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Local • I-TEAM: LAWMAKERS ATTACK SCHOOL VIOLENCE REPORTS Section Page 2

Money / Consumer • 4 YOUR MONEY: WAYS TO SAVE AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAYS Section Page 16

Entertainment • SECRET TAPE COULD TELL JOHN TRAVOLTA’S STORY Section Page 24

CBS4 Hurricane Guide • PROPERTY INSURERS ASK STATE FOR RATE HIKES Section Page 36

Health • STUDIES SHOW 1 IN 100 KIDS HAVE AUTISM Section Page 50

Real Estate • BANK FAILURE MEANS BIG CHANGES IN MIAMI MARKET Section Page 58

Reporting Al Sunshine sunshia@wfor. cbs.com

MIAMI (CBS4) — The CBS 4 Your Money team has been reporting on the recession and its effects on South

Florida for about two years now. CBS4’s Al Sunshine has been tracking all the latest local, state and federal numbers on the health of the U.S. economy on a daily basis. As America prepares to start the critical fourth quarter, there are growing signs the economy in South

Florida and around the country may be getting ready to start turning around. September on Wall Street ended with some moderate sell-offs. Overall, September and the third quarter saw solid gains. Americans continued on page 20

Sports • DWAYNE WADE PREPARED TO TOP OFF LAST SEASON Section Page 68

Automotive • AUTOMOTIVE TRENDS: SILVER REMAINS CAR FANS’ FAVE Section Page 74

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L Local News Reporting Stephen Stock sstock@cbs.com

MIAMI (CBS4 I-TEAM) — Florida Education Officials now admit what the CBS4 I-Team first told you last week. That violence data about our violence in our schools, which can be found posted on DOE’s website, doesn’t match the reality that police find on our campuses. And state officials now admit the ITeam caught a big mistake when it comes to weapons found at MiamiDade schools in 2006-2007. I-Team Investigator Stephen Stock went to Tallahassee to get answers. The fatal stabbing of a student at Coral Gables High on September 15, 2009, was highly unusual in that it involved a student death. But the incident was not so unusual in that the student suspect brought a weapon to school. In the case of this homicide police say the weapon was a knife. In Miami-Dade County schools three years ago, police found 152 weapons and filed reports in each case. But if you go on Florida’s Department of Education’s violence tracking website you would think that in Miami-Dade County there were ZERO weapons were found on schools campuses in 2006-2007. “This certainly does look like an anomaly when you see zero

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State Admits “Anomalies” in School Violence Numbers reported weapons,” said Florida’s Department of Education’s Press Secretary Thomas Butler. “So we did talk to the district about it. And they mentioned there was an administration change quite possibly clerical error that occurred.” But a six-month CBS4 I-Team investigation calls into question whether this is “just” a clerical error. The I-Team investigation found wide discrepancies in the number of violent incidents recorded by police and the number of same incidents reported on the Florida’s Department of Education’s website. There were wide discrepancies in the number of reported incidents in violence categories such as battery, assault and drug charges. I-Team investigator Stephen Stock asked DOE’s Brooks Rumenik “Isn’t that a misleading misrepresentation?” Rumenik, who is Director of DOE’s Office of Safe Schools answered, “Because the Department (of Education) is not the one inputting the data we can’t speak to why there would be differences in numbers.” “We have 22 different categories (of violence data),” said Florida’s Department of Education’s Family and Community Outreach Bureau Chief Joe Davis. “They (the categories) don’t match up specifically. I know the law enforcement data doesn’t capture fighting specifically. So what might be battery to a law enforcement report might be fighting to SESIR.” SESIR stands for School Environmental Safety Incident Report. SESIR is violence data reported by the state of Florida to the federal government to include in its No Child Left Behind reports.

“The data is not specifically designed for parents,” said Brooks Rumenik. “Although I welcome an opportunity for parents to better understand it because it helps that to see all the factors that goes into school safety.” State officials say it’s like comparing apples to oranges. The DOE officials say that these violence differences stem from different data sets, different agencies reporting them and different definitions of what battery, assault, drugs and violence are. Even so, investigator Stock asked “How is that (having all these different data sources) not misleading to the public?” “I appreciate the question,” said Rumenik. “I wish I had opportunity to walk parents through the data.” Because of these wide disparities, critics charge that DOE, on its website, is not giving parents an accurate and full picture about the amount of violence that’s happening at their child’s schools.

Gables High School?” “The tragedy that happened just last week is one that would end up being captured within SESIR data eventually,” said DOE’s Joe Davis. “It’s something that might not be there now.” Several years ago DOE just posted the data straight from each school district on its website. But a few years back it got a grant to have Florida State University’s Center for Criminology and Public Policy Research “massage” and “clean” the data before putting it up on the website. The cost to taxpayers to do that and further complicate and muddy this violence picture for parents? $1.5 million dollars. The $1.5 million was paid for over a three year period by a federal grant. It’s a grant that expired in August, 2008. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) News Powered By

“I appreciate that and I’m a parent as well,” said Rumenik. “I have three children in public school, so this is something that would definitely be a concern to me or question. I wouldn’t understand that if I didn’t work where I work.” State officials also say the data you find on the web is only for incidents where students are punished in school, which raises even more troubling questions in cases such as Coral Gables High, where a student has been charged with second degree murder, but so far, received no school suspension or punishment. I-Team Investigator Stock asked: “You mean to tell me that when I go on there (to the website) next year, there’s not going to a weapons or a murder listed at Coral

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Officer Involved In 2 Shootings Failed Drug Test The AdTimes N E W S P A P E R

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Reporting Lisa Cilli lcilli@wfor. cbs.com

Officer Tavss Was Relieved Of Duty With Pay In Mid-September Police Stressed It Was Not Due To His Involvement In The June Shootings

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MIAMI BEACH (CBS4) — CBS4 News has confirmed that a Miami Beach police officer involved in two police shootings in June and later suspended with pay on an unrelated matter, was relieved of duty after he tested positive for marijuana, according to a CBS4 News source and the officer’s attorney.

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Officer Adam Tavss attorney Gene Gibbons and a CBS4 News source both say that when Tavss was “relieved of duty” earlier this month, it was because he failed a marijuana drug test.

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Officer Adam Tavss was “relieved of duty with pay” on Monday, September 14th, for an “internal personnel matter that is currently under investigation,” according to a Miami Beach police release.

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The release also stated, “The matter in question is unrelated to the two police shootings that Officer Tavss was involved with earlier this year.” The first shooting Tavss was involved in took place June 14th when Husein Shehada, a tourist

from Virginia was shot and killed outside Twist nightclub on Washington Avenue. Police responded to 911 calls about an armed man outside the nightclub. When Shehada and his brother were confronted by police and stopped, Husein failed to respond to officers’ commands, according to police. Husein was fatally shot by Officer Adam Tavss, a threeyear employee. according to police. It turned out that Shehada was not armed with a gun, only a glass bottle. Just four days later on the MacArthur Causeway, Tavss was involved in the shooting death of Lawrence McCoy, an alleged robber who carjacked a taxicab and then crashed head-on with another car on the causeway. McCoy, according to police, came out of the cab with a gun and began firing at police officers who

returned fire. Police say the gun battle continued as McCoy ran down the causeway before finally being killed at the base of the bridge leading to Miami Beach near the Coast Guard station. Between 20 and 40 shots were fired, according to sources familiar with the investigation. Officers fished a pistol out of Biscayne Bay two days after the shooting, a gun McCoy may have ditched before being shot. The State Attorney’s Office is still investigating the two shootings. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) News Powered By

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I-Team: Behind The Scenes At MIA’s Control Tower extreme stress. They also wanted air travelers to know exactly what goes on in the aviation control facilities in South Florida to keep travelers safe and keep the planes flying on time even if it might mean delays and hassles at the airport gates. “Papa tango” comes the call from the control tower. Reporting Stephen Stock sstock@cbs.com

MIAMI (CBS4) — Torrential downpours, gusty winds and sporadic lightning are typical afternoon fare during South Florida’s steamy summers. While the conditions can be hazardous for those who venture out onto the roads in the rain, they can be even worse for those who take to the air. “It probably one of the biggest challenges that we face in South Florida,” said Juan Fuentes, the Tower Facility Manager at Miami International Airport. “It is working and delaying around the weather especially this time working around the weather this time (summer) of year.” For the first time ever, CBS4’s I-Team cameras were allowed to go behind the scenes at Miami International Airport’s air control tower’s most critical areas during a crisis to see how the controllers keep the skies over South Florida safe. The Federal Aviation Administration allowed CBS4 I-Team photographer John DuMontelle and investigator Stephen Stock access to the control tower over a series of months during heavy thunderstorms. At first, the FAA and air traffic controllers were reluctant to allow CBS4 to videotape what really happens in the control tower during times of tension. But they finally agreed. The reason: they wanted to give air travelers a more realistic picture about what goes on during times of most

From inside the facility, operators look out at rain clouds so thick they seem more like the inside of a cloud bank than the top of the tall concrete tower. “40, landing off your left side,” another controller warns an incoming airplane. Peering through the rain streaked windows you can barely make out huge 75 ton 150 foot long airplanes only hundreds of feet away. “Taxi via whiskey,” goes another controller looking through the clouds. The ghost planes are barely visible in the thick rain. The same planes appear as colorful dots on the radar scopes inside the control room and downstairs in the radar room where there are no windows. “Your sequence?” asks another controller of one of the pilots of a “ghost plane” coming in to land. To the untrained eye, the radar screens may look like video games, but it doesn’t get anymore real than this. Controllers know juggling of all the flights on the screen, which appear as dots with moving numbers by them, means juggling life and death. “Change roaming 1-2. Hold tight, 12,” goes out yet another air controller’s call. The controllers’ voice comes out crisp, clear and firm.

they can make an air controller’s job much more challenging. “Okay, we’re still east, they don’t like this weather just left,” said one controller to another as airplanes entered another’s airspace to avoid the bad weather cells. “The runways are wet. Really?” said one controller while juggling three different airplanes. “I think I can get us back on (runway) 9 though.” Unlike a video game, the air controllers know the lives of thousands of air travelers depend on their performance. “What’s very important is keeping order in the skies,” said air traffic controller James Mariniti. Mariniti, who is also president of the local Air Traffic Controllers’ Union, compares it not only to a video game but also a thinking person’s game. “It’s like a chess game,” Mariniti said. “You’re constantly running away from the weather. And your pieces are the airplanes. And you have to keep them away from that weather.” Unlike your ordinary two dimensional chess game, this one is three dimensional, like the one played on the old Star Trek TV series. “When directing planes during weather it’s very tactical,” said Juan Fuentes. “It’s very dynamic and everything that we do has to happen at the right time.” But even behind the scenes, you’d probably never know things were out of the ordinary. That’s how good these controllers are. They keep their emotions and the tension of the moment in check.

“Some people say, you know, it’s like changing the wheel as the car is moving,” said Fuentes.

“When the weather moves in everyone is in everyone else’s airspace,” said Mariniti. “And we all have to ‘adjust’ on the fly.

