna get more than they have now.”

But Lamberti said detectives need more to make a case stick. To that end, he said a new detective has been assigned to oversee the Reyka investigation after the previous detective retired.

Lamberti said deputies are reviewing every tip they’ve received on the homicide and are using new technology to review the physical evidence in the case. He also said detectives recently served several additional search warrants that resulted in the recovery of new evidence.

The case is personal for Lamberti. He wears Reyka’s badge number on his uniform every day and said he keeps in contact with Reyka’s widow, Kim, about the details of the investigation. He believes the case will be solved -- one day.

“I’m disappointed but I’m not discouraged because I know we’ll solve it eventually,” Lamberti said.

There remains a reward of $267,000 for information that leads to the arrest of the people responsible for murdering Reyka. If you have any information, call Crimestoppers at 954-493-TIPS. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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I-Team: Fired K-9 Handler Wants His Badge Back Reporting Michele Gillen MIAMI (CBS4 I-TEAM) — Former veteran Miami Dade K9 officer Allen Cockfield is just emerging from what he calls a 4-year nightmare of anguish and loss -- forced to stand trial for allegedly killing his canine partner, by purposely shaking and kicking him during a training session that went awry.

“I was thinking God help me get through this,” Cockfield told Chief I-Team Investigator Michele Gillen, as he sat down with her for the first time since his canine partner Duke died and his life “froze” in time.

“It stopped. Stopped. I had to find ways to survive,” he reflected with Gillen. “After all these days of giving, now I am sitting waiting to see if I am going to jail.”

In a bombshell last week the state admitted it didn’t have evidence to support its felony charge, triggered by an anonymous letter. The state at first argued that the dog died from a disturbance to its heart’s rhythm, intentionally caused by his handler’s cruel behavior. Cockfield, the first African American K-9 officer in the department’s history, says that was not the case.

“From the time I got him out of the car, he was hyper. I got my hand bit a couple of times butting the bit on him,” says Cockfield, referring to that very morning.

Later in training he says the dog went into fight mode.

“It was startling, it was unexpected. I am thinking ‘Why is this dog doing this?”

He says the dog took control of the lease: “I did bump him with my feet,I did do that.”

The former sergeant, who had excelled in decades of training police attack and search dogs, told Gillen that years ago with his first canine partner, that dog bit his face.

“What I know is I was not going to get bit if I could help it. I already had almost two hundred stitches in my face. I don’t need to go through that again.”

Within seconds he says Duke went into a sit position and fell over. He rushed the dog to a veterinary hospital where he died, and he urged doctors to conduct a necropsy and try and find out why.

“I need to know. I have to know why this dog died. Everyone is making light of this. This is the person I am training to be my partner. My life would have been dependent on that dog at times.What I did is what I was taught and what I was trained. If there is a problem with that, training has got to change,” he said.

The next chapter of his nightmare came at work,- where he was relieved of his police officer’s job. He was later told by his lawyer that an arrest warrant was issued for him, making him out to be a criminal.

“I was a criminal then. As far as the state was concerned. I was.”

While he lost four years of his life, he says in the darkness he found a new man - not haunted by bitterness that one would expect after experiencing this ordeal: “No. Never thought that. Made me a better person”.

His next battle is to win back the badge he loves.

“I need my job back. My badge is not in my wallet. I need my badge in my wallet because I earned that. I earned that. I spent 26 years actively working that. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Miami-Dade’s Police Benevolent Association, which provided for Cockfield’s attorney, is in discussions with the police department over trying to reinstate Cockfield. The department would not comment on that request.

Meanwhile the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s office provided CBS4 News the following statement regarding the withdrawal of felony charges during the trial: “We believed in good faith, at the time of filing and as the case progressed, that the evidence against the defendant gave rise to the reasonable inference that

he had both the specific intent to kick the dog and also to cause it grievous injuries.

Part of this evidence included statements attributed to the defendant indicating his hatred of the police canine in the days leading up to the attack. Additionally, our pretrial evidence from police witnesses established that police canine handlers are trained not to kick a dog, unless the dog is attacking them, because kicking the animal can cause significant injury.

Events in court did not progress as we had anticipated. At the time the defense motioned the court for dismissal, we in good faith had to agree that the evidence was insufficient to establish that the defendant had a specific intent to cause the animal’s death.” (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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I-Team: More Tax Liens Filed Against Wyclef Jean Reporting Stephen Stock MIAMI (CBS4 I-TEAM) — Hip hop artist Wyclef Jean is widely expected to announce T h u r s d a y evening that he will run for the presidency of Haiti.

Now the CBS4 I-Team has learned that more questions about his finances are being asked here in the states. In January CBS4 reported that several tax liens had been filed against Jean and his wife.

According to court records from New York, New York, Bergen County, New Jersey, Mercer County, New Jersey and Palm Beach County, Florida, Wyclef Jean under the alias Nel W. Jean and his wife Marie Claudinette have at total of $5,278,430.10 in Federal IRS and state tax liens on property they own dating back to 2004. According to the documents, a $4.1 million lien was filed in 2005 for property here in Florida.

Now more liens, filed by the IRS, have

surfaced. First reported by the website SmokingGun.com, the liens are taxes Jean allegedly failed to pay from 2006 through 2008 totaling more than $2.1 million on his Saddle River Borough property.

According to property records obtained by the CBS4 I-Team Jean bought the property in Saddle River New Jersey in 1998 for $1.85 million; it is now valued at $2.26 million.

This is the second time in less than a year the musician has come under scrutiny for his spending of money under his control.

Earlier the I-Team uncovered IRS 990 tax forms filed in 2005, 06 and 2007 for Jean’s charity Yele Haiti showing it received a total of $1,661,562 in contributions but spent only about a third of that money, about $595,781, on actual programs for those in Haiti.

Eight-five percent or $1,420,636 of the money received from donors went to things like rent, travel, food, promotion and concert fees.

That amount includes more than $410,000 paid directly to companies owned by Wyclef Jean himself as well as a partner

who is also his cousin.

Though Yele Haiti has taken in millions of dollars in January, 2010, for earthquake relief it has yet to give a public accounting for how it has spent that money. On Thursday the charity said it had raised $9 million in the wake of the earthquake.

Of that, $1.5 million has been spent on food, water, tents, clothes and other products for quake survivors, Jean spokeswoman Cindy Tanenbaum said.

On Thursday Jean announced he is stepping down as leader of Yele Haiti.

“I am not stepping down in my commitment to Haiti. On the contrary, regardless of what path I take next, one thing is certain: My focus on helping Haiti turn a new corner will only grow stronger,” Jean said in the statement.

Businessman Derek Q. Johnson will take up the helm of the organization. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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Storied Islandia Faces Extinction On August 24 Reporting Gary Nelson Biscayne Bay “Town” Hasn’t Paid Taxes In Decades ISLANDIA (CBS4) — Park Ranger Frank Stack and his wife and daughter hopped out of a boat at the Biscayne National Park visitors center Thursday, tying up to the dock. It’s a drill they know well.

Whenever the Stacks go anywhere, they go by boat.

They live in the middle of southern Biscayne Bay in a string of islands known as Islandia. They are among only eight residents of water-locked Islandia, an actual town created a half-century ago.

If voters approve a charter item on the August 24th primary ballot, Islandia will officially become history.

The breathtakingly beautiful island chain was incorporated as a city by a group of landowners and developers in 1960.

