IT'S TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, VOTERS ARE PREPARING FOR DEADLINES FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS.

BUT SOME FLORIDIANS FACE EXTRA OBSTACLES TRYING TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS.

WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SERVICES PROVIDED FOR THE MILLIONS OF VOTERS LIVING WITH A DISABILITY ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THE GOPHER TORTOISE HABITAT IS UNDER A CONSTANT THREAT FROM DEVELOPMENT.

HOW SOME ORGANIZATIONS ARE SAYING THE LOSS OF LAND IS IMPACTING THE REPTILES.

CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.

AND AS PARENTS PLAN FOR BACK-TO-SCHOOL PURCHASES, SOME ARE GETTING THRIFTY TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE FINDING THE MOST BANG FOR THEIR BUCK BEFORE THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

IF YOU DRIVE AROUND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT NOTICE ALL THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S UNDERWAY.

SOME OF IT AS NEW HOUSING.

BUT NOW A NEW RETAILERS ARE MOVING IN ANXIOUS TO SET UP SHOP FOR OUR POPULATION.

BOOM, THE RAPID POPULATION GROWTH HAS LED TO A MASSIVE REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND IS RESHAPING OUR LOCAL COMMERCE.

SO WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN FOR YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE?

WGCUS MIKE WALTER FINDS US THOSE ANSWERS.

>> IT'S A NEW RESTAURANT HERE.

HOME.

FIX UP STORIES THERE AND SHOPPING PLAZAS PACKED WITH NATIONAL BRANDS.

EVERYWHERE.

OH.

AND LET'S NOT FORGET THOSE FANCY CAR WASHES SPRINGING UP SOMEWHERE PROBABLY NEAR YOU.

ONE CALLED A BUILDING BOOM, >> BUT I THINK WE'RE IN A PRETTY HEALTHY PLACE IN LEE COUNTY.

THAT'S CHASE MAYHEW WHOSE FAMILY HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT HERE FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY.

>> SO THE PROJECTS THAT YOU'RE SEEING REALLY COMING ON THE GROUND NOW INFILL PROJECTS THAT ARE REALLY DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU.

SAYS THE NATIONAL RETAILERS HAVE CHECKED ENOUGH DEMOGRAPHIC AND POPULATION BOXES TO MAKE THIS REGION THE PLACE TO BUILD.

SO A STAMPEDE TO FILLED IN POCKETS OF RETAIL NEED IS ON.

>> ONCE ONE JUMPS AND IT'S FUNNY, THEY ALL KIND OF LIKE CATTLE.

WE ALL FOLLOW SUIT.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW.

A LOT OF THE NATIONALS GOING, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE NEED PRESENCE AND THE EYE.

IT'S INCREDIBLE MARKET.

THE CAPTURE OUT THERE.

AND SO THAT'S THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW.

WELL, IT'S TOO MUCH TOO SOON.

IT'S JUST DEFINITELY TOO MUCH TOO SOON.

AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE, WE'RE ALL GONNA PAY FOR IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

THAT'S CAROLINE HUNTER.

>> A HOMEOWNER IN SOUTH FORT MYERS, TOO MUCH TOO FAST.

AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO CREATE SOME FLOODING ISSUES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY HERE.

SOME OF US WHO ARE NOT IN FLOOD ZONES WILL BECOME IN FLOOD ZONES JUST BECAUSE THERE'S NO PLACE ELSE FOR THE WATER TO GO.

>> MAYHEW SAYS HE'S CONVINCED LEE COUNTY LEADERS ARE GUARDING AGAINST FLOOD THREATS AND THAT PROTECTIONS AGAINST TOO MANY HIGH RISES, TOO MUCH DENSITY.

WE'LL ENSURE LEADERS NOT BECOME ANOTHER FORT LAUDERDALE OR MIAMI.

>> BUT I THINK THE REAL STORY IS WHY PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS THE WEATHER.

THE BEACH IS THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

THE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES THAT YOU CAN DO IN THE ENTERTAINMENT.

THE BOATING WE HAVE HERE IS PHENOMENAL.

BONITA SPRINGS ALSO WAS BENEFITING FROM NEW DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT A YEAR SAYS.

>> AND ONE RESIDENT IS PLEASED.

I THINK IT'S PROBABLY TWOFOLD.

