AND THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS ON THE RISE THROUGHOUT THE SUNSHINE STATE COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.

BUT SOME LOCAL GROUPS ARE TACKLING THE PROBLEM BY PUTTING THOSE IN NEED OF A JOB IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH RECRUITERS STAYING SAFE ON THE LOCAL WATERWAYS.

WE CHAT WITH THE COAST GUARD AUXILIARY TO LEARN TIPS THAT WILL MAKE SURE YOUR BOATING EXCURSION.

IT'S A SAFE ONE.

AND LOOKING INTO THE QUESTION, ARE WE ALONE IN THE UNIVERSE?

NEW GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS APPEAR TO STRING TOGETHER POSSIBLE ALIEN ENCOUNTERS HERE ON EARTH.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ESTIMATES THAT OVER 520,000 FLORIDIANS ARE JOBLESS.

THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE TICKED UP A BIT FROM 4.6% IN FEBRUARY TO 4.7% IN MARCH TO HELP PEOPLE FIND JOBS, NONPROFIT GROUPS LIKE BETTER TOGETHER ARE ORGANIZING SPECIAL EVENTS THAT DIRECTLY CONNECT JOB SEEKERS WITH EMPLOYERS WGCUS AMANDA INSCORE WHITTAMORE REPORTS >> WE PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY CHURCHES TO HOST JOB FAIRS.

TO HELP EMPOWER THESE PARENTS.

BRING THEM HOPE AND DIGNITY AND GET THEM BACK TO WORK.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IF WE CAN GET THEM BACK TO WORK, WE CAN TRY TO HELP RE STABILIZE THAT FAMILY UNIT.

>> VANESSA STRATA IS THE FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BETTER TOGETHER'S SOUTHWEST FLORIDA REGION.

BETTER TOGETHER HOSTS SECOND CHANCE JOB FAIRS CONNECTING JOB SEEKERS FACING EMPLOYMENT BARRIERS SUCH AS PAST INCARCERATION.

HOMELESSNESS ARE GAPS AND WORK.

HISTORY WITH EMPLOYERS WILLING TO HIRE NATIONWIDE.

GIVE SECOND CHANCES.

THESE EMPLOYERS ARE SECOND CHANCE EMPLOYERS.

>> SO THAT WE HAVE THESE ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS, WHICH JUST GIVES MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE JOB SEEKERS THAT ARE COMING IN FACING.

YOU KNOW, INCARCERATION PAST.

ITS FAITH IN ACTION.

>> DEMETRIUS THOMAS IS THE PASTOR OF SAINT MARY'S BAPTIST CHURCH IN GORDA THAT HOSTED THE JOB.

THEY'RE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE FIND OUT.

>> THAT WE COME IN HERE AND WE WORSHIP IN ALL OF THAT WITH THE THAT CRISIS.

HE WAS OUT HELPING PEOPLE AND COMPELLING PEOPLE TO COME INTO PLAY.

SO AGAIN, THIS WHAT IT IS, IS THAT BE OUT THERE AND HELP PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND MEET THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE THE BEST THAT WE CAN >> LAFAYETTE WHEATON CAME TO THE JOB FAIR WITH HIS YOUNG SON.

HE RECENTLY MOVED TO FLORIDA AND HOPES TO NOT JUST FIND A JOB BUT DISCOVERED HIS PASSION.

>> I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND SOME DOZEN RELIGIOUS BENEFIT.

JUST ROLE.

MAKE ME HAPPY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY TO FIND A JOB, BUT I'M TRYING TO FIND MY PATIENTS.

SO I MEAN, I'M HERE A SIGN WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE THE NEXT THE >> ANGEL BIGS RECEIVED MUCH NEEDED ASSISTANCE FROM BETTER TOGETHER AND IS LOOKING FOR WORK THAT WE WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT WITHOUT BETTER TOGETHER WITHOUT MISS AMANDA.

SO THIS IS GREAT CAUSE.

>> AND I SAY I DIDN'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO GO FAR ENOUGH ON CLIMATE.