Chubby Checker topped the charts that year with “The Twist.” John F. Kennedy was elected president. A motley bunch in England formed a band that would become the Beatles.

Islandia’s founders had grandiose plans.

“It was a grab on the part of some investors to develop this pristine area in south Biscayne Bay,” said Dr. Paul George, historian at Miami-Dade College. “They were high-rollers who were going to build resorts and golf courses and expensive homes.”

Islandia’s founding fathers planned to build a bridge from the mainland. The tourists, the gamblers, the well-heeled would flock to the place and the developers would would be rich.

The vote creating Islandia was unanimous. All 13 “residents” voted in favor. Election organizers brought a voting machine to the island on the bed of a pick-up truck brought in by a ferry.

Islandia’s first mayor, Luther Brooks, took to the dais of Islandia’s town hall located in the city of South Miami - and declared that he and his fellow citizens would create a community “like none we have in Dade County.”

“We hope it to be the finest community in South Florida,” the mayor said, a portrait of himself hanging on the wall behind him.

The best-laid plans of Islandia’s founders came under immediate attack by conservationists who viewed the proposed development as an attack on the South Florida environment, already besieged by an-ever growing sprawl of motels, tourist attractions and Stuckey’s

Stands.

Opponents saw what was happening to the bridge-linked Florida Keys and drew a line in Biscayne Bay. The late vacuum cleaner magnate, Herbert Hoover, Jr., made defeat of the Islandia development a personal passion.

He donated $100,000, a fortune at the time, to the opposition.

The late congressman Dante Fascell persuaded the interior department to conduct impact assessments. Fascell championed legislation that created a “National Monument” designation for Biscayne Bay. The Islandia developers, sensing defeat, bulldozed a limerock road up the middle of the largest island in Islandia, Elliott Key. The swath came to be known as the “Spite Road.”

After Congress created Biscayne National Park, all but assuring an end to any development schemes, Islandia’s founders faded away.

The town has collected no taxes, filed no revenue reports with the state and held no elections in decades.

The Florida Legislature passed a resolution asking Miami-Dade county to formally dissolve the town of Islandia.

The item on the August 24th primary ballot would amend the charter to allow

the county to abolish municipalities with fewer than 20 voters. Only the longdormant Islandia, with six registered voters, fits that bill.

Paul George, the historian, called the charter amendment an official - and symbolic - final nail for Islandia, a bad idea whose time never came.

“This is the last symbol of development in what is today a National Park,” George said. “And once it is obliterated through dis-incorporation, it will be the end of the whole issue.”

Park Ranger Stack and his wife, Melissa, reflected on the story of Islandia as they soaked in the sun and stunning views of Biscayne Bay Thursday with their daughter Akayla, the Miami skyline visible across the water miles away.

“I think it would have really devastated the whole ecology here,” Melissa Stack said of the failed Islandia development scheme. “I think that it’s good that it never came to be.”

“This is really a very special place that our forefathers have saved for us,” Frank Stack said. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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Water Managers Approve Everglades Restoration Deal Miami to stop the deal.

The original plan, announced in 2008, was to pay $1.75 billion for all U.S. Sugar’s 180,000 acres, but it has now been scaled back.

WEST PALM BEACH (CBS4) — An effort to restore Florida’s Everglades will move forward after water managers approved a new, scaled back land deal.

The South Florida Water Management District board voted Thursday to approve a state plan to buy 26,791 acres for about $197.4 million from U.S. Sugar Corp.

State officials say they’ll construct reservoirs and water treatment marshes in order to help restore the Everglades, suffering from years of dikes and diversions to make way for homes and farms.

“I am grateful to the members of the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board for their unanimous vote and unwavering commitment to Everglades restoration and fiscal responsibility,” stated Governor Charlie Crist in a news release.

“The longest journey begins with a single step and the state recognizes the monumental restoration advances we can make with this land. We are pursuing the acquisition with the fiscal responsibility expected of Florida’s leaders and stewards of the environment. This acreage will provide important opportunities for water storage and treatment and better revive, restore and preserve one of America’s greatest natural treasures – the Everglades.”

Opponents claim the deal will only stall other key restoration projects. The Miccosukee Indians, who live in the Everglades, are asking a federal judge in

The entire wetlands once covered more than 6,250 square miles, but has shrunk by half, replaced with homes and farms and a 2,000-mile grid of drainage canals.

The Everglades has lost 90 percent of its wading birds, and 68 threatened or endangered species face extreme peril. (© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.) news powered by

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S. Fla. Fights For Chunk Of Fed. Education Money Reporting Lisa Cilli

WASHINGTON (CBS4) — In an effort to pump more money into schools, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho is out to get his share of more than $3 billion available in federal funding.

The Miami-Dade Schools superintendent was in Washington, DC Wednesday for Florida’s Race to the Top presentation to the United States Department of Education.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan named Florida a finalist in the federal Race to the Top Phase 2 Competition on July 27.

went very well as we highlighted our significant reform efforts over the last decade and the tremendous progress those reforms have helped us achieve.”

The statement went on, “We also addressed detailed questions from our federal reviewers, giving our wellrounded team of presenters a chance to showcase Florida’s renewed spirit of collaboration and our commitment to the bold, innovative strategies that will make our education system one of the best in the nation.”

Superintendent Carvalho spoke with CBS4 News when he arrived at Miami International Airport Wednesday.

“I’m very confident Miami Dade County will be the winner of 64 million dollars of federal investment in our community,” he said. “This will go a long way in terms of protecting our workforce, our teachers and educational programs.”

Superintendent Carvalho was asked to be a part of the presentation team, which includes Florida Governor Charlie Crist; State Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith and Florida Education Association President Andy Ford.

The United States Department of Education sponsors Race to the Top to provide $4.35 billion to states that lead the way with ambitious yet achievable plans for implementing coherent, compelling and comprehensive education reform.

Following the presentation Commissioner Smith released a statement which said, “The presentation

Florida was selected as one of 16 finalists for Phase 1 of the Race to the Top grant, having been awarded the

fourth highest number of points for its application.

Winners of the grant will be announced in September.

$3.4 billion remain available to states for Phase 2 of the Race to the Top grant and Commissioner Smith stated he feels confident that Florida is in line to receive a portion of the federal grant money.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

“Florida stands in a unique position to turn these funds into a revolution of success and I’m confident that our efforts today brought us one step closer to making that happen,” said Smith.

While in Washington, Alberto Carvalho spoke to PBS’s Nightly Business Report regarding a $26 billion jobs bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday.

The jobs bill earmarks $544 million for Florida, of which Miami-Dade could receive $72 million, based on current school enrollment figures.

Carvalho told Nightly Business Report that in Florida, children are victims of the recession.

“We are a point where the cliff is before us, and right now, if this funding stream were not to arrive, we probably would not be able to rehire about 800 teachers ? brand new teachers ? some of the most qualified, energetic, driven people, back into the classroom.”

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Security Risks With Smart Phone Banking Apps Reporting Al Sunshine MIAMI (CBS4) — Rosie Bruno doesn’t like fighting traffic or long lines when she needs to go to her bank.

That’s why she uses her ‘smart phone’ for most of her banking needs.

“It avoids all the traffic and congestion and long lines inside. It makes banking much easier and it saves a lot of time,” said Bruno.

