County Commissioner Victor Crist Calls For Partnership With Neighboring Seaports

By Kelsey Dewey

In the U.S., more than 1 billion tons of domestic goods are moved by water each year.  The Port of Tampa is the largest of Florida’s fourteen deep-water seaports.  Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist called for greater cooperation with Port Manatee and the Port of St. Petersburg at Wednesday’s county board meeting.

The Hillsborough County Commission serves 1,245,870 people

“I think we need to be thinking larger.  We need to be thinking collaboratively and regionally,” Commissioner Crist said.

County Commissioner Sandra Murman disagreed with Crist’s position on partnering with St. Petersburg and Manatee ports.  Murman said that the Port of Tampa is the only profitable seaport in Florida and collaboration could have financial implications.

“We don’t want to pick up somebody’s deficit,” Murman said.

Analysts believe that the expansion of the Panama Canal could increase trade from Asia in the Gulf of Mexico.  The current timeline of the canal project shows a completion date of 2014.  Crist asked the Tampa Port Authority Director and CEO, Richard Wainio, to focus on strengthening the current sea trade market in Tampa.

“The development of goods over in China is growing, but there’s also the prospects of our Caribbean basin,” Crist said.

The Tampa Port Authority has been collaborating with ports in Mobile, Ala., and Houston, Texas since last year to increase international trade in the Gulf of Mexico.  Wainio called the collaboration the “Gulf Coast Advantage.”  Wainio said the port authority expects to see more future growth for Tampa from the Caribbean, Mexico and South America.

“The greatest opportunities for the Port of Tampa and for this state lie north to south, not east to west,” Wainio said.

Already the largest port in Florida, the Tampa Port Authority is working on plans to expand Tampa’s 40-acre terminal and increase capacity to 1 million containers.

“That’s more than enough capacity to serve all of the needs of West Central Florida for decades to come, without having to build anymore container facilities anywhere on the West coast of Florida,” Wainio said.

The Florida state legislature along with the Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Ports is currently reviewing Florida’s trade needs, according to Wainio.  Crist said port authorities within the Tampa Bay area should work together to construct their own strategy for local needs.

“I think it’s greatly to our disadvantage to give that task to someone else,” Crist said.

The Port of Tampa serves a large market and provides 100,000 jobs.  Eight million people live within 100 miles of the seaport.

Television Broadcast Piece for Anchor and Reporter

Slug: LOCKS OF LOVE

On Cam

:00 Take Cass

:19  Pia McCarthy/Director of Volunteers

:42 Rebecca Vyzas/Two-Time Donor

:56  Kelsey Dewey/WC News at 1

 1:06 Cass Out

(Anchor 1)

FOUR-POINT-SEVEN MILLION AMERICANS ARE AFFECTED BY ALOPECIA (AL-UH-PEE-SHEE-UH) … AN AUTO-IMMUNE DISORDER THAT CAN LEAD TO PERMANENT HAIR LOSS, … AND HAS NO KNOWN CURE …THE UNIVERISITY OF TAMPA’S PEACE VOLUNTEER CENTER … AND SOUTH TAMPA’S TRIBECA SALON, WILL OFFER FREE HAIRCUTS TO ANYONE WHO DONATES TEN INCHES OF HAIR TO LOCKS OF LOVE THIS FRIDAY. HERE’S W-C-NEWS-AT-1 REPORTER, KELSEY DEWEY, WITH THE STORY.

LOCKS OF LOVE

Nat snd of scissors

Nat snd of electric razor

The non-profit organization Locks of Love provides between 300 and 400 hairpieces a year … to children and young adults, under the age of 21, with medically induced hair loss.

Pia McCarthy … the Director of Volunteers, says the number of events held for Locks of Love is impossible to estimate.

McCarthy cue: “We receive donations from individuals, salons and events from all over the world.”

The two leading causes of medical hair loss in children are alopecia and cancer.

Nat snd of heart monitor

Hairpieces from Locks of Love improve a child’s self-confidence.

University of Tampa student, Rebecca Vyzas, has donated twice to Locks of Love … simply to show her support to their cause.

Vyzas: “If my best friend had cancer I‘d probably shave all of it off.”

This Friday, the University of Tampa’s PEACE Volunteer Center is partnering with Tribeca Salon to provide an opportunity for you to donate ten inches or more of clean hair to Locks of Love.

Standup: The event will be held here in the Brevard Community Room from 12 to 4 p.m. …  From the University of Tampa, this is Kelsey Dewey, WC News at 1.

outcue: WC News at 1.

On cam:

(Anchor 1)

IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT TO FRIDAY’S LOCKS 0F LOVE EVENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA … YOU CAN GO ONLINE AT W-W-W-DOT-LOCKS-OF-LOVE-DOT-ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN HELP THOSE STRUGGLING WITH MEDICAL HAIR LOSS.

Gas Prices On The Rise As Students Prepare For Spring Break

Students traveling over spring break should set aside extra cash for the gas pump.  Average prices of retail gasoline increased nationwide last week when the price of crude oil increased to $100 per barrel.

The local retail price for gasoline in Florida yesterday was $3.41.  The national retail price averaged $3.37, according to the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS).

When rising gas prices become a factor in consumer spending, it helps to live in a state known for its beaches and local attractions.

Public & Government Relations manager of Tampa’s AAA Auto Club South, Jessica Brady, said that more people vacation closer to home when gas prices increase.  She called it the return of the “stay-cation.”

“There will be some people who can’t afford to take vacations because of the increased prices, not only in gas but also the increased prices of airfare as a result of the increased prices of crude oil,” Brady said.