>> THIS IS GREAT.

IT'S GREAT FOR THE COMMUNITY.

WAYS HELPS OUT.

EVERYBODY.

ANGEL SON, DARIAN SNOWDEN.

>> HOPES TO LEARN AND PURSUE A CAREER AS AN ELECTRICIAN.

>> ALWAYS AIM FOR A JOB.

THIS AND MORE CONSISTENT WITH SOME THAT OUTLOOK TO DORSUM THAT I CAN FIND A LIKE A GOOD LIKE I SAID, A GOOD PATTERN IN DOING.

LIKE A GOOD GROOVE ARE GETTING A GROUP IS OVER.

IT.

>> PASTOR THOMAS SAYS THIS EVENT IS ALL ABOUT HELPING TO SUSTAIN FAMILIES.

>> AND IT'S ONE THING TO ACTUALLY HAVE PANTRIES WAY PEOPLE COME IN AND GET FOOD AND ALL THAT.

BUT IT'S ANOTHER THING TO ACTUALLY PRESENT THEM A JOB WHERE THEY CAN AS THEY FEED THEIR FAMILY.

BUT A LIFETIME, YOU KNOW, SO AGAIN IS ONE THING TO DO A HANDOUT.

BUT AS ANOTHER, TO GIVE A HAND UP FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M AMANDA INSCORE WHITTAMORE >> FOR MORE ON THE IMPACT BETTER TOGETHER IS HAVING ON THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COMMUNITY.

WE ARE JOINED BY MEGAN BROS.

SHE IS THE CEO OF BETTER TOGETHER AND HAS BEEN SINCE 2015.

THIS ROSE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

CAN YOU TELL WHAT IS THE MISSION OF YOUR AGENCY?

>> SO THE MISSION OF BETTER TOGETHER IS HELPING FAMILIES THAT ARE GOING THROUGH A HARD TIME WITH THE GOAL OF KEEPING THEIR KIDS OUT OF FOSTER CARE, HELPING FAMILIES FIND WORK AND ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF THEIR STRUGGLE SO THEY CAN BE.

REUNITED WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND KEEP THEIR FAMILIES STRONG AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A REALLY POSITIVE SUPPORT SYSTEM SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO THRIVE.

I READ THAT YOUR AGENCY HAS SERVED MORE THAN 10,000 CHILDREN.

>> IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, IN WHAT WAYS ARE YOU HELPING THOSE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES?

AND IT'S ALL ACROSS THE SUNSHINE STATE.

>> YEAH.

SO WE'RE NOW SERVING THE ENTIRE STATE EXCEPT PARTS OF THE END-ALL AND MIAMI.

AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE HAVE VOLUNTEER FAMILIES THAT ARE OPENING UP THEIR HOME AND CARING FOR KIDS SHORT TERM.

AND THEN WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS, MENTORING FAMILIES AND THEN VOLUNTEERS AND JOB COACHING.

AND THEN WE'RE WORKING WITH CHURCHES TO HOST JOB FAIRS.

AND SO THE GOAL IS JUST TO MOBILIZE LOCAL CHURCHES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND VOLUNTEERS TO BE ABLE TO COME ALONGSIDE FAMILIES THAT ARE ISOLATED AND GOING THROUGH A HARD TIME AND HELPING KEEP THAT FAMILY TOGETHER.

HOW MANY PEOPLE?

>> AND HOW DOES BETTER TOGETHER HELP THOSE PEOPLE IN SECOND CHANCE LIFE SITUATIONS, THE ADULTS IN ADDITION TO THE CHILDREN.

>> SO WE ALL NEED SECOND CHANCES AND IT CAN BE INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IF THEY HAVE NO CHILD CARE, IF THEY HAVE HAD GAPS IN THERE RESUME, IF THEY HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD, IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO GET IN FRONT OF A HIRING MANAGER BUT WORK.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

WORKS WORK HELPS PEOPLE MOVE FORWARD.

WORK HELPS KEEP THE FAMILY INTACT.