The Doral resident is not the only one who thinks ‘smart phone’ technology is revolutionizing the way we do our banks.

Online apps for ‘smart phone’ banking programs are booming. They’re available for several different platforms including iPhones, Blackberrys and Android cell phones; most are offered for free by some from the country’s biggest banks.

And they’re becoming more sophisticated every day. There’s even a new app from Chase which allows users to skip the bank completely if they need to deposit a check.

Using the camera on their ‘smart phone’ camera, Chase customers just need to take a picture of the front and back of the check.

The image is then sent to the bank where

it’s deposited into the proper account.

Chase says it’s ‘smart phone’ security is completely safe.

“We’ve got some of the worlds’ best encryption available and it’s as safe as we can possibly make it,” said Miami retail banking manager Phillip Friedly.

But cyber security experts at the U-S Secret Service warn say any online security system can be hacked.

“I wouldn’t say anything would be risk free,” said Special Agent James Porter.

The Secret Service, which investigates bank fraud and cyber scams, has seen a number of cases recently where wireless networks here and across the country have been intercepted by cyber thieves. Those so-called “network intrusions” have resulted in personal information being used in a number of identity theft cases.

In fact, Americas’ largest “network intrusion” case was based right here in South Florida. Cyber crime Investigators warn ‘smart phone’ users that banking by phone may be convenient, but it’s not 100% risk-free.

“I think the public needs to be aware that public WiFi networks are not as secure as regular cellular phone, Edge or 3G coverage,” said Porter, a cyber crime specialist based out of the Secret Services’ Miami Field Office.

“Are there thieves out there looking for personal data on public WiFI networks to rip us off,” asked CBS4 Chief Consumer Investigator Al Sunshine.

“Absolutely,” replied Porter.

Most cyber security experts urge consumers to stay off public, un-secured WiFi networks when transmitting any personal or financial information. Instead, stick to digital cell phone connections which are more secure. If you electronically scan any checks and transmit them to your bank, make sure they get credited to the right account. It’s also a good idea to hold onto them for a while to make sure they’ve cleared.

And finally, when you’re sure they’ve cleared and been credited to your account, shred them like the banks do. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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Why A Bad Credit Report Could Cost You A Job Reporting Al Sunshine

While on disability, he struggled to make ends meet on social security payments.

(CBS4) One in five, that’s how m a n y unemployed workers there are for every open job in the

“I know my credit is bad because of my situation and I don’t see where it would make any difference,” he said.

United States.

That means employers can be highly selective when it comes to filling those jobs.

They have all kinds of criteria to help them choose and some have nothing to do with your skills or experience.

“I’m well qualified and stuff and would be a good employee for these companies, said unemployed worker Thomas Vogt.

Vogt is ready to restart his career after injuring his back in the supermarket industry.

“If they are under a lot more stress because they do have some issues going on with some debts, they are less likely to be able to perform,” explained credit expert Al Bingham.

Varelas agreed.

But it does make a difference.

Human resources consultant Elaine Varelas says it is becoming more and more common for companies to ask candidates for permission to run a credit check.

“It’s a huge part of your background,” she said.

A 2009 survey by the Society for Human Resources found 60 percent of employers run credit checks.

That’s up from just 42 percent back in 2006.

Many employers believe a low credit score can be a red flag.

“If two candidates are equal then why not go for the person who doesn’t have any issues in their background,” she said.

Washington State and Hawaii have banned the practice and 16 other states are considering similar restrictions.

Vogt believes Massachusetts should too.

“It’s a catch-22 because if they don’t hire me and I don’t see it getting better any time soon,” he said. “So what am I going to do?”

Varelas says if you know your score is low, contact the hiring manager and explain what you are doing to correct the problem.

“If you ignore it, they will ignore you,” she warned.

There is a bill pending in Congress that would ban the use of credit reports for hiring, however, it allows for exceptions in the financial services industry and certain government jobs. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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Online ‘Terms & Conditions’: What Do They Mean?

Reporting Al Sunshine (CBS4) We see them all the time on our computers -those boxes that say “ACCEPT” when we buy or download things. So what does “accept” really mean? And what happens if we say no?

Businessman Terry Shoaff does his banking online. But he says when he logged onto his account recently, “This pop-up blocker came in, two and a half pages of single-spaced, typewritten, no spacing, no paragraphs. I mean, it wasn’t an everyday type of explanation or contract that the average person would be able to respond to without having legal council.”

Shoaff’s problem? Until he clicked

“ACCEPT,” his online account was blocked. So he drove to his local branch for an explanation.

“I was worried that it might lock me into some charges or fees or something I didn’t understand,” he says, “and I just didn’t like the idea of signing a contract I couldn’t understand.”

But he says the bank clerks didn’t understand it either.

“And they proceeded to say, ‘Oh, it’s no big deal, just accept it and move on.’”

Stanford law professor Mark Lemley is an expert on internet law. He says more and more websites are imposing contract language on users.

“The companies [that] are writing these contracts get to choose whatever terms they want.”

Lemley has collected some extreme

examples, like the video store rental agreement that reads: “I hereby surrender my soul for all eternity to the clerks at I Love Video and will become a clerk in their legion of zombies.”

These agreements date back to the early days of home computers, when software came in boxes. Whether you realized it or not, by simply tearing off the plastic wrapper, you were accepting the terms and conditions of the software company.

Those became known as “shrink-wrap” agreements. Now they’re called “clickwrap” agreements -- taking effect with the click of a mouse.

So how legal are they?”

Mark Lemley says, “It would be nice to think, since I didn’t pay attention to this - I didn’t read it -- I can’t be bound by it.

But unfortunately, that’s not the law.”

Lemley says companies may not be able to take your soul, but so far the courts

have upheld most of the terms and conditions in click-wrap agreements.

“We get by,” he says, “largely by ignoring the contracts that companies have written because we think 99% of the time they’re not going to affect us. But when it does happen, then the courts have largely said, tough luck! You signed the contract, you’re stuck with it.”

As for Terry Shoaff, after reading his bank’s “click-wrap” agreement several times, he says he still doesn’t understand it. So he did the unthinkable for most of us -- he refused to click “ACCEPT.” What did he do instead? He changed banks. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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Publix Testing ‘Drive Thru’ Option The curbside option will allow customers to send Publix personal shoppers their grocery list online or over the phone.

Customers can schedule a pick-up, a minimum of four hours after placing order, then roll up for a quick exchange of money and grocery bags and be on their way without ever leaving the car.

Skye Anico, CBS4 Intern LAKELAND (CBS4) — In an era of fast paced lifestyles and instant gratification, sometimes even getting the bare essentials can eat up too much time. Now, Publix Super Markets are inching their way towards offering customers a drive-thru option for their groceries.

The Lakeland-based company began testing their new Publix Curbside program Monday at an Atlanta store and is planning to offer it at Tampa store by the end of the year.

The service has a $7.99 flat-rate fee, regardless if you’re buying a carton of milk or all your ingredients for a Thanksgiving dinner. Curbside customers will also get the same in-store weekly sales and specials.

“You’re only able to purchase what is available at the store that you choose,” said Media and Community Relations Manager Kimberly Jaeger.

So anything from the shelves to the prepared deli meals will be available to curbside customers.

There are no tentative dates for when the service will expand to South Florida, as the company is mainly focused on

observing results into the next year.

Jaeger said that many factors will contribute to expansion but “Volume will have a lot to do with if we expand the service.”

