DOD: Military Sexual Assaults Increase

The number of reported sexual assaults involving military service members increased during the 2012 fiscal year over the previous year. According to the 2012 Annual Report of Sexual Assault in the Military, "there were a total of 3,374 reports of sexual assault involving service members as victims or subjects" in fiscal year 2012, an increase of 182 reports from the fiscal year before, according to a Department of Defense news release. The same information from the DoD can be found here.

While that number may be enough to anger many, it is by no means the worst part. According to a New York Times article, the estimated number is closer to 26,000 assaults, up from 19,000 in 2010. A Tampa Bay Times editorial also states that the "Defense Department estimates that 26,000" service members were sexually assaulted last year, then goes on to state that many "[v]ictims don't come forward out of fear of retribution or because they think the military is unlikely to prosecute under its current system..." (This is also seen in civilian life as well.)

Representative C.W. Bill Young (R-Fla) stated in an email that he found the survey number (26,000) "very disturbing," along with a link to a recent column he had in Friday's edition of the Tampa Bay Times. In his column, Young states, "Clearly the funds we are investing in this program are not helping to solve this deplorable problem. That is why I asked the leadership of the secretary of defense's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office...to...brief the members of our subcommittee on defense to tell us what is wrong with this program and the military culture and what we can do to fix it."

Meanwhile, a Yahoo News article ("House panel seeks to curb military sexual assaults") states that a House panel plans to "approve a series of revisions to longstanding military law." Once approved, these revisions would "be folded into the Armed Services Committee's broader defense police bill for the 2014 fiscal year." The Senate Armed Services Committee is also working on measures to address sexual assault issues over the next month.

Happiness Is Not Having These Women As Mom

Most of us who lived through our teenage years can remember thinking we had the worst (or meanest) parents. We did what we wanted to do (read: something we were told not to do), and suddenly, we'd find ourselves grounded for the rest of our lives (read: a week, a month, or until next Tuesday afternoon). If our parents were really mean, they'd inform us in front of our friends that we were grounded. How could they be so unfair?

It could have been worse. In honor of Mother's Day, I present to you Florida's Six Worst Moms, according to the New Times Broward-Palm Beach. The wrong colored bike for Christmas when you were 9, or didn't let you have that extra piece of toast? Number one on the list "let her 9-year-old eat some crack on Christmas morning." (At least she called paramedics once the child started convulsing.)

Read about this mom (and the other five) here, while being glad you were only grounded. And if you're able to, you might want to call mom and thank her for not making the list! Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Kindergardener Helps Raise Money For Cancer Victim

Keilee Winters looks like your typical kindergardener. When she sets up lemonade stands with her friend, Sharon Green, the 5-year-old Port Orange (Fla.) Elementary School student seems like any other child who has done so to earn a little extra spending money. But Keilee is doing this for something other than candy or trinket change: she's doing it to help make a difference in others' lives, according to The Daytona Beach News-Journal.

When Keilee learned that a neighbor knew of a younger child diagnosed with cancer, Keilee jumped into action. She rounded up Sharon and the two set up a lemonade stand in the hopes of raising money for something to help the younger child smile. The lemonade stand brought in $200, which the girls used to buy 2-year-old Mandy a gift that she could take to the hospital with her.

Keilee's mom, Cori, brought her to a toy store to pick up presents for Mandy, then used the rest of the money for a gas card so that Mandy's parents could drive back and forth to be with their child.

Keilee has since sold more lemonade and raised over $500 for a cancer fundraiser.

For The Daytona Beach News-Journal's complete story, click here.