Latest news with #urbanAreas
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Yahoo
Women on Pensacola streets are trafficked every day. It's difficult to prove and stop.
Lisha Banks has been living off and on the streets for years, camping in the woods, along rail lines, or wherever the 59-year-old can find a quiet place to be. There's no such thing as a 'safe' place to live for most women on the street. They are disproportionately vulnerable to violence, including sexual violence from people they know and others they don't. In fact, escaping violence can be the reason why some women, like Lisha, end up homeless. 'It's hard. If you're not tough bad things happen. They get raped all the time,' Banks said. 'When I was at Beggs Lane, I had a 28-year-old try to rape me. Thank God a friend came by and got his attention and I could get out of there. You have to keep one eye open and whatever weapons you can have, and still that's not going to do any good if you got 10 guys coming on you, especially the older women.' To survive, she has learned several ways to cope including putting up barbed wire around her tent or creating booby traps like digging holes and covering them with old carpet. Banks said protecting yourself is somewhat easier when you're sober, but for people who are in addiction it's hard to hide from sexual exploitation. It's a scenario she says she has seen play out time and again. 'I have sat and watched young girls go into prostitution and all this other stuff because they had nowhere to go,' Banks said. 'They ran away from home or when their parents were like, 'You do drugs,' and kicked them out. You don't trust anybody because the ones you trust, they're the ones who will get you. It is really hard, and if you're not a strong woman, you're not going to make it out here.' Homelessness, sexual exploitation 'go hand in hand' Service agencies who work with women coming out of homelessness say addiction can lead to a vicious cycle. Some girls and women end up on the street because of substance abuse, while others become homeless for other reasons, but turn to drugs and alcohol to 'survive' their situation. Either way they are vulnerable to predators who manipulate and use them for their own benefit. Low barrier shelters can help: Fighting for a place to stay: Offentsive wants to move women's camp to lot in Pensacola Addiction and homeless outreach group Offentsive has been working with women to help them transition out of homelessness. Offentsive President Brad Bishop says the women they see often turn to what's called 'survival sex,' where unsheltered women trade sex for a place to stay. 'That leads to trafficking out on the streets,' Bishop said. 'There's also a lot of stigma around it. It's like they're making a choice, but if they had enough money, they wouldn't have done that, though. If they had literally anything else to offer, they would. It's just having to be in a situation where you have nothing and that's all you have to offer. They're just extremely vulnerable.' Ministry Village at Olive operates Charis House, a residential, faith-based, substance abuse recovery program for women. Administrators and counselors who work with street survivors say what they experience is akin to human trafficking. Getting home: Program helping homeless return home hits 100th milestone in first year. Will it continue? Although these girls and women aren't kidnapped and sold into slavery for sex or labor as is commonly depicted in Hollywood movies and news reports, they are also used, abused, threatened and forced into having sex with others to benefit their 'handler.' Most of the time that person using them is someone they know, and the women are so far down on themselves or addicted they don't know how to escape, service providers say. Outreach workers in both organizations believe 100% of the women they serve have been exploited or trafficked in some way. 'It seems as if addiction and human sex trafficking is really going hand in hand,' said Nicole Dibono, intake recovery director of Ministry Village at Olive. 'It's one or the other, or sometimes both. Sometimes these women, after hearing their stories, they have been exposed to substances and after being exposed, they become addicted and then that's used as a tool to traffic them. Sometimes they are involved in human trafficking and they're using drugs to cope and numb themselves because of what they're doing.' Dibono says many of the girls and women have been 'groomed' into believing they are prostitutes, and they are choosing to sell themselves for drugs. She said it's hard for them to come to terms that someone they know or love, who is essentially a 'pimp,' has manipulated them and their addiction to make money off them or some other gain. What is human trafficking? Ministry Village Executive Director Drayton Smith said it's not the kind of human trafficking most people may picture, like '100 people in the back of a Conex box and shipped to a foreign country,' but it's exploitation just the same. But because police say it doesn't meet the legal definition of human trafficking, there isn't much data on the problem and that can make it hard for service providers to access funding and programs that would help victims and survivors get the specialized counseling and care they often need. Helping victims: Human trafficking is 'hidden in plain sight,' and it's closer than you might think Tracking data not only helps identify and document ongoing issues and needs in the community, but it also raises awareness about an issue, which can lead to more resources to address it. Smith says both the data and resources to address it are sorely lacking. 'If you reach out to any law enforcement agency or anyone that deals with these things on a regular basis, the data is so unclear because they're going to tell you it's a lot easier to do a drug charge or a gun charge than it is to do a trafficking charge, because it's so hard to prove,' Smith said. 