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December 3, 2010

rising in south florida

From glamorous hotels to seedy motels, Miami has emerged as a profitable target for human traffickers.

ALSO INSIDE Protecting Kids From Identity Theft Research Group Reveals “Trouble In Toyland” IRS Owes $20 Million In Refunds To Floridians Yoga Class Teaches Cancer Victims To Shed Stress Disney Parks Experience Enhanced By Smart Phones Report: Heat Players Grumbling About Spoelstra

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December 3, 2010

I-Team: Human Trafficking Rising In So. Florida Reporting Michele Gillen MIAMI (CBS4) — “In Miami we found a h u m a n trafficking trade like we didn’t find in any other places,” says an alarmed Aaron Cohen, a modern day abolitionist who has documented the slave trade around globe many times over.

From glamorous hotels to seedy motels,Aaron Cohen says Miami has emerged as a profitable target for human traffickers.

Emerging from his undercover work, he met with Chief I-Team Investigator Michele Gillen and walked her through a collection of his videos that show how some of these young women find themselves literally locked away with no freedom to leave or say “no” to being prostituted for sex.

getting locked in a house” Assisting in what ‘s called a “break away”, Cohen is a human rights advocate known as ‘The Slave Hunter’ - and he bought a so-called date with the girl to help her break away from her captors.

“They locked her in closets, they beat her if she disobeyed, they would starve her if she disobeyed,” says Cohen She is one of thousands of women, men and children who have been rescued by Cohen, who often works undercover and along side law enforcement in some of the most dangerous, darkest places in the world. His aim now...our backyard.

“You have to look at on the East Coast, the cocaine cartels. The cartels are bringing girls in in droves into Miami,” says Cohen.

“You make them money. You are a money machine for them,” the interventionist explains to the girl with the hope of giving her hope and an exit.

“When you think of trafficking in the US you have to make the connection with organized crime. And organized crime has drugs as their number one business, sex trafficking as their number two business and arms as their number three. What people are failing to realize is our own US citizens are being trafficked. Runaways who are picked up within hours of running away from their families are moved from state to state, forced into prostitution and other horrible acts,” says Carmin Pino, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, based in Miami.

The young woman responds “I ended up

Pino says he is outraged and haunted by

On one, you hear a counselor who is called an interventionist, speaking with a young woman who, Cohen explains was a run away, lured to Miami with the promise of working as a model.

this illegal trade and how South Florida has become a magnet for it and young American runaways are ever more vulnerable.

“We have very high end trafficking. (In) our escort services because Miami is very high end and a lot of money is involved.

And now what’s becoming a very bad trend. US citizens are being abducted and taken abroad and they are being forced into a variety of heinous crimes,”says Pino.

Breaking girls into the trade often involves multiple rapes and torture.

“I was not prepared to see the amount of depravity that I was going to witness,” Cohen shares with Gillen.

Nor is local law enforcement. Police painfully told Gillen about an 18 year-old girl who they say was lured from a BBQ to go to a party. Instead she was brought to one Miami hotel and then another, where it’s alleged she was beaten and kept against her will for 31 days forced to essentially work those days and nights as a sex slave.

A Miami man and woman were arrested in the case and are set to stand trial in December for alleged crimes that include sex trafficking and kidnapping.

Meanwhile, it is the hoped for rescues that keeps Cohen going into the trades worst danger zones, including post earthquake Haiti.

But it is the reunions of freed slaves with their long lost loved ones, as he documented in Sudan, that propels him to find the next survivor and strengthens his voice to wake up the world. His message, “If we don’t do something about these problems we are feeding this monster that is going to eat us alive.”

ICE encourages the public to report suspicious criminal activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.

For more information, www.abolishslavery.com

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on

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December 3, 2010

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I Team: Jackson CEO Facing New Questions Reporting Jim DeFede MIAMI (CBS4) — Eneida Roldan, the president and CEO of J a c k s o n Memorial Hospital, appears to have misled county commissioners about her role in a sweetheart contract for the head of one of Jackson’s foundation, according to documents obtained by CBS4 News.

On Sunday, the CBS4 I Team revealed that Rolando Rodriguez, president and chief executive officer for Foundation Health Services (FHS), was slated to receive a $52,500 golden parachute if Jackson decided to terminate its relationship to FHS. Foundation Health Services was already under fire for wasteful spending, including a $6,295, five day Caribbean cruise for Rodriguez and his staff -which Rodriguez had tried to bill as a “strategic retreat.”

On Tuesday, when county commissioners met to discuss the problems surrounding FHS, Eneida Roldan was specifically asked by County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez if she knew how the $52,500 severance agreement was added to Rodriguez’s contract Roldan demurred and gave commissioners the impression she knew nothing about the contract or the severance deal.

“I sit on both boards,” she said, referring to Foundation Health Services and Jackson Memorial Foundation, “but I’m not part of the executive committee.”

“Does it have to go before the board or just the executive committee?” Gimenez asked.

Services board that these things don’t come to the full board and they are not brought to light.”

withheld from me information. She did know what was going on. She was aware of what was happening.”

“I guess it wasn’t a mystery at all,” Gimenez said Friday night. “Dr. Roldan knew exactly what was going on.”

But in fact, Rodriguez’s contract did go before the full board, according to minutes of the September 30, 2010 board meeting obtained by CBS4 News. Those minutes also reveal that Roldan was present and that “the members were in accord with all the terms of the new contract.”

Roldan told CBS4 News it was not her intention to mislead Gimenez and the other commissioners. “My recollection is I did not vote for the contract,” she said.

“I voted for Mr. Diamond to have the authority to negotiate the contract.”

The impact of this revelation is still to be determined. Commissioners have had an uneasy relationship with Roldan for some time and several commissioners have been openly hostile to her, believing she should not remain as the hospital’s CEO.

As to the 12-month, lump sum payment of $52,500 to Rodriguez, Roldan disputes the draft minutes which claim she and the other board members tentatively supported granting Rodriguez that severance package. Roldan said she has “no recollection” of the lump sum payment being discussed.

If commissioners believe Roldan deliberately misled them, they could use that as grounds to remove her. Gimenez made it clear his patience with Roldan may be nearing an end.

The minutes state that board members wanted additional time “to review thoroughly [the terms of the deal] prior to approving” but the minutes also laid out the most controversial section of the contract, Rodriguez’s “12-month compensation lump sum payment.” The $52,500 payment would be made in the event that Jackson terminates its relationship with FHS. When CBS4 News confronted Roldan with a copy of the September 30 minutes, Roldan admitted she was at the foundation board meeting and was present when Rodriguez’s contract was discussed.