It’s an experimental move on the part of Publix as they watch the numbers of sales and customers through Publix Curbside, but Jaerger said, “We think it will be very convenient.”

Publix Greenwise Market Stores, an organic version of their grocery store, currently offers similar to-go services for prepared food and meals in Boca Raton and Palm Beach Gardens super markets.

Unlike Publix Curbside, customers must go to a window to pick up their food. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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HURRICANE SECTION 2010 Everything You Need To Know To Be Prepared This Hurricane Season.

• Tracking Map • Emergency Phone Numbers • Safety Information • Important Articles

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Business Preparation what is covered, and increase coverage as necessary.

Back up the computer system regularly, and encourage all employees to back up their own files often.

Have a safe, waterproof place for diskettes, paper files, and all other records. In a large company, make arrangements with a branch in another city to maintain copies of computer files and the most critical paper records.

Employees Encourage all employees to have a good personal hurricane plan. Keep each employee’s hurricane plan in mind when assigning hurricane preparations and planning the dismissal of the work force before a storm. Employees who live in evacuation zones or who have children or elderly relatives to assist may need additional time to get ready.

Make sure you have current contact information for each employee. Encourage them to tell you where they plan to ride out the storm.

Set up a hurricane team with your company with employees assigned to do specific things including: Monitoring CBS4 throughout the season to watch for storms.

Assigning a team to put up shutters and protect equipment.

Securing and protecting all company records.

Removing debris, equipment, and vehicles.

Informing clients that you are closing early and when you plan to reopen.

Making sure employees have the identification they will need to enter a restricted area after a hurricane.

Secure any equipment or outdoor items that could become flying debris.

Have a temporary location available if your building is damaged or it is impossible to get to it immediately after a hurricane. Determine how much of your business you will be able to operate from this alternate site.

Communications Make a laminated wallet-size card with important phone numbers. Give one to each employee.

Set up a special phone number with an answering machine that you can update easily to keep employees informed about the status of company operations and work assignments. If possible, use a number (having an 800 number and a direct dial number is best) in a branch out of town.

Usually, long distance service is more reliable than local service immediately after a storm.

Have a designated phone number with an answering machine where employees can leave a brief message after a storm.

Designate a person or team to make sure that all employees are accounted for.

Have battery back up for your PBX or multi-line phone system.

Consider phone services that let you forward your calls to other numbers even if your own phone system is out of service.

Physical Plant Have proper shutters for all openings.

For help with your business plan, contact your county Emergency Management Office.

Know if your building is in an evacuation zone. If it is, have a detailed plan for removing vehicles, equipment, and important records.

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Review your insurance annually. Know

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Protecting Your Pool IMPORTANT: Some chemical feeders require special care before starting the pump motor. If you have any questions, check with your pool company before restarting the motor.

Check out the pump motor. If it has been flooded or submerged, have it removed and cleaned professionally.

(CBS4) If you have a pool...

Keep extra chlorine on hand to help prevent contamination in the event of a hurricane. Do not remove water from your pool.

Before the Storm: DON’T lower your pool’s water level.

Turn off electrical power to the pool.

If your filter pump is in an unsheltered area, wrap it securely in a waterproof plastic bag. Tie down the pump box lid.

Remove loose items from your pool area, and put them in your garage or house if possible. DON’T put heavy furniture in the pool. This could damage your pool’s finish, and the chemicals in pool water are bad for outdoor furniture.

Add extra chlorine to your pool water.

Remember, you can use water from your pool for sanitary purposes after the hurricane.

Take down and store all removable child safety fences.

After the Storm: Replace all child safety fences.

DON’T empty your pool. If you do, it can cause expensive structural damage and maybe even cause it to pop (float) out of the ground.

Super-chlorinate (“shock”) your pool.

Remove all plant debris as soon as possible, because organic materials dilute chlorine quickly.

Before restarting your pool system, make sure you have removed all debris with your pool rake and skimmer. This will prevent clogging the lines.

Make sure your pump is operating normally and that water is circulating.

Reset your timer clock.

Run the filter until the pool water is crystal clear.

For questions about pool care before and after a storm, you can contact: Florida Swimming Pool Association (800) 569-6774 (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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S. Fla. Home Market Still Shaky At Best recovery for the real estate market.

There has been a decline in homes for sale recently has helped the prices stabilize, but there are potential problems on the horizon.

MIAMI (CBS4) — While the number of homes and condos for sale in South Florida declined for the past two years, there are fears that the encouraging numbers may not give the full picture of the state of the South Florida home market.

According to the South Florida SunSentinel, there’s a growing concern that a large “shadow inventory” of foreclosed homes could be problematic for the prospects of a

Home repossessions are surging, and that’s increasing the home inventory across all of South Florida. According to the SunSentinel, banks will “take back nearly 50,000 properties” in South Florida.

That’s causing lenders to hold back on listing the properties for sale all at once: because if they did, it would spark a massive decrease in prices.

Compounding the problems the home market will be facing is the expiration of the federal homebuyer

tax credit and the continuing unemployment in the area.

Without jobs, home buyers aren’t willing to buy houses and banks aren’t willing to lend in a depressed economy.

According to the Sun-Sentinel, the housing market will remain depressed throughout the rest of the years. However, by next year, experts say the market should be past the worst part of the housing bubble collapse.

Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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Thousands Of S. Fla. Homes For Sale Under $50k Reporting David Sutta B A L HARBOUR (CBS4) — South Florida is not known for cheap houses, but in today’s depressed housing market that may be changing.

A report from the real-estate website condovultures.com claims South Florida has thousands of homes for sale that can be had for $50 thousand…or less.

“In 22 years in real estate, I don’t remember it (home being so cheap),” said realtor Enrique Pineiro of Ros Realty.

“Maybe it was, but I don’t remember it.”

According to the website’s analysis, most of the properties that can be had on the cheap are condos and townhouse. Almost 5500 are scattered across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.

If you want a single family home, there are fewer choices, but the website claims about 600 stand-alone properties are available for under $50 thousand.

But you must remember, you’re likely going to get what you pay for with any of these sales.

“Under $50,000 you are not going to find a gem,” Pineiro said. “You are going to find something that needs some sort of work done to it.”

report.

Almost half of the homes involve short sales, where the owner is attempting to sell the home for less than is owed on the mortgage.

While the properties mentioned in the report are still for sale, thousands more have already been sold this year or are under a sales contract, according to the report.

In Miami-Dade County, 439 homes priced under $50,000 have sold so far in 2010, and nearly all buyers paid cash.

“It is really difficult to finance these types of properties,” Enrique said. “So there is really no other choice.”

In all three counties, the majority of those homes involved foreclosures or properties that were controlled by a lender. The fewest sales of that time were in Palm Beach county, with 4 percent.

In contrast, in Miami-Dade county almost 75% of the cheap properties sold were held by banks, most likely due to foreclosure.

More than a quarter million South Florida homes have been the subject of foreclosure action since 2007, with about 30 percent of those actually being taken by a lender. While those numbers may be grim, there is some good news.

In the first half of the year, the website, which tracks foreclosure filings, claims the number of new filings in South Florida has dropped by about a third.

The website report said Broward and Ft. Lauderdale lead the pack with the greatest number of bargain properties with about 2400. Palm Beach county is second with 2100, while in Miami-Dade county, about 1500 sub-50K properties are on the market.

