THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS COMING UP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY.

SOLAR ENERGY HAS OUT GENERATED COLD.

WE EXAMINE WHAT THIS MEANS FOR GREEN ENERGY ADVOCATES AND THE IMPACT THIS COULD HAVE ALL THE FLORIDA ENERGY GRID, THE NUMBER OF CARS ON THE ROADS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA EXPECTED TO GROW AS MORE PEOPLE MOVE TO THE AREA.

WE'RE LOOKING AT PLANS FOR CORKSCREW ROAD AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS WHO TAKE THE ROAD EVERY DAY.

AND IT'S THE NEXT GENERATION OF BUILDING A BUSINESS MODEL.

HOW A TEENAGER IS OPTIMIZING HIS USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO TURN HIS BRUNCH SPOT INTO THE TALK OF THE DIGITAL WORLD.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THE FIRST TIME IN U.S.

HISTORY.

SOLAR POWER OUT GENERATED COLE FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH.

THIS PAST MAY SOLAR ENERGY SUPPLY.

12.8% OF THE NATION'S ELECTRICITY.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO AMBER, A GLOBAL ENERGY THINK TANK COLE CONTINUED TO DECLINE IN PRODUCTION FALLING TO 12.2% THE MAJORITY OF THE ELECTRICITY GENERATED STILL COMES FROM NATURAL GAS WITH ABOUT 37% OF THE NATION'S ELECTRICITY.

THE LATEST GREEN ENERGY MILESTONE CONTINUES TO SHIFT IN THE POWER SECTOR.

AS SOLAR ENERGY BREAKS RECORDS WHILE COAL PRODUCTION REMAINS ON A STEADY DECLINE.

>> FOR MORE ON THE FUTURES OF SOLAR AND COAL.

I AM JOINED BY NICHOLAS FULL GYM.

HE'S A SENIOR DATA ANALYST WITH AMBER.

>> MR.

FULTON, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY FROM LONDON.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THE ORGANIZATION HAS RECENTLY RELEASED DATA THAT STATE'S NEW SOLAR RECORDS AND LONGTIME LONG-TERM COLE DECLINED LEAD TO LATEST CLEAN POWER MILESTONE.

WHY IS THIS SUCH A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE IN A SIGNIFICANT STATEMENT TO MAKE?

>> YES, AND THAT UNITED STATES SOLA OVERTOOK COAL FOR THE FIRST MONTH ON RECORD IN MAY.

SO THE GENERATED 12.8% OF ELECTRICITY IN THE U.S.

AND COAL GENERATES A 12.2% THAT WAS THE BEST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.

BUT IT'S THE CONTINUATION OF THE LONG-TERM TREND OVER THE LAST 2 DECADES.

COLE HAS LOST ITS FAST PRIMARY SPOT AS THE NUMBER ONE ACTUALLY SEE GENERATIONS.

WILSON, THE U.S.

AND TO GAS THEN FELL BELOW NEW CLEAR AND WITH THE WIND FOR THE FIRST TIME AND NOW THE LOWS.

SO LOOK FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EQUATION IS THE RISE OF CLEAN POWER, PARTICULARLY FROM WHEN AND IN RECENT YEARS FROM SOLAR AND BATTERY STORAGE THAT I'M MAKING THIS POSSIBLE.

>> WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT FROM A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE?

>> YEAH.

ON A GLOBAL LEVEL, WE'VE SEEN THIS TREND FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW AND 2025 RENEWABLES OVERTOOK COAL IN ELECTRICITY GENERATION GLOBALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER 100 YEARS.

SO THE GLOBAL POWER SYSTEM IS CHANGING COUNTRIES LIKE AND REGIONS LIKE THE EUROPEAN GOING ALL-IN ON WIND POWER ON SOLAR POWER AND BATTERY STORAGE.

TO RID THEMSELVES OF THE RELIANCE ON FOSSIL FUELS HAVE KEPT PRICES HIGH, PARTICULARLY IN MARKETS LIKE EUROPE IN THE U.S.

THIS TREND IS MAYBE A FEW YEARS BEHIND, BUT WE SEEING STATES FROM TEXAS TO CALIFORNIA FOLLOWED THIS TRAJECTORY, WEST SOLAR AND WIND UP TAKING A LARGER SHARE, BUT IT RECEIVE GENERATION AND FOSSIL FUELS.