But she disputed certain aspects of the meeting minutes, saying they were “draft minutes” and had not yet been approved by the board. “This is just a draft,” Roldan said Friday pointing to a copy of the minutes provided to her by CBS4. “It means it has not been approved.”

Nevertheless, Roldan said she does recall the conversation over Rodriguez’s contract. “My recollection is that we delegated authority to Mr. Diamond to negotiate the contract,” Roldan said. “Mr. Diamond was going to go and discuss this with Mr. Rodriguez.”

Alan Diamond is chairman of the Foundation Health Services.

executive

Friday evening Gimenez said he was stunned by the revelation that Roldan was at the foundation board meeting and participated in the discussion over Rodriguez’s contract.

Gimenez responded by saying, “I’m surprised actually Dr. Roldan that as a member of the Foundation Health

“I asked specific questions and she led me to believe she had no idea how this came about,” Gimenez said. “I don’t know if she lied to me but she clearly

“I believe it’s through committee,” Roldan replied.

“I don’t remember that,” she said. “No, I don’t.”

Roldan said she was “irate” over the unauthorized release of the minutes of the September 30 meeting and has demanded that the Foundation Health Service board hold an immediate meeting to find out who leaked the minutes.

Asked why she didn’t tell commissioners she had voted to give Diamond the authority to negotiate Rodriguez’s contract, Roldan said the conversation with commissioners ended up going in a different direction and she didn’t have a chance to tell them.

But a review of the county commission meeting shows the topic came up time and time again.

“Who approved repeatedly asked.

that?”

Gimenez

The County Attorney’s Office said they didn’t know who approved the $52,500 severance agreement with Rodriguez. At another point, Gimenez turned to the county’s Inspector General, Chris Mazella.

“Mr. Mazella,” Gimenez began, “do you have the answer to my question?”

“Nope,” Mazella said. “It’s a mystery.”

As Mazella spoke, Roldan was standing next to him and said nothing.

“I don’t have any confidence anymore that if I bring Roldan up to the podium I will get a straight answer,” he said. “If I can’t trust her, then that’s a real problem.” (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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I-Team: Old Maps Flooding Homeowners With Problems Reporting Stephen Stock MIAMI (CBS4) — Wine might get better with age, but there’s nothing fine about aging flood maps. Yet the CBS4 ITeam has discovered that the rates many South Floridians pay for flood insurance are based on outdated, inaccurate, and flawed mapping standards and techniques.

I-Team Investigative Reporter Stephen Stock uncovers the information flood officials don’t want you to know.

The three stages to financial ruin for the National Flood Insurance program came in the form of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma… all in 2005.

As the levee’s broke in New Orleans, and coastal waters overwhelmed the gulf coast and Florida’s Atlantic shores, an outdated and underfunded system of handling flood insurance... snapped like a twig under the weight of claims and payouts.

“We have a flood protection system that is just simply not working,” says Florida Senator Bill Nelson.

whatsoever.”

year to year.”

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz has a theory. “I believe that they have to make the money somewhere.

That’s a heavy debt.”

“There are supposed to be new maps every five or six years,” says U.S. Senator Bill Nelson.

Diaz represents the Sweetwater area.

During the 2000 “no name” storm, Sweetwater and much of West Dade was devastated by flooding. Since then, Diaz says the county got $800 million from the federal government to solve the flooding problem in his district and other parts of the county.

“We did everything that was, at the time, cutting edge technology within the water systems. We fixed all this stuff working together.”

Yet hundred of his constituents now find themselves mapped into flood zones or higher risk areas.

A map of Miami-Dade from 1994 compared to the new FEMA map issued in September of 2009 shows the many changes 15 years later. Though officials say many Miami-Dade residents were mapped out of a flood zone, the map shows that others now find themselves, for the first time, suddenly living in a flood zone without ever moving.

Even more astounding, the I-Team has learned that a critical elevation measurement standard, used to create the FEMA flood maps, hasn’t changed since the roaring 20’s!

Flappers, fringe, the Charleston and speakeasies! It was 1929, three years after the deadly 1926 “unnamed” hurricane in Miami, and two years after the great Mississippi flood of 1927, when the U.S. government set the measurement standard that has been used to create elevation levels for flood maps, including the newest maps for Miami-Dade county.

“The maps are FEMA maps. We cannot publish those maps,” says Blanco-Pape.

“Unincorporated Miami-Dade County has a storm water master plan and we do modeling continuously. And why is that?

Because conditions change.”

You can try to change your flood zone designation through an appeal. But you’ll have to hire a personal property surveyor and pay for the privilege of trying to prove the government wrong.

That means that for the very first time, many people who suddenly find themselves in a flood zone, are being required to carry flood insurance by their mortgage lender.

Jacinto Acebal did. So did 318 of his neighbors.

Katrina, Rita and Wilma drove the National Flood Insurance Program $18.7 billion dollars into debt.

And often, the insurance isn’t cheap, as Acebal and his neighbors found out.

In April, FEMA director Craig Fugate told congress, “It is unlikely that we will ever retire this debt.”

“One person was $800, another one was $2,000, another one was $5,000. And these are the same type of units.”

Even though FEMA told congress that the special flood hazard zone area has increased by 7% across the country the I-Team has learned that here in Miami-Dade more property owners were mapped *out* of flood zones than were mapped *in*.

One way to tackle that problem Fugate explained is to increase the number of people who must pay for flood insurance.

FEMA’s goal he announced is a 5% annual increase.

So what’s going on? The I-Team asked the chief of Miami-Dade County’s water management division.

Meanwhile, new FEMA flood maps are scheduled for release in Broward County next year.

“You can see that whole intersection is out of the flood zone before,” said Marina Blanco-Pape. “The last maps, at least for Miami-Dade county, they were done in ‘94, ‘95.”

For more information in Miami-Dade, call 305-372-6466. For all other information from FEMA, go to http:// www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/.

According to Nelson, one of the things not working is the amount of red ink.

Jacinto Acebal has lived in his condo building in West Miami-Dade, since it was built 9-years ago.

“And all of a sudden they put us into a flood zone.”

Has his complex ever flooded? “No flood

That’s right! 15-years have lapsed since FEMA published new flood maps for Miami-Dade, even though the agency’s own website says “flood risk changes from

“Guess what? We’re not in a flood zone!”

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E-Mails Show Struggle To Guess Size Of Gulf Spill a draft of the government’s report wasn’t actually round: “A pie chart pretty much has to round to 100,” NOAA spokeswoman Jennifer Austin wrote.

WASHINGTON (CBS4) — The Obama administration struggled behind the scenes to determine how much oil spilled in the Gulf of Mexico from a BP well this year and defended estimates that for months were inaccurate, according to thousands of government e-mails.