'Understanding the data and getting that data is the largest concern that I think right now we face.' Col. David Ingram with the Escambia County Sheriff's Office is also an executive board member for the Circuit 1 Human Trafficking Task Force. He says there have been four cases so far this year that are classified as trafficking cases, and while they had connections to Northwest Florida, none of them were in our jurisdiction. He says the primary focus of the Task Force is to prevent people who are vulnerable, like children and teenagers, from falling into the hands of predators through internet exploitation, a common and growing threat. Task Force aims for prevention: Area launches human trafficking task force When it comes to investigating sex trafficking of unsheltered women, he said victims often don't report the crimes and when it is reported, proving they were trafficked is difficult because of their circumstances. Ingram says they base human trafficking charges on the same legal definition outlined in state statutes, which requires 'force, fraud or coercion.' 'We look at, 'What we can actually charge?'" Ingram said. 'If we have a person that we think might be taking part in human trafficking, we may charge them with something other than that, because that's what we can charge them with. Like prostitution. We can charge somebody with prostitution, which that takes a lot of work because you've got to go undercover and additional manpower hours to do that, but I can charge that person with prostitution and get her out of that situation.' Breaking the cycle of addiction and abuse Ingram says another priority of the Task Force is to connect victims and agencies that work with them with the appropriate service providers, like Magdalene's. Magdalene's is a Pensacola-based, not-for-profit organization that fights human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of women through education, awareness and survivor support. Angie Ishee is the executive director and says one of the biggest issues facing survivors of sexual exploitation is helping them find work once they're back on their feet. Putting brakes on trafficking: Magdalene's Inc. combating sex trafficking by giving victims a place to call home She says the community usually does a good job providing for their immediate needs like food and shelter once someone is ready to get off the street and away from their handler, but they carry the 'stigma' of their previous life, especially if they have a criminal record. Ishee says education and a steady job can go a long way to helping people think better of themselves, as well as support themselves, but they need support to pursue those opportunities. 'The stigma associated with addiction, homelessness and the sexual exploitation makes it hard,' Ishee said. 'These people are somebody's daughter, they're somebody's mom, they're sometimes somebody's wife, a grandmother. They need job readiness skills to just help them understand that they are lovable and worthy and can function in a sustainable way.' Breaking the cycle is the goal and service providers say the resources needed to do it include addiction treatment, specialized counseling, education and jobs. Success benefits the individual as well as the community because it reduces crime and other expenses related to being unsheltered. Experts say homelessness can cost a community about $30,000 a year for just one person. 'We break the cycle for future generations when we help people,' Ishee said. 'I know of a survivor of sex trafficking, whose mom and grandmother were in what's called the life of trafficking, so it was just expected that she would be also. The fact that she broke free and got the help she needed and had hope, it's a great benefit to our community when somebody breaks that cycle.' Lisha Banks wants off the streets, too, and is working to that end. She said most people she knows living that way didn't intend to end up that way. 'I've had a house with a fence and two kids and dogs and cars and all that good stuff,' Banks said. 'Then things just happened, and it happened too fast. I don't understand why some people are like, 'Damn the people out here that have mental issues or addictions.'' This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Women on Pensacola streets trafficked daily, proving it, stopping it is difficult Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Aussie drivers warned as costly new road trend leads to panel beater backlog
Panel beaters in the nation's capital say they're struggling to keep up with demand amid a rise in collisions with wild animals, as drivers are being warned to be vigilant on the road as populations of certain species "explode" in numbers. Numerous reports have emerged in recent times of drivers around the country colliding with animals, causing issues for both vehicles and the panel beaters tasked with repairing them. Deer, an introduced environmental pest, continue to be a growing problem, with their expansion now spilling into urban areas, seeing them regularly wander onto train tracks and other transport thoroughfares. Kangaroos are another threat to safety, with the animals known for jumping out onto roads as they spread in search of food. With reserves "drying off", kangaroos are increasingly moving to roadsides "to get access to green feed", conservationists say. In Canberra, these incidents are becoming more and more common, and vehicle repairers warn that even if a driver avoids hitting an animal directly, there are still several risks. "They miss the animal but then they hit the tree, or the guardrail or another car," Alison Hickey, of Barrett Brothers Smash Repairs, told WIN News Canberra. She said people often don't realise there's damage to their cars because it may not be immediately visible at first glance. "There's