I'M MOVING DOWN ANY ELECTRICITY MIX.

>> WHERE IS SOLAR ENERGY BEING USED MORE IN THE UNITED STATES AND AND ALSO HOW PREVALENT IS IT IN FLORIDA?

>> TYPICALLY IF YOU GO BACK 10, 15 YEARS, THE STATES HE WOULD BE LOOKING AT A CALIFORNIA AND INCREASINGLY DIVIDED.

BUT IN RECENT YEARS, THE LOW COST OF SOLAR POWER AND A HIGHER POWER NEEDS EVERY MONTH THAT ITS 6 EXPOUND THE TERM ASKED DRAMATICALLY IN OTHER STATES AS WELL.

WE'VE SEEN FASTEN MASSIVE RISE IN TEXAS, WHICH LAST SCALE SO INSTALLATION IS NOW THE NUMBER ONE STATE AND THE UNITED STATES.

AND IN FLORIDA, WE SEE THE READING LAW DRIES AND GENERATION AS WELL OVER A PERCENT OF THE STATE SENATE.

RACINE NOW COMES TO US SO THAT THAT SOUNDS OF 2025 AND IS EXPECTED TO RISE FURTHER.

AND THAT'S UP FROM LESS THAN ONE PERCENT JUST A FEW YEARS PRIOR TO GO BACK 10 YEARS.

SO IT WAS BASICALLY A NEGLIGIBLE AMOUNT OF GENERATION.

FLORIDA.

SO WHETHER YOU LOOK WHETHER IT'S ON THE WEST COAST IN CALIFORNIA OR IN FLORIDA.

WE SEE SO TAKE A LODGE AND NOT TO SHOW THE ELECTRICITY MARKET.

>> AND ON THE FLIP SIDE, WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN FOR COAL PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE FUTURE OF COAL?

QUITE FRANKLY, WHEN COAL GENERATION IN THE U.S.

MIXES NEARLY HALVED IN THE LAST 5 YEARS FALLING FROM ALMOST 20% IN 2021.

TO ABOUT 12%.

NOW.

>> YEAH.

SO TAKE A NON-STICK LINE IN RECENT YEARS IS THE COMBINATION OFF A CONTINUED INCREASE IN GAS GENERATION, BUT ALSO THEN THAT RAPID RISE IN RENEWABLES, PARTICULARLY WIND AND SOLAR POWER.

IF YOU GO BACK, EVEN FIND THE GO BACK.

20 IS TO THE BEGINNING OF THE 21ST CENTURY CALL WAS STILL MORE THAN 50% OF ELECTRICITY GENERATION IN THE U.S.

SO WE HAVE A FAR CRY FROM THAT NOW WAY WHERE COAL IS NOW FALLING BEHIND SOLA AND SOME MONTHS AND WILL OVER THE NEXT 2, 3, IS WE'LL SEE MORE AND MORE MONTHS WHERE THIS IS THE CASE AND COVID CONTINUE TO FALL IN THE MIX GOING FORWARD.

NOW, OF COURSE, THAT POLICIES ON THE LINE THIS FOR SEEING A BIT OF A STEP FROM THE U.S.

TO SUPPORT SAYING COAL POWER MORE AND THEN OTHER COUNTRIES MIGHT WHICH A LOT TO LOOK IN TO PHASE OUT COAL OR RESTRICT ITS USE.

AED'S THAT OR MAKE IT EASIER FOR A NEW LOCALS TO COME ONTO THE GRID.

SO THE U.S.

IS MAKING A LITTLE BIT OF A STEP BACK ON THE POLICY SIDE HERE.

BUT THE OVERALL TREND IS SO CLEAR THAT COLD DOESN'T HAVE A FUTURE IN THE U.S.

POLLEN FOR THAT AMOUNT TO AROUND THE WORLD.

>> THAT WHY?

WHY YOU THINK SOLAR IS BECOMING THE FASTEST GROWING SOURCE OF POWER IN THE UNITED STATES STATES.

ELECTRICITY SYSTEM.

>> SO IT IS INCREDIBLY US THAT I'LL SO WHETHER YOU LOOK AT LOVE SCALE SYSTEMS, UTILITY SCALE SYSTEMS, YOU LOOK AT ROOFTOP DEPLOYMENT, IT'S INCREDIBLY VESTS TO TELL YOU.