Heavy thunderstorms don’t stop the air traffic in South Florida skies but

“If we’re unable to land at Miami, for example, we’ll hold for 10 to 20

minutes or something to that effect,” said Fuentes. “And if we’re unable to land they’ll have predetermined places they can go. In fact we have had many instances in which aircraft that was scheduled to land in Miami has had to divert to Fort Lauderdale and vice versa.” “(In good weather) You’re able to descend to a certain altitude in your airspace,” said Mariniti. “Now (with bad weather) someone else is using that airspace and you have to work very closely together. In Miami’s air control, they are the best (at doing that).” In the last year there were 17,643 delays at South Florida’s two major airports; Miami International and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International. That’s actually an improvement from the year before when there were a total of 21,857 delays. Even with all the challenges presented by bad weather, according to the FAA’s own numbers severe thunderstorms account for less than half of all flight delays here in South Florida. In the last year, from June 2008 through July, 2009, the last month FAA flight delay data is available, at Miami International Airport 7,508 flights or 40.37% of all delays were because of severe weather. At Fort Lauderdale/ Hollywood International Airport 5,210 flights or 32.01% of all delays were due to severe weather. According to FAA data, the worst months to fly into South Florida airports due to extreme weather are June and July followed closely by December and January. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) News Powered By

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Number Of Broward School Resource Officers Drops tough economic times that’s a reality? No.” Lauderdale Lakes is one of the cities left trying to figure out how to pay for its three SROs. Last year there was one SRO at Oriole Elementary, Lauderdale Lakes Middle School and Boyd Anderson High School. Reporting Carey Codd cdcodd@wfor. cbs.com

The funding for SROs is shared. The Broward School District pays a portion—about $29,000. The Broward Sheriff’s Office estimates the cost of an SRO is $144,000.

to another. Pompano Beach decided to pay $500,000 to pay for 4 SROs after the Broward Sheriff’s Office declined to fund the positions. The town of Davie moved 3 SROs from elementary schools to Nova Middle School, Nova High School and McFatter Technical School after the Sheriff’s Office stopped staffing those positions.

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LAUDERDALE LAKES (CBS4) — There are 44 fewer School Resource Officers on Broward County public school campuses this school year than 4 years ago, records from the Broward School District show. In 2006, there were 167 SROs on the county’s 217 campuses. This school year, there are 123 SROs patrolling school campuses. Broward Schools Superintendent Jim Notter blames the cuts on a declining tax base and the recession. “Fundamentally, it’s a financial issue,” said Notter. “I truly believe deeply that it’s a sad day for communities, not only school districts, when you’re forced into a position when you cut back on safety and security.” As part of $21 million in budget cuts, the Broward Sheriff’s Office trimmed 23 SRO positions, mainly at elementary schools. That turned costs over to cities that contract with the Broward Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement. “You can only provide what you can pay for,” Nesteruk said. “In a perfect world, I’d love to have a School Resource Officer at every school in Broward County but the bottom line is, do I feel in the

City Commissioner Eric Haynes believes a more equitable split would be 50/50. “I believe the school district is responsible for providing safety for both their employees and the students,” Haynes told CBS4 News. “When you look at the fact of what a deputy costs and the school board is contributing just under $30-thousand dollars, and we’re looking at costs of $144,000, the math just doesn’t add up.” A meeting is scheduled Monday between the Lauderdale Lakes City Commission, the Broward Sheriff’s Office and the Broward School District to discuss solutions to the lack of SROs in the city. Notter admitted that students and parents in Lauderdale Lakes have a right to be upset about the SRO issue. He added that the state legislature bears some responsibility for a lack of funding for education. “We are at a place as public servants where every reduction is going to be painful to a sector of our community and it’s absolutely going to impact our quality of life,” Notter said. Other cities in Broward are also being forced to scramble for dollars or shuffle SROs from one campus

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CPHI Gives Homeless Children, Families New Hope The Trust collects the proceeds of a 1% tax on most restaurant meals in Miami-Dade, generating millions of dollars annually, but that money is funneled to 35 agencies.

Reporting Dave Game dgame@cbs.com

While the Community Partnership for Homeless provides services for hundreds of individuals daily, it is the 94 families and 200 children that provide the greatest challenge. The families cover all ethnic groups, the kids from newborn to near adult, and the financial background from entrenched poverty to the newly devastated.

MIAMI (CBS4) — Every night, 200 kids are tucked into beds instead of sleeping on the street. Every night, more than 90 families have dinner in a safe and clean setting, instead of spreading out the evening meal inside the family car. They are there because the Community Partnership for Homeless has provided them with a temporary home and permanent hope, but meeting that need is a daily financial struggle the organization finds even tougher because of the same depressed economy that is increasing demand for their services.

“The entire family needs a place to live, and the adults usually need help finding a job,” Vila said. “The children have their own special needs, from school supplies and uniforms to help with their homework while their parents try to find work. We provide assistance for all of them.”

That’s why the Partnership has mounted a major fund raising drive to help meet a need for services, especially for families and children, that shows no signs of abating. They are asking for donations from individuals and companies, for money, volunteers, and in-kind services, even though they get $8 million a year from the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust.

“When we help one family move from the assistance center to other housing, many times public housing, there’s always another family waiting to be helped,” Vila said. Families generally leave the centers after 47-60 days, their needs having been met. The families that take their place will have new needs.

“The problem is we need $12 million a year to run the Community Partnership For Homeless,” said Patti Vila, marketing director for the Partnership. “We’re responsible for raising $4 million a year beyond what we get from the Homeless Trust.”

The Partnership does that through two Homeless Assistance centers, one in Homestead and the other in Miami. Each is home to about 100 children and half of the families in need, and is virtually always at capacity.

The centers provide beds and food for all, but for children they also provide special help to give them as normal a life as possible. Working with Miami-Dade Public Schools, children in the centers are taken by school bus to the school they attended while in their home, so their teachers and friends remain the same. Everything from supplies

to uniforms is provided, often by donors. When the children are bused back to the centers, many spend time in the Family Assistance Centers, rooms staffed by volunteers and supplied with computers. There, kids can do their homework and have fun, while their parent is working or job-hunting. The centers are open until 8 p.m. Volunteers from the community come in to take kids to special events like Heat and Marlins games, and after school programs help enrich the lives of children who have seen major disruptions. “When a child’s life has been disrupted, they can become nervous and depressed,” said Vila. “We try to make their life normal.” The mission has been complicated by families entering the system that, up until the time they seek help, had been living in nice homes with parents who held good jobs. The loss of a job can cause a financial house of cards to fall, leading to foreclosure, empty bank accounts, and a family nobody can take in. “One woman lived three days on the street with her kids,” said Vila. Her husband lost his job and walked out, leaving his wife and kids to cope. “She finally drove here in her Escalade.” One man with a daughter in kindergarten and another in high school is in a Homeless Assistance Center because he lost his construction job and can’t find work, and not for lack of trying. “He showed me 87 job applications. 87! He didn’t get a single offer,” Vila said. The Homeless Assistance Center and its programs provide his family with support while he tries to get back on his feet, giving him a place to

start his family’s recovery. Stories like that are commonplace. As the Community Partnership for Homeless has focused its mission to provide a total solution to help the homeless return to a normal life by providing more than a bed and a meal, it’s become harder to come up with that $4 million to fund an increasing demand for service. That’s why the Partnership has stepped up requests to individuals and businesses to provide the funds, services, and goods they need to operate. “We understand people have a hard time giving today. Many people who are still in homes could be just a few months from needing our services,” Vila said. “That’s why we accept all donations, from cash, to supplies our children need, to the gift of time. It all helps, and the need never goes away.” You can find out more about the Community Partnership for Homeless and it’s programs, as well as donate to help the homeless, by visiting cbs4.com/ hope. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) News Powered By

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Secrets In The Soil: Govt. Report Confirms Fears report that documents what toxins were in the soil those children were playing in.

Reporting Michele Gillen mgillen@wfor. cbs.com

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4 ITEAM) — Imagine being told of dangerous levels arsenic in your front yard and dioxin in your backyard. That is the word going out to residents of a Fort Lauderdale neighborhood, the epicenter of I-Team investigation Secrets in the Soil, as their worst fears realized. It was chilling the first time I-Team cameras rolled, capturing children playing in front and back yard soil of private homes in the Durrs section of Fort Lauderdale. It is a community nestled amid contaminated city owned property that had to be excavated. Yet those who live steps from that contamination were repeatedly assured they need not worry about their land. “They told us it was okay; they assured us that everything was okay, that everything was fine,” long time resident Libby Gallan told Chief I-Team Investigator Michele Gillen.

“Behind this house there is dioxin,” exclaims Louise Caro, an environmental lawyer representing families suing the city of Fort Lauderdale for not warning residents there was danger in the soil. She describes the preliminary Florida Department of Environmental Protection report as a bombshell. “We are talking about dioxin at 77, you have to clean up at 7,” says Caro, who continued that “they found it where we filmed little kids before when they were playing in the dirt.” The I-Team brought the report to show to residents. Some had just received notices from the state warning that chemicals had been identified in the soil Now 43-years-old, Patrick Jackson grew up in the neighborhood and said his fear of the contamination left him “Scared that I am not going to wake up.” For years state and local government representatives kept telling Micky Hinton that he was wrong in his suspicious that something was amiss with the soil. In looking over this report that documents contamination on private property he says, “They knew all about it, they did.”

The I-Team has been visiting and researching the neighborhood for more than a year.

It was Hinton who first sounded the alarm that something was wrong in the soil here, that neighbors were suspiciously getting sick. Ultimately his own daughter is in a battle against cancer and in a fight for her life.

Fast forward some 14 months later, and the suspicions of many of the residents there and the hypothesis behind the I-Team investigation is now born out in a six inch thick

“What are we doing to do? Try to sell it (our house). Our life is shattered. Then there is the sickness and everything. We are just confused soldiers, we don’t

really know what to do,” Hinton told Gillen. And the message for those who told these residents not to worry? What do you want to tell them? “You are wrong. Something is wrong. You come live here. Come everyday, and then you can say it’s alright you inhale what we inhale. We want fresh air, not air contaminated with filth.” If you live in the Durrs neighborhood, two state hotlines have been set up to answer your questions about your health and your property. Experts from the Department of Health can be reached at 1-877-798-2772. For questions and comments to the Department of Environmental Protection call 1-866-282-0787.

The report will not be finalized until the completion of a two week comment period and residents can call those hotlines with their feedback. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) News Powered By

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I-Team: Lawmakers Attack School Violence Reports

Reporting Stephen Stock sstock@cbs.com

MIAMI (CBS4) — Some of South Florida’s top state lawmakers are calling for change in the way violence data is tracked and reported from our schools. The calls for change follow an exclusive, six-month long I-Team investigation that uncovered wide discrepancies between the numbers of violent incidents reported by the state board of education and those actually reported by police. I-Team Investigator Stephen Stock talked to lawmakers who want this problem fixed now. In November, 2006, parents of South Dade High School students may have thought that a violent fight at their children’s school was unusual. After all, the State of Florida’s website showed South Dade ranked tied for 18th out of 94 middle and high schools in Miami-Dade in the number of violent incidents in school year 2006-2007. But the facts collected by police tell a different story. Add up the police reports on violent incidents for that school year and South Dade actually ranked second among all middle and high schools in Miami-Dade in the reported police incidents of violence that school year. Florida State Representative Anitere Flores, a Republican who represents Miami was outraged by the I-Team’s findings. “It’s really not acceptable,” Representative Flores said. Flores chairs the House pre-K-12 appropriations committee in Tallahassee

and is intimately familiar with education data and trends in Florida schools.

cases, on different dates, on school grounds.

“At the state level we need to have accurate accounting in our schools,” Flores said.

In all, the difference in numbers was stark.