nothing leaking out the bottom, but the fan is hitting on the radiator, and there are broken bits everywhere," she said. Repairs are costing drivers several thousand dollars, leaving many without vehicles for up to a month, while creating a backlog among panel beaters. Data from ACT Parks and Conservation reveal there have been 650 callouts to crashes involving eastern grey kangaroos this year alone, WIN reported. Official ACT data shows that by the end of 2024, there were 3,545 callouts for the year, while in 2023 there were 3,336. There have been nine wombat collisions in the territory this year, a significant decrease from the 2024 year total of 179, although deer collisions continue to rise. Just last week, dashcam footage captured the shocking moment two drivers almost collided with a deer darting across a road in Canberra. The video, filmed "in the middle" of the road, shows the large animal suddenly appearing on a grass median strip. It bolted across two lanes of traffic, just metres in front of startled motorists. Days later, another deer was spotted on train tracks in Eastwood, in Sydney's northwest. Meanwhile, in South Australia, there have been more than 2,100 insurance claims for accidents involving a kangaroo in the last year. The stark figure marks a 44 per cent increase compared to two years earlier, with the state's recent dry weather conditions believed to be driving the animals closer to roads in search of food. Recent photos emerging online show dozens of kangaroos on the road in country SA, reflecting the scale of the issue in the outback. Royal Automobile Association (RAA) Senior Manager of Road Safety, Charles Mountain, warned drivers that kangaroos are notoriously unpredictable, meaning motorists should remain on high alert when travelling through their known habitat. 🥬 Despair as invasive species destroys $50k worth of produce in days 🚙 Aussies warned of $96 million threat spilling onto our roads 🏡 Aussie homeowners face 'avalanche' of destructive invasive species "There is a clear trend that kangaroo collisions are increasing across the state as more animals come towards busy roads in search of food. Kangaroos in particular are unpredictable creatures that can seemingly come out of nowhere and pose a significant safety risk," he said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Joe Rogan drops blunt two-word plan to 'Make America Great Again'
Joe Rogan gave a two-word solution to what he believes will fix all of America's problems. On a June 24 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, he was talking to US Senator Bernie Sanders about how education, economic inequality and decades of systemic failure have stacked the deck against millions of people. 'If you wanna make America great again, less losers,' Rogan said. 'How do you make less losers? Don't stack the deck against them.' He argued that empowering people through education is key to building a stronger and smarter nation. 'We believe that there should be free public education,' Rogan added. 'And most people believe that the university system should also be funded. And it would benefit everyone. You'd have better GDP, you'd have more, more successful people.' Rogan also pointed to how many communities, especially in urban areas, have seen little change for generations, tracing current inequality back to historical injustices. 'These cities have been the exact same way for decade after decade,' he said, citing 'Jim Crow and the red line laws.' Jim Crow laws enforced racial segregation in the South until the mid-20th century, while redlining was a discriminatory practice that marked mostly Black and minority neighborhoods as high-risk, denying residents access to loans, homeownership, and investment. 'Why is nothing being done to fix that or to correct that problem? It becomes this political beach ball that they just bounce around the air at a concert,' Rogan said. Sanders agreed with Rogan's comments, saying: 'The first point you made, you wanna make America great, right? Have the best-educated workforce in the world. How's that? Yes. Radical idea. I don't think so.' The senator also pointed out that higher education is linked to longer life expectancy. His statement reflected findings from multiple studies showing that people who finish high school reduce their risk of dying early by 25 percent, while college graduates cut that risk by 34 percent. The US continues to lag behind other developed nations in educational performance, particularly in math and science. This growing gap has serious consequences for the economy and the future of American workers. According to a 2021 Education Week article, America now has 'the worst-educated workforce in the industrialized world.' Because US workers are among the highest paid globally, the report warns, this education shortfall leaves them uncompetitive, both in the global job market and against rapidly advancing machines. 'It is a formula for a grim future,' the article states. Sanders said that if America wants to have the best future possible, it needs to have the best childcare system in the world. 'What are the most important years of human development? Zero to four, how is our childcare system doing? It's a disaster,' he said. The Senator added that childcare workers are only making $15 an hour, and most families cannot afford childcare, noting Vermont starts around $20,000 a year. Shifting to education, Sanders said many young people want to pursue college or trade school, but the system makes it increasingly difficult. 'We desperately need... here's something that really drives me a little bit nuts in America today, Joe,' Sanders said, segueing into what he called a broken healthcare system 'based on greed, not on need.' 'All over the country, people have to wait sometimes months to get to a doctor's office,' he said. 