WE DON'T TYPICALLY SEE THE DEPLOYMENT TIMELINES THAT WE CAN SEE PERSONA FOR OTHER COAL OIL, GAS UP ON THOSE A PROJECTILE.

THE 10, 15, 20 YEARS, A SOLAR PROJECT IN GOAL FROM INITIAL PLANNING TO BEING CONNECTED TO THE GRAND IN JUST A FEW YEARS AND ESPECIALLY DURING A TIME WHEN MANY STATES HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY THEM ON, FOR EXAMPLE, FROM DATA CENTER IS IT'S CRUCIAL TO GET POWER ONTO THE GRID QUICKLY.

AND THAT'S WHAT SOLA AND ITS LOW-COST DELIVERY OF POWER OVER A VERY SHORT TIME FRAME AND READ THE TO WHAT'S LOOKING FOR RIGHT NOW.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY FROM LONDON, NICHOLAS FULTON.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT GREEN ENERGY, YOU CAN VISIT WGCU DOT ORG FOR MORE FEATURE STORIES.

COMING UP.

LEE COUNTY IS CATCHING UP ON A SURGE OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS IN ESTERO.

BUT AS CONSTRUCTION HELPS BRING IN NEEDED UTILITIES, CURRENT RESIDENTS ARE FEELING THE BURDEN OF AN INCREASE OF LAST FRIDAY MARKED THE QUALIFYING DEADLINE FOR CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR ELECTED OFFICES IN FLORIDA'S MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

NOW THAT MEANS VOTERS HAVE A CLEAR PICTURE OF WHO THEY'LL HAVE TO CHOOSE FROM ON THEIR BALLOT, RANGING FROM GOVERNOR TO LOCAL ELECTIONS LIKE THE SCHOOL BOARD WGCU HOST AND REPORTER JOHN DAVIS JOINS US NOW WITH AN UPDATE ON SOME OF THE LATEST ELECTION NEWS.

THE JOHN ALL OF FLORIDA'S 28 U.S.

HOUSE DISTRICT SEATS ARE UP FOR GRABS, RIGHT SPECIFICALLY.

WHAT DO YOU WANT US TO PAY ATTENTION TO IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA?

>> SO HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, FIRST, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

19 RACE.

THIS IS THE SEAT BEING VACATED BY BYRON DONALDS AS HE TAKES ON A BID FOR GOVERNOR.

THERE'S ACTUALLY NOW THAT THE QUALIFYING DEADLINE IS OVER.

WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE 15 QUALIFIED CANDIDATES IN THIS RACE.

SO THIS RACE HAS MORE CANDIDATES THAN IT IS MORE CROWDED THAN ANY OTHER CONGRESSIONAL RACE IN FLORIDA THIS YEAR.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GETTING A LOT MORE ATTENTION.

THERE'S 10 REPUBLICANS AND 3 DEMOCRATS AND IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT THE BOUNDARIES OF THIS DISTRICT HAVE CHANGED AS A RESULT OF THAT RECENT MID-DECADE REDISTRICTING EFFORT.

THE LEGISLATURE DEAD, IT'S STILL GOING TO CONTAIN MOSTLY COASTAL LEE AND COLLIER COUNTIES.

BUT THE CITY OF FORT MYERS, LEHIGH ACRES, SOME OF THE MORE INLAND AREAS OF LEE COUNTY HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN CUT OUT OF THE DISTRICT AND THAT ACTUALLY INCLUDES ME.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A DISTRICT 19 VOTER AND NOW I'M GONNA FIND MYSELF IN DISTRICT 17.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK FOLKS THAT MAYBE WANT TO CHECK THEIR BALLOTS ON.

PEOPLE MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THAT CHANGES HAPPENED BUT THAT CHANGED IN THE GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARY IS NOT REALLY GOING TO AFFECT THE CONSERVATIVE-LEANING TAILED OF VOTERS IN THE DISTRICT.

AND THIS IS A DISTRICT THAT HAS LONG ATTRACTED CONSERVATIVE OUTSIDERS.

ONE OF THE CANDIDATES IN THIS RACE AS MADISON, CONN FOREIGN, HE'S A FORMER U.S.

HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE FROM NORTH CAROLINA.

BUT THEN HE LOST HIS RE-ELECTION BID IN 2021.

AND MOVED TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA TO RUN HERE.

