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• Hulk Hogan's Son Charged in Auto Accident

  Joe Saunders | November 08, 2007 6:40 AM | 0 CommentsSarasota, FL

  It took a few months but Nick Bollea, 17 year old son of former wrestler Hulk Hogan, has been charged with felony reckless driving causing serious bodily injury. Toxicology reports show that Bollea was drinking during the day of the accident. However, tests showed that the level of alcohol in his blood was half that in which he'd be considered impaired. He will face a charge of underage...

• Judge Keeps Bradenton Man on Sex Registry

  Joe Saunders | November 07, 2007 10:57 AM | 0 CommentsSarasota, FL

  Apparently 23 year old Anthony J. Harris of Bradenton had met the state's 4 criteria for having his name removed from the sex registry list. However, the judge didn't see it that way especially when she learned that Harris had made false statements about engaging in sex with teenage girls. Judge Diana L. Moreland cited the need to keep the public safe outweighed Harris' desire to have his name...

• Bush Administration Leaning Toward Giving More Regulatory Power to Food and Consumer Agencies

  Joe Saunders | November 05, 2007 9:38 AM | 0 CommentsSarasota, FL

  The Bush Administration has signaled that it may give the go-ahead for more regulatory powers to such agencies as the FDA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission in the wake of numerous food and toy recalls recently. The move would be a reversal of sorts for the Administration but comes at a time when consumer confidence is faltering as news continues about defective toys and contaminated...

• Food Contamination Sources

  Joe Saunders | November 02, 2007 7:17 AM | 0 CommentsSarasota, FL

  Thanks to two University of Arizona researchers, we may now have a better understanding of how our foods become contaminated with salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7, better known as E. coli. Their research suggests that "most of the pathogens that have been collected from outbreaks came from sources such as animal husbandry operations, contaminated water and proximity of urban centers,"...

• Manatee Car Accident Claims Two Lives

  Joe Saunders | November 01, 2007 2:39 PM | 0 CommentsSarasota, FL

  Halloween proved fatal for two Manatee residents who crashed through a fence and into a shallow pond during the evening. Witnesses spotted two teenaged girls fleeing the scene. Police are looking for them as this blog post is being written.For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

• Sarasota YMCA Foster Child Program Endangering Children?

  Joe Saunders | October 30, 2007 11:12 AM | 0 CommentsSarasota, FL

  According to a draft report from the State of Florida, the Sarasota YMCA is doing a poor job in their foster child program. The YMCA which contracts with the State of Florida Department of Children and Families, was criticized in the report for arrogance, defensiveness, and a retaliatory attitude toward those who criticize its programs. If true, this is disturbing news. The state run foster...

• Defunct Canadian Company Likely Source of E coli Outbreak in Beef

  Joe Saunders | October 29, 2007 7:19 PM | 0 CommentsSarasota, FL

  The USDA is pointing its finger at a defunct Canadian company for the recent outbreak of E coli contaminated beef in the US. The company, Ranchers Beef, has been linked to E coli O157:H7 bacteria which has been linked to nearly 100 illnesses. This type of bacteria can cause diarrhea and dehydration, even death. The governmental agency has cautioned meat packing companies not to use products...

• Food Safety Issues

  Joe Saunders | October 27, 2007 10:52 AM | 0 CommentsSarasota, FL

  In the last few years, we've seen a number of food recalls including peanut butter, spinach, lettuce, ice cream, and ground beef patties. These food products were either contaminated with salmonella or E coli bacteria. Recently, consumers have had to face another food safety issue dealing with the mislabeling or incorrect labelling of food products. There's been a spate of recalled foods due...

• Sprint Fidelis Pacemaker Had Problems Last Winter

  Joe Saunders | October 25, 2007 8:13 AM | 0 CommentsSarasota, FL

  Medtronic, the manufacturer of the Sprint Fidelis cardiac defibrillator a.k.a. pacemaker, knew that its medical device had problems with fractured lead wires last winter, according to consumer advocacy group Public Citizen. These defects were reported to the government last winter. According to Dr. Sidney Wolfe, the FDA had received 599 reports of defibrillator malfunctions as of January 10,...

• Tampa Teacher Accused of Having Sex with Student

  Joe Saunders | October 24, 2007 10:56 AM | 0 CommentsSarasota, FL

  A female special education teacher has been accused of having sex with a 15 year old male student. She was released from the Orient Road jail on $7,500 bail. This most recent arrest comes on the heels of a report citing the alarming prevalence of sexual abuse among teachers and their students. The study and the arrest highlight the fact that children are often abused by authority figures...