AND BEYOND THAT, FAMILY FAMILIES THAT ARE WORKING ARE LESS LIKELY TO STRUGGLE WITH ALCOHOL ADDICTION, DRUGS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

THERE'S SO MANY STATISTICS THAT SHOW THAT WORK HELPS KEEP FAMILIES STRONG.

AND SO WE REALLY CREATE A PATHWAY FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE LOOKING FOR A SECOND CHANCE THAT ARE LOOKING TO MOVE FORWARD TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH HIRING MANAGERS.

GOOD JOB COACHING FROM LOCAL VOLUNTEERS AND BE ABLE TO PUT THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD.

>> HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS AGENCY TO MEMBERS OF THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COMMUNITY?

>> I THINK WHAT WE'RE DOING IS SO IMPORTANT.

WE'RE FILLING IN A GAP WHERE THERE'S SUCH A NEED FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE PRECIOUS PIECES OF THEIR LIVES BACK TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT ALL OF US.

I'M A MOM.

I HAVE 5 KIDS AND PARENTING IS REALLY HARD.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL NOT IMMUNE TO CRISIS.

WE COULD HAVE A HEART ATTACK, A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

WE COULD LOSE OUR JOB, BUT IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAVE A STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM TO HELP YOU GET THROUGH THOSE CRISIS SEASONS.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

WE'RE HELPING FAMILIES THAT DON'T HAVE A SUPPORT SYSTEM, NAVIGATOR, CRISIS AND COME OUT STRONGER.

>> I LOVE YOU HAVE BEEN AT THE HELM SINCE I THINK IT SAID 2015 AND THE AGENCY HAS GROWN AND IT'S ALL ACROSS THE STATE AND BEYOND OUR STATE BORDERS.

HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY HELPERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HELP.

AND SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS TAP INTO THAT.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TAP INTO THE HELPERS AND WE KNOW THERE'S A NEED.

FAMILIES ARE ISOLATED BEFORE COVID AND THEN COVID COMPOUNDED THAT.

AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY COME ALONGSIDE THOSE ISOLATED FAMILIES AND FIND THE HELPERS, THE MATCH THEM WITH AN IT'S NOT AMAZING.

THE CHURCH IS THE VOLUNTEERS, THE EMPLOYERS, THE DONORS, AND EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN ABLE TO RALLY AROUND OUR MISSION AND HELP US GROW AND EXPAND TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THOUSANDS OF KIDS OUT OF FOSTER CARE AND HELP THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FIND MEANINGFUL WORK, RELATIONSHIPS AND SOCIAL CONNECTIONS.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT.

IT.

AND WE'VE HAD SO MUCH GROWTH, BUT THEY'RE STILL A HUGE NEED AND SO MUCH MORE OPPORTUNITY.

AND SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP DOING THIS WORK UNTIL WE'RE NOT NEEDED ANYMORE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY AND SHARING THIS.

>> INCREDIBLE STORY ABOUT YOUR YOUR AGENCY AND YOUR PERSONAL MISSION.

THANK YOU.

MISS ROSE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

WE ARE SO GRATEFUL.

>> YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT BETTER TOGETHER BY CHECKING OUT THEIR WEBSITE AT BETTER TOGETHER US DOT ORG.

COMING UP, THOUSANDS OF VOTERS WILL BE HITTING THE WATER OVER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

KEEPING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE WHILE BOATING MIGHT BE AS SIMPLE AS STRAPPING ON A LIFE VEST.

FLORIDA IS KNOWN AS THE BOATING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD AND ALSO LEADS THE NATION IN BOATING-RELATED ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS.

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE SAYS 97 PEOPLE DIED IN 2025 AND BOATING RELATED ACCIDENTS.

THAT MARKS THE HIGHEST DEATH TOLL IN A DECADE.

AND THE LATEST REPORT MORE THAN 50% OF BOATING-RELATED FATALITIES WERE DROWNINGS, BOATING SAFETY EXPERTS SAY MOST OF THE DEATHS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED WITH A SIMPLE USE OF A LIFE VEST.

>> TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SAFE VOTING PRACTICES.

WE ARE JOINED BY U.S.

COAST GUARD AUXILIARY COMMANDER OF FOOTHILL AND 9, 6 OF WEEKENDS PASS AND WE HAD ARE ALL TELL OF IT HERE TODAY TO SHARE WITH US ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TIPS ON HOW TO STAY SAFE WHEN YOU GET ON THE WATER.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND WE HAVE MANY DEATHS OF BOATERS IN FLORIDA.

IN FACT, OUR STATE, I BELIEVE LEADS THE NATION IN BOATING DEATHS.

WHY IS THIS SUCH A PREVALENT PROBLEM IN FLORIDA?

>> WELL, THE EASIEST THING AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE RIGHT BEFORE OUR BIG MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT WE GET OUR SAFETY MESSAGE OUT.

AND TO YOUR QUESTION, WE HAVE THE MOST DEATHS, PROBABLY PRIMARILY BECAUSE WE HAVE THE MOST BOAT WE HAVE OVER A MILLION VOTES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT BY FAR THAT'S 10% OF THE TOTAL RECREATIONAL BOATS IN THE U.S.

SO YOU COULD SAY, OH, WELL, THAT'S THE EASY ANSWER.

AND THE OTHER EASY ANSWER IS THE SAY, WELL, WAIT A MINUTE, YOU CAN VOTE YEAR-ROUND UP NORTH IN MICHIGAN WHERE PHILADELPHIA, YOU'RE ONLY BOATING MUCH 3 MONTHS, 4 MONTHS AT THE MOST.

SO IT'S EASY TO COME UP WITH THOSE EXPLANATIONS.

BUT WHEN YOU DIG FURTHER INTO IT, YOU REALIZE FLORIDA HAS SOME UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY GOOD.

ONE OF THEM.

THE PRIMARY ONE I WOULD SAY IS THAT WE HAVE 36% ALCOHOL RATES IN ACCIDENTS THAT ARE REPORTED.

AND THE NATIONAL RATES ONLY 20%.

SO WE'RE FAR HIGH ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE ON THAT STATISTIC.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO ACCIDENTS.

>> IS ALCOHOL.

WHAT ARE SOME OTHER MAJOR CONCERNS ABOUT BOATING SAFETY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO BE AWARE OF?

THE OTHER MAJOR CONCERNS?

I WOULD SAY IS AND ATTENTION AND PEOPLE.

>> 10 TO BECOME DISTRACTED.

THEY'RE OUT WITH FRIENDS.

THEY'RE OFTEN DRINKING, AS WE JUST SAID.

AND IN FLORIDA HERE.

BUT THEY'RE OFTEN TALKING TO PEOPLE THERE NOT HAVING A GOOD FORWARD.

LOOK OUT AND THEY MISS THINGS.

THEY MISS THE FACT THERE'S A MANATEE CROSSING THEIR PATH WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE TO ANY MORE OF THOSE THIS YEAR.

THEY ALSO HAVE BOATS THAT SUDDENLY STOPPED A LOOK AT A DOLPHIN WHO'S ON THE SIDE.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON AND IT'S EASY TO LOSE FOCUS.

AND THAT'S WHY WE RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE HAVE A DESIGNATED LOOK OUT AND WE MAKE SURE THE CAPTAIN IS SOBER AND PAYING ATTENTION.

THOSE ARE 2 OF THE BIGGEST THINGS.

>> YOU HAD MENTIONED OUR WATERWAYS TO OUR RATHER UNIQUE.

>> OUR WATERWAYS ARE VERY NARROW, VERY CONGESTED IN SOME AREAS AS YOU COME THROUGH NARROW.

AND LET'S AND WE ALSO HAVE NUMEROUS AND BARS.

SO WE HAVE THE RISK OF RUNNING AGROUND ON THOSE SANDBARS AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL BLINDLY FOLLOW ANOTHER.

