In this issue of

NewTampa | WesleyChapel Local Pulse

This Week’s Events

WEATHER

Local News

🕳️60-Foot Nightmare: Sinkhole Emerges Near Highland City Home

🥨NHL Scout Turns Lifesaver: The Tony Hrkac Heimlich Heroics

Crime

👨‍⚕️ Digital Deception: Atlanta Doctor's Dark Web Plot Ends in Prison Sentence

Medical News

🚬High on Kindness: Study Reveals Marijuana's Empathy-Boosting Effect

☀️ Double Health Challenge for Duchess of York: Breast Cancer Followed by Melanoma

This Week’s Events in the NewTampa | Wesley Chapel FL Local Area

NT|WC AI Event Bot - Check and Submit Events (coming soon)

January 23 — Live Music: St Pete Saxophone Quartet,The James Museum, 530-730pm,

January 24 — Broadway through the Decades: Dinner Theater, Lion's Club of Zephyrhills, 530 Dinner/7 Show

January 25

January 26 — NTBC-Final Friday Networking Event, Walk-On's Bistreaux, 25372 Sirra Cntr Blvd, #304, WC, 4-6pm

January 26 — Sangria Night at Keel Farms, Keel & Curley Winery, 5-10pm

January 27

January 28 — Tiesto, Seminole Hard Rock, 11am

January 29

60-Foot Nightmare: Sinkhole Emerges Near Highland City Home

A massive 60-foot-deep sinkhole has abruptly appeared in the front yard of a home on Royal Crest Drive in Highland City, Polk County, leaving residents in shock and concern. The gaping hole, reported to be 15 feet wide, was discovered early Saturday morning by Kyle Austin, a local resident, after being alerted by a neighbor.

The startling discovery, which is perilously close to residential properties, has caused considerable anxiety among locals, particularly those with young children. Kyle Austin expressed his nervousness, noting the sinkhole's proximity to his kids' room. Another resident, Ron Kelly, shared his unease about the unsettling presence of the sinkhole just 200 feet from his home.

Polk County Fire Rescue is actively monitoring the situation and has updated the public via social media about the sinkhole's dimensions. As the community grapples with this unexpected geological event, safety remains a paramount concern, with officials keeping a vigilant eye on the sinkhole's developments over the coming days.

NHL Scout Turns Lifesaver: The Tony Hrkac Heimlich Heroics

 Former NHL player Tony Hrkac, now a scout for the Tampa Bay Lightning, heroically saved an NHL staff member from choking on a pretzel in the press box of LA's Crypto.com Arena on January 4. The incident occurred while Hrkac was on duty, observing the LA Kings. Recalling Heimlich maneuver training from fifteen years ago, Hrkac acted swiftly to dislodge the obstruction, effectively preventing a potential tragedy.

Dr. Paul Nanda of Tampa General Hospital highlighted the importance of such first aid knowledge, noting its life-saving potential in rare but critical situations. Hrkac, reflecting on his swift response, emphasized the value of basic first aid training for everyone, given the unpredictability of such emergencies.

Hrkac, renowned for his distinguished 12-year NHL career, including a Stanley Cup victory in 1999, added a remarkable feat of lifesaving to his legacy, underlining the unexpected ways in which sports figures can make a difference off the field.

Digital Deception: Atlanta Doctor's Dark Web Plot Ends in Prison Sentence

 James Wan, a 54-year-old doctor from Duluth, Georgia, has been sentenced to over seven years in prison for a dark web murder-for-hire plot targeting his girlfriend. Utilizing the dark web and cryptocurrency, Wan meticulously planned the murder, providing detailed information about his girlfriend and even specifying the execution method. His transaction of approximately $17,200 in Bitcoin for the heinous crime was meticulously traced by the FBI, thwarting his attempts to remain anonymous. Despite Wan's efforts to mask his criminal intent through digital means, the FBI's investigation led to his confession and subsequent cancellation of the murder order.

This case highlights the evolving nature of crime in the digital age and the law enforcement's adeptness in adapting to these changes. Wan's conviction serves as a stern reminder of the severity of using the internet for illicit activities and the unyielding pursuit of justice by authorities.

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High on Kindness: Study Reveals Marijuana's Empathy-Boosting Effect

Recent research in the Journal of Neuroscience Research offers an intriguing perspective on marijuana use, suggesting it might not only brighten moods but also enhance empathy. The study, involving 85 regular cannabis users and 52 non-users, focused on understanding the neurological correlations between cannabis consumption and empathetic responses.

Participants underwent the Cognitive and Affective Empathy Test, featuring questions designed to gauge their ability to recognize and resonate with others' emotions. Interestingly, marijuana users scored significantly higher in emotional comprehension, hinting at a deeper emotional connection potentially fostered by cannabis use.

Brain imaging revealed more activity in regions linked to empathy among cannabis users. However, researchers caution against jumping to conclusions. These heightened empathetic abilities might predate marijuana use, and varying THC levels could influence the results.

This study emerges amidst a backdrop of conflicting views on marijuana's mental health impacts, with some research tying it to anxiety and depression, while other studies suggest therapeutic benefits. As cannabis legalization spreads across the U.S., understanding its multifaceted impact remains a priority for researchers, particularly in light of its status as the most-used drug globally, according to the World Health Organization.

Double Health Challenge for Duchess of York: Breast Cancer

Followed by Melanoma

Sarah Ferguson, the 64-year-old Duchess of York, faces a new health challenge as doctors diagnosed her with malignant melanoma. This diagnosis comes during her recovery from breast cancer, discovered during a routine mammogram in 2023. The melanoma was detected after doctors removed moles in a reconstructive surgery following her mastectomy, as reported by The Associated Press.

Despite the distress caused by this second diagnosis, the Duchess, who is Prince Andrew’s ex-wife and mother to Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, remains optimistic. Malignant melanoma, a severe form of skin cancer, begins in the skin's pigment-producing cells and is notorious for its rapid spread and potential fatality.

In the U.K., melanoma is the fifth-most-common cancer, constituting about 4% of new cancer cases, with approximately 16,700 new cases annually. The situation is even more significant in the U.S., where skin cancer is the most common cancer type. Melanoma accounts for only 1% of skin cancer cases but is responsible for most skin cancer deaths. The American Cancer Society expects 100,640 new melanoma cases and about 8,290 related deaths in 2024.

Typically diagnosed around age 66, melanoma has seen a rise in young adults, particularly women under 30. Experts emphasize the importance of sun protection, including avoiding UV exposure from the sun and artificial sources, and the use of sunscreen, to reduce skin cancer risks.

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