AND TO ME, THAT WAS REMINISCENT OF IN 2016 WHEN THE CURRENT DEPUTY FBI DIRECTOR DAN VAN, GINO MOVED TO NAPLES TO RUN FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

19 RACE.

HE LOST THAT PRIMARY.

AND THEN TO FRANCIS ROONEY WHO ACTUALLY ENDED UP WINNING THE SEAT JUST NORTH OF AD AND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

17, WHICH IF YOU LIVE IN LEHIGH ACRES LIKE I DO, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE VOTING IN.

NOW THAT THE OLD DISTRICT HAD ALL OF SARASOTA AND CHARLOTTE COUNTIES AND THEN PART OF NORTHERN LEE COUNTY, THIS NEW DISTRICT GIVES UP THE EASTERN INLAND PORTION OF SARASOTA AND TAKES AND AGAIN, MORE OF THE CITY OF FORT MYERS.

BUT AGAIN, THIS ISN'T GOING TO CHANGE THE REPUBLICAN LEANING NATURE OF THE DISTRICTS, INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN GREG STEUBE E IS TAKING REELECTION.

NO REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER HAS EVEN QUALIFIED.

SO I I THINK IT'S LIKELY THAT HE WILL PROBABLY WIN REELECTION.

AND THEN IF WE CAN JUST MOVE GEOGRAPHICALLY JUST NORTH OF THAT TO THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, 16 RACE, THIS NEWLY REDRAWN DISTRICT NOW INCLUDES ALL OR PORTIONS OF SARASOTA MANATEE DESOTO, HEARTY POLK AND PINELLAS COUNTIES NOW, THIS DOES THIS GEOGRAPHIC CHANGE?

IT DOES MEAN THERE ARE MORE DEMOCRATS IN THE DISTRICT THAN THERE WERE IN PAST ELECTIONS.

BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH OF A CHANGE LIKELY 2 ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, CHANGE THE BALANCE OF POWER POLITICALLY.

THERE THAT BEING SAID, THERE ARE 5 DEMOCRATS IN THE RACE MORE THAN THE REPUBLICANS.

SO I DO THINK DEMOCRATS DO SEE THIS DISTRICT IS BEING MORE COMPETITIVE AS IT HAVE BEEN.

AND IT'S A BIG DEAL BECAUSE BUCHANAN.

THE CURRENT OFFICEHOLDER.

HAS BEEN IN CONGRESS FOR 10 YEARS 20, I'M SORRY, 10 TERMS.

20 YEARS.

SO THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME IN 3 DECADES THAT THE DISTRICT WON'T BE REPRESENTED BY THE CAST.

>> WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE IN FLORIDA?

SO WE NOW KNOW AGAIN BECAUSE THE QUALIFYING PERIOD AS PASTORS, 20 A QUALIFIED CANDIDATES, INCLUDING 6 DEMOCRATS AND 11 REPUBLICANS.

>> AND THEN AN ASSORTMENT OF NPA AND WRITE-IN CANDIDATES.

AND I'LL JUST BE BRIEF HERE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

WE HAVE FORMER CONGRESSMAN DAVID JOLLY AND THIS IS NOTABLE BECAUSE HE'S THE FIRST CANDIDATE IN THE RACE TO ACTUALLY DECLARE A RUNNING MATE.

AND HE'S CHOSEN GWEN GRAHAM AND THIS IS INTERESTING BECAUSE JOLLY WHAT USED TO BE A REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF CONGRESS, BUT HE LEFT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BECAUSE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AND IS NOW RUNNING AS A DEMOCRAT AND HE AND GWEN GRAHAM ACTUALLY SERVED IN CONGRESS TOGETHER WHEN THEY WERE ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE AISLE.

SHE RAN FOR GOVERNOR IN THE PAST.

HER FATHER IS FORMER FLORIDA GOVERNOR BOB GRAHAM.

AND ALSO ORANGE COUNTY MAYOR JERRY DEMINGS HAVE BEEN A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE.

BUT BEFORE QUALIFYING DEADLINE, HE PULLED OUT OF THE RACE AFTER RECEIVING AN UNFORTUNATE CANCER DIAGNOSIS.

THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, THOUGH, AGAIN, WE HAVE BYRON DONALDS.

HE I WAS KIND OF ONE OF THE FIRST TO ENTER THE RACE.

HE EARNED DONALD TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT AND HE'S JUST POLLING HIGHER AND RAISING A LOT MORE MONEY.