BOTH IT LOOKS LIKE IT KNOWS WHERE IT'S GOING ONLY TO RUN INTO THEM ON THE SAME SAND BAR.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF A UNIQUE ACCIDENTS HERE AND WE HAVE A MUCH HIGHER RATE OF COLLISION ACCIDENTS AND COLLISION ACCIDENTS.

THE CZECH PEOPLE FROM THE BOAT RESULT IN TRAUMA TO THE BODY WHEN THEY HIT A DOCK APPEAR OR THE MANGROVES, THE MANGROVES NEVER LOSE A BATTLE WITH A BOAT OR A PERSON'S BODY.

SO THAT'S THE UNFORTUNATE THING.

SO THE OTHER THING WE HAVE TO DO IS WEAR A LIFE PRESERVER WHILE YOU'RE BOATING BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE MISCONCEPTION.

WELL, OUT BOATING, IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, I CAN DIG OUT THE LIFE JACKETS.

I CAN GET THE WHOLE, YOU KNOW, FAMILY TO PUT THEM ON.

THEN WE'LL HAVE TIME.

BUT IN FLORIDA, WE DON'T HAVE THE TYPICAL SWAMPING THINKING THAT YOU HAVE IN OTHER AREAS WERE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE THE SUDDEN VIOLENT COLLISIONS WITH ANOTHER BOAT COMING OUT OF A NARROW CHANNEL.

YOU CAN SEE TO THE LAST MINUTE.

OPERATING AT NIGHT AND RUNNING INTO A SMALL DOCKED THAT'S COMING OUT FROM THE WATER OR BRIDGE ABUTMENT.

SO THOSE ARE THE KIND OF ACCIDENTS WE HAVE MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY IN FLORIDA.

ANOTHER STATE.

>> HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR BOATERS TO TAKE A SAFETY COURSE AND GET CERTIFIED?

>> 65% OF THE ACCIDENTS THAT WE SEE.

THE THE CAPTAIN HAS NOT TAKEN A BOATING SAFETY COURSE.

AND THAT'S VERY TELLING THE MORE EDUCATION YOU HAVE ON BOATING SAFETY, THE SAY FOR A BOATER, YOU ARE.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE IS EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE BOATING SAFETY COURSE.

EVEN PEOPLE THAT THINK THEY'RE EXPERIENCED CAPTAINS.

THERE'S CHANGES TO LAWS.

THERE'S NEW TECHNOLOGY.

THERE'S THINGS THAT THEY SHOULD POINT TO BE SAFER WHEN THEY'RE ON THE WATER.

>> ARE THERE SPECIFIC KINDS OF LIFE PRESERVERS THAT YOU THINK PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE ONBOARD THEIR THEIR VESSEL?

>> YES, I THINK THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A LIGHT JACKET.

THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WEARING.

AND IN THE PAST, WE USED TO HAVE BIG BULKY LIFE JACKETS THAT IN THE FLORIDA WEATHER ARE HOT CONFINING.

NOBODY LIKE WEARING THEM.

BUT TODAY WE HAVE A WHOLE BREED OF INFLATABLE LIFE JACKETS THAT ARE LIGHT EASY TO WHERE THEY'RE COOL.

THEY'RE RELATIVELY COMFORTABLE AND THEY PROVIDE A GREAT SAFETY OF FOR PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T WANT TO BE ENCUMBERED BY THE OLD-STYLE LIFE JACKET.

AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT ONE OF THESE INFLATABLE VESTS.

>> OUR KATE CRONIN IS JOINING US NOW IN.

>> SHE'S GOING TO SHOW US HOW WE CLIP THESE ON THAT AREA TIGHTENED UP.

YEAH, I HAD NOT SEEN THESE BEFORE.

I'M JUST A RECREATIONAL BOATER.

I'VE SEEN THE THE THICK ONES THAT ARE MORE CUMBERSOME GRAND, UNCOMFORTABLE.

>> AND THIS LOOKS ACTUALLY PRETTY COMFY.

>> YEAH.

AND THESE ARE COMMONLY AVAILABLE AT YOUR LEADING RETAILERS FOR BOATING ACCESSORIES LIKE WEST MARINE OR BASS PRO SHOPS.