A senior scientist who led the federal effort, Bill Lehr of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, noted that the administration went public with a summary of estimates before experts could finish their work.

An Environmental Protection Agency memo, one of many showing uncertainty, said, “EPA agrees that the ultimate message to the public will likely be that the oil was successfully dispersed with chemical dispersants, but until we know with some degree of certainty ... we are hesitant to assign distinct percentages at this time.”

Lehr said the calculations made public represented “our best guess,” adding, “Yes, it is a guess.”

The government said this week that its final estimate, of 172 million gallons of oil poring into the ocean between April 20 and July 15, was accurate.

The behind-the-scenes e-mails hint at uncertainties in what the government knew during the summer, even as its scientists wrestled over how to measure oil leaking from a runaway well a mile under the ocean.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson was “concerned about the level of certainty implied in the pie and cylinder charts.”

Another e-mail noticed that a pie chart in

An e-mail from EPA official Bob Perciasepe to other U.S. officials warned: “I think you are making a mistake on the separate estimates of dispersal but I have no additional arguments other than it is not verifiable and we will be trying to explain it for the rest of our time on this. I will take it up with White House.”

Lehr’s top boss at NOAA, Jane Lubchenco, cautioned a colleague about how to present the government’s findings. “I believe we owe it to everyone to provide the best estimates we can where direct measurements are not possible,” she wrote. “We also need to be forthright about how certain we are about each number, which we’ve done.”

The e-mails were obtained by The Associated Press under the Freedom of Information Act. U.S. officials clearly understood the possible economic consequences of their findings. Anticipating a question in August for an upcoming news conference, a NOAA spokeswoman asked scientists, “What impact, if any, will this report have in determining BP’s financial liability for this spill?” The answer: The U.S. can fine BP up to $4,300 per barrel of oil that is counted as leaked.

The documents released Wednesday by the Commerce Department, NOAA’s parent agency, were significant because they revealed conversations among scientists working on the forecasts of oil in the Gulf. The government released 5,817 pages of files late in the afternoon on the eve of Thanksgiving, traditionally a period when few people are paying attention to news reports because of holiday travel.

Measuring the spill accurately was important to deciding how to respond appropriately and to the administration’s credibility. But the government didn’t arrive at a reliable estimate until June 15,

nearly two months after the disaster began with the explosion and fire aboard the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig.

The government released the files to news organizations and Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., who with other lawmakers had asked for the records in August. “The public has a right to know right now what is going on in the Gulf of Mexico, and your report should be analyzed by others right now so that we are sure we got it right,” Markey told Lehr, who defended the government’s estimates during congressional testimony.

Lehr subsequently told colleagues that none of the terrible places where he studied past oil spills — freezing cold in Alaska, stifling heat in Louisiana or dodging missiles in Arabia — had prepared him for his unpleasant experience in Washington testifying to Congress.

was “gone.” In a new study published Tuesday, the government itself acknowledged that its oil calculations were never intended to “provide information about the impact of the oil, nor indicate where the oil is now.”

The newly disclosed documents also described leaks and accidental disclosures.

Administration officials worried at times about leaks and inadvertent Internet postings. Dan Leistikow at the Energy Department urgently sought access in June to high-resolution video of the runaway well that had already aired on CNN, which he said was “probably leaked from someone.” It turned out that the Coast Guard had the video all along.

Associated Press writer Ted Bridis contributed to this report.

Online:

The presidential commission investigating the oil spill concluded last month in an interim report that government mistakes on its estimates led to perceptions that it was incompetent or not candid about the oil spill. It said federal officials underestimated the amount of oil flowing from the well, then also underestimated the amount of oil that had spilled in the Gulf.

The panel also previously criticized statements by President Barack Obama’s energy adviser, Carol Browner, who mischaracterized on national TV the government’s analysis about where the oil went, saying it showed most of the oil

Nov. 23 report on government’s oil estimates: http://tinyurl.com/255wezn Presidential Commission’s Oct. 6 report on government’s oil estimates: http:// tinyurl.com/26hj3qq (© 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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Broward County Portable Classrooms May Go To Haiti Reporting Carey Codd

“People are living in mud. Disease is spreading. How can you not reach out to try and help. We have these assets here in the United States ready for shipment.”

The doctor, Aldy Castor, and the foreman, Lionel Occelus, say the portables can easily be taken apart and put back together in Haiti.

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) — Hundreds of unused portable classrooms sit baking in the South Florida sun. As they decay, a South Florida attorney sees an opportunity.

Mitch Chester has worked diligently since CBS4 first told you his story over the summer to get dozens -- possibly hundreds -- of vacant portables sent to Haiti.

Recently, Chester brought a HaitianAmerican doctor and a construction foreman from Haiti to a Broward County school site in Fort Lauderdale where dozens of portables sit empty.

“Almost 11 months after the earthquake people are living in tents,” Chester said.

They envision the structures being used as medical clinics, classrooms and housing for the more than one million people living in tents following January’s hurricane.

And with Haiti facing a cholera epidemic, the need is even more urgent.

“I think this could make a big change in their lives,” Dr. Castor told CBS 4’s Carey Codd.

faced since he took on this herculean task, is finding funding to ship the portables to Haiti.

“Logistically, we need shipping either by barge or airlift or both and we need the money to be able to get it done,” he said, adding that his goal is to send 50 of the portables to Haiti by the end of December.

One thing the group has worked out is avoiding taxes once the portables arrive.

Castor said his non-profit organization will allow them to avoid the taxes, which he said is roadblock for many relief organizations.

Chester said he has identified more than 700 portables in Broward and MiamiDade counties that can be shipped. He is reaching out to every foundation he can think of for assistance. But for now, he is waiting for a donor.

Chester agreed.

“With cholera coming here and cholera over there and spreading, we need those classrooms as clinics, right away,” he said.

But the problem Chester faces, and has

Castor said the portables may not look like much to us, but for people struggling in his country, they would be a godsend.

“I think that would be a very nice gift of the people of Florida to the people of

Haiti,” he said. “It would be a win-win for everybody.” (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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Protecting Kids From Identity Theft Reporting Al Sunshine (CBS4) There’s a growing type of identity theft that most parents don’t know about: thieves stealing children’s identities to run up bills and destroy their credit. The worst part is, it often goes undetected for years, until the child becomes a teenager and applies for a job or a student loan. Zach Friesen knows all about it.

$40,000 houseboat in my name.

“If a parent doesn’t know the signs to look for, they could be seniors in high school, seniors in college, before they find they have thousands of dollars in debt,” said Becky Maier from the Better Business Bureau.