A six month investigation by the CBS4 ITeam found wide discrepancies between the numbers of police reports of violence and numbers of violent incidents shown on Florida’s Department of Education website. Those DOE numbers are collected through a program called SESIR. SESIR stands for School Environmental Safety Incident Report. The I-Team discovered that in MiamiDade and Broward County schools the difference between data reported in raw form from the districts and that reported in easily read form (SESIR and IRDAR or Incident and Resultant Disciplary Action Reports) had wide discrepancies. As a result, many critics say parents are being deceived about what’s really happening in our schools. Florida State Senator Eleanor Sobel of Hollywood was surprised and troubled by the I-Team’s initial findings. Senator Sobel talked with officials at Florida’s Department of Education and said that because of the I-Team’s findings, “the system needs to be revised in some way.” Sobel serves on the Florida State Senate’s education committee. Before going to Tallahassee she was a school board member and a teacher. “People want to know that their kids are in a safe learning environment,” said Sobel. The I-Team found wide discrepancies at more than one hundred South Florida schools. For example: Deerfield Beach High, there were 121 total violent incidents reported by Florida’s DOE on its website. But police report at least 136 violent incidents during the same time period. Homestead Senior High: There were 19 police reports of battery. But state data on the website shows only 2 incidents of battery. Florida’s DOE shows that South Dade High School had one drug possession in 2006-2007. But Miami-Dade schools police filed reports on 17 different drug

Total drugs in Miami-Dade in 2006-07: DOE says there were 21 cases. But MiamiDade Schools police filed reports on 177 drug cases for a difference of 156 cases. Or add up all types of assaults and batteries (including simple assault, aggravated assault, simple battery and aggravated battery): Florida’s DOE website shows 89 for all of Miami-Dade. In contrast, Miami-Dade Schools police filed reports on 928 for a difference of 839 incidents of assaults and batteries. And then there are weapons. Miami-Dade Schools police filed reports on 152 different cases of weapons found on school property. Florida DOE’s website on the IRDAR break down of individual schools shows zero weapons in Miami-Dade in school year 2006-2007. State officials now admit that that data is incorrect and they call it “an anomaly” and a “possible clerical error.” As for the other differences? Joe Davis, the Department of Education’s Bureau Chief for Family and Community Outreach said it’s like comparing apples and oranges. “There are differences in the definitions in SESIR (data) and the law enforcement data,” Davis said. Davis and other state Education officials explain away the discrepancies as expected because of different definitions and different criteria. Critics say those differences serve to mislead the public about the truth about violence in our schools. So CBS4 I-Team investigator Stephen Stock asked Davis about that. “Isn’t that explanation of different data meaning different things when it all covers violence in our schools misleading?” Stock asked. “I would say I would hope you would be looking at this globally,” Davis replied. “That you would look at SESIR data and

you would look at law enforcement data and not lose sight of the fact that we would also want you as a parent to visit the school.” But the differences in the numbers we uncovered are so stark, so dramatic and raise so many questions that lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle are calling for change. I-Team investigator Stephen Stock asked State Representative Flores “What do you want to happen in response to our investigation?” “We want our children safe in our schools,” replied Rep. Flores. “This is the most important problem is this accounting problem. We need to have accurate numbers.” State Senator Eleanor Sobel, a Democrat agreed. “I think we need to get to the bottom of this have a conversation about it,” Senator Sobel said. “(We need to ) talk about reporting. Both groups (DOE and schools police) need to get together and come up with a viable means to make the parents feel more comfortable about what is happening in terms of safety in our public schools.” The I-Team has also just obtained more data that calls into question some of the answers coming from Department of Education officials in Tallahassee. The ITeam has obtained the raw data that Miami-Dade’s School district officials say they sent to Florida’s Education Department in Tallahassee for school year 2006-2007. But this data doesn’t match the state’s violence numbers either. In fact, it shows an even wider gap between the incidents reported by the district and what’s shown on the state’s website than the schools police data. The I-Team is going through the data now, trying to determine how and why this is happening. When we get answers we’ll bring them to you. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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M Money / Consumer Reporting Al Sunshine sunshia@wfor. cbs.com

MIAMI (CBS4) — Wall Street this October is a lot better than last year, when the stock market dropped some 1600 points in the first week of the 4th quarter. Since the Dow bottomed out in March, dropping down to 6547, it’s gained almost 3000 points back. Within the past week, we actually saw the 9900 mark before we started seeing some recent triple-

OCTOBER 2009

4 Your Money: Ways To Save Ahead Of The Holidays digit drops. Still, most consumers like Miami homeowner Jorge Torres don’t feel like there’s been much improvement to their bottom lines. “We are trying to survive. It’s getting harder because salaries aren’t going up, it’s like more pressure.” Some financial planners say Torres is right. That’s why it’s critical to double-check your finances right now. Coral Gablesbased financial planner Matt McGrath said, “ It’s a very important time to know how much you’re spending, how much you’re earning. You have to know where your money’s going.” Before you find out where your money is going, you need to know where your money is. Put together your own financial

balance sheet and take a look at what credit cards you have. Then, look for cheaper credit cards and cheaper mortgages. Force yourself to cut spending however you can. Volunteer for more overtime to try and boost your salary however you can. Next, double-check your payroll tax withholding and adjust it to make sure you are taking out enough taxes so you won’t owe Uncle Sam too much money come tax time next year. Continue your savings and retirement contributions as much as you can and fine tune your investments to better balance risks versus rewards. Make sure to cut those investments that are not doing well and move your money into areas where you think it may be safer and yield better

returns. Lastly, consider increasing your savings and think about signing up right now for end of the year “Christmas Club” or travel accounts to get ready for next year. If you don’t take a hold of your finances now, ahead of the busy holiday season, you may be hurting after. McGrath warned “If you don’t pay attention, you’ll end up with more bills come the first of the year, when you can least afford it.” (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) News Powered By

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The iPod: Shuffle, Repeat, Catch Fire? Jamie asked the company representative for documentation about other incidents with overheating iPods. She wanted to know what Apple was doing to correct the situation. “He said that I wouldn’t be able to have access to it,” she said.

MIAMI (CBS) — The iPod, no longer is it just for the young and hip. From older adults to young kids, iPods are everywhere, but few realize they could pose a hidden danger. Jamie Balderis says her brand new iPod shuffle overheated while she was running last year. “At first I thought ‘How in the heck did I get burned right there?’ Then I realized that I had my iPod right there,” she told CBS station WFOR-TV in Miami. Jamie had a burn the size of a quarter on her chest where the iPod was clipped to her shirt. “My skin started burning really bad, like a bee sting that wouldn’t stop,” she recalled. Haley Mooney had a similar experience with her iPod. “I picked it up and it was really hot and so my first instinct was to drop it so I didn’t burn myself,” she said. “I looked at my hand; it was red and started to get swollen. It was like touching the inside of an oven.” Haley’s mom, Tami Mooney and Jamie Balderis both called Apple. Jamie even sent the company photos of her burn. Both women say they got the runaround. “I was so frustrated because frankly, they didn’t care,” Tami said. “They didn’t care that my child was burned, they didn’t care the possibilities that other children were burned.”

But that paperwork does exist. Documents in an 800 page federal investigation by the Consumer Product Safety Commission include 15 burn and fire related incidents filed by iPod owners. Tami Mooney also asked Apple if the company had another reports of overheating iPods. “They said, oh no, we haven’t heard of this one yet,” she said. But the documents show Apple did know they had a problem with iPod batteries causing fires and burns. The company was notified of complaints filed with the Consumer Product Safety Commission including a 17 year old Illinois girl who awoke to find her iPod Nano “smoking and sparking”. A Staten Island man said he got a minor shock and some redness to his hand when he yanked his iPod shuffle from the USB port after noticing sparks. Another complaint describes smoke billowing out of a teenage girl’s bedroom because her iPod had caught on fire. The government of Japan issued a warning to consumers after it received similar complaints, but the Consumer Product Safety commission downplays the risk. In a memo contained in the documents, the CPSC said: “No significant injuries or property damage have occurred in any of these incidents. No pattern of defect can be shown. The number of incidents is extremely small in

relation to the number of products produced, making the risk of injury very low.” Apple has issued a statement. “iPods are incredibly well designed and safety is the highest priority for Apple. The number of confirmed incidents of batteries overheating is less than 0.0001% of all iPods sold, which is an incredibly small percentage and none of those incidents caused serious injury or serious property damage. If a customer has any concerns about t heir battery they should contact AppleCare.” Tami Mooney says that doesn’t mean much to the people who did get hurt. “For one child to get burned, that’s too many. I don’t care how small a number, you know there’s a problem,” she said.

The government ordered apple to continue to report any additional incidents involving overheating or burning iPods to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The agency said it will assess any new information and take action if necessary. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) News Powered By

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Florida’s Prepaid College Program May Be Crumbling it.”

Reporting Michael Williams mwilliams3@cbs. com

MIAMI (CBS4) — Go to any Florida college campus and you will find plenty of students who are there, in large part, because of the state’s prepaid college program. Florida International University student David Jacobs told CBS4’s Michael Williams, “It would be pretty tough to go to school without

Jacobs, along with countless other students, can thank Stanley Tate for the opportunity he gave them. Tate founded Florida’s prepaid college program in 1988, but the developer and builder worries the foundation he poured is now crumbling. Tate said Monday, “I think the program is at risk. I think the Legislature lost sight of who they represent. I think they don’t represent the wealthy. They should not represent the wealthy.” That’s a lot of frustration for a man whose program is one of only two in the country to be fully funded right now, according to a New York Times article published Sunday. Tate says that’s because he insisted on arch-conservative investments over the years to preserve money parents poured into the program. He no longer runs the program, but

Tate is still fuming over a decision by lawmakers to allow Florida universities to raise tuition by up to 15 percent a year for the next five years. Educators say they need those hikes to bring Florida public college tuition in line with that of other states. They also add that other, better funded university systems are pulling away many of the Sunshine State’s best and brightest professors. Tate, though, says it does not take a professor to figure out that sharp tuition hikes will put pre-paid college contracts out of the reach of a growing number of Florida families. Tate told me, “The (public) tuition in Florida last year was $10,000 dollars for a newborn for four years, this year it is $42,000; next year it’s $55,000.”

Up, up and away, Tate lamented. He said, “Trust me, when kids are told by their moms and dads, ‘I can’t afford for you to go to college,’ students will recognize a problem with an education system that is no longer affordable, and that is where we are going.” But it’s a place Florida won’t go with Stanley Tate sitting by quietly. He’s still hoping enough parents and college-worthy students will raise their voices to demand that educators and lawmakers find a way to put more affordability back into higher education. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) News Powered By

4 Your Money: Economic Turn Around On The Way? continued from page 1 were briefly teased with the Dow hitting the 9900 mark several weeks ago. And 401K plans and other Investments are looking better than they were several weeks ago. Consumers like North Miami’s Gemma Angulo aren’t so sure. She’s hoping she can find a job by the end of the year, but is not optimistic the economy’s getting any better at all. She said, “It’s about the same or getting worse. It’s not getting better; people are still losing their homes and losing their jobs. There’s a lot of poverty”. But some economic forecasters say almost ever day, there are growing signs that the end of the recession could be near.

Matt McGrath of Coral Gables Evensky & Katz say he believes, “The economy is getting better. We’re seeing improvements in the GDP - Gross Domestic Product - as a measure of the U.S. economy and there are forecasts for actual positive growth in the third quarter when those numbers come out. So things are looking better.” On top of that, part-time retail hiring should offer some relief to the job markets. South Florida’s critical real estate markets should see more sales and foreign investments with home prices solidifying. Tourists will enjoy South Florida’s bottom-line pricing in addition to good foreign exchange rates for foreign tourists. That could add-up to decent holiday bookings for the critical fall/winter tourist seasons.

On the downside, unemployment’s expected to worsen and there not much full time hiring expected. Salaries remain flat and that’s forcing consumers to keep using their credit cards. With growing bills and shrinking jobs, foreclosures will worsen. So what does it mean for your family, your home and your job as we approach the end of the year? It’d be a good idea to continue tightening your belt and avoid all unnecessary spending. Try to stay current on your mortgage or rent to avoid losing your home and work as hard as you can to convince your boss you’re an important part of their business. Hopefully, 2010 will see even more improvements, and “The Great Recession” will soon be nothing more than an unpleasant memory.

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Stay-At-Home Moms Have Qualities Employers Seek

Mothers Finding Ways To Re-Enter Workforce NEW YORK (CBS) — Finding work can be a job in and of itself these days, especially if you’ve been out of the workforce for many years. But for stay-at-home moms, career experts say you have all the qualities employers want. All you need to catch their eye is a creative career plan, CBS station WCBS-TV reports. Having patience, being a team player, willing to put in long hours – they’re all the qualities that employers want

from their new employees.

worked with,” Riss said.

“I know I can probably work any hour of the morning, day, or night,” Upper East Side stay-at-home mom Nicole Schumann said.

Get in touch with former colleagues and ask for leads and references. Work on rebuilding that all-important resume.