BUT THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF PROMINENT CONTENDERS IN THERE.

MY CURRENT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JAY COLLINS, FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER PAUL RENNER AND INVESTOR JAMES FISHBACK TO NAME A FEW THERE WHEN IT COMES TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONTENTION.

>> WITHIN THE GOP REGARDING THIS RACE.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS?

>> RIGHT.

THAT'S BEEN INTERESTING.

SO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF FLORIDA, THEY'RE PLANNING THEIR MAIN POLITICAL EVENT FOR THIS RACE.

THEY'RE CALLING IT THE SUNSHINE STATE.

SHOWDOWN OF THIS IS A POLITICAL SUMMIT IN CANADA FOR HIM.

IT'S SET FOR JUNE 27TH AT THE SEMINOLE HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO IN HOLLYWOOD AND JAMES FISHBACK.

THE CANDIDATE I MENTIONED BEFORE WAS INVITED TO THE EVENT AND THAT CAUSED A LOT OF INTERNAL CRITICISM OF THE PARTY BECAUSE OF FISH FACTS, SORT OF ONGOING ASSOCIATION WITH PEOPLE WHO HOLD OPENLY ANTI-SEMITIC AND WHITE NATIONALIST IDEOLOGIES, NAMELY INFLUENCER NICK FUENTES.

SO THEN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY RESCINDED FISH BACK.

SOME OF THAT HAITIAN WITH A STRONGLY WORDED, YOU KNOW, NO KIND OF CONDEMNING ANTI-SEMITISM ALTOGETHER.

BUT THEN THERE'S MORE CONTROVERSY BECAUSE THE STATE PARTY HAS ESTABLISHED RULES FOR WHO QUALIFIES TO ACTUALLY BE IN THE REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE AT THAT SUMMIT LATER THIS MONTH.

AND IT REQUIRES A MINIMUM OF 10% OF SUPPORT IN PUBLIC OPINION POLLS AND ALSO THAT THE CANDIDATES HAVE RAISED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY.

I THINK IT'S 10 MILLION DOLLARS IN ORDER TO QUALIFY.

AND UNDER THOSE RULES, BYRON DONALDS WOULD BE THE ONLY CANDIDATE WHO HAS QUALIFIED TO BE ON THAT STAGE.

YOU OBVIOUSLY CAN'T HAVE A DEBATE WITH JUST ONE CANDIDATE.

SO THIS HAS DRAWN THE IRE OF EVEN REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS.

HE RECENTLY PUT OUT A STATEMENT CRITICIZING STATE REPUBLICAN PAIR OF IN POWER AS, QUOTE, INSULTING THE INTELLIGENCE OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS.

AND IT'S JUST SORT OF INTERESTING BECAUSE THESE ARE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S RULES.

BUT AS THE GOVERNOR DESANTIS IS KIND OF A DE FACTO LEADER OF THE PARTY IN THE STATE.

SO WE'LL SEE IF THEY END UP HAVING A I DON'T WANT TO PREDICT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO, BUT I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HOLD THIS SUMMIT AND THEN NOT HOLD A GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE OF CANDIDATES BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE THE MAIN EVENT, THE WHOLE SUM IT.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU, JOHN DAVIS FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

>> YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH WGCUS ELECTION COVERAGE AND JOHN DAVIS IS POLITICAL COVERAGE FROM TALLAHASSEE TO RIGHT HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BY SIMPLY VISITING OUR WEBSITE.

WGCU DOT ORG.

ESTERO IS IN THE MIDST OF A POPULATION BOOM, ACCORDING TO ENGAGE ESTERO VILLAGE NOW HAS ABOUT 40,000 RESIDENTS THAT IS AN 8% INCREASE SINCE THE 2020 CENSUS.

MUCH OF THAT GROWTH IS HAPPENING EAST OF 75 ALONG CORKSCREW.

BUT WITH THE SURGE IN HOUSING, DEVELOPMENTS COMES NECESSARY.

ROADWORK WGCU REPORTER YOUN JOO PARK TAKES US ALONG CORKSCREW WHERE DRIVERS ARE DEALING WITH THE DAILY GROWING PAINS OF CONSTRUCTION.

>> IN THE MORNING, THAT'S REALLY THAT THE SMOKE.

8 TO 9 O'CLOCK OF THE.

VERY CONGESTED THEM DURING THE DAYS.