Maier says thieves are selling social security numbers that have no credit history attached to them. She found one for sale for $800. So how do thieves get the numbers?

In Friesen’s case, police believe someone got his information from a pediatrician’s office.

“Someone got a hold of my identity, just my social and my name, and was then able to borrow $40,000,” said Friesen. That was when he was seven. Someone bought a boat under his name, and he didn’t find out for 10 years.

Experts say parents should avoid giving out their children’s social security numbers.

“When I was 17, I was in for my first job and was applying for schools, for universities; was denied student loans, denied a job and found out that it was a

Look out if your child is getting credit card offers or calls from telemarketers. You can also check to see if your child has a credit report.

“If you can get away with not giving it away, that’s the best way to do it,” according to Maier.

Friesen, who has become an educator on this subject, says you want to be told that no report exists. But some experts offer a caution.

While adults can go to AnnualCreditReport.com once a year to get a free report on themselves, some experts say requesting a credit report on your child could backfire.

he said. “When I cleared my name, it didn’t clear the negative score that I got.”

Please visit our website, www.cbs4.com for websites that offer more information on child identity theft: (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

Rob Vamosi, from Javelin Strategy and Research which studies identity theft, said, “You don’t want to order a credit report.

You want them to look for a credit header.

You want them to compare the social security number with the fact that the file exists or not.”

He says by actually ordering a report, especially year after year, credit bureaus may create a file on your child and that could make it easier for thieves.

If you think your child is a victim, call police and the Federal Trade Commission.

Friesen is still dealing with trouble over the theft. “My credit score was very, very bad,”

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Feds: Transit Fares Not “Properly Accounted For” Reporting Gary Nelson MIAMI (CBS4) — Miami-Dade County Transit buses and trains were running Wednesday but without new federal funding.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has suspended the county’s automatic access to a pool of grant money totaling some $182 million dollars. The move to suspend Miami-Dade’s access comes amid concerns about how the transit agency is accounting for and spending the federal money and the cash that is deposited in fare boxes by passengers.

In a statement provided to CBS4 News Wednesday, FTA administrator Peter Rogoff said, “The FTA takes very seriously its role in ensuring that taxpayer funds granted to transit agencies are managed appropriately and are targeted towards services for transit riders, In this case, our oversight and review of the Miami-Dade County Transit system leaves FTA with no choice but to take the

critical step of withholding all federal funds until we are confident that the dollars collected from taxpayers and transit riders are appropriately accounted for” and spent.

Rogoff adds, “The restriction on the use of federal taxpayer funds will remain in place until FTA can ensure that MiamiDade Transit has taken all the necessary steps to fully restore the public’s trust.’’

Miami-Dade Transit Director Harpal Kapoor issued a statement saying his agency “is working with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to address financial control issues pointed out in a preliminary review, and MDT is already taking immediate corrective actions.”

Kapoor said that the county was still able to request federal funds “through a manual process” but not able to automatically draw down funds as it was before. Kapoor said that he was confident that once “financial internal controls have been corrected, our reporting systems will be strengthened.”

Some transit passengers said they found the blistering statement from the federal

government and suspension of transit funding to be further evidence of mismanagement in Miami-Dade government.

“I think the money’s been going in their pockets,” said an unabashedly cynical Javier Carrion, who had just stepped off a Metrorail train downtown.

Another passenger, Osvaldo Jaramillo, said he shares the federal government’s concern over the county’s accounting of transit funds and fares.

“I’d like to know where it’s going, too.”

Jaramillo said. “The transit system right now is very flawed.” Jaramillo complained that busses and trains don’t have convenient connections and often run late.

“This could be the worst public transit system in the country,” Jaramillo said.

Victoria Mallette, a spokesperson for Mayor Carlos Alvarez, said the mayor was “not available” to comment Wednesday.

fired over allegations that Alvarez said included nepotism and mismanagement.

Jeff Mitchell, Vice-President of Transit Workers Union Local 291, said management of the transit system is worse now than in 2007, and called for a full investigation.

“I want to get to the bottom of it.

Everybody in Dade County should want to get to the bottom of it,” Mitchell told CBS4 News. “It’s taxpayer’s dollars.”

After business hours Wednesday, County Manager George Burgess emailed a statement to CBS4 News saying the county is still able to obtain federal transit funding on a “reimbursement basis,” and that the on-going accountability issues with the FTC will “have no impact” on transit service or safety.

Burgess’s release did not address the scathing statement issued by FTC administrator Rogoff. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

In 2007, the previous transit director was

How To Shop For A Big Payoff Reporting Al Sunshine MIAMI (CBS4) — Getting up at the crack of dawn to fight the black Friday c r o w d s , scouring the internet and waiting for last minute bargains, these are all tricks shoppers use to save money on holiday shopping. They can help, but they can also be a lot of work.

Jessykara Blum doesn’t bother with all that bargain-hunting. To stretch her holiday dollars, all she has to do is shop.

She uses a debit card that offers money back on everything she buys. “Then I don’t feel guilty that I’m spending my money,” she said.

“It’s similar to a credit card, in that people are accumulating perks,” explained Babson College professor Glenn Kelley.

But shoppers earn rewards without going into debt.

They are stores that will come in handy for Jessykara. “I have a niece and a friend’s daughter that I will be shopping for and Toys R Us is where most of their favorite things are,” she said.

A couple of online banks are offering some great deals during the holidays.

The reward on each purchase is small, but it all adds up.

ING is paying 1% cash back on every purchase over $50. Jessykara is using a card from Perk Street Financial, that offers 2% back on purchases all year.

Now, they are sweetening the pot for the holidays.

To collect your rewards, Perk Street mails you a gift card from a retailer of your choice. You can also get a visa card that can be used anywhere. ING deposits the cash directly into your account.

“Our customers can get five percent cash back on all the places they love to shop for the holidays,” explained Perk Street CEO Dan O’Malley.

That includes big name retailers like Macy’s, Gap, Best Buy, Toys R’ Us and many more.

So how do they do it? O’Malley says Perk Street saves millions every year because they don’t have brick and mortar branches. ING also works without branches. Because there are no branches, online banks save millions in administrative costs.

The banks are able to pass some of those savings on to their customers. “I think this

could be a trend and this could be an opportunity to fundamentally see more online banking,” according to Professor Kelley.

For Jessykara, it beats any credit card rewards program. “If you are using a credit card, by the time you pay the interest, is it really a reward?”

The ING promotion lasts through the end of November. The 5% deal at Perk Street last until the end of the year. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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Research Group Reveals “Trouble In Toyland” Reporting Al Sunshine

WASHINGTON (CBS4) — The h o l i d a y shopping season has begun and now a research group is out with a warning concerning toy hazards such as small parts, loud sounds, soft plastics and lead contamination.