“I like the feel of an office, I love coworkers and the excitement of a workplace,” Candice Lombardi, also a stay-at-home mother, said.

Riss says it’s important to make sure to list any consulting or freelancing work you’ve done, and if you’ve lost touch with your former professional associations or organizations, renew that membership.

The qualities that many employers are looking for are often found in moms, according to Suzanne Riss, editor-inchief of Working Mother Magazine. “Just by running their household, women are the most amazing multitaskers,” Riss said. So how do you make the transition from stay at home mom to full time employee? Riss says to get back in the game, you need to get on the phone. “You want to call up your old boss, call up some of your old friends that you

“Go to their cocktail hour; go to any kind of social event that they have,” Riss said. Lombardi hopes the side-business she started with Schumann – consigning children’s clothing – will help land her a job back in her prior life of public relations. “I’m speaking to people that I used to speak to every day, and so it’s just been a really good way for me to transition back to writing letters, doing

e-mails on a daily basis,” Lombardi said. “If you are able to launch your own small business, you take that initiative,” Riss said. “And wearing many hats, you are going to demonstrate the kind of skills an employer wants.” “My experience, you cant take that away,” Lombardi said. “By doing the jobs I’m doing now, it’s allowing me to slowly transition back.” Another important piece of advices is to stay current by utilizing social networking sites like Twitter. Experts say you should also read relevant professional journals, magazines, and blogs. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) News Powered By

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E Entertainment / Dining MIAMI (CBS4) — Michael Moore and his theatrical antics have hit South Florida theaters yet again. His latest movie Capitalism: A Love Story takes on the disaster our economy has become. Over two hours, he attempts to explain how we got here and point the finger at who’s responsible. To the surprise of movie-goers, South Florida had a few spots in the film. Real Estate broke Peter Zalewski, founder of Condo Vultures, was one of them. “I get a call in April from a

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OCTOBER 2009

South Florida Appears In Moore’s Latest Film producer saying that they are shooting a documentary for an independent film company out of Philadelphia,” he explained. He did the interview but had no idea it was for Moore’s film. In fact, Zalewski was informed by a friend in Germany who saw him in a preview and called. In the movie, Zalewski tours South Florida’s foreclosures, highlighting capitalism at work. While Zalewski was made a villain in the film, he says he’s okay with it because of the exposure. “Really, what we are hoping for is that people see how depressed the South Florida real estate market is and they feel inclined to come down here, take a look at it. Potentially pick a unit, or two, or three and ultimately we feel that is going to help turn around this market much quicker than the rest

of the country.” Moore also focuses on an issue CBS4 News first broadcast years ago: a revolt of people squatting in foreclosed homes. The crowd at Friday’s premiere seemed to like Moore’s latest controversial movie. “He showed a lot of things that have happened in this country,” Debbie Charms told CBS4’s David Sutta. “Lots of things that make me sad to the point of crying.” Norman Remais said, “I don’t think it’s one sided. I think it’s the truth. I think that the media just doesn’t tell the truth most of the time because they are owned by the same company.” “Everybody who should watch this movie should go revolt with

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Cheap Eats: Barbeque, Salads & Smoothies

Reporting Lisa Petrillo lpetrillo@wfor. cbs.com

PEMBROKE PINES (CBS4) — Got a craving for some good old fashioned barbeque with a price tag that’s easy to swallow? Then head out to Scruby’s BarBQ! Do you need something a bit cooler? Go to Aventura to visit That Cool Café! Either way, the two options in this Cheap Eats are sure to leave you and your wallet full!

The family-owned and operated Scruby’s BarBQ is one of three in Broward. Hundreds of hungry diners stop by the Pembroke Pines restaurant daily. The specials include barbeque chicken, ribs, and anything else you could throw on the girl.

potato as well,” Mathews explained. “For dinner we have half off our dinner menu between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.”

“The ribs are mouth-watering,” manager Brenda Mathews told CBS4’S Lisa Petrillo, “We have ribs, pork; we smoke all of our meats here. Everything we have is tender and delicious and really good!”

Moving on to salads and smoothies, “That Cool Cafe” in Aventura is actually the first test restaurant for a franchise that’s set to go national.

Every meal comes with some tasty side dishes, like big baked potatoes and homemade slaw. The specials truly are special. “For lunches we have a $2.99 special now; you get a sandwich and a bag of chips. If you want to upgrade it for $1.89, you get beans and a

Scruby’s BarBQ in Pembroke Pines is found at 251 N. University Drive.

“‘That Cool Café’ is a new franchise concept we’re introducing to market,” said Franchiser David Polsky. “It caters to a crowd looking for lighter meals. We feature fabulous salads, yogurts and low-carb paninis.” For the custom salads, customers choose from three types of lettuces: Mesclun, Romaine or Spinach. They have five toppings to choose

from, all for under $6.99. And don’t forget dessert! The yogurt is low-fat or no fat and allnatural, with no sugars added. That Cool Cafe is opened 7 days a week. Visit them in Aventura near the corner of NW 29th Avenue and NE 191st Street. E-Mail Us your suggestions for South Florida’s best Cheap Eats. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) News Powered By

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Secret Tape Could Tell Travolta’s Story However, as CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella reported, a videotape secretly recorded by the Bahamian police may do the explaining for him.

Reporting Jawan Strader jstrader@wfor. cbs.com

People Magazine Reports Man Alleged to Extort $25M from Travolta Wanted to Give Money to Charities, Dubbed “Robin Hood” (CBS) John Travolta could be back on the stand by this afternoon in the Bahamas. He’s already told a jury in a Nassau courtroom about his frantic attempts to save his son Jett, but he hasn’t yet explained the alleged blackmail plot.

Travolta is the prosecution’s key witness, and they reportedly have a key piece of evidence as well: former ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourn on tape negotiating with Travolta’s lawyer. According to a People magazine reporter who’s seen the tape, Lightbourn asks for $25 million, explaining, “I was poor all my life. ...I wanted to do things for charity...” Travota’s lawyer laughs and says, “You’re a Bahamian Robin Hood, man!” Prosecutors say Lightbourn and

local politician Pleasant Bridgewater threatened to go public with a medical form related to the emergency care of Travolta’s son, Jett. Travolta’s 16-year-old son died in January following a seizure at the family’s vacation villa. Lightbourn, Cobiella reported, was one of the first emergency workers on scene and drove the ambulance that took Jett and his parents part of the way to the hospital. Lightbourn told “Inside Edition” how John Travolta reacted to his son’s death. Lightbourn said, “John himself went in went behind the curtain with tears in his eyes. I can see the sorrow. I can see the love in his eyes for his son.” According to People magazine, Lightbourn settles for $15 million

on the tape and promises, “Once this is closed, it’s buried deeper than the Titanic.” Both defendants pleaded innocent to extortion charges. Cobiella reported defense attorneys are fighting to keep that videotape out of evidence in the trial. Cobiella said the judge could rule Monday whether the tape could be admitted as evidence. © MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. News Powered By

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Expert: Letterman’s Fate Far from Certain

Says Story Could Take “Much More Serious Turn” for LateNight Star (CBS) David Letterman apologized to his wife, employees and audience Monday night for having had affairs with staffers. But a leading media critic notes the story that started when the latenight host revealed Thursday night that he’d had the relationships may only be just beginning -- and Letterman is hardly out of the woods. The star said Thursday he was the subject of an extortion plot. Longtime CBS News producer Robert “Joe” Halderman had pleaded not guilty to attempted grand larceny charges. Authorities say he hit Letterman up for $2 million to keep from going public with word of the affairs. On “The Early Show” Monday, the Washington Post’s Howard Kurtz told co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez Tuesday that Letterman’s revisiting the matter Monday night is hardly the end of the story -- and it could still “take a much more serious turn” for Letterman. “After a weekend with his wife, (Letterman) probably had some explaining to do, but, clearly, there’s some damage control at work” in addressing the affairs again, Kurtz said. “There’s a lot we still don’t know about this case. And I’ve had people say to me, ‘You know, Dave’s an entertainer, he’s not Bill Clinton or (former Democratic presidential hopeful

and North Carolina Gov. John Edwards or (South Carolina Gov.) Mark Sanford. Who he fools around with is his own business.’ But the fact is, he’s acknowledged having sex with subordinates, and some portion of the audience may find that they agree with him when he describes his own behavior as ‘creepy.’

Letterman still emerge unscathed?

“It was a very smart thing for Letterman to get out in front of the story (Thursday),” Kurtz continued. “Indeed, he didn’t really have much choice. This indictment was coming down against the accused CBS News producer. ... And he needed to -- for his own credibility with the audience, to frame the story in a way most favorable to him.

“But this is not over yet, and I think there’s gonna be some more uncomfortable moments for Letterman and CBS, frankly, before this is over.”

“I think he probably didn’t go far enough the first time in just making clear to the audience how sorry he was. He apologized to his staff last night, as well as to his wife. In recent days, we heard the word ‘intern,’ sex with an intern, a woman from the early ‘90s saying she had a relationship with David Letterman. Those are the kinds of things that you can’t just hope everyone will simply forget about. “... If anything happens to chip away at Letterman’s credibility -how many times have we seen this in politics? -- that is going to create a real problem. And ... there are more shoes to drop, because we don’t know how many women, what period of time, but we do know that the lawyer for the accused producer ... is questioning Letterman’s motivation. And if he starts taking depositions and we find out more about these women, and if any woman says she felt pressured or harassed by David Letterman --that hasn’t happened yet -- then this story could take a much more serious turn for CBS’ late-night franchise.” With

allthat

bieng

said,

can

“Unscathed, I think, is too much to hope for. Surviving, yes. Repairing his relationship with the audience? He has a shot at doing that. He’s got this nightly platform. He doesn’t have to go on ‘Oprah’ and weep. He can do it from behind his own desk.

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Pooh Is Back, and He’s Got Company movies and TV shows. The new book, the first authorized “Pooh” sequel, isn’t out until Monday, but here’s a sneak preview:

First Authorized Sequel to A.A. Milne’s Classic Debuts With New Denizens in Hundred Acre Wood (CBS) Officially, it’s known as Ashdown Forest. But most of the world knows it as the “Hundred Acre Wood” . . . the place where a boy named Christopher Robin had adventures with a slow-witted bear named Winnie-the-Pooh. It’s been 80 years since A.A. Milne wrote the “Pooh” stories, which have become children’s classics and been turned into countless

“Who started it? Nobody knew. One moment there was the usual forest babble; the wind in the trees, the crow of a cock, the cheerful water in the streams. Then came the rumor: Christopher Robin is back! “Return to the Wood” (Dutton)

Hundred Acre

In the new stories Christopher Robin, who was originally based on A.A. Milne’s son of the same name, returns home from school to renew his friendship with Pooh, Piglet, the bouncing Tigger and the depressive Eeyore.

And the new author, David Benedictus, has added a new character: the pearl-wearing Lottie the Otter. But will the new book match the appeal of the original? CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips went to Poohsticks Bridge, immortalized in Milne’s “The House on Pooh Corner.” This is where Milne actually invented the game of Poohsticks for his son, where you drop a stick into the water on one side of the bridge and see how quickly it appears on the other. (AP/Mark Burgess, © Pooh Properties) (Left: A new character named Lottie the Otter appears in the new Winnie the Pooh book, “Return to the Hundred Acre Wood.”)