REALLY LIKE THAT.

THEN THEN AGAIN, WHEN YOU GET TO THE FORMED BY THE PA.

>> GETS MARK, JUST IF YOU DRIVE EAST IN ESTERO, YOU CAN'T MISS TO ROAD WORK HAPPENING ON CORKSCREW ROAD.

AFTER ALL, THERE IS ONLY ONE LANE TO GO EAST AND ONE LANE TO GO WEST.

AS THE COUNTY TRIES TO CATCH UP WITH THE GROWING NUMBER OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, THE ROADS NATURALLY GET PACKED WITH TRAFFIC FOR LOCALS LIKE STEVE JOHNSON, THE PLETHORA OF NEW CONSTRUCTION HAS OVERWHELMED CORKSCREW ROAD.

I THINK THE GROWTH IS ACCELERATING FASTER THAN THE WIDENING PROJECTS.

>> SO WE'VE LIVED IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR 5 YEARS.

AND I THINK THIS >> PROJECT HAS GONE ON ALL OF THOSE 5 YEARS.

SO IT WILL BE BETTER BUT OBVIOUSLY WITH MORE RESIDENTS MOVING INTO THE EAST, IT WILL BE FURTHER CONGESTED IN THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM.

>> EVERY DAY.

>> BRAND-NEW HOMES ARE BEING BUILT BY DEVELOPERS ALONG CORKSCREW ROAD.

>> BRIAN, ALONYEN IS A REALTOR AND SAYS THE ALL-INCLUSIVE LIVING STYLE IS A GROWING ATTRACTION FOR HOMEBUYERS.

CORKSCREW SHORES IS BY FAR MY FAVORITE COMMUNITY.

>> JUST BECAUSE OF THE AGE DEMOGRAPHIC, THE AMOUNT OF THINGS THERE ARE TO DO IN HERE YOU HAVE A 240 ACRE LAKE BAR RESTAURANT, FULL AMENITIES AND IT REALLY CREATES A RESORT STYLE FEEL AS WE'RE SITTING HERE RIGHT NOW IN THE CONVERSATION, I FEEL LIKE I'M SITTING IN A RESORT.

>> BUT FOR MOTORISTS FACING HARDSHIPS CREATED BY THESE NEW COMMUNITIES, THE DAILY COMMUTE HAS BECOME A NIGHTMARE.

JOHNSON SHARES HIS EXPERIENCES I'VE SEEN NEAR MISSES.

I'VE HEARD AREN'T TALKING.

>> I HAD AN INCIDENT JUST YESTERDAY.

WORK.

I ALMOST GOT CREAMED IN.

IT JUST HAVE TO BE ON HIGH ALERT WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING ON CORKSCREW HERE BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUS.

A SPEED LIMITS.

45 I DRIVE?

45 AND STAY IN THE SLOW LANE.

OTHER PEOPLE DRIVE 60 OR BEYOND.

>> THERE'S NO TRAFFIC SIGNAL OUT OF THE COMMUNITY.

SO MOTORISTS MUST LOOK BOTH WAYS AND SURMISE WHEN IT MIGHT BE SAFE TO ENTER THE TRAFFIC OF CARS.

THAT WAS BY AT 60 MILES PER HOUR.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION, HIGH SPEEDS AND CURVY ROADS MAKE FOR A TERRIFYING COMBINATION THAT THE 2 TRAFFIC CRASHES ON CORKSCREW ROAD.

SCOTT BUDDY KEN SPEAKS FROM FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE.

>> WHEN THERE'S AN ACCIDENT, WE'VE HAD TO GO ALL THE WAY AROUND THE OTHER WAY.

THERE'S NO OPTION WE'RE GOING TOWARDS TOWARDS A AND GOT STOPPED.

YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST DONE GRAPHIC DONE IN.

SO WE HAD EVERYBODY HAD A TURNAROUND GULF TO 82.

WE'RE LATE FOR OUR APPOINTMENT.

SO IT'S IT'S ROUGH.

>> SOME RESIDENTS LIKE DAVID COIN FOR THEIR OWN UNIQUE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM.

>> I MEAN THAT THERE'S REALLY NOTHING YOU CAN DO.

YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD SHOOT A COUPLE PEOPLE, BUT YOU END UP IN JAIL FOR ILLEGAL 100.

DO SO.