BETTER AND NOT ONLY ARE THEY YOU KNOW, JUST ADDING MORE RESTAURANTS AND DINING AND RETAIL THAT ADDING MORE HIGH QUALITY.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY GOOD CHASE BY YOU SAYS THE CONSTRUCTION IS CREATING LOTS OF JOBS BOTH NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE.

>> WITH BIG HOSPITALS, STORES AND RESTAURANTS TO OPEN SOON.

HE ADDS BUILDING IN PLACES OF NEED COULD HELP TO EASE ANOTHER MAJOR PROBLEM.

>> TRAFFIC CONGESTION IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMING FROM LEHIGH.

>> AND THEY'RE HAVING TO TRAVEL INTO FORT MYERS FOR GOODS AND SERVICES.

>> IT'S GONNA IT'S GONNA OBVIOUSLY ROADWAYS.

SO IF WE CAN GET THOSE GOOD TO GOODS AND SERVICES CLOSER TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN THOSE HOMES, IT'S ALSO BEEN ALLEVIATE A LOT OF TRAFFIC.

SO THIS NEW PHASE OF GROWTH IS BEGINNING UNLIKELY.

>> WON'T GO AWAY ANYTIME SOON FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M MIKE WALTER.

>> COMING UP, THEY HAVE BECOME A FAMILIAR FACE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, BUT THE LOSS OF HABITAT IS CAUSING SOME TO THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS, MAYBE 3 MONTHS AWAY.

BUT THIS COMING MONDAY ON JULY, 20TH IS THE DEADLINE FOR YOU TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE FLORIDA PRIMARY.

THE PRIMARY IS AUGUST 18TH AND SOME KEY RACES WILL BE DECIDED PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES MAKE UP A GROWING PORTION OF VOTERS WHO WILL HELP DECIDE SOME OF THOSE RACES.

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS ESTIMATE MORE THAN 40 MILLION AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES WERE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE 2024 ELECTION.

JULY IS DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH.

THAT MARKS THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.

AND WHILE THE ADA HAS HELPED WITH VOTER ACCESSIBILITY, WE ARE EXAMINING THE CHALLENGES.

SOME FLORIDIANS STILL FACE TO GET TO THE POLLS AND CAST THEIR BALLOTS.

JOINING ME NOW IS AURELIE MENU.

A PUBLIC POLICY ANALYST FOR DISABILITY RIGHTS, FLORIDA.

LAURA, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> YEAH, HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> CAN YOU DESCRIBE HOW A DISABILITIES ACTUALLY DEFINED AND THEN HOW MANY PEOPLE IN FLORIDA ARE CONSIDERED DISABLED?

YEAH, SURE.

SO.

>> UNDER THE SPECIFICALLY.

>> A DISABILITY IS TO FIND BASED UPON A FEW FACTORS.

ONE OF THOSE THEM THE MOST NOTABLE BEING THE UP.

INABILITY TO COMPLETE ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING.

SO IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT IMPACT FOR YOUR ABILITY TO COMPLETE SOMETHING THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO YOUR LIFE.

AND THAT COULD REALLY BE ANYTHING FOR ME.

I'M A WHEELCHAIR.

USER SAW JUST USE MYSELF AS AN EXAMPLE.

SO THE INABILITY TO WALK COULD BE SOMETHING WAS FEATURE REALLY IS OPENLY TO FIND A ADDITIONALLY.

THE ADA ALSO SAYS THAT IF YOU HAD THOSE CONSIDERATIONS AT ANY POINT IN YOUR LIFE AND THAT IS DOCUMENTED.

I'M AND THEN 3RD FIND A WAY THAT.

THE DISABILITY AS DEFINED UNDER THE ADA IS.

THAT.

SOMEBODY ELSE PERCEIVES US HAVING A DISABILITY.

YOU ALSO CAN YOU COULD BE CONSIDERED DISABLED, SOLACE.

LET'S SAY YOU'RE IN AN EMPLOYMENT SITUATION WHERE?

AND YOU ARE.

YOU ARE SEEKING YEAR.

YOU FEELING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST AND SOMEBODY SAYS TO YOU THAT THEY DON'T FEEL THAT YOU CAN COMPLETE A JOB BECAUSE OF A PERCEIVED DISABILITY THAT THEY THINK YOU HAVE.

YOU COULD ALSO BE COVERED UNDER THE ADA.

WHAT THE DOESN'T COVER IS TEMPORARY DISABILITIES.

SO BROKEN LEGS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THOSE ARE UNCOVERED.

>> HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE MAIN CHALLENGE IS THAT THAT ARE FACING THOSE WHO NEED ACCOMMODATIONS TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE.

>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD THERE ACTUALLY, SEVERAL CHALLENGES IN AND I PROBABLY WALL AND A SHORT SEGMENT BE ABLE TO NAME THEM ALL.

BUT BUT THE MAIN ONES THAT WE SEE ALL ARE POLLING PLACE, ACCESSIBILITY, SO PHYSICAL POLLING PLACE ACCESS AND THE INABILITY WHETHER THAT IS A CHARGE FOR SOMEWHERE.

THAT'S NOT I COVERED BY THE ADA AND THE ABILITY TO GET INTO THE ACTUAL POLLING PLACE.

WHETHER THAT NOT ENOUGH DISABLED PARKING COULD BE A ON A MACHINE THAT'S NOT AT THE RIGHT HEIGHT WHERE SOMEBODY COULD REACH IT.

THERE'S A LOT OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THAT COULD BE.

THERE'S ALSO JUST SORT OF.

THE BARRIER FOR FOLKS IN TIMES OF.

DISABILITY, THEN VIEWED AS A VOTING BLOC IN GENERAL.

SO AND YOU ASKED A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE IN FLORIDA ARE CONSIDERED THE SABLE.

THAT THAT'S KIND OF A HARD QUESTION TO ANSWER.

GENERALLY, THOUGH, ON IT'S CONSIDERED.

ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.

AND WE SEE THOSE STATS FROM FLORIDA.

IT'S ABOUT 25% OF THE POPULATION.

SO YOU TAKE THE VOTING AGE THAT'S ROUGHLY.

LAST TIME WE CALCULATED ROUGHLY LIKE FORM 5 MILLION FOLKS.

AND AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT NUMBER INCREASING ALL THE TIME.

AND THEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE YOU HAVE THIS HUGE VOTING BLOC.

BUT A LOT OF TIMES THE POWER OF THIS IS THE LA TIVO AND THIS VOTING ISSUES AREN'T EVEN CONSIDERED.

SO CAMPAIGNS COULD NOT BE ACCESSIBLE.

SOMETIMES WHETHER THAT'S THEIR MATERIALS THAT THEY'RE PUTTING OUT, WHETHER THAT IS A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WANTING TO VOLUNTEER.

I'VE HAD IN THE PAST SO JOY SONS, MYSELF, WHERE I AND COLLAGEN AND YOUNGER WANTED TO GO ANTTI RAANTA CAMPAIGNS AND THERE WAS REALLY JUST NOTHING THAT THAT THEY HAD PREPARED THAT I COULD DO BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, DOOR KNOCKING AND THINGS LIKE THAT WEREN'T HARD WERE HARD FOR ME.

BUT THERE WAS NO OTHER ACCOMMODATION.

SO THERE IS KIND OF THAT INVISIBLE OVER ANOTHER ONE THAT WE ALSO SEE IS I CO WORKERS AND THE FACT THE POLL WORKERS AREN'T ALWAYS TRAINS OR IF THEY ARE TRAINED.

THEIR TRAINING IS VERY MINIMAL.

ON DISABILITY.

SO EVERY POLL WORKER HAS TO BE TRAINED, RIGHT?

BUT BACK AND THE TRAINING CAN DIFFER FROM COUNTY TO COUNTY AND IT CAN DIFFER ARE FROM A PERSON TO PERSON JUST IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY WHAT THEY TAKE OUT OF IT.

BUT IT COULD DEFINITELY BE BEEFED UP AND MORE EXCITEMENT, MORE ACCESSIBLE AND MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW TO KINDS OF ACCESSIBLE VOTING MACHINES HELPED CREATE THAT ACCESS FOR DISABLED VOTERS IN FLORIDA.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY >> WHAT YOUR AIRCRAFT WE HAVE 2 DIFFERENT TYPES OF.

>> ACCESSIBLE VOTING MACHINES THAT ARE USED N FLORIDA HAD THE IMAGE CAST AND THE EXPRESS PHONE THAT WILL VARY BY COUNTY, WHICH ONE IS USED.

THEY WORK VERY SIMILARLY, DON.

THEY AND HAVE A FEW DIFFERENT FEATURES THAT WELL ALLOW THEM TO WORK.