THEY HAVE A WHOLE RANGE OF THESE STARTING AS LITTLE AS AROUND $100.

>> AND THEY INFLATE WHEN INFLATE AND THE PRIMARY ALL OF THEM WILL TO OURSELF INFLATING.

>> THEY HAVE AN EMERGENCY PULL THAT YOU CAN SEE THAT LITTLE RED SWITCH AND DO THEY HAVE THESE 4 CHILDREN?

DO THEY COME IN SMALLER SIZES?

THEY'RE NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN BECAUSE ONE OF THE REASONS IS IF IT DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY INFLATE A CHILD MAY NOT HAVE THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO PULL THE TAB.

SO THEY'RE NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER 16, ALTHOUGH THEY'RE WORKING ON SOME NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL MAKE THAT MAY BE A LITTLE MORE AVAILABLE IN THE FUTURE.

>> AND THIS WAS THE GOAL OF YOUR WITH THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY.

AND THIS IS THE ENTIRE GOAL OF YOUR GROUP, CORRECT?

RIGHT ARE FOCUSING IS ON RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY.

AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS INFORM EDUCATE.

>> AND WE ALSO MONITOR WE RUN REGULAR PATROLS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING SAFE BOATING PRACTICES OUT THERE.

AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT AND YOU OFFER COURSES CORRECT FOR PEOPLE, RIGHT?

WE HAVE A VERY SPECIALIZED COURSES.

WE HAVE WON A BOAT.

AMERICA COURSE WHICH AND THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN FLORIDA DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS.

IF YOU'RE BORN AFTER 1988, YOU'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE A BOATING SAFETY CERTIFICATE.

TO OPERATE ANY KIND OF WATERCRAFT WITH A MOTOR.

SO ANYTHING OVER 9 HORSEPOWER AND ABOVE THAT HAS THEY HAVE TO HAVE A CERTIFICATE AND WE HOLD A CLASS CALLED BOATING AMERICA AND MANY OTHER OF OUR FLOTILLAS IN THIS AREA RUN IT.

THERE'S ALSO SOME FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

YOU CAN DO IT ONLINE, BUT WE PREFER TO HAVE THE STUDENTS THAT ARE ON THE WATER FACILITY AND WIGGINS PASS WHERE WE CAN TEACH THEM HANDS-ON TECHNIQUES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THESE IMPORTANT SAFETY TIPS TODAY.

THANK YOU, MAYOR GIVING US THIS TIME.

YES, THANKS SO MUCH.

>> AND HERE'S SOME MORE INFORMATION ON FLORIDA.

BOATING FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM.

THE NATIONAL MARINE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION SAYS 10% OF ALL REGISTERED VOTES IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY ARE IN FLORIDA AND THAT EQUALS 1.2 MILLION REGISTERED VOTES IN THE SUNSHINE STATE.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH OUR COVERAGE ON BOATING SAFETY BY LOGGING ON TO WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, IT'S AN INTERPLANETARY EXPLORATION OF POTENTIAL ALIEN LIFE.

WE EXAMINE THE RECENT RELEASE OF OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS THAT DESCRIBE HUGH ENCOUNTERS.

LAST WEEK.

THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR RELEASED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SECRET FILES RELATED TO P OR UNIDENTIFIED ANOMALOUS PHENOMENA.

OTHERWISE KNOWN AS YOUTH VOTE PHOTOS, VIDEOS AND REPORTS OF POSSIBLE ALIEN ENCOUNTERS ARE INCLUDED IN THE 162 FILES.

WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE HAS MORE ON THE RELEASE OF THESE DOCUMENTS.

>> SO FOR MORE ON THE LATEST UNVEILING OF UFO DOCUMENTS, I'M JOINED BY CHRISTIAN STEPIEN, THE CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER WITH THE NATIONAL UFO REPORTING CENTER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

BUT TO BE HERE, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

SO THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR RELEASED DOZENS OF PREVIOUSLY SEALED DOCUMENTS.