And if you’re wondering if a $50,000 home with $50,000 worth of repairs is still worth it, consider this: if you were to rent the home, it would be paid off in five years. If you were to own it, the mortgage would run you $500 a month.

The data analyzed by the company comes from the Miami Association of Realtors.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

About 15 percent of the cheap properties on the market are held by lenders because of foreclosure, according to the website

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Exercise Preparation Is Key As You Age Reporting Cynthia Demos

“I was walking on the beach from Sunrise Blvd. all the way to the Yankee Clipper on the sand and I felt great, it was a beautiful day; the next morning I couldn’t get out of bed.”

The pain of that work out forced her to seek medical attention and she learned that she had a herniated disc, which has a 50/ 50 chance of taking care of itself.

FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) — When you’re young, you might hear the old mantra of “no pain, no gain,” used by people trying to exercise their way to better health. But, when you hit you’re 30’s that no longer applies because doing too much, too soon can create serious problems.

Cathy Butler, 64, of Fort Lauderdale loves to work out, but one recent jaunt to the beach to exercise left her in severe pain.

Cathy’s problems are nothing new to orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Jeffrey Cantor. Dr. Cantor said exercise can often lead to injuries in people who try to overdo it.

“The spine ages like every other part of your body and when it does age it loses its elasticity,” Dr. Cantor said, “and the flexibility of the spine when we’re 25 is a lot different with the flexibility of the spine when we’re 45 and 55 and 75.”

But, the potential for injuries doesn’t mean

you should become a couch potato. The good news is that exercise can also help you heal.

“If we exercise properly a lot of times we can prevent an operation,” Dr. Cantor said.

“So moderation and patience is really the key. It is very important to listen to your body the body will tell you when to stop.”

Tonka Cascais owns Pro Pilates in Fort Lauderdale and said she helps clients like Butler heal their body through exercise.

“For a program to be well balanced you need to have flexibility training; you need to have strength training; you also need cardiovascular training, but also nutrition is very important,” Cascais said.

Tonka suggested choosing the appropriate exercise for age and fitness level. Start slow and pay special attention to proper technique; stay hydrated; and stay away

Many Americans Confused Over Pain Relief Meds common complaints.

For fever, Hnida said acetaminophen or ibuprofen is best and generally both work equally well. Use the one that works best for you and stick with it.

“Remember neither cures fever,” he said.

“The best you can expect is a lowering of two degrees or so on the thermometer.”

they can raise your blood pressure and cancel the protective effect of baby aspirin,” Hnida cautioned. “You may want to choose acetaminophen.”

But for menstrual cramps the choice is clear -- ibuprofen or Aleve.

“They work to block the chemicals that cause the cramps,” Hnida said.

“Acetaminophen does not.”

When it comes to headaches of any sort, Aleve lasts the longest for relief but acetaminophen and ibuprofen also work according to Hnida.

Hnida offered two other cautions about over the counter pain relief.

“One great product for many adults is Excedrin Migraine. It combines aspirin and acetaminophen, each works a different chemical pathway so you get double the effect without the overdose.”

“Aleve and ibuprofen can be rough on the stomach. Also too much acetaminophen or normal doses combined with alcohol can cause liver failure. Be sure to always follow directions, and consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have other medical conditions or any questions.”

Over the counter pain relievers include acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin and Aleve.

Don’t expect to get inflammation relief from over the counter doses of Aleve or ibuprofen when you are trying to ease sprains or backache.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

“The best way to help you decide how to use these products may be to look at some

“A caution about Aleve and ibuprofen --

DENVER (CBS) — When it comes to taking medicines to relief aches and pains, research shows many Americans are confused.

“There are a lot of over the counter products and each works differently,” said KCNC-TV’s Medical Editor Dr. Dave Hnida.

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from coffee, soda, and fatty foods which can slow down the healing process.

Butler decided to follow the advice and was able to avoid surgery.

“When I came in I had a limp my limp is basically gone,” Butler said. “I don’t have any of the pain I can get up and down I can walk.”

Dr. Cantor said joints lose flexibility as you age so if something hurts, don’t’ push through it, stop doing it, and find a low impact alternative like swimming to prevent serious damage. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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Study:Acetaminophen May Double Asthma Risk In Kids Scientists say acetaminophen may stop the immune system from fighting off infections.

Researchers gathered information from more than 300,000 kids from 50 countries. They looked at 13 and 14-year olds. They found more than a double increased risk associated with frequent use, which is at least once a month. It also increased risks for eczema, which is basically itchy and scaly skin, and nasal congestion.

(CBS4) New research suggests a common over the counter medication may cause asthma and eczema in children. The new study from the American Thoracic Society reports adolescents who take acetaminophen once a month or more may be doubling their risk of asthma. Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in Tylenol and it is one of the first medicines parents give their children for fever and pain.

“I’m very careful when I do medicate, but yeah it makes me concerned,” said mother Lauren Kirkwood.

This study was not a causal study, but found an association -- a link -- with acetaminophen, which is commonly known as Tylenol, and asthma.

The same authors indicated a possible link between acetaminophen usage in infancy with subsequent increased risk in childhood asthma.

A top London pediatrician says he’s worried. He says parents shouldn’t continue to use the drug for minor aches and pains.

“If the child is really, has a high fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit, then it would be reasonable to use it,” said Dr. Michael Markiewicz.

This is not the first time researchers have examined a link between acetaminophen and asthma.

“It’s not the teen age as in this study but it’s also the younger age group where there appears to be an increased risk,” said Dr. Markiewicz.

The research indicates widespread use of acetaminophen may be why asthma rates have gone up worldwide. But critics say more studies are needed before parents start to panic.

Dr. Holly Phillips, of WCBS-TV in New York, appeared on “The Early Show” Friday and said more research needs to be done before you stop giving your kids products like Tylenol. Phillips said acetaminophen has been proven to be a safe and effective pain reliever for many years.

She reinforced, “This study found a link - it was not cause and effect -- this was done by surveys. As always, talk to your pediatrician if you have concerns, especially if your child has had a lot of respiratory illnesses or bouts of wheezing. One asthma specialist we talked to said asthma is mostly genetic, so whether you give your child acetaminophen or not, it may not matter anyways.”

Other factor may also increase your child’s risk of developing asthma. A family history, such as parents who have asthma, could increase your risk, Phillips said. Additionally, certain allergies, such as food allergies or skin reactions, and environmental factors like pollution and tobacco smoke could contribute to asthma. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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New Colonoscopy Welcomed By Patients & Doctors Reporting Cynthia Demos C O R A L G A B L E S (CBS4) — Colonoscopies have become a c o m m o n procedure for adults to screen for colon cancer. But, not all colonoscopies are created equal.

Benito Rodriguez, 61, works in the health care industry; but he’s not a fan of going to the doctor for his own health.

“I follow the step one apple a day keep the doctor away. So I prefer to not go to the office of the doctor,” he said.

But when he noticed blood after going to the bathroom; he went to gastroenterologist Dr. Stephen Eskin with Coral Gables Hospital. Eskin performs something called the minimally invasive complete colonoscopy.

“Most patients wouldn’t know to ask this.

They figure a colonoscopy is a colonoscopy. The main principle here is to use a very small scope, the smallest possible scope, to do a complete colonoscopy,” Eskin explained.

Eskin said the smaller scope allows him to view the entire colon and spot questionable areas that are hiding in tiny crevices.