SO AND THEY ARE TOUCH SCREEN AND THEY'RE ALSO THEY ALSO CAN BE UTILIZED BY FOOT PEDALS FOR THOSE THAT HAVE TROUBLE WITH THEIR ARMS.

THEY CAN ALSO BE USED BY SOMETHING, PAUL, THE 2ND HALF.

SO SOME PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, IF THEY DON'T HAVE FUNCTION.

AND OF OTHER LANDS.

SO USE A STRONG IT KINDA LOOKS LIKE A STRAW THAT AND THAT CAN ALSO BE HOOKED UP TO THE MACHINE.

SO WHAT THAT DOES IS YOU'LL HAVE YOUR BALLOT.

ELECTRONICALLY ON THE SCENE JUST LIKE A PAPER BALLOT AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH AND MAKE YOUR CHOICES.

AND THEN IT'LL AND LET YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW.

AFTER YOU VOTED THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO GO BACK AND MAKE THE SELECTION OF US ANYTHING.

BUT ALSO ADDITIONALLY, THEY CAN RE TU.

SO THOSE WERE LANGUAGE BARRIERS OR DISABILITIES THAT IMPACT THEIR ABILITY TO READ CAN HAVE ABOUT RED TO THEM AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY THIS MINUTE.

HELLO.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> AS WE INCH CLOSER TO THE MIDTERMS, BE SURE TO STAY UP TO DATE WITH ALL OF THE POLITICAL HAPPENINGS IN FLORIDA BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE.

WGCU DOT ORG.

THEY HAVE BECOME A POPULAR AMBASSADOR FOR THE FLORIDA ECOSYSTEM, BUT CONFLICTING REPORTS ARE RAISING THE ALARM ON THE FUTURE OF THE GOPHER TORTOISE, THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF CONSERVATION OF NATURE RECENTLY CHANGED THE STATUS OF THE GOPHER TORTOISE FROM VULNERABLE TO CRITICALLY ENDANGERED BUT IN FLORIDA, THE GOPHER TORTOISE REMAINS PROTECTED AS A THREATENED SPECIES IN THE PAST CENTURY GOPHER TORTOISE HABITAT HAVE DECLINED BY MORE THAN 60% BECAUSE ACCORDING TO FWC OTHER HIGH, DRY NESTING LOCATIONS HAVE BEEN TARGETED AS PRIME LOCATIONS BY DEVELOPERS AND THEY HAVE REDUCED THE GOPHER TORTOISE POPULATION TO AROUND 700,000.

>> TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GOPHER TORTOISE, I AM JOINED BY CHERYL ANDERSON.

SHE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE CAPE CORAL WILDLIFE TRUST.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

FIRST.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE A GOPHER TORTOISE FOR SOMEONE WHO'S NEVER SEEN ONE AND WHAT MAKES THEM SO SPECIAL?

A GOPHER TORTOISE.

>> LOOKS LIKE MOST TOWARD US IS THAT YOU WOULD SEE LIKE A SMALL VERSION OF A GALAPAGOS TORTOISE RIGHT?

BUT WHAT MAKES THEM SO SPECIAL IN FLORIDA IS THAT THEY ARE KNOWN AS A KEYSTONE SPECIES.

THAT MEANS THAT OTHER SPECIES AS WELL AS OUR NATIVE FLORIDA ENVIRONMENT DEPENDS ON THE GOPHER TORTOISE FOR ITS EXISTENCE.

350 OTHER SPECIES.

NEWS GOPHER, TORTOISE BURROWS.

SO IT'S KEY TO THE SURVIVAL OF THE FLORIDA ENVIRONMENT AND HABITAT.

>> NOW THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE.

>> JUST RECENTLY ELEVATED THEIR CONSERVATION STATUS FROM THREATEN TO CRITICALLY ENDANGERED.

BUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS THEM CLASSIFIED AS THREATENED.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT DISTINGUISHES THOSE 2 CLASSIFICATION, AL IT IT IT THERE'S DIFFERENT.

THERE'S DIFFERENT RESTRICTIONS AND DIFFERENT.

THE >> RULES REGARDING THREATENED SPECIES AND ENDANGERED SPECIES.

>> AND IT'S AN EXTREMELY COMPLICATED PROCESS.

SO WE GO.

WE REALLY DON'T WANT THAT RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY OF CAPE CORAL, THE CITY ITSELF HAS ADOPTED THE FLORIDA WILDLIFE COMMISSION RULES AND WE HAVE VERY GOOD RULES AND CODES THAT CONTROL THE GOPHER TORTOISES IN THE CITY OF CAPE CORAL.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE WE ARE DEALING WITH A SPECIES THAT IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN OUR STUDY TO HAVE.