MANY SHOWING DETAILED REPORTS ON POTENTIAL UNIDENTIFIED ANOMALOUS PHENOMENA.

AND YOU HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW SOME OF THESE DOCUMENTS.

SO WHAT ARE YOUR TAKEAWAYS FROM THE RELEASES?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE VERY PLEASED THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING THE STEPS AND THAT YOU KNOW, THERE'S ACTUALLY AN ONGOING EFFORT TO RELEASE AND FIND THESE FILES.

I KNOW THE PEOPLE ARROW HAVE BEEN SCOURING, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS PUTTING OUT REQUESTS FOR ANYTHING THEY HAVE ON UFO'S.

SO IT'S A BIG STEP FORWARD TO ACTUALLY GET SOME MOVEMENT ON THIS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN RELEASED IS NO.

THERE'S NOTHING SUPER DRAMATIC.

AND THERE THERE'S THERE'S NO SMOKING GUN THAT REVEALS, YOU KNOW, THE PROOF THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR, THAT EXTRA TERRESTRIAL ZURN ON HUMAN INTELLIGENCE ARE PILOTING CRAFT AROUND THE PLANET EARTH.

THERE'S A LOT OF INTERESTING STUFF IN THERE.

DON'T GET ME WRONG.

THERE'S A LOT OF FILES FROM THE 40'S 50'S 60'S 70'S, OLD FBI FILES AND THINGS.

BUT A LOT OF THAT HAS BEEN KNOWN PREVIOUSLY.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK WITH WITH GROUPS LIKE THE BLACK FAULT THAT HAVE GONE OUT WITH FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUESTS THAT HAVE UNCOVERED A LOT OF THE STUFF BEFORE.

THERE'S SOME NEW VIDEOS FROM SOME OF THE DRONES OVER THE MIDDLE EAST THAT ARE INTERESTING THAT SHOW OBJECTS FLYING SMALL OBJECTS FLYING.

BUT AGAIN, NOTHING NOTHING THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY POINT TO AND SAY, HEY, WE CAN SAY CONCLUSIVELY THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DIDN'T MAKE.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO THE PROOF THAT WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR.

ISN'T THERE YET?

>> ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS I WILL SAY GOING THROUGH THIS WITH SOME OF THE NAMES AND THE DATES THAT WERE THROWN IN HERE.

THERE WAS A REPORT THAT CAME IN THAT INCLUDED FORMER FBI DIRECTOR J EDGAR HOOVER.

SO WE KNEW THAT THE RELEASES IT AT LEAST CONFIRMS PEOPLE'S BELIEVES THAT ALIENS AND EXTRATERRESTRIAL SEARCHING HAS BEEN AT LEAST A PRIORITY FOR THE U.S.

GOVERNMENT FOR SOME TIME.

>> WELL, THE U.S.

GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN COLLECTING REPORTS ON THESE THINGS FOREVER.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

THE FBI, YOU KNOW, INTERESTINGLY, THERE'S NO REPORTS IN THIS BATS FROM THE CIA.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING SOME SOME OF THE STUFF THAT THEY HAVE.

BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE REPORTS BASICALLY KIND OF GO INTO FILING CABINET AND THERE'S NEVER A SERIOUS ANALYSIS OR A SERIOUS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROJECT TO TRY AND FIND OUT WHAT THESE THINGS ARE.

THEY'RE BASICALLY LABELED INCONCLUSIVE OR, YOU KNOW, WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION.

AND THAT'S THE END OF IT.

>> BUT THEN WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW MOST UFO REPORTING IS COME THROUGH, IT'S THE FARMER AND HIS WIFE IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIELD OF NOWHERE.

BUT THESE INCLUDE REPORTS THAT IN FROM THE GEMINI 7 MISSION WHERE ASTRONAUTS FRANK BORMAN, JIM LOVELL, THEY REPORTED SEEING AN OBJECT AND OTHER PARTICLES.

THEY COULDN'T EXPLAIN.