It still draws visitors. The appeal of Pooh and his animal pals goes far beyond this quaint little corner. The original “Pooh” stories were written in 1920s England, but their draw was universal and timeless. That Winnie-the-Pooh is still the world’s favorite bear is what the publishers of the new “Pooh” stories are counting on. © MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. News Powered By

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HG Hurricane Guide Five Mini-Government Center Offices Will Close 3-1-1 Answer Center Is Reducing Hours MIAMI (CBS4) — In the wake of Miami-Dade budget cuts, several Miami-Dade County offices are undergoing changes in service and hours or being closed altogether. The Miami-Dade County Finance Department Tax Collector’s Office is closing its South-Dade Government Center location on Friday, October 2nd. Service Direct Offices are also shutting down and

2009 HURRICANE GUIDE

Miami-Dade’s 311 Answer Center is reducing its hours. Auto tag customers must now use private branch tag agencies, and customers who want to pay taxes in person can do so at www.miamidade.gov or travel to the office in downtown Miami, at 140 W. Flagler St., Room 101. Customers in South Miami-Dade County are encouraged to use online services available through the County’s web portal at www.miamidade.gov for payment of property taxes and renewal of local business tax receipts. New local business tax accounts may only be opened in-person at the Downtown Miami Office. Additionally, effective Monday, October 19th, Service Direct offices will be closed at the following locations:

Lauderdale Lakes based 21st Century Holdings, to increase its rates on average by about 19 percent. Those increases won’t be the only ones facing state property owners.

After the Northern Capital Group took over a number of policies from state run Citizens Property, state regulators approved a ten percent rate hike for those policies. The also gave approval to Federated National Insurance, a subsidiary of

Miami-Dade Offices Close Due To Budget Cuts * North Dade Justice Center, 15555 Biscayne Blvd. * Harry Zubkoff building, 55 NW 199th St. * Joseph Caleb Center, 5400 NW 22nd Ave., first floor lobby. * Miami-Dade Permitting and Inspection Center, 11805 SW 26th St., second floor. * South Dade Government Center, 10710 SW 211th St., Suite 101.

Residents with questions or concerns about Golden/Patriot Passport applications, Baby Stroller Permits, reporting potholes, junk and trash, missed garbage, and Value Adjustment Board applications should call 3-1-1 but remember, 3-11 is also reducing its hours of operation.

Citizens Property has applied for a rate increase, the first of its kind in three years. The increase will be capped at 10 percent due to a new state law. Sister companies Capitol Preferred and Southern Fidelity have both applied for rate increases of up to nearly 9 percent. American Integrity of Florida has requested an 8.5 percent increase while Universal Property & Casualty has asked for an increase of nearly 10 percent. Two of the higher requests belong to United Property & Casualty, which has asked for a 12.5 percent average statewide increase, and St. John’s Insurance, which has applied for an increase of nearly 15 percent.

* Monday – Friday 6 am – 10 pm * Saturday 8 am – 5 pm * Closed Sundays * Effective October 1st, 2009, 31-1 will no longer be open on holidays (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) News Powered By

Effective Monday, October 19th, the new 3-1-1 Hours of Operations will be:

Property Insurers Ask State For Rate Hikes

TALLAHASSEE (CBS4) — Thousands of South Florida homeowners will be getting some bad news in the mail in the coming months; they’re property insurance rates are going up.

OCTOBER 2009

The companies say the increases are necessary to make up for the revenue they’ve lost from higher reinsurance costs and wind mitigation credits they are required to provide.

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Principal Helps Parents Navigate Tough Economy the strain in 2008. And with more than 75 military families and special needs students, the downturn in the economy greatly affected Dr. Patterson’s students.

SUNRISE, Fla. (CBS4) — After noticing the strain the failing economy put on the families of her students, Dr. Patricia Patterson, Principal of Nob Hill Elementary in Sunrise worked with the school’s community partners to create a Parent University Night for families. Parents were encouraged to bring their children and learn about saving for college, buying a home, credit counseling and budgeting, all for free. Dr. Patterson first started noticing

“We looked around and said, what are the needs of the community? And there are so many people out of work, so many people losing jobs... just across the street from us there are a lot of foreclosures. We know what happens to children when they lose their support system and they don’t feel comfortable. When everyone around them has money and they don’t. It’s a difficult place” said Dr. Patterson. So the school reached out to their community partners, and worked with BankAtlantic on a Parent University Night where families can have all of their financial questions answered for free.

“We’re not selling anything, we’re just here to listen, we’re here to help you, here to point you in the right direction” said Patterson. “It’s very important because it empowers the parents” added Edith Bynes of BankAtlantic. From saving for their children’s college educations, to budgeting for a first home, the school and community partners encourage the parents to come with lots of questions. Something that parent Mikael Delgado took advantage of explaining why he attended the event, “Learn how to save money, that way I can help my son and his future.” Helping her students and their families is something Dr. Patterson is very proud of, “anything that we can do as a school to open a door to information or for a place to go

that’s what we need to do. It’s just as important as reading and math and social studies and science.” If you’d like information on where to turn for financial advice, give Neighbors 4 Neighbors a call at 305-597-4404. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) News Powered By

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Bacardi Buildings, Cemetery May Be Deemed Historic architect Enrique Gutierrez and built in 1963, are seen as a leading example of the Miami Modern style and also as a symbol of the Cuban exile community. The Lemon City Cemetery

Reporting Lisa Cilli lcilli@wfor.cbs .com

MIAMI (CBS4) — Tuesday afternoon, Miami’s historic preservation board is scheduled to vote on whether two muraladorned buildings owned by rum maker Bacardi USA will be declared “historic”. The board will also decide if an unmarked South Florida cemetery, located in an area of Miami once called Lemon City, will also be deemed an historic landmark. The Bacardi buildings have been a part of Miami’s cultural heritage for nearly five decades. The buildings currently house Bacardi USA, in a business district just north of downtown Miami. However, the company plans to move to suburban Coral Gables later this year and hasn’t said what it will do with the two structures. Preservationists say the buildings are historically and culturally significant even though the older of the two is a few years shy of the 50-year threshold normally used for historic preservation status. The historic designation would prohibit any changes to the buildings and keep the buildings from being demolished. The towers, designed by Cuban

The cemetery site was first discovered in April 2009 at NW 71st Street and 4th Avenue by construction workers who unearthed human bones. The bones of at least 11 people, and possibly dozens more, were discovered during construction of an affordable-housing project. Developers of the affordablehousing project are already reworking future construction plans in order to avoid the cemetery. A local historian says the site was probably a cemetery for settlers from the Bahamas who came to South Florida in the early 1900s to tend to wealthy whites and to help build Florida’s most cosmopolitan city. Preservationists want the city’s historic preservation board to consider giving the cemetery site landmark designation. Local historian Larry Wiggins recently ran a geneology records search on the “Lemon City Cemetery”, of which there is no record. The search turned up 523 names, all black people and many from the Bahamas, who had been buried there between 1915 and 1925. That’s right around the time when millionaires began developing Miami Beach. Historian Paul George, who works for the Historical Museum of Southern Florida, says “it’s mystifying” that this cemetery wasn’t on any city maps and

nobody fought preservation.

for

its

However, he has an idea of what happened. It’s likely that the former pastureland was owned by a private citizen and used as a black cemetery. Because it served the poor and marginalized immigrants, the city never paid much attention. Then people forgot about it as a number of things changed the surroundings: whites driving blacks out of Lemon City in early decades of the century, the nearby placement of I-95, a rapidly changing ethnic makeup of the area, which is now heavily populated with Haitian immigrants. “We’ve obliterated our history, especially for the unempowered,” said George. “We don’t have a great reverence for our past. Things are forgotten very quickly.” Preservationists and other black community leaders insist that the people that lay under the ground be remembered. City officials have speculated that there may be little they can do in the way of historic designation because there are no historic structures on the site and that no one of historical note is buried there. State rules say that construction on former cemeteries is acceptable if remains are appropriately moved.

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H Health New Number A Rise On Previously Accepted 1 In 150 Estimate; Doctor’s Wonder About ‘True Increase’ CHICAGO (CBS News) — Two new government studies indicate about 1 in 100 children have autism disorders - higher than a previous U.S. estimate of 1 in 150. Greater awareness, broader definitions and spotting autism in younger children may explain some of the increase, federal health officials said. “The concern here is that buried in these numbers is a true increase,” said Dr. Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health. “We’re going to have to think very hard about what we’re going to do for the 1 in 100.” Figuring out how many children have autism is extremely difficult because diagnosis is based on a child’s behavior, said Dr. Susan E. Levy of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics subcommittee on autism. “With diabetes you can get a blood test,” said Levy. “As of yet, there’s no consistent biologic marker we can use to make the diagnosis of autism.” * National Institute Of Mental Health * American Academy Of Pediatrics * Pediatrics Journal * Centers For Disease Control And Prevention * Autism Speaks Advocacy Group

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Studies Show 1 In 100 Kids Have Autism The new estimate would mean about 673,000 American children have autism. Previous estimates put the number at about 560,000. CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton reports that boys are four-times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with autism disorders. Some experts say the term “autism” is overused, reports Ashton, but view the increased awareness as a positive. “Maybe the label ‘autistic specrum disorder’ is correct, maybe it’s not - however, if we identify that there is a need, that means we’re going to do intervention,” Dr. Max Wiznitzer told CBS News. One of the studies stems from the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health. The results were released Monday, and published in October’s Pediatrics. In that study, based on telephone surveys, parents reported about 1 in 91 children, ages 3 to 17, had autism, including milder forms such as Asperger’s syndrome. The other government estimate has not been formally released yet. But because of the new published findings, officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention decided to announce Friday during an embargoed press briefing that their preliminary findings also show about 1 in 100 children have the disorders. The CDC uses an in-depth method for its estimate, said CDC researcher Catherine Rice. An agency network reviews the education and health records of 8year-old children in selected cities and determines whether the children meet the diagnosis. Autism experts generally consider this method more rigorous than a telephone survey.

President Obama has made autism a priority for research, Insel said. Federal stimulus money has been earmarked for autism, and a 2006 law pumped millions of dollars of new federal money into autism research, screening and treatment. The published findings, which include state-level data, will help the government plan new services, said Michael Kogan, a researcher with the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, who led the new study, which lists authors from several government agencies, including CDC. The findings are based on the results of a national telephone survey of more than 78,000 parents of children ages 3 to 17. The survey dealt with many health issues and included two questions on autism. Parents were asked whether they’d ever been told by a doctor or other health care provider that their child had autism, Asperger’s syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder or other autism spectrum disorder. If the parent said yes, they were asked if their child currently has autism or an autism spectrum disorder. “Yes” to both questions was counted as a child with an autism disorder. The survey questions were flawed, said autism researcher Irva HertzPicciotto of the University of California, Davis. A broad definition, read to some parents who asked for clarification, didn’t include “repetitive behaviors,” Hertz-Picciotto said. And parents weren’t asked about a professional diagnosis in the second question.

“The wording and definition invited much broader interpretation,” Hertz-Picciotto said, and researchers didn’t check what parents said against medical records. In another finding, nearly 40 percent of the children ever diagnosed with autism disorders didn’t currently have autism, the parents reported. That rate is much higher than ever found by autism recovery researchers. Outside experts said they doubt it reflects a true rate of recoveries. Autism could have been suspected and later ruled out for some of the children, the authors wrote. One of the new study’s authors was supported in part by a grant from the advocacy group Autism Speaks. The others work for federal agencies. “Autism is a highly prevalent disorder,” said Geraldine Dawson, chief science officer of Autism Speaks. “We’re looking at a major public health challenge.” (© 2009 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

Children with autism can have trouble communicating and interacting socially. They may have poor eye contact and engage in repetitive behavior such as rocking or hand-flapping.

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Early Detection Key In Breast Cancer Survival

BOSTON (CBS) — October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and a new report from the American Cancer Society shows how important early detection and treatment is for women, CBS station WBZ-TV reports. Lynda Wertheim was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer at the age of 48. “You learn what’s important in life,” she says. Almost 12 years later, she’s living life to its fullest, and there are more and more women out there like

Lynda. According to a new report, the death rate from breast cancer has dropped more than 2% a year for the past decade.

There is still a racial disparity. Forty percent more African American women are dying of breast cancer than white women.

That means this year alone 15,000 lives will be saved.

“There is a suggestion that there may be a more aggressive variant of disease,” Dr. Schnabel says. “That’s seen particularly in young African American women.