>> YET ANOTHER FACTOR ADDING TO THE TRAFFIC WOES IS THAT WHILE HUNDREDS OF TRUCKS TRAVERSED U.S.

WROTE TO BUILD NEW HOMES OTHER TRUCKS TAKE ALIKA WROTE TO GET TO THE ROCK MINING QUERIES.

JENNIFER, JOINING AS A CONSULTANT FOR THE COUNTY'S CORKSCREW PROJECT, A ROLE WHERE SHE IS AND THE IS ON BETWEEN CONCERNED MOTORISTS AND CONSTRUCTION TEAMS.

SHE SAYS TRAFFIC GET BACKED UP EVEN WHEN ONE VEHICLE TRIES TO MAKE A LEFT TURN THE LA TIMES.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT A SIGNAL YOU HAVE TURN LANES AND EVERY DIRECTION AND YOU CAN GET PEOPLE OUT OF THAT THROUGH LANE.

BUT RIGHT NOW WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE ABILITY TO OPEN UP AND LET PEOPLE BE ABLE TO GET AROUND THAT THROUGH TRAFFIC.

THAT'S EITHER GOING EAST WEST OR THE TRAFFIC THAT'S COMING FROM A LEAK FROM A >> DURING ACKNOWLEDGES ALL CONCERNS FROM THE PUBLIC AND OFFER SOME HOPE.

>> SO WE GET A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT THE ROAD INTERSECTION ABOUT WHAT THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL ON THE TIMING OF THE SIGNAL RIGHT NOW.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET THAT PERFECT TO EVEN GET CLOSE BECAUSE THAT SIGNAL IS NOT BUILT OUT YET.

THE THE LANES AREN'T ALL THERE YET.

THAT'S GOING TO BE TURN LANES.

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY, VERY DIFFERENT BY THE TIME WE'RE DONE WITH THIS PROJECT.

>> SOME PROGRESS IS ALREADY EVIDENT AS THE NEW THE PAGE STRETCH OF CORKSCREW ROAD CYST OPENED UP IN THE SECOND WEEK OF JUNE.

HOWEVER, JOINING DESCRIBES THE CONTINUED COMPLEXITIES OF THE PROJECT.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF UNDERGROUND WORK ON THIS PROJECT.

WE'RE REPLACING ALL THE UTILITIES OUT HERE.

THAT'S THE WATER.

THE FORCE MAIN THE THE FIBER, ALL OF THAT.

SO WHEN PEOPLE ARE DRIVING BY AND THEY SAY, OH, WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT A BILL A COUPLE LANES AND PAVE THE ROAD.

THERE IS A QUITE A BIT MORE TO THIS PROJECT THAN JUST THAT.

>> ONCE TO ROAD WORK IS FINISHED, THEN PERMANENT STRUCTURES LIKE TRAFFIC SIGNALS MAY GET INSTALLED AT THE EXITS OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.

BUT AS THOUSANDS OF NEW HOMES ARE CONSTRUCTED ALONG CORKSCREW ROAD, MOTORISTS WILL NEED TO WAIT AT LEAST SEVERAL MORE YEARS UNTIL THE DUST SETTLES FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M YOUN JOO PARK.

>> HERE'S ANOTHER FACT ABOUT LEE COUNTY TRAFFIC FROM THE WTC NEWSROOM.

IT GAUGE ESTERO SAYS CORKSCREW ROAD AVERAGE IS BETWEEN 20,000 AND 27,000 VEHICLES PER DAY.

MOST OF THE CONGESTION OCCURS AROUND.

I-75 YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH MORE TRAFFIC, HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT STORIES BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE.

WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, BUILDING UP CULINARY EMPIRE AT JUST 18 YEARS OLD.

WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE GENERATION Z OPERATED BRUNCH HOTSPOT USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO OPTIMIZE ITS A SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, 18 YEAR-OLD ENTREPRENEUR IS USING SOCIAL MEDIA MAGIC TO TAKE A BITE OUT OF THE BRUNCH MARKET.

HAD A CAFE IN FORT MYERS.

THE TEENAGER HAS OPTIMIZED.

WEB SITES LIKE TIKTOK AND INSTAGRAM TO BRING IN BRUNCH LOVERS FROM ALL ACROSS FLORIDA.

WGCUS JESSICA BOWLBY CHECKED OUT, TOSS THE CAFE TO GET A SLICE OF THE ACTION.