“In this situation what we do is we employ a special technique of internal compression as well as frequent suctioning where we actually sleeve the colon onto the scope itself thus allowing us to get all the way around to the end,” Eskin added.

operating room.

“In comparison with the surgery it’s better to stay on the table 15 minutes more than 15 weeks more after surgery,” said Rodriguez.

“Patients demand quick procedures and that’s a big mistake. What a person should know is that a colonoscopy that is too short, a 10 minute colonoscopy for example, is likely to be an incomplete one in that it’s not a good examination, Eskin concluded.

A colonoscopy is not only a screening measure; it can also be a preventive tool when polyps are spotted and removed.

The complete colonoscopy takes 15 minutes longer than a traditional one, but for patients like Rodriguez it’s worth the extra time.

Eskin found and removed a polyp from Rodriguez’ colon keeping him out of the

New Drug Resistant Superbug Poised To Go Global Reporting Tim Kephart L O N D O N (CBS4) — A new disease resistant to the most powerful antibiotics is showing up in UK hospitals and experts fear the superbug will go global soon.

Health experts in the United Kingdom said bacteria that make an enzyme called NDM1 appeared in patients who traveled to India and Pakistan for plastic surgery.

So far, there have been only 50 cases found in the U.K., but that number is expected grow according to the BBC. What makes this superbug different than past potential epidemics is that NDM-1 can

live inside other bacteria and then make both resistant to one of the most powerful groups of antibiotics.

In addition, disinfecting hospital equipment and washing hands with antibacterial soap can also help.

This potential led UK officials to say that it could jump to other strains of bacteria that are already resistant to other antibiotics.

Source: BBC

U.K. experts say that could then produce dangerous infections that could spread from person to person and be nearly next to impossible to cure or treat.

According to the BBC report, infections with the disease have been found in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands. In addition, “infections have been passed from patient to patient in U.K. hospitals.”

Experts said the best ways to stop the spread of the disease is to rapidly identify the patients and isolate them from other patients immediately.

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He said recent data suggests a colonoscopy is an operator dependent examination so the more thorough the exam the better.

To contact Dr. Eskin call Coral Gables Hospital at 305-445-8461. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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Crabs Suggest Oil Will Stay In Seafood For Years She wouldn’t estimate how much of the crab larvae are contaminated overall, but said about 40 percent of the area they are known to inhabit has been affected by oil from the spill.

Tulane University researchers are investigating whether the splotches also contain toxic chemical dispersants that were spread to break up the oil but have reached no conclusions, biologist Caz Taylor said.

BARATARIA, La (CBS News) — To assess how heavy a blow the BP oil spill has dealt the Gulf of Mexico, researchers are closely watching a staple of the seafood industry and primary indicator of the ecosystem’s health: the blue crab.

Weeks ago, before engineers pumped in mud and cement to plug the gusher, scientists began finding specks of oil in crab larvae plucked from waters across the Gulf coast.

The government said last week that three-quarters of the spilled oil has been removed or naturally dissipated from the water. But the crab larvae discovery was an ominous sign that crude had already infiltrated the Gulf’s vast food web - and could affect it for years to come.

“It would suggest the oil has reached a position where it can start moving up the food chain instead of just hanging in the water,” said Bob Thomas, a biologist at Loyola University in New Orleans.

“Something likely will eat those oiled larvae ... and then that animal will be eaten by something bigger and so on.”

Tiny creatures might take in such low amounts of oil that they could survive, Thomas said. But those at the top of the chain, such as dolphins and tuna, could get fatal “megadoses.”

Marine biologists routinely gather shellfish for study. Since the spill began, many of the crab larvae collected have had the distinctive orange oil droplets, said Harriet Perry, a biologist with the University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory.

“In my 42 years of studying crabs I’ve never seen this,” Perry said.

If large numbers of blue crab larvae are tainted, their population is virtually certain to take a hit over the next year and perhaps longer, scientists say.

How large the die-off would be is unclear, Perry said.

The flow of new oil into the Gulf has been stopped since late last month and the government said Monday that drilling has resumed on a relief well seen as the ultimate step in sealing the busted well for good.

The relief well will be used to pump more cement and mud into the busted well to permanently seal the source of the oil that spilled into the Gulf for nearly three months.

Federal officials have long said the relief well is the final step to ending the oil leak, which spewed an estimated 207 million gallons of crude into the Gulf of Mexico since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded and sank in late April.

The oil is already back at its source, thanks to the “static kill,” which involved thousands of gallons of mud and cement being poured last week through a cap that had been keeping the crude out of the water since July 15. The cement cap poured on top of the oil hardened enough over the weekend so engineers could begin digging the final 100 feet of the well again, according to a news release from the company.

Scientists studying the effects of the oil in the Gulf will be focusing on crabs because they’re a “keystone species” that play a crucial role in the food web as both predator and prey, Perry said.

Richard Condrey, a Louisiana State University oceanographer, said the crabs are “a living repository of information on the health of the environment.”

Named for the light-blue tint of their claws, the crabs have thick shells and 10 legs, allowing them to swim and scuttle across bottomlands. As adults, they live in the Gulf’s bays and estuaries amid marshes that offer protection and abundant food, including snails, tiny shellfish, plants and even smaller crabs.

In turn, they provide sustenance for a variety of wildlife, from redfish to raccoons and whooping cranes.

Adults could be harmed by direct contact with oil and from eating polluted food.

But scientists are particularly worried about the vulnerable larvae.

That’s because females don’t lay their eggs in sheltered places, but in areas where estuaries meet the open sea.

Condrey discovered several years ago that some even deposit offspring on shoals miles offshore in the Gulf.

The larvae grow as they drift with the currents back toward the estuaries for a month or longer. Many are eaten by predators, and only a handful of the 3 million or so eggs from a single female live to adulthood.

But their survival could drop even lower if the larvae run into oil and dispersants.

“Crabs are very abundant. I don’t think we’re looking at extinction or anything close to it,” said Taylor, one of the researchers who discovered the orange spots.

Still, crabs and other estuary-dependent species such as shrimp and red snapper could feel the effects of remnants of the spill for years, Perry said.

“There could be some mortality, but how much is impossible to say at this point,” said Vince Guillory, biologist manager with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Perry, Taylor and Condrey will be among scientists monitoring crabs for negative effects such as population drop-offs and

damage to reproductive capabilities and growth rates.

Crabs are big business in the region. In Louisiana alone, some 33 million pounds are harvested annually, generating nearly $300 million in economic activity, Guillory said.

But fishermen who can make a six-figure income off crabs in a good year now are now idled - and worried about the future.

“If they’d let us go out and fish today, we’d probably catch crabs,” said Glen Despaux, 37, who sets his traps in Louisiana’s Barataria Bay. “But what’s going to happen next year, if this water is polluted and it’s killing the eggs and the larvae? I think it’s going to be a longterm problem.” (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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Reverse Shoulder Surgery Giving Patients New Life Reporting Cynthia Demos W E S T O N (CBS4) — S h o u l d e r arthritis and rotator cuff tears are common causes of pain in adults. When someone has both of these problems traditional surgery often does not help. But a procedure called “reverse shoulder surgery” is bringing some patients much needed relief.

For more than a year golf enthusiast Susan Blankenship was unable to hit the links after she fell and hurt her shoulder.

such as pulling up your pants, getting dressed was very difficult, hanging clothes in your closet, changing the radio station in your car.”

