Investment Korea

Panama City- A Gulf County resident, who asked not to be identified, won't ever live a normal life again. We'll call him John and he suffered debilitating injuries during a 2001 car accident and now depends on the federal government to cover his ever-mounting medical bills.

"The other day I was in so much pain I had to go to the emergency room," said John,

Despite John's condition, Florida law still requires him to pay $2,000 per month in alimony to his soon-to-be ex-wife.

It's cases like John's the Florida Alimony Reform group want to change. They had hoped to do it through a reform bill this past legislative session. It passed the House, but failed to reach the Senate floor.

Two issues at the center of the debate are the amount of discretion judges throughout the state have in each case, and the fact that Florida is one of only a few states in the entire country that allows permanent alimony.

Supporters claim the current laws are progressive.

"We've changed it substanitally in two years, and were continuing to do so. Were open to fair reform," said Florida Bar Family Section Chairman David Manz.

Opponents call them outdated.

"If you call that progressive then we have a different definition of the word. I think the people who claim it to be progressive are the same people that are making money off this broken system," said Florida Alimony Reform Spokesman Alan Frisher. ...

MOBILE, Alabama -- Today, Melissa Garcia became the first in her family to graduate from college.
"I’m so happy and I’ve made my parents so proud," said the 22-year-old Garcia, adding, "My parents come from poor backgrounds" and couldn’t afford to attend college.
She said her parents are her "inspiration."
One of three children, the Houston resident received a bachelor’s of arts degree in graphic design during Saturday’s commencement at Spring Hill College.
She was one of 300 graduates who made the walk down the historic Avenue of the Oaks on Spring Hill’s campus for commencement.
Garcia also is among the first group of Donnelly Scholars to complete their undergraduate degree.
The Donnelly Scholars program was established in 2008 to serve first-generation college students at Spring Hill. The program is named in honor of the Rev. W. Patrick Donnelly, S.J, the 31st president of the college, who served from 1946 to 1952.
Garcia said if she can’t find a job in the Mobile area she plans to return home to Houston.
"It almost feels a bit surreal," said 22-year-old Michelle Connor of Mobile as she waited to line up to receive her diploma. "It seems like we were just arriving on campus."
Connor, who received her Bachelor of Arts degree in graphic design, is also a Donnelly Scholar.
Connor is also job-hunting for something in her field.
She said she’s proud of what she’s accomplished, but it’s "fright...