>> WELCOME TO ALICE'S WONDERLAND.

>> WHILE MOST A SCHOOL GRADUATES ARE STILL FIGURING OUT THEIR NEXT STEPS.

>> RUIZ IS CELEBRATING.

TOSS A CAFE IS ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY AS A YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR LIKE.

>> THEY A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY IT'S CRAZY LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DOING LIKE WE UPON YOU, THE SPECIFICALLY CAME FOR THAT TO END.

HOPEFULLY A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COME HERE TO END UP LEAVING, YOU KNOW, SATISFIED AND AND THROWING A CONCEPT.

CARS OF KATHY'S REBRAND STARTED WHEN RUIZ A STEP DAD GAVE HIM THE KEYS.

>> AND FULL CREATIVE CONTROL >> MY PARENTS JUST KIND OF TRUSTED AND THEY'RE LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE OKAY, FINE.

THE YEAR.

THE YOUNGER ONE, YOUR THE VISION AIR.

SO I LIKE THE WHOLE SPACE ITSELF.

I PERSONALLY DID TO SIGN IT.

THE MENU.

I DID THAT TOO.

>> DRINKS ALL THAT RUIZ SAYS HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE STREAM ALONE AND HE CREDITS HIS SUPPORT SYSTEM.

I DO HAVE A GREAT TEAM THAT IS ALWAYS HERE.

I'M ALWAYS READY TO RUN A BUSINESS >> I ALWAYS TRY TO BE AS MUCH AS THEY COULD.

BUT LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, WITH SCHOOL THAT WAS SOMETIMES LITTLE DIFFICULT, JUST BECAUSE OUR SCHEDULES WERE BASICALLY THE SAME.

I HAD TO BE THERE IN THE MORNING AND THEN WE WORK IN THE MORNING.

RUIZ STILL HAD TIME FOR SOCIAL MEDIA WHERE HE STARTED POSTING ABOUT HIS JOURNEY AS A YOUNG BUSINESS OWNER ONLINE.

>> EXCESS FALL.

>> I STARTED WITH THE TIKTOKS HERE IS OF OPENING A CAFE HAS 17 YEAR-OLD THAT GOT MASSIVE REACH AND ENGAGEMENT.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE'RE IN THE DIGITAL AGE.

SO YOUR DIGITAL PRESENCE DOES REALLY MATTERS.

SPECIALLY IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY.

>> RUIZ'S STORY.

>> ALONG WITH HIS INSTAGRAMMABLE MEALS.

>> WE'RE A VIRAL HIT.

>> JESSICA AL ARE GONE.

SAYS THE ATTENTION IS ATTRACTING MORE CUSTOMERS.

I MADE A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM.

>> ARGENTINE.

YEAH.

I MEAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM.

>> OTHER STAYS CO'S.

THEY COME HERE JUST TO.

>> OF, YOU KNOW, MADE A SAY IN TRIAL OR FOOD AND EVERYTHING BECAUSE THE SOULS AND TAKE TO CAUSE A CAFE HAS LIMITED TIME POP UPS WITH A SEASONAL MENU TO MATCH.

>> HIS BOLD CHOICES ARE INFLUENCED BY HIS STEP-DAD, ARGENTINIAN BACKGROUND AND VIRAL FOOD TRENDS >> YOU?

>> EVEN WITH THAT, THAT IS NOT JUST FRENCH TOAST WEEZER REALLY THICK CUT OF BRIOCHE BREAD.

WE DIP IT IN THIS LETTUCE, FRENCH TOAST.

MAKE SURE WHICH IS MY SECRET RECIPE.

IT CAME UP YOU KNOW, JUST EXPERIMENT IN IT IN THE KITCHEN.

AND THANKFULLY, I'VE JUST BEEN SO HAPPY THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCEPTED IT AND LOVED IT.

>> CASA CAFE IS ALICE IN WONDERLAND INSPIRED POP UP WILL STICK AROUND TILL AUGUST 15.

FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M JESSICA BOWLBY.

COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM.

>> FLORIDA BEACHES ARE BEING BLANKETED BY SHEETS FELL SMELLING SEAWEED.

WE GET AN IDEA OF WHY THIS YEAR'S BREAKOUT OF SARCASM MIGHT BE BREAKING ALL-TIME RECORDS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WGC YOU DOT ORG.

THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES AND MUCH MORE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.