These dangers were highlighted by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group in its 24th annual “Trouble in Toyland” report, the first since sweeping consumer safety legislation went into effect earlier this year.

“This is definitely a time when people are going to be thinking about making purchases for the holidays, so we want people to be aware of these hazards,” said Elizabeth Hitchcock, public health advocate for U.S. PIRG. The organization focused on four hazards: small parts that can choke children

younger than 3-years-old, loud toys that can cause hearing damage, lead-tainted toys and soft plastic toys that contain chemicals called phthalates.

Hitchcock encouraged parents to use the group’s new website, http://toysafety.mobi, specially designed for use with mobile phones, to look up toy hazards while they are shopping.

Choking is the number one cause of toyrelated deaths and injuries, according to the report. Hitchcock said not all toys bear the required choking warnings and that if a toy can fit into a toilet paper tube it is too small for children under three.

The group is also concerned about toys that just barely meet Consumer Product Safety Commission standards on small parts. U.S. PIRG encouraged CPSC to make the choking standards stricter.

“We looked at choking hazards and found some toys that violate that standard and some toys that make the case for expanding that standard,” Hitchcock said.

U.S. PIRG also focused on loud toys,

because nearly 15 percent of children between 6 and 17 years old show signs of hearing loss.

Hitchcock said her group wanted to alert the CPSC that it was finding problems in this area.

In addition to toys such as play cell phones that are intended to be held next to the child’s ear, Hitchcock noted that most noisemaking toys may pose risks because they are held only as far away as the child’s arm length.

The report also warns against lead contamination and phthalates, both of which were subject to tougher standards in the Consumer Protection Safety Improvement Act passed last year.

The group found violations of the new lead paint standards, as well as a cell phone charm that contained 71 percent lead by weight.

Lead poisoning can cause irreversible learning disabilities, behavioral problems and, at very high levels, seizures, coma and death.

U.S. PIRG found two children’s products that contain phthalates, a lunch bag and a purse. These chemicals are widely used to make plastic products softer and can cause health problems.

The Toy Industry Association responded with a statement warning parents not to be “needlessly” frightened by these types of reports, which “often ignore or misinterpret the facts.”

“Protecting the safety of children is a shared responsibility and a year-round priority the Toy Industry Association, Inc. and its members,” the group said.

“Consumers have every reason to trust the safety of the three billion toys sold in America each year.” (© 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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Do Women Make Better Investors Than Men? Reporting Al Sunshine MIAMI (CBS4) — Who do you think are better investors - men or women? A financial expert did his own unscientific poll to find out.

Beth Frazier, from a women’s investment club, always had a hunch that women make better investors than men.

“We don’t have as much time to trade. So we tend to leave our money in there and it

grows over time,” said Frazier.

Because women trade less, that means big savings on transaction fees.

“Men are more prone to over confidence than women so they tend to trade more aggressively as a result of that,” added Frazier.

Economics professor Brad Barber has studied the trading habits of men and women. Among the 35 thousand households he surveyed, Barber says overconfidence led men to trade 45-percent more often, while women tended to stay the course.

“Women are more likely to reflect on the

information than men are, and are therefore less likely to act on it in a spontaneous way,” said Barber.

Researchers at Stanford are trying to determine whether women react differently because of biological or cultural reasons. Whatever the reason, we call all learn from the women surveyed by following 3 simple rules.

1. Trade less often. More trades means lower returns.

2. “Hot” investments are harmful. Don’t react to today’s buzz. Ignore short-term market movements and only re-balance your diversified portfolio annually, biannually or quarterly.

3. Keep it simple. As a general rule of

thumb, the more complex a portfolio, the lower the return.

These are easy strategies that Beth and her fellow investors always follow.

So although women may be better investors than men, they also face bigger obstacles in saving for retirement because they earn less which reduces their contributions to social security. Seeking the help of a certified financial planner might be worth the future returns. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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Fast Facts: Shopping Safety Tips Here are some tips to help your holiday season remain full of cheer and safety.

(CBS4) Law enforcement officials say they often see an increase in crime at shopping malls during the holiday season by people who see the season as an invitation to prey on others.

• Shop during daylight hours whenever possible. If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member.

• Dress casually and comfortably.

• Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.

• Do not carry a purse or wallet, if possible.

• Always carry your Driver License or Identification Card along with necessary cash, checks and/or a credit card you expect to use.

• Even though you are rushed and thinking about a thousand things, stay alert to your surroundings.

• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.

• Pay for purchases with a check or credit card when possible.

• Keep cash in your front pocket.

• Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused.

• Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home.

• Be extra careful if you do carry a wallet or purse. They are the prime targets of criminals in crowded shopping areas, transportation terminals, bus stops, on buses and other rapid transit.

• Avoid overloading yourself with packages.

It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid mishaps.

• Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year, “con-artists” may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.

• Carry only the amount of cash or credit

cards that you need.

• Keep your purse on your lap when dining or at meetings.

• If attacked outside, just give up the property when attacked, if you are going to be knocked down, sit down.

• At home, do not display all your gifts where they can be seen from a window or doorway.

• Trust your instincts. If you suspect something is wrong, or if a situation seems dangerous, you may by right! Don’t dismiss suspicious people, cars, or situations. Report them immediately. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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Student Loan Bubble Continuing To Inflate Reporting Al Sunshine MIAMI (CBS4) — It’s a shocking reality.

Americans now owe more on their student loans than their credit cards. In spite of new laws to make federal student loan lending more accessible and affordable, the exact opposite is happening.

Chief Consumer Investigator Al Sunshine uncovered the gutting of basic consumer protections and predatory lending practices running rampant.

“It’s definitely like a big black cloud overhead,” said Brittany Fields-MacLaren.

The 23-year old has racked up $30,000 in student loans to pay for her education at Florida Atlantic University.

“It’s tough!” said Fields-MacLaren.

The woman we’ll call Jennifer is also overwhelmed by her student loan debt.

“It just feels so hopeless,” said Jennifer, who asked us to hide her real identity.

Jennifer owes more than $200,000 for her Bachelor’s and law degree.

“You know I assumed I’d get a job and pay the money back,” Jennifer said.

But the tight job market is making paying off student loans even more challenging.

Americans now owe more than $829 billion dollars in student loan debt. That’s

$3 billion more than they owe on their credit cards.

“My personal integrity dictates that I want to be accountable for anything that I owe,” Jennifer told the cbs4 I-Team.

But debt-management solutions like adjusting payments to income, don’t apply to private student loans. The rules are different explains Howard Dvorkin with Consolidated Credit Counseling Services.