'We have a massive nursing shortage. We need more dentists. Big problem in dentistry. We need more mental health counselors. We need more pharmacists.' Sanders emphasized the urgent need for medical professionals and the crushing student debt burden that prevents many from entering the field. He estimated that medical school graduates often leave with between $250,000 and $500,000 in debt, with nurses owing $100,000 to $150,000. 'You wanna go to medical school… If you don't have any money, you know how much you're gonna graduate in debt? Probably a quarter million dollars. Easy double debt. Really,' Sanders said. 'It is not unusual for people from working-class homes to come out of medical school $500,000 in debt. It's insane. We need more doctors.' Rogan then asked Sanders what he would have done differently if he had become president. 'Imagine if you hadn't gotten derailed and they hadn't conspired against you, and you actually became the Democratic candidate for president and you won. What would you have done differently?' Rogan asked. Sanders joked about needing hours to answer, but pointed to campaign finance reform as a top priority, saying he would push for publicly funded elections. 'Well, it's not just the first day in office. I would've dealt with this campaign finance reform issue,' Sanders said. 'And there are ways that you can get around that Supreme Court decision.' He laid out a model in which candidates who gather enough signatures to prove they're serious would receive a set amount of public funding. 'You wanna run against me? That's great, but you're not gonna get super PAC money. We are gonna publicly fund you,' Sanders said. When Rogan asked if that meant both of them would be funded by the government, Sanders replied, 'Yes, absolutely. Rather than someone running for president funded by the current president.' He acknowledged critics who oppose using taxpayer money for campaigns but argued it was far better than billionaires buying elections. 'That makes a lot more sense than what you've got right now,' Sanders said.
BBC News
24-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
People Fixing the World What to do with stray animals
How the numbers of stray dogs - and feral pigeons - can be kept down kindly in urban areas. From street dogs to feral pigeons, many towns and cities are having to deal with exploding bird and animal populations which can pose risks to health and safety. This week we take a look at ways we can control numbers in an effective and humane way. We visit a special pigeon loft in Germany, where pigeon eggs are swapped with dummy eggs to help manage the population. And we take a walk with tourists in Mexico, who are helping to socialise stray dogs while also providing funds for their care. People Fixing The World from the BBC is about brilliant solutions to the world's problems. We release a new edition every week for most of the year. We'd love you to let us know what you think and to hear about your own solutions. You can contact us on WhatsApp by messaging +44 8000 321721 or email peoplefixingtheworld@ And please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider. Presenter: Myra Anubi Producer: Claire Bates Reporters: Maddie Drury, Andre Lombard Editor: Jon Bithrey Sound mix: Andrew Mills (Image: Layla Kudri with a couple of street dogs on a hike in Mexico, BBC)
Forbes
27-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Doctor Wait Times Average One Month In U.S.
Patients are waiting an average of 31 days to schedule an appointment with a doctor, according to a ... More study by AMN Healthcare of commonly used specialty physicians in 15 major U.S. cities. Patients are waiting an average of 31 days to schedule an appointment with a doctor, according to a study of commonly used specialty physicians in 15 major U.S. cities. This year's report by AMN Healthcare shows a 19% increase from 2022 when patients waited an average of 26 days in major U.S. cities. The 2025 survey polled more than 1,300 physician offices looking at average wait time among six specialties: obstetrics/gynecology, cardiology, orthopedic surgery, dermatology, gastroenterology, and family medicine. The report is also a snapshot into the nation's doctor shortage even in urban areas that are considered better staffed with physicians than rural areas. A report last month by the consulting firm Avalere commissioned by the Physicians Advocacy Institute said the number of independent physicians in rural areas fell 43% between January 2019 and January 2024. And the Association of American Medical Colleges says the United States will face a physician shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, according to a report the group released last year. AMN Healthcare said the metropolitan areas that made up the survey sampling have 'some of the highest physician-to-population ratios in the country.' 'It's a sobering sign for the rest of the country when even patients in large cities must wait weeks to see a physician,' said Leah Grant, president of AMN Healthcare's Physician Solutions division, formerly known as Merritt Hawkins. The increasing time to schedule an appointment comes as more Americans get health insurance and health systems and plans report pent up demand for physician services in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. 'Average physician appointment wait times are the longest they have been since we began conducting the survey in 2004,' Grant said. 'Longer physician appointment wait times are a significant indicator that the nation is experiencing a growing shortage of physicians.' Here the wait times for the six specialists analyzed for the report. The AMN Healthcare survey includes data from 1,391 physician offices located in 15 metropolitan areas, including Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minnesota, New York City, Philadelphia, Portland, San Diego, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.
