TASK DEFINITION: Given a document and an entity the task is to select the author's sentiment towards the entity. Sentiments can be Positive, Neutral and Negative. Select Positive if the article expresses a positive view towards the given entity or praises its quality or skills. Select Neutral if the document expresses no clear view towards the entity or has equal amounts of positive and negative statements or expressing some fact/quote by someone else. Select Negative if the article expresses a negative view towards like harsh remarks, criticizing entities action/decision etc. Note that URLs in the text have been replaced with [Link].
PROBLEM: What is the sentiment of the following document towards the entity Jacob Lerma ? FRIENDSWOOD  Texas (AP) — As  Jacob Lerma  surveyed the skeletal beams of  his  suburban Houston home that was flooded during Hurricane Harvey   he  kept muttering three words as  he  wondered if  his  family would ever be able to move back in: “I don’t know.”
Like many Texans whose homes were flooded during  Harvey  Lerma  faces mounting expenses and hasn’t paid  his  mortgage in months.  His  insurance payment wasn’t enough to rebuild  his  home and  he  was only offered a small loan after applying with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  His  last hope is a possible buyout from the city of Friendswood. In the meantime   he    his  wife and two daughters will continue living with  his  parents.
During last year’s hurricane season  mortgage financiers such as Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac encouraged lenders to offer homeowners a forbearance — a temporary suspension or reduction in their mortgage payments — for up to 12 months.  Lerma  got one from  his  lender.
 Lerma  said  his  family is “at a pretty bad point right now” as  he ’s maxed out credit cards and emptied  his  savings. Yet   he  remains hopeful.
“We know we’ll get through it. We’re just riding it out ”  he  said.

SOLUTION: Neutral

PROBLEM: What is the sentiment of the following document towards the entity Mark Ratzer ? Chicago will see a sunny and snowless Monday morning  but the entire metro area will be under a winter weather advisory from noon to midnight  according to  National Weather Service meteorologist Mark Ratzer .
Snow totals could be 2 to 6 inches  including possibly 1 to 3 inches during the heart of the evening rush hour   Ratzer  said. The Interstate 88 and Interstate 80 corridors are expected to take the brunt of the snowstorm  while the northern suburbs will receive less snowfall.
The next chance of snowfall won’t be until Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning  when much lighter amounts are forecast   Ratzer  said.
On Monday morning  temperatures are expected to hover near zero in Chicago  reaching the upper teens by the afternoon   Ratzer  said.

SOLUTION: Positive

PROBLEM: What is the sentiment of the following document towards the entity Ryan Zinke ? Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke  spent more than $14 000 on government helicopter rides for  himself   and staff  to travel to and from Washington D.C. events over the summer â including one time so  he  could ride horses with Vice President Mike Pence  a new investigation unveiled.
Through a Freedom of Information Act request   Zinke 's travel logs revealed  he  had used "taxpayer-funded vehicles from the U.S. Park Police to help accommodate  his  political events schedule " the Politico investigation reported.
On June 21   Zinke  ordered a Park Police helicopter for  him  and  his  chief of staff  Scott Hommel  in order to attend and emergency management exercise in Shepherdstown  West Virginia  Politico reported. The flight cost $8 000 and was justified by the Interior Department because it said  Zinke  wouldn't have been able to make the event in time otherwise.
"Secretary Zinkeâs last engagement in Washington D.C. is at 2 p.m. " and Interior staffer explained as a defense for  Zinke 's helicopter use. "Driving to [the West Virginia event] would not enable him to be on time and fully participate as scheduled."
Zinke's prior engagement was a ceremony for Rep. Greg Gianforte  R-Mont.  who filled  Zinke 's former seat with a special election victory in May. Gianforte and his wife also donated $15 800 to  Zinke 's previous congressional campaigns  Politico reported.

SOLUTION:
Neutral