| Children left unprotected
TAMPA - Without treatment, little Carla's chest cold could turn into pneumonia. Luckily, the toddler's mom has health insurance for her. But that's not the case for thousands of Florida children, despite the fact that affordable health insurance - backed by the state and federal government - is available for most of them. It's called KidCare. Families earning $40,000 or less qualify, so long as they can prove U.S. citizenship and Florida residency. Incredibly, 700,000 children in Florida qualify for KidCare and are not enrolled. "There are a lot of children, particularly in the Tampa Bay Area," explained child advocate Chris Card. "That qualify and could use this health care coverage, and we've just put up too many barriers." Those barriers include budget politics and loads of paperwork that are unnecessary red tape according to Congresswoman Kathy Castor, who is pushing a bill to eliminate it.
Reader Views: Is attention to veterans' health care sufficient?
I find it heart-breaking to see a political party that has consistently hidden its incompetence from political spotlights behind the troops with unending patriotic hyperbole all the while cynically chopping the VA budget. A budget that was hardly adequate has been decimated. Are there plans to investigate the budget cuts? None that I have heard. Plans to investigate the "privatization" which led to these revelations? Hmm. I am certain that the commanding general of Walter Reed Hospital was following orders. Who gave him these orders? Any plans to investigate that? The events at Walter Reed are consistent with this administration's other policies. Will that connection be investigated? .
Davies returning to prior form
ATLANTA -- While Lance Cormier was baffling the Yankees on March 16 in Tampa, Kyle Davies was back at his Spring Training home, gaining the understanding that he was quickly losing the competition to the win the final spot in the Braves starting rotation. Davies had come to Spring Training as the favorite to win the spot. Though he had struggled mightily through an injury plagued 2006 season, he was still the same young right-hander who just one year earlier had been heralded as the best pitching prospect the Braves had produced since John Smoltz. But Cormier simply proved to be the better candidate, and by the time the final week of Spring Training arrived Davies knew his next stop would be Triple-A Richmond. "It was kind of a wake-up call," Davies said. While the assignment to Richmond was delivered, baseball fate stood in the way of Davies having to make an immediate return to the Minor League level.
Bird returning as Iberia Parish Fire District chief
The man who has led firefighting efforts in rural Iberia Parish for most of the last two decades is stepping down.Iberia Parish Fire District No. 1 Chief Sam Bird, 55, is retiring next week after more than a dozen years with the fire district. To put it in perspective, those years represent more than three-quarters of the fire district's 16-year history."He's done a lot for the fire district," said Assistant Chief Chad Maturin. "I just hope we can find somebody who can replace him and do as good as he did." Bird said he plans to take about 45 days off, after which he will volunteer with the Coteau Volunteer Fire Department."Iberia Parish and the fire district have been real good to me," Bird said. "I have no complaints. I'm leaving happy."Bird took over as chief in September 1994. Before joining the fire district, he trained firefighters in Virginia.A native of Narrows, Va., Bird has been in firefighting for nearly 40 years.
Hagel's press conference would have been best left to a press release
They did that kind of stuff before Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama officially announced their bids. But all you'd have to do is just keep doing what you were doing before the speculation started, the press can just keep on speculating and when you're ready to toss your hat in the ring, then call the press conference. .
Hospitals give the wealthy a leg up
A plush bathrobe hanging in a bathroom of the Pavilion Suites at the University of Colorado Hospital is among the amenities of an executive physical. Patients also have access to private office facilities and may choose healthy oatmeal or eggs Benedict for breakfast. .
New Animal Welfare Law Means Good News for Pets
The new Animal Welfare Act, which comes into force on the 6th of April, represents a breakthrough in the fight to prevent cruelty to animals. The new legislation has been welcomed by all at PetClub UK, the UK's fastest growing internet based pet club. The Act brings in tougher penalties on neglectful owners and will include fines of up to £20'000, a maximum jail term of 51 weeks and a lifetime ban on some owners keeping pets. The minimum age for buying a pet without supervision has been raised from 12 to 16. Director of PetClub UK Chris Jones says "For the first time, owners will be legally obliged to provide proper care for their animals and the authorities now have a better chance of prosecuting people who mistreat them. "Too often in today's "throwaway" society, pets are surrendered to animal shelters by the tens of thousands, no longer wanted by the very people who bought them.
Cultur Dancing, language, games: Pubs are growing centers for ...
"In a strange sort of way, pubs are going full circle, because that is the way it has always been in Ireland," said Quinlin. "The pub in small villages did serve as a community center."
That's exactly what happened in Lawrence. When the local Hibernians closed their center more than six years ago, most of the group's activities and meetings moved to The Claddagh Pub and Restaurant, where most of this month's local St. Patrick's Day's festivities will either begin or end, including last weekend's race and breakfast. Live music will be performed all day on St. Patrick's Day.
The pub hosts Irish language classes on Monday nights, and recently held ceili (pronounced k-lee) lessons for those interesting in learning some traditional Irish pairs dancing.
"We were expecting a handful of people," said Claddagh co-owner Paul Morton.
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