“In the absence of a functioning rotator cuff, there’s really nothing that can compress the joint and the joint literally becomes unstable,” said orthopedic surgeon Gregory Gilot of the Cleveland Clinic in Weston.

Gilot said that’s what happened in Blankenship’s previous surgeries; without a rotator cuff the socket was loosening. Her only chance for improvement was undergoing reverse shoulder surgery.

The Palm Beach Gardens resident took a swing at shoulder replacement surgery not once, not twice, but three times in one year and each one failed.

“We put the socket on the ball portion and we put the ball on the socket portion.

What we literally do is constrain the joint,” Gilot said. “If you think about it; we kind of put a hinge in the joint which allows the joint to be stable. And that allows the remaining shoulder muscles that are working to elevate the shoulder above head.”

“I was very frustrated and in a lot of pain,” Blankenship explained. “I was unable to do normal every day activities

After the reverse shoulder surgery, Blankenship was able to return to normal activities including playing golf.

“It turned out I had a torn rotator cuff and that I needed surgery,” Susan said.

“I have no pain. I have great movement in my shoulder. And I’m able to do everything I could do before. I would say that it definitely gave me my life back,” Blankenship noted.

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Reverse shoulder surgery is typically reserved for older patients and it’s a bit more complicated. But according to the doctor, patients have a quicker recovery than after traditional shoulder surgery.

To contact Dr. Gilot about this surgery go to clevelandclinic.org (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Fragmented Attention Span Interrupts Memory Reporting Jorge Estevez M I A M I (CBS4) — Do you think you are forgetting too many things? Maybe you think it is so bad that you may have a condition like Alzheimer’s? As it turns out, it may not be medical but instead a sign of the times.

As a society, we have so much going on that multi-tasking is no longer a gift.

Instead, it has become a necessity.

“You are constantly thinking as humans, our attention is everywhere,” said Robert Ortega.

That fragmented attention span is causing us to forget what we actually need to do next, but often times we don’t laugh. In fact, we freak and think, is this Alzheimer’s, a condition thought to be found primarily in older people?

“I forget a lot of things. I think for my age it is pretty bad,” Brigitte Nucci told CBS4’s Jorge Estevez.

But old or not, forgetfulness may have more to do with our lifestyles than a disease.

“I don’t think it is necessary a disease rather the high speed life that we live, the constant distractions, and the so many things going on at once,” said Robert Ortega.

“As society gets more complex and we start doing more and more things, it is hard to keep all those things in an organized way in the brain,” said Dr. Clinton Wright, director of the Center for Age Related Memory Loss at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine. Wright believes all our activity is putting pressure on people’s brain.

illness,” said Dr. Wright.

Keep mind, although it may not be an illness, people may need to address it, especially if it begins to affect people’s daily lives.

Physical exercise and mental activity like cross Words Puzzles are thought to keep the mind sharp.

“As the decades go on and we get busier and busier it is harder for people to keep track of all the information that they need to keep track of,” said Dr. Wright.

One sign that you may have a problem is when others notice you are forgetting things you shouldn’t.

And failing to keep track of those things doesn’t mean people have a problem.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

“I think it is reasonable for very busy people to forget certain things and not go to the doctor and think they have an

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Jimmy Johnson Competing On Survivor: Nicaragua many things on and off the football field.

But now, Johnson will test his abilities to survive on the upcoming Survivor: Nicaragua, airing on CBS4.

The series started filming at the end of June and will be completed in time for Johnson to return to television as a football analyst.

At 67-years-old, Johnson will be one of the oldest contestants to appear on the hit CBS show.

SAN JUAN DEL SUR, Nicaragua (CBS4) — Former University of Miami, Dallas Cowboys, and Miami Dolphins head football coach Jimmy Johnson survived

But Johnson isn’t the only contestant on Survivor: Nicaragua with a South Florida connection.

Twenty-seven-year-old Brenda Lowe of Miami will be competing on the show along with Johnson.

The show will have two teams again this season. Johnson will compete on Team Espada; while his fellow South Floridian, Lowe, will compete against him on Team La Flor.

Survivor: Nicaragua will premiere on September 15 and continue to air on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on CBS4 until the season concludes.

For more information on the show and the contestants, click here.

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Madonna Wants To “Dress You Up” Reporting Christina Loren MIAMI (CBS4) — Another superstar celebrity is diving into the fashion world.

Entertainment icon Madonna wants girls to “strike a pose” in her new clothing line.

Madonna launched her new clothing line for tweens Tuesday just in time for backto-school shopping.

The Material Girl Collection is a collaboration of designs between Madonna and her daughter Lourdes “Lola” Ciccone Leon who is 13 years old.

Eager fans and fashionistas who wanted to be the first to purchase the clothes danced to Madonna songs of the 80s at the Dadeland Mall Macy’s as the store celebrated the launch of the new Material

Girl clothing line.

“I’d wear it like everywhere, every night to bed, I don’t even care, I love it,” said shopper Alexdra Cernuda.

Madonna is a legendary fashion icon.

Who can forget her famous bustiers. Well, they’re back.

“There’s a lot of vintage Madonna in this line, but there is also a lot of Lourdes’ younger influence and its’ great to see it all mesh together,” said Dori Robau of Macy’s.

The fashion forward apparel combine Madonna signature style from the 80s with more current trends like camoflage and plaid.

“It’s kind of cool to make the connection over the generations,” said one mother and daughter.

In addition to a tiered tulle miniskirt and a body-hugging lace dress, the collection includes cargo shorts, blazers, print

dresses, skinny jeans, tops and an assortment of leggings. Accessories include metal chains, faux pearls and small studded handbags. To add the “wow” factor, there’s a studded leather biker jacket retailing for $80.00. There’s also ballet flats in floral and snake prints, combat boots and some flat laced oxfords included in the line.

The collection is all about layering and bringing together the feminine and the edgy and it’s not expensive.

“It actually ranges in price from twelve to forty dollars,” said Robau.

The Material Girl Collection is available at Macy’s locations and online.

CBS4’s Lisa Cilli contributed to this report. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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Dolphins Not Among NFL’s Elite Teams Reporting Tim Kephart MIAMI (CBS4) — Miami Dolphins fans revel in the team’s potential for the future, despite not having won a Super Bowl since the 1970’s.

But, according to Portfolio.com, the Dolphins have a long way to go before they can be considered with the top teams in the NFL.

Journal, average home game attendance was 67,542 and the team’s value was estimated to be $1.02 billion; though NFL owners refuse to reveal how much each franchise is worth.

The New Orleans Saints were the best on the field last season, finishing with a 13-3 record and ending the season hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at Sun Life Stadium.

But when you add in the money-making factor, the Saints couldn’t overtake the Dallas Cowboys for the number one team. Thus proving to some that the Cowboys remain, “America’s Team.”

Source: South Florida Business Journal

Portfolio rated the Dolphins as the 23rd best franchise in the league in 2009. The rankings of all 32 teams were based on how franchises attacked twin missions: winning games, and making money.

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Wyclef Jean Wants Dual Citizenship For Haitians Reporting Peter D’Oench P O RT- A U PRINCE, Haiti (CBS4) — In a move that could have a major impact on H a i t i a n Americans living in South Florida, hip hop artist and presidential hopeful Wyclef Jean said Saturday that as leader he would work to change Haiti’s constitution to allow dual citizenship and give many Haitians living abroad the right to vote in their homeland.