“Private loans are a little tricky. You have to be very careful, and that’s why we at Consolidated Credit always tell people to maximize their federal loans first.”

While interest rates on “need-based” federal loans drop to 3.4% next year, interest rates on “private” loans are not expected to drop at all.

Jennifer is all too aware of this disparity.

“You know some of the loans I’ve taken, I owe over $25,000 of capitalized interest to just one creditor,” Jennifer said. “And it’s accumulating faster than I can pay it off.”

Across the country, critics of private loans are uncovering what they say are predatory lending and abusive collection practices.

Louisa Lee took out a $7,000 private loan for her master’s degree. After eight years, her loan balance has hardly gone down.

“I was paying early every month,” Lee insists.

Joshua Fensterstock said the company managing his and Louisa’s loans only applied payments to the loan’s principle if

they were received on the exact due date!

“If they do not receive a payment within 30-days of the previous payment, everything gets applied to interest and nothing gets applied to principle,” explains Fensterstock.

“It’s a very scarey place right now because there’s limited oversight,” says Dvorkin.

And unlike credit cards, there are almost “no” debt relief alternatives such as bankruptcy, for student loans.

As Florida Congressman Ron Klein explains, that was a consumer protection stripped away five years ago during the Bush administration.

“I mean, I don’t see what’s the difference or the distinction between the two types of debt. If it’s a full bankruptcy, not just student loans, but if you’re overwhelmed and using bankruptcy laws for everything else, it seems to me that a student loan should be part of that like every other consumer debt.”

Under a new law signed by President Obama this year, the federal government will no longer pay fees to private banks to act as intermediaries in providing loans to college students.

Also, loans will be forgiven after 20 years if payments aren’t missed... or after 10 years of public service... such as the military or teaching. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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IRS Owes $20 Million In Refunds To Floridians refund checks worth nearly $20 million, mostly from the 2009 tax year. The checks were returned to the IRS due to mailing address errors.

“In Florida, the average undelivered refund is $1747”, said Mike Dobzinski with the IRS in Ft. Lauderdale. “Last year, the average was $1,538. We’d like to get this money back to taxpayers as quickly as possible. All we need is an updated address and we can reissue the check.”

PLANTATION (CBS4) —Uncle Sam may owe you a few bucks.

The Internal Revenue Service said more than eleven thousand Floridians are due

To find out if you are owed any money, go to the IRS’ website, www.irs.gov, and click on “Where’s My Refund.” You’ll have to have the following information handy; your Social Security number and

the filing status and refund amount from your 2009 return.

Nationwide, 111,893 refunds totaling $164.6 million were returned to the IRS. Undelivered refund checks average $1,471 this year, compared to $1,148 last year.

Dobzinski said refund checks go astray for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s a life change, like a marriage or divorce, which brings about an address change. Or if the taxpayer moves and does not notify the IRS or the U.S. Postal Service, a check sent to their last known address is returned to the IRS. Dobzinski said taxpayers can avoid

undelivered tax refunds by choosing to have their refunds deposited directly into a bank account. It’s available for both paper and e-filed returns. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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New Youthful Cosmetic Procedure Arrives In South Florida Reporting Lisa Petrillo MIAMI (CBS4) — It’s one of Hollywood’s best kept secrets – a combination of procedures that restores, rejuvenates and regenerates the skin, taking years off a patient’s face and now it’s in South Florida.

not only increases volume which makes you look younger, but also the stem cells from underneath rejuvenates the underlying skin.”

Then Sokol gets light and laser treatments to her face -- a décolletage to remove age lines and fine lines while also brightening the skin.

Sokol was back at work eight days later both looking and feeling great.

Here at the Miami Institute for Age Management under the direction of plastic surgeon Dr. Julio Gallo – they are offering a stem cell STEALTH lift.

“I feel terrific,” she said. “I feel like it has taken 10 years off my appearance. I had no pain whatsoever and it was a very easy recovery.”

ST is for stem cells E is for enhanced rich plasma A is for augmentation L is for laser TH is for thermage

She also had her upper and lower eye lids done, so she’s still a bit swollen. But she’s improving every day.

“It’s basically using a lot of different procedures to where we harness the body’s only natural abilities to heal and to rejuvenate,” Dr. Gallo said.

Beth Sokol, 54, is president of Miami International Fashion Week, a business geared to looking young.

“Absolutely it’s a young industry. All the beautiful people are in fashion so it’s important for me to stay fresh and clean,” said Sokol who is undergoing the Stem Cell STEALTH Lift.

It all begins with thermage, a non-invasive procedure where radio frequency waves heat the deep layer of collagen under the skin encouraging the body to produce more. The result over time is a lifting and tightening affect.

One week later, Dr. Gallo harvested Sokol’s stem cell tissue from her abdomen while under anesthesia.

At the same time, her blood goes through a centrifuge where the platelet rich plasma is separated out and then both are mixed and then injected into her face.

“So we basically remove some fat,” said Dr. Gallo. “In the fat, we know there are stem cells and when we transfer that to the face it

Dr. Gallo says the Stealth Lift, which has a short recovery time, is less invasive and less costly than a facelift and it’s a great choice for women who want to slow the aging process down without undergoing major surgery.

“For somebody who isn’t ready for a facelift -- whether it be for their age or they don’t have enough time, it’s a great alternative,” Dr. Gallo said.

Doctors say this STEALTH procedure, which runs about $8,000 (compared to about $15,000 or more for a face lift) is the gift that keeps on giving.

Dr. Gallo said patients like Sokol will have many years of rejuvenation because the stem cells will continue to improve the texture and quality of the skin as time goes on. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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Yoga Class Teaches Cancer Victims To Shed Stress Reporting Cynthia Demos

risky for their health. Thankfully, there’s a local program that teaches women “me time” should be part of the mix.

At a yoga class at Memorial Regional Hospital West, there is joy and sadness but most of all there is healing as women share their stories of pain and recovery.

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) — It’s no secret that generally women are multitaskers. It works great for some, not-sogreat for others. But when women try to manage their homes, marriages, kids and careers all while dealing with breast cancer it’s not only difficult, it can be

“It has shown me what’s really important.

Not my body parts – it’s who I am,” said one class member.

Becker knows just what these women need because of her own experiences.

“When I was 15 my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. And I never saw her take care of herself. She took care of the home, she took care of my father, the 4 children. She didn’t do much for herself,” said Becker.

And while they shed tears they’re also shedding a lot of the stress of their breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

So when she teaches this yoga class, she’s also sending a message. “It’s not selfindulgence, this is self preservation,” she added.

And the participants are getting the message.