Crude oil prices increased in response to the political tension in Egypt and the oil-producing countries of the Middle East.  In the Middle East, between one and two million barrels of oil are transported through the Suez Canal each day.

“We saw the price of oil go up on the concern alone that the canal could be shut down,” Brady said.  She added that the new concern is how the spreading political tension in the oil-producing countries will disrupt oil production and supply.

There are 42 gallons of crude oil in one barrel, according to the Florida Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association (FPMA).  Of those 42 gallons, 19.5 gallons are used for gasoline.  The crude oil trade value yesterday had decreased to around $97 per barrel.

At this point, the best response to rising gas costs is to practice good fuel efficiency habits.  AAA offers tips to save money and conserve fuel.  One cost cutting tip: consumers who pay in cash can save from 5 to 15 cents per gallon at specific retail locations who offer cash vs. credit prices.

Thinking of Traveling this Spring Break? Consider the Mileage…

Tampa to….	One Way	Round Trip
Clearwater	22 miles	44 miles
Orlando	82	164
Jacksonville	203	406
Miami	277	554
Key West	426	852
Pensacola	468	936

Guns on Campus Will Not Improve Security | March 31

Arizona and Texas lawmakers evoked recent debate over a new bill that would potentially allow individuals to carry a concealed gun on public university and college campuses.  Currently, Utah is the only state that has such a law.  Allowing students and faculty to carry concealed weapons would not increase student safety at the University of Tampa or any campus.

According to campus crime stats at the University of Tampa, the two most common crimes committed on campus between 2007 and 2009, were liquor and drug-related violations.  Large quantities of alcohol inhibit the brain from thinking logically.  How could school state leaders even consider adding guns into that kind of environment?

Even with a license, Florida law prohibits individuals from carrying concealed weapons in any school, college, or university facility or event.  This law is not about to change either.  The Florida Senate scraped a bill allowing concealed weapons on school grounds on March 9, 2011.

The Minaret reported that the bills “seem to be in response” to the shootings at Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois, and the University of Texas, which occurred in 2007, 2008, and 2010 successively.  Supporters of carry laws on college campuses suggest that permitting individuals to carry guns could provide extra protection against shooters.

Having access to guns and other weapons does not ensure that public shootings will cease.  On November 5, 2009, Army psychiatrist, Maj. Nadil Malik Hasan, killed 12 people at Fort Hood before he was shot and captured.

In the event of a school shooting, law enforcers would have a more difficult time distinguishing between friendly and unfriendly fire on a campus that permits concealed carry.  This is not the Wild West.  It is the school’s responsibility to take the right precautions to protect its students and faculty, as they are paid to do.

Kelsey Dewey, Tampa

ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy Needs Life Support

By Kelsey Dewey

Producers of “Grey’s Anatomy” failed to resuscitate the show’s lifeless seventh season with “Grey’s Anatomy: The Music Event.”  That’s right, “music event.”

Any follower of “Grey’s Anatomy” is accustomed to the occasional dramatic, over-the-top scenario: dead fiancés coming back to life, icicles impaling residents, doctors saving a deer.  Last night’s episode, “Song Beneath the Song,” reached a whole new level of stupidity.

In past episodes, “Grey’s Anatomy” featured popular songs like “Chasing Cars,” by Snow Patrol, “How to Save a Life” by The Fray, and “Breathe (2 a.m.)” by Anna Nalick.  These songs were revisited in last night’s episode, except that the performers were “Grey’s Anatomy” cast members.  Take a moment to consider that concept.

The episode centered on Dr. Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez).  After a serious car crash, Torres is rushed to the hospital where she has an out of body experience; the audience was not so fortunate.  In the 40 minutes of the episode, Torres imagined herself and 12 other characters singing songs throughout the narrative (and yes, there was some hair-flipping action).  Is Hollywood in such a need for good writers that TV shows must resort to the musical sitcom?

“Grey’s Anatomy: The Music Event” is proof that this series is about to flat line.  To be kind, last year’s season finale, in which a shooter terrorized the hospital, set a very high standard in regards to dramatic events.  The seventh season just cannot revive the former appeal of the show.

Last night’s episode went from heartfelt to ridiculous, as soon as Dr. Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) joined in Torres’ karaoke-like rendition of “Chasing Cars.”  I can only hope that the producers of “Grey’s Anatomy” sign off on a DNR after this season ends.

Article: Ad agency apologizes over use of New York firefighter photo

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/29/us-9-11-ad-odd-idUSTRE72S4FD20110329?feedType=nl&feedName=usoddlyenough

I know we aren’t going into advertising until a few weeks, but I saw this article and thought it was a good example of what to consider when constructing an ad and its message.

Speech coverage: Chavez says capitalism may have ended life on Mars

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/22/us-venezuela-chavez-mars-idUSTRE72L61D20110322

This was a good article on covering a speech.  The reporter focused on the content of the speech: life on Mars. The reporter used colorful quotes.

Meeting Coverage: Scott gets tough questions in Facebook town hall

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/mar/22/scott-gets-tough-questions-in-facebook-town-hall/news-breaking

This article covered last night’s meeting where Governor Scott answered resident’s questions over facebook.  This reporter focused on the issues discussed during the meeting. The reporter used a very good quote following the paraphrase on teacher merit pay.  I thought it was a balanced story for meeting coverage.

Feature: Polls open until 7 p.m. in Tampa mayor, council runoffs

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/mar/22/221656/tampa-runoff-elections-get-underway/news-breaking/

This article was actually updated more than once throughout the day.  The article focused on yesterday’s light voter turnout for the mayorial and council elections.  The reporter also went into detail about candidate backgrounds and election day activiities.  I interpreted this as a feature story on the elections.