That would allow the tens of thousands of Haitians living in South Florida to vote in their country’s elections, even if they become U.S. Citizens, something that is not currently allowed for any Haitian living abroad.

Jean points to other countries, such as the Dominican Republic, that allow its citizens to hold two passports.

The issue is central in Haiti where hundreds of thousands have emigrated to flee poverty and the money they send to relatives back home is a vital source of income in the earthquake-ravaged Caribbean nation.

Currently, Haitians who emigrate must renounce their Haitian citizenship if they become citizens of another country, making them unable to vote or run for office in their homeland. Jean himself left Haiti for New York City when he was nine, but never sought U.S. citizenship.

Even if Haitians living in the US as noncitizens want to return to their homeland to vote, many don’t realistically have that opportunity because their immigration status could keep them out of the US if they return to Haiti.

The former Fugees frontman said his presidency would be a “bridge” between the Haitians abroad and those living in the country.

“The future is dual citizenship,” he said, adding that many countries, including the neighboring Dominican Republic, allow citizens to hold two passports.

Haitians abroad “should have the right to

vote in their country,” especially since they send billions in remittances to family members.

“To save the country, it’s not just going to take aid,” he said. “It’s going to take investment. That’s the message.”

“I will exercise my right as commander in chief to fight all forms of corruption,” he said.

“If they are the ones who keep this country alive, they should have some kind of say on what kind of government structure there is,” the 40-year-old singer said.

To be sure, Jean himself has a big hurdle to clear before he actually campaigns for office.

(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Congressional candidate Phillip Brutus said American Haitians have people back home depending on them for survival. “I think it’s proper and it’s logical. The Haitian (community here) is a cash cow for the Haitian economy. I think it’s only fair we get a chance to vote in Haiti. Most developed countries have that.” (1221) Jean arrived in Haiti after giving a concert in Belgium. He said it might be one of his last performances for five years if elected.

People in Haiti have long relied on family and friends abroad to make ends meet.

Remittances are the main source of income in the country of more than 9 million people, 70 percent of whom are unemployed and 90 percent of whom live in poverty.

According to a survey for the InterAmerican Development Bank, 33 percent of Haitians receive cash from abroad and nearly 75 percent of the money is spent on food, housing, utilities and clothing. Food and other gifts are also sent.

Congressional candidate Marlene Bastien (D) said she supports the dual-citizen notion.

“This is an issue we’ve been organizing around for many years now. We believe there are over 2 million Haitian Americans living in the U.S. and they have great resources.”

The average remittance in Haiti is about $150 and those who receive them typically get about 10 transfers a year, for an average total of $1,500, the IDB survey shows. A Haitian’s per-capita income in 2008 was about $1,300, according to the CIA World Factbook.

Jean noted that over a five-year period, the remittances total almost the same amount that has been so far pledged by donors to help reconstruct Haiti.

An eight-member provisional electoral council is scheduled to decide Tuesday whether Jean will even be listed on the Nov. 28 presidential ballot. According to the country’s constitution, Haitian presidents must have lived in the country at least five consecutive years before election day.

When asked whether he would allow Aristide — who won elections in 1990 and 2000 only to be ousted twice first by a coup and then a rebellion — back into the country, Jean was circumspect.

“I look forward to the return of everyone,” he said.

He also addressed Haiti’s notorious corruption by saying that he wants to pay people a minimum wage and pay public servants on time.

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Horoscopes provided by www.astrology-online.com

NEWSPAPER news powered by

Virgo

(July 23-Aug. 23)

(Aug. 24-Sept. 22)

A trip to visit relatives should be rewarding.

Don’t be too quick to respond to a plea for help. Rely on the one you love for support and affection. You will find their philosophies worth exploring. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

PUBLISHER Tony Gambirazio

Don’t hesitate to sign up for creative courses or physical fitness programs. Travel will be fun and entertaining. Avoid any over indulgences. Your contributions will be valued and helpful. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Thursday.

Sagittarius

Libra

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Scorpio

DIRECTOR OF SALES Cesar Rodriguez

Do your own thing without drawing attention to it. Expand your knowledge and sign up for courses and seminars. You might not be as reserved on an emotional level as you’d like. You’ll have great insight. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES Ines Collado Ayla Sedlacek INSIDE SALES Sarah White OFFICE MANAGER Montserrat Surroca FRANCHISING Tony Gambirazio

Taurus

(Jan. 21-Feb. 18)

(Apr. 21-May 21)

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Don’t let your emotional upset interfere with your professional objectives. Limitations with females could lead to unfortunate circumstances. You will find that friends or relatives may not understand your needs.

Don’t overspend on luxury items. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

Aquarius Don’t overreact if your partner has a poor attitude. Control your temper by getting immersed in your work. Partnerships will be successful. You will need to do a lot of research if you wish to get to the bottom of things. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday.

Gemini

(Feb. 19-Mar. 20)

(May 22-June 21)

9 5 3 8 1 2 4 7 6

(Mar. 21-Apr. 20)

Renovations or purchases made for your home will payoff. A little rest will do wonders.

Your ability to be a self starter will help get things done and motivate others. Your efforts won’t go unnoticed; however, someone you work with may get jealous. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Saturday.

Cancer (June 22-July 22)

Your dedication and fortitude when dealing with humanitarian groups will enhance your reputation.

Don’t make mountains out of molehills if you want to avoid conflict. Don’t expect new acquaintances to be completely honest about themselves. Make changes around your house and plan to do some entertaining.Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday.

All your energy should be directed into moneymaking opportunities. Try to enlist the help of those you trust in order to fulfill the demands being made of you. You will find that you are able to clear up a number of small but important details. You’re in the mood to spend time with your lover. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Saturday.

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3x3 box Iin black borders) contains every digit 1 to 9.

August 6th Solution

7 6 2 4 5 9 3 1 8

If you’re uncertain of your feelings, keep your opinions to yourself. You could have a change of heart if an old flame waltzes back into your life. Unexpected bills may set you back. This is a great day to mingle with people you would like to impress. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

Aries

Someone around you may not be trustworthy.

Focus on forming business partnerships. Stand up and propose your ideas, and you’ll be surprised how many people will follow you.

Don’t push your mate if you want to keep this union going. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

Pisces You can expect to face opposition on the home front. Pleasure trips will bring you into contact with new and interesting people. You may be uncertain about some of your coworkers and your boss. You’ll find it easy to talk about your feeling this month. Don’t hesitate to find out what your mate’s intentions are. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Tuesday.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 20)

Romantic opportunities will develop through friends or relatives. Avoid letting children and friends borrow. You’ll find travel or involvement in large groups gratifying. Your mate will enjoy helping out. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

ART DIRECTOR Tammy Kukic

Capricorn

4 1 8 3 7 6 2 9 5

2 7 6 9 8 1 5 3 4

3 8 5 6 4 7 1 2 9

1 4 9 2 3 5 8 6 7

8 9 4 7 2 3 6 5 1

6 3 1 5 9 4 7 8 2

5 2 7 1 6 8 9 4 3

6 4 7

3 8

9 2 3 1

6 4

Look For Our Next Edition: SEPTEMBER 3, 2010

2 8 5 9 3

1 1 7 7 5 6 8 2 9

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