Pink ribbon yoga instructor Corinne

“You need the camaraderie of the other

women, their experiences, those who’ve walked before you,” said another class member. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) news powered by

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Officials Investigate Possible Miami Cholera Case Reporting Gary Nelson MIAMI (CBS4) — A suspected case of cholera has landed in Miami.

The disease has killed some 2,000 people and put 30,000 others in hospitals in Haiti.

The Centers For Disease Control (CDC) confirms that a man fell ill with choleralike symptoms Thanksgiving Day while on an American Airlines flight from Santo Domingo to Miami International Airport.

The CDC said the man is a doctor who had been treating cholera patients. American Airlines said he had been to Haiti, and was returning on their flight 778 from the neighboring Dominican Republic. The flight was met by health officials and an EMS team when it arrived at MIA at 6:06 pm Thursday.

Dr. Fermin Leguen of the Miami-Dade Health Department confirmed at a Friday afternoon news conference that the man had symptoms suggestive of cholera nausea, diarrhea and dehydration. Leguen said it could take several days for tests to confirm whether he in fact has the disease.

Officials have not released the patient’s name. CBS4 News learned that he is being treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Leguen said the flight crew became aware that the man was in distress. American Airlines said he became ill as the plane neared Miami and another doctor on the plane tended to him.

“We contacted our staff physicians from the cockpit and they said the plane should be met by EMS,” said Tim Smith, a spokesperson for American in Dallas. “We contacted the Centers For Disease Control and were assured that cholera is not contagious under normal circumstances.”

Smith said that, as a precaution, “The aircraft was taken out of service overnight

and underwent a thorough sanitizing of the lavatories and passenger areas.”

At MIA on Friday, some passengers found news of the mid-flight eruption of possible cholera unsettling.

“Wow, it’s a little scary,” said Toni Ricard who was catching a flight to New Orleans.

“I hadn’t heard anything about it.”

Health officials said there is almost nothing for other passengers on Thursday’s flight to be scared or concerned about. The Miami-Dade Health Department said it arranged a news briefing Friday only in response to “many requests from the media.”

“Transmission of cholera from person to person is very rare,” said Leguen. The epidemiologist said someone would have to actually touch an infected person’s feces or vomit and then put their hand to their mouth in order to contract the disease. The virus is not considered to be contagious, and is almost always spread through contaminated water or food, Leguen said.

Health officials said there is virtually no chance of a cholera outbreak in South Florida, given that the water supply is safe and sanitation generally good - in contrast to largely squalid conditions in Haiti.

American Airlines said no announcement was made to passengers on the plane with the man who fell sick.

“There has been no request from the Centers for Disease Control that any announcement be made,” said Billy Sanez, an American spokesperson. “We have contact information for everyone who was on the plane, if health officials request a notification.” (© MMX CBS Television Stations. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed material for this report) news powered by

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Parenting Classes Teach Mom How To Keep Her Cool “She is my first and only child and I was literally at a loss,” Errine Zohlman said about her 4-year-old, Kaia Blu. “Basically the word ‘no’ became like the only word I knew to use and I just wanted to do something else.”

Both women turned to Mindy Becker and her Grow With Us classes in Miami. The class teaches the benefits of a nationally recognized parenting concept known as conscious discipline.

MIAMI (CBS4) — So does your child have temper tantrums? Do timeouts fall short or your expectations? Well you’re not alone mom and dad.

The good news there is help if you’re willing to change the way you think about parenting.

A national concept you can adopt at home uses current brain research to help adults and children communicate better and end the family feuds.

“I wanted to find another way to get to the end result without like punching all the time and saying punishing words, “said Sue Epstein Garcia.

The South Dade mom said after struggling with her son Aaron, 5, she started searching for unconventional ways to discipline her child.

“Timeouts weren’t that effective for me at home to be honest with you,” Garcia said.

“I thought that I was getting more power struggles than cooperation.”

Another mom was also looking for a better way to communicate with her daughter.

“Conscious discipline is a social, emotional, intelligence program that teaches adults how to respond to life and conflict instead of react. And then having those skills to teach children the same,” Becker explained.

She said the concept is based on current brain research that gives parents the ability to guide and manage behavior and then pass it on to their child.

One key concept is feeling safe and calm by breathing through challenging situations.

“We do obstacle courses. We do yoga.

That’s the number one thing in conscious discipline is ‘it’s my job as the adult to keep you safe and it’s your job as the children or child to keep it that way and we’re going to work together to do that.’

They don’t even realize they’re learning because we’re having so much fun,” Becker added.

Becker believes these help parents resolve conflict in a loving way while they interact with their child.

“I feel that the entire world can change and be different and we can have less bullying, less suicides, less war less,” Becker said. “I mean all these things could be different if we all knew how else to get along with others.”

According to the parents interviewed for this story, the conscious discipline parenting skills have improved their relationships.

“I need to control my own upset first. I need to take care of my own frustration by breathing before I try to respond to him. That was one of the most helpful pieces of information,” said Garcia.

“Once you put it into practice it works and that’s all I need to say,” added Zohlman.

One other concept Becker teaches is not say to your child “good job” but rather “you did it”. This is a non-judgmental way to praise your child while building their confidence.

The cost is $165 for 6 classes and the number to call is (305)-256-0333.

For more information, www.growwithusmiami.com

visit

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

She teaches seven discipline skills -composure, encouragement, assertiveness, choices, positive intent, empathy and consequences.

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Boomers Know More About Sex, But Get Far Less resources,” to learn about sex, noted Jennifer Bass, director of communications at the Kinsey Institute for Sex, Gender and Reproduction.

Herbenick said women use their friends to talk about sex more than men do and are more likely to see a counselor or therapist.

MIAMI (CBS4) — Ah, it’s a cruel world sometime.

According to a new poll, the older we get the more we think we know about sex but we get it less often.

According to the AP/LifeGoesStrong.com poll, 59 percent of women (ages 45 to 65) said they think they know all about sex while of 48 percent of men in the same age range exhibited the same amount of confidence.

“Women

historically

have

more

“Finding sexual pleasure can be more of a learning process for women,” she said, “women are just more likely to discuss sex in a real way with friends and other women.”

Nearly half of all men of a certain age (45 to 55) said their partners don’t want to have sex as often as they do, while just 13 percent of women in that age group said the same.

“Men certainly do tend to have higher sex drives, as a whole,” Herbenick said.

At that age, she pointed out women tend to be going into menopause, which can have marked impacts on their sex lives, having hot flashes and feeling tired.

Overall, the poll found that baby boomers were unhappiest with their sex lives (24 percent) while 18-29 year olds were the most satisfied; only 12 percent said they were unhappy. Seventy-two percent of men aged 45-65 have fantasized about having sex with someone other than their sexual partner at the time, compared with 48 percent of women.

