Sales of alcohol in the United States spiked sharply back in mid March. According to Nielsen , sales of alcoholic beverages rose 55% in the week ending March 21st, and there was a 243% increase in online orders. While data shows that overall al
Collier County beaches, particularly in and around Naples, were inundated with crowds on Saturday, leading The City of Naples to close its sandy shores at midnight on Saturday. While this was a city decision, the county will face some tough que
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for an Antigen Test for the coronavirus, produced by Quidel Corporation . We talk with Dr. Sharon Isern , Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Flo
We listen back to our pre-coronavirus pandemic session featuring music performed live in studio by guitarist Max Hatt and vocalist Edda Glass . You can hear that episode in its entirety here . Their original music truly defies genre classificat
Restaurants can now open in Florida, but only at 25% capacity in their dining rooms and with social distancing at outdoor tables. But is that number of customers an economically viable option for restaurants?
As news circulates about COVID-19 and the new coronavirus that causes it the need for well-informed media literacy might be more important now than ever before, with everything from truly fake news to simply overhyped headlines flooding our onl
Another week of experiencing life with the new coronavirus has passed, and the rate of new cases in Florida has declined by about 15% versus the week before, and area hospitals are not currently being overwhelmed by new cases. Hospitals are res
We take a reprieve from coverage of the coronavirus pandemic to catch up with the mother and daughter team behind the podcast “ Cool Dead Women .” The podcast was created in 2018 by author, professor, editor and historian Erika Waters , Ph.D. a
The Southwest Florida Amphibian Monitoring Network, or Frog Watch , was established in the year 2000 in order to collect long-term data on frog communities of the region. Volunteers, which include researchers, students, and members of the publi
New research published in the journal Historical Archaeology confirms Mound Key in Estero Bay was the location of a Spanish fort historians have long-suspected once existed in Southwest Florida. Fort San Antón de Carlos was built in 1566 in the
While new cases of COVID-19 continue to show up across southwest Florida, the rate of increase seems to have settled at a pace that’s currently not overwhelming hospitals.
On Thursdays we typically focus on the local arts scene. But, during these times of social distancing most of it is on hold, and our entire station is working remotely, so for the time being we’ve been broadcasting episodes of the WGCU podcast
For the past four years Southwest Florida-based photojournalist and artist Lisette Morales has been documenting the lives of women who work and live in Immokalee.
According to Gene McAvoy from UF/IFAS normally this time of the year about 15 million pounds of produce leaves Immokalee every single day. And this year had been a good one for south Florida farmers. But, that number has been reduced by about 8
We’re almost a month into most schools and restaurants being closed and cruise ships sitting empty, and travel restrictions have slowed tourism to a trickle. All of which is happening at the height of harvest season here in south Florida. With
We continue our weekly COVID-19 update by checking in with NCH Healthcare System’s Chief Nursing Officer, Jon Kling, and Lee Health's Chief Foundation and Development Officer Chris Simoneau. We'll also learn about a new Mayo Clinic convalescent
Normally on Thursdays we focus on the local arts scene, but with most of it on hold, and with the entire WGCU radio team working from home, for now we’re broadcasting episodes of the WGCU podcast Three Song Stories . This week we're listening b
One way social distancing guidelines are affecting people is not being able to be with someone when they pass, and not being able to hold memorials or funerals right now. Our guest is Angela Melvin , founder and CEO of Valerie’s House in Fort M
As we continue covering the local impact of the new coronavirus today we’re highlighting some amazing work by local documentary photojournalist Kinfay Moroti that captures intimate moments of some of the people who are working around the clock
We're continuing our weekly update on the local response to COVID-19. W e'll be live on the air with Lisa Sgarlata , Chief Patient Care Officer for Lee Health; and Jon Kling, Chief Nursing Officer at NCH Healthcare System .
Normally on Thursdays we focus on the local arts scene, but with most of it on hold, and with the entire WGCU radio team working from home, for now we’re broadcasting episodes of the WGCU podcast Three Song Stories . This week we’re going back
The Florida Office of Economic Opportunity ’s online and phone systems have been overwhelmed by the recent spike in the number of people who are applying for unemployment benefits. Last week it started reaching out for help handling one aspect
As the economy has ground to a halt because of the COVID-19 outbreak the number of people who are food insecure has increased at an unprecedented rate. The Harry Chapin Food Bank in Fort Myers is the largest hunger-relief network in Southwest F
This is Wildfire Awareness Week, and counties are considering instituting burn bans. Hendry County has already done so . And, as last week’s massive fire near Southwest Florida International Airport clearly demonstrated a small spark can quickl