Dr. Freya Schnabel, Director of Breast Surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center says much of the improvement in breast cancer mortality is a result of early detection. Identifying major risk factors like genetics and taking postmenopausal hormones has also improved the survival rate. The report estimates 192,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. As of 2006, 2.5 million women in the U.S. were living with breast cancer. And 40,000 women are expected to die from the disease this year.

at age 40. For those of you who may forget when it’s time for your next mammogram, try to schedule one around your birthday every year. That’s an easy way to remember. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) News Powered By

But the latest statistics show death rates are dropping across the board for all women. Lynda says breast cancer shouldn’t be considered a death sentence. “I think the first reaction many people have when they are diagnosed with breast cancer,” she says, “Is that they’re going to die, but they’re not.” Experts stress the key to winning the battle against breast cancer is to get an annual mammogram starting

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Lipo Alternative Puts Fat In More Flattering Areas “The results will be natural, they’ll be full, they’ll be firm,” Mankey said. “We take fat from one portion of the body – the buttock, the legs, the tummy – and instead of throwing it away like we used to, we can use it in other parts of the body,” plastic surgeon Dr. David Broadway said. NEW YORK (CBS) — A new plastic surgery procedure is helping people flesh out better bodies. It’s a type of liposuction that takes fat from one part of the body and puts it into another. For one California woman, that meant a flat stomach and a fuller chest. Caroline Mankey, a fit 44-year-old, says she didn’t want the fake look of breast implants.

Mankey decided she wanted what diet and exercise didn’t give her: fuller breasts and a flatter stomach. Some Denver plastic surgeons are creating athletic-looking abs with a liposuction procedure called Vaser Hi-Def. “Interestingly enough, when somebody in their 50s comes in, we can get them the exact result the 20- or 30-year-olds are looking for,” plastic surgeon Dr. John Millard said. “We’re actually

shaping form into the patients’ bodies, much as they would do going to the gym.” The cost for Mankey’s procedure was about $19,000, but doctors say this type of liposuction is safer than traditional methods. “This shakes the fat away, leaving everything else relatively untouched – it’s a faster recovery,” Dr. Millard said. Mankey missed only a week of work, and was bikini-ready in a month. “I’ve always wanted the perfect body, and that’s what I’m hoping to have,” Mankey said. Just five weeks after her surgery, Mankey unveiled that new body Monday on The Early Show. She says her stomach is noticeably

slimmer and pooch-free. That fat is now giving her a bigger bra size. “I feel fantastic – really the change to my body was just so dramatic, much more dramatic than I expected,” Mankey said. “My whole body is slimmer as a result, my clothes fit differently and so much better. I don’t have to suck my stomach in any more.” Doctors say that Vaser Hi-Def is designed only as a body-sculpting tool, and not as a method for weight loss. The procedure is intended for fit men and women who have good muscle tone, without excessive fat or skin. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) News Powered By

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61-Year-Old Man Infected With West Nile Virus Reporting Gwen Belton gbelton@cbs.com

MIAMI (CBS4) — Avoid mosquitoes, that’s the warning from Miami-Dade County Health officials after a 61-year-old man was found to have the virus. If left untreated, the virus can kill. Luz Adrana is getting ready for her daily run, but not without her mosquito repellent. “Because in one hour, very, very, so much mosquitoes,” she says. Adrana is doing just with health officials suggest to guard against mosquito bites and the West Nile virus. According to the Center for Disease Control, twelve people have died from the virus, so far this year, in the United States. Kevin Cruz loves being outdoors, but he knows the risks and takes precaution. “Either I wear long pants, hand sanitizers as she said, bug repellent,” he says. The symptoms of west Nile virus such as headache, fever, nausea and dizziness can range from mild to severe and last up to six days. South Florida cities routinely spray to control mosquitoes. Back in June, Broward County was overrun with them after twenty straight days of rain and standing water. One bucket of water can produce anywhere from five to six thousand mosquitoes. To protect yourself experts recommend the five *D’s* for

prevention, such as: avoid being outside at dusk and dawn, dress in clothing that covers most of your skin, use deet or a non-chemical mosquito repellent and drainage get rid standing water around your home. So far this year, in Florida, no one has died from the west Nile virus. In fact Florida is one of the states with the least amount of cases of west Nile over the past few years. The case prompted health department officials to issue a “mosquito-borne illness advisory” for Miami-Dade County. Symptoms of West Nile virus may include headache, fever, fatigue, dizziness, weakness and confusion. Physicians should contact their county health department if they suspect they have contracted the disease. DOH laboratories provide testing services for physicians treating patients with clinical signs of the mosquito-borne disease. Homeowners can help prevent mosquito-borne disease by clearing potential breeding sites in and around their home: • Clean out eaves, troughs and gutters. • Remove old tires or drill holes in those used in playgrounds to drain. • Turn over or remove empty plastic pots. • Pick up all beverage containers and cups. • Check tarps on boats or other equipment that may collect water. • Pump out bilges on boats. • Replace water in birdbaths and pet or other animal feeding dishes

at least once a week.

obstructions in drainage ditches that prevent the flow of water.

• Change water in plant trays, including hanging plants, at least once a week.

• Remove vegetation or

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R Real Estate Reporting David Sutta dsutta@cbs.com

MIAMI (CBS4) — One of the biggest banks backing South Florida’s real estate boom has officially gone under. The FDIC has shut down Chicago’s Corus Bank. The 96-year-old bank was holding notes on nearly a dozen high-end, brand-new buildings in Miami-Dade County alone. During South Florida’s boom, when developers were pitching plans to build high-rises across the skyline, Corus Bank was

all over the idea. They loaned money on more than a dozen buildings, from simple designs like Mint, Ivy, and Infinity along the Miami River to the extravagant Jade Ocean on Sunny Isles Beach. More than a year ago, realtor and blogger Lucas Lechuga predicted on his blog that Corus would fail. “They were the largest by far. There was a few banks out there that had a handful of condo developments down here. They definitely had the most,” Lechuga told CBS4’s David Sutta. On September 11, the prediction finally came true. Lechuga believed it was a matter of timing. “I think a lot of people saw this coming from a mile away. Corus Bank was over leveraged and coincided, the overleveraged in the Miami market and it coincided with the downturn in the real estate market.”

up over the years. Robinson explained, “When I learned about all it had to offer, I thought, ‘this is for me’”.

MIAMI (CBS4) —Myrtle Robinson is worried about paying her bills and staying in her Richmond Heights home. To take care of her bills, she recently took out a reverse mortgage. However, it turns out it may not be the right answer for her family. The reverse mortgage gives her a monthly income from the long-term equity in her home which she built

Bank Failure Means Big Changes In Miami Market MB Financial Bank has purchased $3 billion of Corus’s deposits and securities. That leaves the FDIC holding $4 billion in assets. In that $4 billion is a portfolio of South Florida’s failed overpriced condos. The ultra luxury Paramount Bay was presold at $600 to $800 a square foot. Lucas said he believes today it may move at “realistically, I think $350 a square foot.”

But while reverse mortgages allow elderly homeowners to draw the equity out of their home for daily living expenses, they also limit what a family does with the property after the original owner is out of the house. If all the equity is pulled out, heirs may be left with the unpleasant problem of having to refinance the property themselves, sell it off, or let the bank take it over. Financial Advisor Charles Sachs of Coral Gables Evensky & Katz warned, “There’s a good chance the kids or the family will not have any value left in the home’s equity; but the plus side is you’re consuming

think more likely be a buy and flip.” These are just the loans investors would be buying. They would still have to foreclose on the developer. The FDIC estimates Corus Bank’s failure will cost them about $1.7 billion. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) News Powered By

It seems that the vultures are circling. This week is the deadline for investors to bid on Corus’ portfolio. The FDIC plans to sell the assets, insiders believe in its entirety, next month. The sale of these loans ultimately will have a large impact on South Florida real estate prices. Lechuga predicted, “If an investment group comes in buys these assets, buys the notes, and turns around, rents these units out, it will have an impact on the rental prices. But I

4 Your Money: Are Reverse Mortgages The Answer?

Reporting Al Sunshine sunshia@wfor. cbs.com

OCTOBER 2009

the resources to extend living there.” Federal Officials recently posted a nationwide warning about reverse mortgages. In some cases, elderly homeowners were charged hefty fees for appraisals and applications. In other cases, mortgage lenders sold elderly clients investments they may not live long enough to make any money on. Despite the potential problems, Myrtle Robinson says her reverse mortgage is working out well for her and added “It’s like a load off my shoulders and after hearing about it, you’re grateful.”

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Govt. Offers Assistance To Buyers Of Foreclosures “I’ve just been working my whole life,” he said. “Being a single father, I can’t afford things. Hopefully, I’ll get some help, maybe things will turn around.”

Reporting Carey Codd cdcodd@wfor. cbs.com MIAMI (CBS4) — Chris Moore knows now is the time to buy a home. Prices are down, inventory is up and a deal can be had. But the auto mechanic and single father of two says he needs help to afford a home. He’s hoping the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, or NSP, will give him the boost he needs.

NSP is a government program created through the Troubled Assets Relief Program while President George W. Bush was in office. The program provided billions of dollars to states, cities and counties to deal with the flood of foreclosures. The dollars are trickling down to South Florida communities. Patricia Stevenson, Executive Director of the Broward Alliance for Neighborhood Development or BAND, is coordinating the program for Broward County and several other municipalities. “The goal is a., stabilize the neighborhood by turning these homes back into owner occupancy and provide decent affordable housing for families of Broward County,” Stevenson told CBS4’s Carey Codd.

The program works like this: BAND will purchase dozens of foreclosed homes in Broward County, hire contractors to renovate the homes, bring them up to code and the homes will be sold to qualified buyers. The money from the sale of the homes will be used to purchase more foreclosed homes and continue the process. Some of the homes need lots of work. CBS4 got a tour of a home in Plantation that is part of the program. The 3 bedroom, 2 bath home has a hole in the roof, lacks an air conditioning system and kitchen appliances. Stevenson said the repair job will cost tens of thousands of dollars but will leave the home primed for a new owner. “One of our goals is for our buyers to not have a lot of maintenance costs in the first few years they own the home,” she said. Homeowners who are interested in the program must meet income and credit requirements, must attend a

homeowners workshop qualify for a mortgage.

and

must

A single person making less than $64,320 could qualify for the program. A couple making less than $73,440 could also qualify as could a family of four earning less than $91,800. “It really is an opportunity to get some people back into homes that need repair and great neighborhoods with great houses, so we’re excited about it,” Stevenson said. The NSP has other benefits as well, like providing jobs for workers. BAND will hire contractors who will in turn hire employees to do roofing, electrical and other work. For more information on the program, call BAND at 954 524-9844. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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Research Necessary Before Buying First Home estate attorney, Roy Oppenheim. There are also a lot of things in place to help first time home buyers, like the tax credit; but what are the restrictions?

Reporting David Sutta dsutta@cbs.com

MIAMI (CBS4) — We’ve heard it time and time again – it’s a buyer’s market, but what’s the first thing you should do if you’re looking to purchase your first home? “You need is to make sure that you have a good lawyer. There are a lot of scams out there and what you really need to be careful,” says real

“You must be a first time homebuyer, first time homebuyer means that you haven’t bought a home in three years,” says mortgage broker, Eddy Fernandez. “Also it’s up to $8,000 or 10 percent of the sales price. If you purchase a $60,000 home, you’re going to get six thousand; if you purchase a $200,000 home, you’re going to get 10 percent - 8,000 dollars.” But you have to hurry; the tax credit ends November 31st, and if you’re not a first time homebuyer, the experts say it’s still a good time to buy.

“In the long term, if you’re going to be in the home for five to ten or more years, it’s certainly probably a good investment. Buying a home is one of the greatest things you can do in your life. It puts a smile on your face and you don’t want one of the greatest things to turn into one of the nightmares of your life,” said Oppenheim. For free financial advice on how to purchase your first home and take advantage of the tax credit, give the Neighbors 4 Neighbors/CBS4 Your Money phone bank a call at 305597-4404 from 5pm to 6:30pm on Monday, September 28th. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) News Powered By

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BankAtlantic To Help Homeless Become Homeowners how it is today.” While living at a local shelter with his family, Ron learned about BankAtlantic’s “Homeless to Homeowner” program.