Sixty two percent of baby boomers said they had had sex for the first time with a partner other than their first spouse, while 35 percent said their first spouse was also their first sexual partner. More baby boomer men, 73 percent, than women, 54 percent, said their first sexual partner was someone other than their first spouse. (© 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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Disney Parks Experience Enhanced By Smart Phones enhance your Disney parks experience.

Disney World ORLANDO, Fla (CBS4) — Smart phones let you check your email, use an endless amount of applications, have a portable GPS system and now they can help you

The new partnership between Walt Disney Co. and Gowalla allows people to use their smart phones to “check in” to either Disney World or Disneyland resorts, to earn digital badges for the little ones and even go on custom designed tours.

For example, at the Magic Kingdom Park in Florida, kids “under 44 inches” have their own tour that includes such attractions as Peter Pan’s Flight, Flying Elephant and Mickey’s PhilharMagic, a 12-minute 3D movie showing scenes from some of the most popular Disney classics.

The “Seasons Greetings” tour at Disneyland park is perfect for the holiday season. Attractions include “Believe… in Holiday Magic” fireworks, “Santa’s Reindeer Roundup” and Sleeping Beauty Winter Castle.

The application also makes available digital Passport Stamps that you collect when you “check in” at park locations including unique stamps for special events.

Collect the stamps to make a digital scrapbook of your park experience.

Gowalla is a web service that is used to “check in” to places letting friends know

where you are located and which is posted on sites such as your Facebook.

To participate in the digital Disney experience, join Gowalla on the web or download the application for free on your smart phone. (© 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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Report: Heat Players Grumbling About Spoelstra Reporting Tim Kephart MIAMI (CBS4) — The Miami Heat were supposed to be an NBA championship contender when the “Big Three” of LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade were brought together. But, after coming out to a 9-8 record, the players may be on the verge of revolt, according to a report from ESPN.com.

Sources told ESPN that players are “privately grumbling about (Heat head coach Erik) Spoelstra, and some are

questioning whether he is the right coach for their team.” The Heat have lost four of their last five games, including a blow-out loss to the Pacers when the Heat looked like a JV team when it came to defense.

ESPN.com said Spoelstra recently called out superstar LeBron James during a practice. In turn, sources told Chris Broussard that players, “feel like Spoelstra’s not letting them be themselves.”

Sources said, “He’s (Spoelstra) not a motivator. Instead of coaching, he’s at the point where the players are starting to sense that he’s fearing for his job.”

It’s not a surprise the Heat players could be grumbling. The team has run vanilla

offenses and hasn’t communicated on defense in order to stop simple pick and roll’s and backdoor cuts by opposing teams.

The Heat are in desperate need for a player to step up and lead the team. In the past, it’s been guard Dwyane Wade. However, with the Big Three, it could be fear that is keeping one of them from stepping up.

Whatever the reason, if the Heat don’t right the ship soon, Spoelstra and probably some players could be on the way out.

Source: ESPN.com (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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Horoscopes provided by www.starlightastrology.com

Leo

NEWSPAPER news powered by

PUBLISHER Tony Gambirazio

Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 20)

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Travel opportunities should be your first choice. Don’t let others make you feel guilty or insecure. You should put in some extra hours developing that creative idea you have.

Don’t let your partner get you going. You are best to travel or attend lectures or seminars. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

You may make someone else look bad. Loved ones may be annoyed if they feel restricted.

Financial gains can be made through wise investments. Your relationship appears to be stressed out and depleted. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Sagitarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Gemini (May 22-June 21)

Residential moves will also be advantageous for all concerned.

It might be time to make a fresh start. You are best to work behind the scenes on projects that require detail or precision.

Sudden changes regarding work and colleagues are apparent.

Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Saturday.

Have some fun, but draw the line if someone tries to fast talk their way into your heart. Your greatest enjoyment will come through social activities and pleasure trips. You can make money if you’re willing to push your ideas on those in a position to support your efforts. Don’t blame others for your own stubbornness. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Thursday.

You’ll find it easy to upgrade your environment by redecorating or changing your residence. Real estate should be lucrative for you. You may be sensitive concerning friends and their situations. Be aware of deception when it comes to your position, and be sure not to jump to conclusions. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday.

Taurus (Apr. 21-May 21)

Aquarius (Jan. 21-Feb. 18)

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20)

Social activities or travel should be in your plans. Your main concern will be to spend as little as possible of your own cash in the process. Don’t be afraid to make a move if you aren’t happy with your emotional situation.

Luck is with you, regardless of the financial venture. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

Travel will promote romantic connections. Real estate investments will be extremely profitable in the long run. Build on friendship rather than starting out in an intimate encounter. If you try to manipulate emotional situations you will find yourself alienated. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Thursday.

Deal with the needs of children and get into groups that deal with self awareness. You could easily lose your temper at work. Don’t push your opinions or ideas on others. Your emotions will be touched off concerning recent encounters with your lover. Be careful not to hurt someone’s feelings. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)

Virgo (Aug. 24-Sept. 22)

Cancer (June 22-July 22)

Go over their important documents and take the time to suggest alternatives. Don’t hesitate to look for alternatives that will enable you to raise the kind of donations you need to do the job right. Set a limit on the amount you’re willing to spend, and be sure to stick to it. You could be cornered, so be prepared to tell the truth. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

You can make moves, but they won’t be settling. Your added discipline will help you complete the impossible at work. Do not invest in ventures that only appear to be lucrative. You may want to pull out some of those unfinished project you’ve got tucked away. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

Make plans to do the things you enjoy. You may have to take a short trip to visit someone who hasn’t been well. Your mind is on moneymaking ventures. You will meet exciting new people through interest groups or functions that you attend with your children. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Thursday.

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

November 19th Solution

2 8 1 9 6 7 5 4 3

7 6 5 4 3 1 2 8 9

4 9 3 8 2 5 6 7 1

6 7 8 2 1 4 3 9 5

9 1 4 6 5 3 8 2 7

5 3 2 7 8 9 1 6 4

3 4 6 5 7 2 9 1 8

1 2 7 3 9 8 4 5 6

8 5 9 1 4 6 7 3 2

8 9

4

3

3

5 1 6

7 8

4 7 1

4 8

2 3

7 9 6

Look For Our Next Edition: DECEMBER 17, 2010

4 2 5

8 5

1

Sudoku provided by www.puzzles.about.com

THE ADTIMES

(July 23-Aug. 23) Opportunities to learn important information will surface through discussions with peers or seminars you attend. You can make money through your own creative efforts. You will not be able to trust someone you work with. Emotional partnerships may develop through projects you initiate. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.