SO WHEN YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO IS IN THE BELIEF THAT THEY WANT UFO IS TO BE REAL.

WHEN YOU SEE KIND OF THE MAINE'S THAT ARE BEING THROWN OUT, THE AREAS OF GOVERNMENT THAT ARE BEING THROWN OUT.

HOW DOES THAT, YOU KNOW, HELP YOU FILL RESEARCHERS AND JUST SAY THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THESE GROUPS LIKE NASA AND THE FBI ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN THE SEARCHES FOR THE UNKNOWN.

>> WHAT HELPS THE CREDIBILITY OF THE SUBJECT TO KNOW THAT AGAIN, PEOPLE ARE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY AND THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT BEING SWEPT UNDER THE RUG AND WE'RE NOT OLD.

ALL BEING TOLD THAT WERE CRAZY FOR EVEN BELIEVING IN THE POSSIBILITY OF ALIENS.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE GEMINI STUFF IS ALSO PROBABLY EXPLAINABLE BY EOC EXPLANATIONS SUCH AS YOU KNOW, ICE CRYSTALS COMING OFF THE CAPSULE OR A PIECE OF THE SPACE CRAFT THAT WAS FLOATING AWAY.

SO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE INTERESTING REPORTS AND IT'S IT'S GREAT TO SEE PEOPLE TAKING THEM SERIOUSLY.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE A SOMETHING THAT'S JUST GOING TO BLOW THE LID OFF THIS YET.

>> BUT THEN AS THE PUBLIC BECOMES MORE AWARE, MORE CONSCIOUS OF THESE STORIES AND JUST MAYBE GET TO THE POINT OF ACCEPTING IT.

HOW DO YOU FEEL THAT THEY'LL REACT IF THIS DOES GET CONFIRMED?

BUT IT JUST BE THE LIFE CHANGING MOMENT OR WHAT ACTUALLY JUST BECOME THE NEWS OF THE DAY.

AND EVERYONE MOVES ON TO THE NEXT TOPIC.

>> WELL, I THINK EVERY INDIVIDUAL WILL REACT DIFFERENTLY.

SO I THINK SOME PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY NEVER BELIEVE THAT NO MATTER WHAT COMES OUT AND SOME PEOPLE WILL THAT MIGHT SHATTER THEIR LIVES.

I THINK OVERALL THE GENERAL POPULATION WILL ACCEPT THAT AGAIN, THERE'S ENOUGH INFORMATION OUT THERE NOW THAT THEIR SURVEYS DONE THAT, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS HALF THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY BELIEVE IN UFO'S AT THIS POINT.

SO THERE'S ALREADY A PRETTY PREVALENT GENERAL BELIEF THAT THIS IS GOING ON WHEN WE GET MORE TANGIBLE PROOF IT WILL JUST HELP SOLIDIFY THAT.

AND I THINK PEOPLE WILL ACCEPT THE REALITY IS WHAT IT IS.

AND IF THESE THINGS ARE OUT THERE AND THEY'RE REALLY OUT THERE, WE HAVE TO ACCEPT IT.

ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE TO ADJUST TO AS A SPECIES AS A SOCIETY AND AND MOVE ON.

>> WELL, CHRISTIAN STEPIEN FROM THE NATIONAL UFO REPORTING CENTER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TALK WITH US TODAY.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND I'D ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO HAS EVER SEEN THE COME TO OUR SITE REPORTED THE FOR REPORTING CENTER UOFL CENTER DOT COM.

IT'S REALLY EASY TO FILE A REPORT.

MORE STORIES WE GET THE BETTER.

AND YOU CAN BE IN THE NEXT RELEASE OF THE >> FILES THAT COME OUT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR.

THE.

>> AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A GREAT DAY.

ALL RIGHT.

THANKS A LOT.

>> COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM, NO HURRICANES LEAD TO A SURGE IN SPRING TOURISM.

NOW, LEE COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE LOOKING TO CARRY OVER THE SUCCESS THROUGH THE SUMMER MONTHS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HAD A WGCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE NEXT TIME FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.