MIAMI (CBS4) — It’s a situation anyone could find themselves in; losing your job or poor money management can leave a person steps away from homelessness. It’s a place Ron McDonald, a father of three, found himself in just a couple of years ago. “I will tell you as a man and not being able to provide for my family, I felt ashamed,” said McDonald. “Today you can have it all and tomorrow it can all go away, especially with the economy

the BankAtlantic Homeless Homeowner program.

McDonald added, “Bank Atlantic first time home buyer program, it is the ABC to getting yourself back up from where you are.”

“For every dollar that I saved I got two dollars,” said McDonald, “That was the down payment of this house.”

And buying his first home was something that Ron was proud to show his family he could do.

After two years of saving and attending financial literacy workshops, Ron was ready to buy his first home.

“I hope that my children see me getting up everyday, going to work, coming home and spending time with them” said McDonald.

“From homeless to homeowner, from hopeless to hopeful, the “Homeless to Homeowner” program is dear to our hearts because it tells that people can survive and what people can achieve and this is the program that we are most proud of” said Marcia Barry Smith, Executive Director of

Buying a home was more than an accomplishment for Ron, it was a chance to build himself back up again. “The self-esteem building that takes place in the Homeless to Homeowner program is just as important as all the other

composites that we put towards this. So the next time you hear that someone was homeless think there but for the grace of God go I,” said Barry Smith. If you would like to learn more about the home buying programs, give Neighbors 4 Neighbors a call at (305) 597-4404. Neighbors 4 Neighbors also announced Thursday that BankAtlantic has agreed to be their new underwriter. N4N said they are excited about a partnership with BankAtlantic because it will allow them to continue sharing stories and working in the community helping those in need. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) News Powered By

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Foreclosures Open New Doors For Homebuyers around South Florida is getting worse. Through the end of September, foreclosure filings were up another 25 percent. With more than 74,000 residential properties already in foreclosure, South Florida’s numbers could approach 100,000 this year.

Reporting Al Sunshine sunshia@wfor. cbs.com

MIAMI (CBS4) — Foreclosed and abandoned homes have become enough of a blight on neighborhoods that the federal government’s spending millions of dollars to help get them cleaned up and sold. The latest numbers show the problem of abandoned properties

But the up-side is all those foreclosed properties represent new opportunities for first-time homebuyers, like Satti Taki. The customer service representative said, “After a long time of renting, I filled out the paperwork and went through all the red tape and got qualified to buy a foreclosed home.” With the help of her bank, she applied for a Neighborhood Stabilization Plan Loan. She was approved for up to $50,000 towards a $100,000 home by the City of Pembroke Pines.

She’s been busy the past few weeks looking at foreclosed properties. But she still can’t find anything she can afford. She added, “It’s great that I’ll be able to qualify and get up to $50,000 for a home, but prices are expensive in Pembroke Pines and there’s nothing available.” Affordable Housing Specialist Edith Bynes of BankAtlantic explained, “It’s done through the city or county through the federal government. They set up the applications and filings to purchase foreclosed homes the NSP program.” The federal program provides up to $50,000 for qualified residents. It’s administered through local governments and must be used within 60 days.

For Taki, that means she has to find her new home by the end of October or start the entire application process thru another city with more affordable prices. “With all the ads featuring foreclosed properties, I still think I can find a home, but probably not in Pembroke Pines.” The clock is also running on the up to $8000 first-time homebuyers’ tax credit, which ends in November. All in all, it’s safe to assume a lot of first-time buyers will be busy for the next few weeks finding bargains they can afford, before their funding or tax credits expire. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) News Powered By

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S Sports Reporting Tim Kephart tkephart@cbs .com

MIAMI (CBS4) — For years, football experts have constantly lauded the state of Florida as producing some of the greatest football players in the nation. Back in the 1990’s, the University of Miami, Florida State University, the University of Florida along with the Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were all at or near the tops of their game. With the exception of the University of Florida, oh how the mighty have fallen. The once unstoppable machine that was the University of Miami Hurricanes football team has disappeared from the annual discussion of the national championship and instead a firsttier team in the Atlantic Coast Conference. So far in 2009, the Hurricanes scoring defense is ranked number 84 in the country. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes scoring offense ranks 72nd in the country. Both are a far cry from the dominating numbers the team used to put up. But unlike most other major Florida football teams, the future is bright for the Hurricanes. The team is probably one year away from reentering the national championship discussion thanks to emerging star quarterback Jacory Harris and a slowly improving defense. In Tallahassee, the news is not so good. While fielding an incredibly

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The State Of Florida Football young team, the Florida State Seminoles have almost become a shell of their former selves. The Seminoles rank 55th in the country in scoring offense and 76th in rushing offense. Defensively, the ‘Noles rank 59th in scoring defense, 115th in passing defense, and 37th in rush defense. The days of defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews’ defense causing mass headaches for opposing teams are a distant memory. The Seminoles do have a young and improving offensive line and a potential star quarterback in Christian Ponder. But Ponder has virtually no skill players around him and the defensive secondary for Florida State is getting carved up like a Thanksgiving turkey. This season will likely be head coach Bobby Bowden’s last at FSU, which means Andrews will likely leave as well. That means a large coaching turnover may be coming to FSU, which can sometimes be a blessing for a team that is struggling on the field. Moving to the pro game, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers once fielded a suffocating, dominating defense coupled with a strong running game and a good game manager at quarterback. The motto for the offense was don’t mess up, and let the defense dominate. For the Buccaneers, the fall started quickly but may not end anytime soon. The Bucs released a slew of veterans in the offseason, most notably future Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks. The multi-time All-Pro still had gas in the tank and could have helped a young defense needing leadership. But the Bucs in a cost-cutting move, released Brooks and the defense hasn’t been the same since. The nadir for the Bucs may have come this past Sunday against the New York Giants. The Bucs mustered a total of 86 yards of

offense in the entire game. Running backs Carnell Williams and Derrick Ward ran for 10 more yards than the fans in the stands did. That’s not bad, that’s an offensive ineptitude of epic proportions. Now, the Bucs were playing a great Giants defense, but 86 total yards sound about like what the Cleveland Browns might put together, but not the Tampa Bay Bucs. Couple that with the fact that the Giants ran right through the Bucs defense like a hot knife through butter, and the situation in Tampa could get really ugly, really quickly. In Jacksonville, the city has shown lukewarm support at best to the Jaguars. Of course, the Jaguars have put together lukewarm at best teams on the field, so it’s not a shock the city isn’t turning out to support the team. The Jaguars have some good pieces to start to build a team around. They have a star running back in the form of Maurice Jones-Drew; a solid set of rookie offensive tackles in Eben Britton and Eugene Monroe; and a couple of improving defensive ends; a solid, but injury prone fullback named Greg Jones; and a good young tight end in the form of

Marcedes Lewis. Still, the Jaguars offense is basically one dimensional and in desperate need of playmaking receivers on the outside. The Jags have swung for the fences and missed horribly in the draft on receivers like Reggie Williams, Ernest Wilford, and Matt Jones. The Jags hoped to get a little bit out of Torry Holt, who is at the end of his career, but he’s now a possession receiver and not the explosive playmaker he used to be in St. Louis. Plus, the Jaguars quarterback, David Garrard, has not looked like the superstar he’s getting paid to be. All of the Jaguars games are likely to be blacked out this season, meaning so few fans are buying tickets that the NFL prevents the game from being shown in the Jaguars market in hopes of forcing fans out to the games. That brings us to the Miami Dolphins. This was supposed to be a breakthrough year for the Dolphins. The franchise had a new owner, the Parcells regime was in its second season and the team was coming off an AFC East Championship, just one year continued on page 70

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The State Of Florida Football continued from page 68 removed from being the worst team in football. But, the Dolphins stumbled out of the gate hard and have now been hit just as hard by injuries. Starting quarterback Chad Pennington is done for the season, and possibly his career depending on what kind of magic renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews can pull off. That leaves the quarterbacking duties in the hands of Chad Henne, who has as many starts in the NFL as this writer does. Henne has a powerful arm, but much like his Jaguars brethren, he has one possession receiver on the outside in Davone Bess and that’s about it. The Dolphins have yet to go after a solid number one receiver in the first round of a draft or in free agency, and it has shown in the

passing game. Most notably, Miami’s starting tight end Anthony Fasano could catch the flu easier than he has caught the ball through the first three games.

burned deep or by tight ends over the middle, neither of which is going to help generate a lot of wins.

But all is not lost on the Dolphins. Much like the Jaguars, they have a young, solid offensive line across the board. They have two star running backs, a young quarterback and a pair of future star cornerbacks.

That brings us to the one shining star in the state of Florida’s football teams, the University of Florida Gators. All the Gators have done is dominate the recruiting front, dominate the SEC, and win 2 out of the last 3 national championships. Not too shabby a resume for the mighty Gators.

What the Dolphins don’t have is a free safety that doesn’t get burned like a piece of toast. Free Agent signing Gibril Wilson has showed the same lack of playmaking he showed during the 2008 season in Oakland, leading to the Raiders (yes, the Raiders) releasing him. It’s not all on Wilson as he has faced three All-Pro tight ends in a row, but the Dolphins defense is showing a penchant for getting

The Gators dominance has been aided by the fall of both FSU and Miami. Still, what the Gators have pulled off during the brief time head coach Urban Meyer has been there is nothing short of spectacular. Of course it doesn’t hurt to have one of the best college football players of all-time, Tim Tebow, leading your squad.

It must be noted that on the college football front, as FSU, UF, and Miami rose to dominance, the recruiting battles over Florida talent became much, much tougher. Plus, as Florida State found out last weekend, the University of South Florida program is rising fast behind head coach Jim Leavitt. That adds a layer of difficulty to the big three trying to keep a stranglehold on the top recruits. In the Deep South, some people like to recite the line that, “the South shall rise again.” In the state of Florida, fans shouldn’t worry, all of the Florida teams (major college and pro) will once again climb the ladder to respectability and possibly dominance in the not too distant future. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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Wade Prepared To Top Off Last Season “We both were sitting down in the back and he kind of broke down to me all the people that you need to make sure that you body is right. He broke it down to me number wise and said, ‘What’s that – $150,000?’ Wade said.

MIAMI (CBS4) — Dwyane Wade had an MVP-caliber season last year. So what’s it going to take for the sevenyear pro to top it off? “I just have to pay more money in the offseason, I guess,” Wade said Monday during the Miami Heat’s Media Day. Wade’s summer consisted of $150,000 spent on chefs, physical therapists, and Pilates and Yoga instructors – an amount he and former Heat member Alonzo Mourning calculated one day when Wade was hurt during a previous season.

“That’s a $150,000 investment into your body. At that moment, it kind of hit home to me and let me know you have to take care of your body. This is the engine in the car, and you have to make sure the engine purrs when you get on the road.” Wade hopes he can guide the Heat to another post-season appearance. They failed to make it past the first round last year, losing to the Atlanta Hawks in game 7 on the road.

points and had 172 steals last season, but needs more help from his surrounding cast if he wants another championship ring. “We like the people that we have. Its interesting that people write this group off. When you look at some of the pieces here you can see the chance for this team to be special,” Coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We have to address the defensive part of the game. We need to be more consistent with our system and build something that’s ready to compete with the best in the league.”

Miami is already the underdog in the Eastern Conference, and many say its because the team did nothing to alleviate the load off their star player.

Jermaine O’Neal returned from an off-season of training with renowned strength and conditioning coach Tim Grover in Chicago and says his knee is one hundred percent healthy. Mario Chalmers, who played and started mostly at point guard last season, has a year of NBA experienced under his belt.

Wade averaged a career-high 30.2

Michael Beasley is also back for year

two – but questions still surround the former college star’s well-being. He had a tumultuous offseason and spent 30 days in a substance-abuse facility in Houston as part of a requirement after violating the NBA’s substanceabuse program during the rookie symposium. While there, Beasley posted messages indicating that he was depressed. The Heat feel they have all the necessary pieces. “We knew in the summer time there wasn’t going to be huge additions,” said O’Neal, who came in a fourplayer trade last February. “Do we expect to be better than we were last year? Absolutely. I know that this coaching staff is going to hold everyone accountable.” (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Miami Makes Strong Push for Wrestlemania Herald. “Hopefully, happen.”

MIAMI (CBS4) — WWE Wrestlemania to Miami? The Miami-Dade Sports Commission is hoping so. The Commission is waiting to hear back on whether the super-sized event will make its way to South Florida in 2011 or 2012, CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald said. “Our focus is 2011,” Miami-Dade Sports Commission executive director Mike Sophia told the

will

WWE is the popular professional wrestling company headed by Chairman Vince McMahon and the McMahon family. Shows like “Monday Night Raw” and “Friday Night Smackdown” catapulted the WWE into celebrity-like status, turning performers like John Cena, Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan into household names. The Commission made its local pitch earlier this month when WWE executives visited to scope out the facilities. Later, members of the Commission were invited to Stanford, Connecticut, to make a pitch to Shane McMahon, his father and other WWE senior staff members.

Miami is one of about 10 cities that the WWE is considering as its host. The proposal from the Commission includes bringing Wrestlemania to Land Shark Stadium, WWE Hall of Fame ceremony and Monday Night Raw at the AmericanAirlines Arena, and the Wrestlemania Fax Axxess at the convention center. Bringing such an event to Miami could prove valuable for the city. Wrestlemania 24, which was held in Orlando, generated more than $5.85 million in ticket sales, the Herald said. It also set the Citrus Bowl attendance record with 74,635 fans from 50 states, five Canadian provinces and 21 countries - people from around the world are known to flock to the event regardless of its location. Wrestlemania has been held in Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Las

Vegas, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Seattle and Toronto. The McMahons made headlines during this year’s NBA Finals when they had to reroute their Denver WWE show to the Staples Center because of a conflict with Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. Vince challenged Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke to a steel cage match and had a wrestling member dress up as Kroenke during the live event. (© MMIX 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)

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Land Shark Stadium Offers New Experience For Fans artist” is scheduled to perform on the Land Shark Tailgate Stage near Gate F at 7:45 p.m., nearly an hour before the 8:40 kickoff. Buffett also rewrote the lyrics to his song “Fins” to accommodate the Dolphins.

Reporting Lisa Cilli lcilli@wfor.cbs .com

MIAMI GARDENS (CBS4) — When fans arrive at Land Shark Stadium on Monday night for the 2009 Miami Dolphins home opener against the Indianapolis Colts, they will experience Dolphins football in a new way. From enhanced pregame and ingame entertainment to new amenities for all seating categories, these improvements are part of owner Steve Ross’ vision of making the stadium experience the best in the NFL. Parrotheads may also get to see Jimmy Buffett perform. “Our fans are the best, and they deserve the best,” said Mike Dee, CEO of the Dolphins. “From expanded fan zones and greater concession options to the new artwork and entertainment that reflects the personality of South Florida, we are committed to providing all of our fans an unparalleled experience at Land Shark Stadium.” In addition to all of the high-tech enhancements, games this year are all about star power. Steve Ross has added a roster of stars to the owners list including Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Marc Anthony, and Venus and Serena Williams. Ross even renamed the stadium after Jimmy Buffett’s beer in exchange for some appearances and one of those appearances is rumored to be Monday night where a “surprise

All of the celebrity owners are expected to attend Monday night’s game. So is rapper T-Pain, the hip-hop star who was commissioned to sing a reggae dance-hall version of the Dolphins 1973 fight song. In addition to the star power, Ross is attempting to enhance the “game-day experience” in other ways. * Vibrant Art - Romero Brittoinspired art decorating the helixes and gate entrances giving the stadium a brighter, vibrant look with a touch of South Florida. * Land Shark Fin Zone – New Land Shark Lager-branded area on the Grand Plaza featuring a live music stage for pre-game concerts that will have special guests and notable artists. * Refurbished Team Store – The Team Store by Gate G has been completely overhauled and redesigned for an overall better and faster shopping experience. The mega store has the largest inventory of Dolphins merchandise than any other sports store. * Celebrity Orange Carpet – The Dolphins version of the red carpet where celebrity fans will walk as they enter the stadium. Similar to a big Hollywood event, celebrities will be interviewed before heading to the Ocean Drive Club. * Ocean Drive Club – An exclusive club for members only where celebrities and VIP’s will gather to enjoy a South Beachtype club experience. * “Calle Dolphins” – In partnership with Estefan Enterprises and Bongos, “Calle Dolphins” will offer the best

Latin tailgating in the NFL with traditional Latin food and musical groups. * Renovated Concessions – All concession stands on the 100 and 400 levels have been renovated with more serving space for speedier service, new digital menu boards for easy ordering and flat-screen TV’s so no moment of the action is missed. * Margaritaville & Land Shark Sand Bars – Bars on the 100 and 400 levels have been given a Key West-inspired look, providing a resort-like feeling for fans. * New Sights & Sounds – Fans will be treated to a completely new and improved in-stadium experience through music, videos and special entertainment. Dolphins Voices, a new a cappella group selected in part by Emilio Estefan will sing the national anthem. During the game, Jimmy Buffett’s “Fins” song will get fans up from their seats to sing and dance in unison “fins to the right, fins to the left!” * Ford Sideline Club Access Pass – For the first time in the NFL, fans can purchase a Ford Sideline Access Pass giving them exclusive access to an area directly behind the Dolphins player bench (a game ticket is also required). Fans can remain in the area from pre-game to postgame . They can also share their pass with another fan. * Dolphins Mobile Vision (DMV) – Premium seat holders will receive a complimentary DMV powered by Best Buy in mid-October. The hand-held device allows them to control the action by viewing different camera angles, instant replays on demand, view other NFL games, get live stats and personalize content among other special features which aren’t available at home. The Dolphins are the first in the NFL to offer this new generation device to their fans. * Touchdown Club – Fans can purchase Club seats in the east end zone for individual games

with limited access to the Club. Level. The seats provide more legroom, weather protection and access to an air-conditioned space * Locker Room Club – Fans now have an opportunity to be on the field behind the goalposts and watch the players enter and exit the locker room . The Locker Room Club is the newest premium seating option that also includes food and beverage. * In-Seat Vending – For the first time, fans won’t have to leave their seats to get refreshments or food. Vendors will roam the 400 level seating areas of the stadium selling drinks and select snacks. * Boar’s Head and Carnegie Delis - Land Shark Stadium is the first NFL stadium to offer Boar’s Head Deli and Carnegie Deli. Boar’s Head will be available throughout the stadium while Carnegie will be served on the Club Level. * Jack Black Men’s Products – Fans on the Club Level will be able to take a break and treat themselves to a complimentary massage and facial. Additionally, Jack Black men’s grooming products that will be available to sample. * Dolphins Express – New bus service from West Palm Beach/ Treasure Coast courtesy of Duffy’s Sports Grill, from southwest Florida courtesy of Germain Toyota of Naples, and from the Florida Keys courtesy of Ziggie & Mad Dog’s are available for all home games. For more information, fans can call 1888-FINS-BUS or visit DolphinsExpress.com. Fans who want to enjoy these and all of the new fan experiences at Land Shark Stadium should call 1-888-FINS-TIX or go to www.MiamiDolphins.com to purchase their game tickets. News Powered By

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A Automotive

By Jim Motavalli - New York Times - October 6, 2009 It’s hardly a secret that Jay Leno, who begins his new prime-time talk show tonight, is a car guy. What’s less known is that he’s also a green car guy. The big garage he occasionally writes about features such historical electric cars as a Baker Electric from 1909, an early Owen Magnetic hybrid-type vehicle and a 1925 Doble steamer. He also converted a 600horsepower Z06 Corvette to run on E85 ethanol. Mr. Leno, whose new program, “The Jay Leno Show,” has been described as “The Tonight Show” without the desk, will go public about his passion for plug-ins with a segment called “Green Car Challenge,” featuring celebrities who will take turns trying to best one another’s track times in a specially prepared Ford Focusbased battery car. The “Green Car Challenge” is a variation of a regular segment on “Top Gear,” a British series about cars. Celebrity guests on “Top Gear” are put behind the wheel of a compact car, and the segment is called “Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.” Mr. Leno was recently a

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Jay Leno’s Green Car Challenge competitor. In an interview with Starpulse.com, Mr. Leno said he wanted to do the “Green Car Challenge” as often as two or three times a week. He said he did the segment “because whenever I would drive a green car, like an electric car, when I drove it to the show, the female guests would go, ‘What is that? Does that not use gas?’ And a lot of times, without sounding sexist, the guys are interested in cars, the women could care less. But this is something where the women will go, ‘Hey, how does that work?’ And they’re really interested. And I think Drew Barrymore said that she would like to drive it.” The car that Mr. Leno’s guests (and presumably the man himself) will drive is a version of the electric Focus that Ford will sell in North America in 2011. Among the modifications are two batteries, one in the cargo area and the other replacing what would normally be the fuel tank. It has a roll bar, a five-point racing harness and the car’s suspension has been tuned. Even without those mods, the car is lively. I’ve test-driven versions of it twice, first on the streets of Detroit and later on a Ford track in Dearborn, Mich. It’s no Tesla Roadster, but it has good off-theline performance and road manners. It is also, of course, really quiet, which means viewers will be able to hear the celebrities chatter as they zoom around. “Having our Focus battery electric vehicle on the show is a great way to demonstrate how fun to drive these cars really can be,” said Lisa Drake, chief engineer at Ford Hybrid and Battery Electric Vehicle Programs. The Focus battery electric is part of a broad Ford electric vehicle rollout that includes a battery version of the Transit Connect van (2010), a plugin hybrid and a next-generation

lithium-ion battery hybrid (both 2012). Ford has said the Focus BEV will initially be built in limited quantities of not more than 10,000 a year. But regular appearances on “The Jay Leno Show,” with celebrities behind the wheel (and on a race track, no less), could upgrade its status in the company stable.

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Automotive color trends: Silver remains car fans’ fave BY GREG GARDNER FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

When it comes to car colors, most North Americans are pretty conservative, as silver and charcoal remained the most-popular exterior colors for the ninth consecutive year in PPG Industries’ annual presentation of color trends. Silver and charcoal were chosen by one in four new car buyers this year, followed by white (18%), black (16%) and red (12%). But the real news is how automakers are using different color palettes, depending on the size and styling of a vehicle. “All manufacturers are focusing more than ever on brands and establishing the distinct characteristics of their own vehicles. One way to do that is with unique colors,” said Jane Harrington, PPG manager of color styling and automotive coatings. For example, as more subcompact cars are introduced, customers will see brighter, bolder colors, partly because a large percentage of those buyers are under 30 and partially because the body designs of smaller cars allow for brighter greens, yellows and blues, she said.

PPG, which is not only a leading supplier of automotive paint but also manages some of its customers’ paint shops, is showing off colors it thinks will be popular in 2012 and 2013 model-year cars and trucks. Harrington is also showcasing what she calls “3D color” by showing how certain combinations of exterior and interior colors can more effectively work together. While silver, whites and blacks continue to predominate, enhancing effects and tints are being added to these old standbys. Other colors among the 60 new exterior hues PPG is presenting this week are champagne silver (with a slight copper-beige cast), outer space blue (with a sparkle effect) and haute couture (a sparkled blue mid-coat over a black base coat) and quantum red, an almost neonlike shade for interior applications. Americans’ tastes have changed dramatically in the past 15 years, PPG said. In 1994, green was the most-popular color and only 8% of buyers chose silver.

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