DESIGNATED AS A DIFFERENT SPECIES CALLED THE URBAN GOPHER TORTOISE.

OKAY.

NOW MOST PEOPLE, MOST SCIENTISTS AND I'M SURE THIS GROUP YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE TALKING ABOUT THE GOPHER TORTOISES THAT LIVE IN RURAL AREAS AND THE PINE FLAT LANDS OF THEY EXTEND UP INTO GEORGIA.

YOU KNOW, AND AND BE ON FLORIDA.

THE RANGE, OF COURSE, WAS MUCH LARGER BEFORE ALL THE DEVELOPMENTS STARTED.

WE CONTEND THAT HOUR.

TORTOISES.

AS WELL AS OUR BURROWING OWLS ARE LIKE A SUB SPECIES THAT WE WOULD TERM OR BUNT BECAUSE THEY HAVE LEARNED TO AND ADAPTED TO LIVING WITH PEOPLE IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT.

THAT'S QUITE UNIQUE.

>> SO IF THIS TORTOISE CAN BE RENAMED, THIS URBAN GOPHER TORTOISES, SOUNDS LIKE YOU THINK THAT WILL LOOSEN RULES AND RESTRICTIONS.

THEY WILL ALLOW TO CONTINUE TO THRIVE IN CAPE CORAL IN THIS HIGH DENSITY AREA.

THAT'S OUR HOPE.

>> ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, DOCTOR JOHN, FROM AN FGCU.

AND SUPPORTED BY THE CAPE CORAL FRIENDS OF WILDLIFE STUDY, 10 GOPHER TORTOISES FOR A YEAR AND PUT RADIO TRANSMITTERS ON THEM.

AND PUT CAMERAS IN FRONT OF THEIR BURROWS.

AUTOMATIC PICTURE CAMERAS SO THAT WHEN AN ANIMAL WITH BY WOULD TRIGGER THE PICTURE RIGHT?

AND HE AND HIS STUDENTS STUDIED THEM FOR A YEAR THEIR CONCLUSION WAS THAT THEY'RE HEALTHY.

THEY'RE FINE.

THEY'RE LIVING NORMAL LIVES ANEW.

AND THEY WERE ABOUT A QUARTER OF AN ACRE SPOT IN THE CAPE.

AND THAT WAS 10 TORTOISES.

AND HOW LUCKY WE ARE TO HAVE THEM HERE.

TEACHING US HOW TO ADAPT TO LIVING IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT.

>> THEY HAVE FOUND THEIR PARADISE IN CAPE CORAL.

IT TRULY ONE LAST QUESTION.

WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS?

WELL, YOUR STUDY, IT'S GETTING THE PERMIT.

OKAY.

WE'VE APPLIED.

AND THEN THEY SAID, WELL, WE NEED MORE STAFF.

BUT I AM VERY STRONGLY FEEL IF WE COULD GET A GOOD VIDEO.

OUT ON ONE OF OUR PRESERVES SHOWING THE NUMBER OF TORTOISES AND OWLS.

THE FIVE-MINUTE VIDEO RIGHT, THAT IF WE COULD SHOW THAT TO THE GOPHER TORTOISE COUNCIL OF THE PEOPLE THAT FWC THAT.

YOU WOULDN'T NEED 100 PAGES OF DATA.

YOU COULD JUST SEE IT WITH YOUR EYES.

AND I WILL TELL YOU THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE NEXT TO OUR PRESERVES.

THEY WATCH OUT FOR THE TORTOISES.

THEY LOVE THE TORTOISES.

THE PRESERVES AND THE ANIMALS ARE VERY POPULAR WITH THE RESIDENTS OF CAPE CORAL.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> AND HERE'S ANOTHER FACT ABOUT THE GOPHER TORTOISE FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM.

ACCORDING TO FWC THE GOPHER TORTOISE IS ONE OF 5 NORTH AMERICAN TORTOISE SPECIES AND IS THE ONLY TORTOISE NATURALLY FOUND EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FOR MORE STORIES ABOUT THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ECOSYSTEM AND MOTHER NATURE FEATURES YOU CAN HEAD TO HEAD TO OUR WEB SITE AT WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK AS THE COST FOR KIDS, CLOTHING AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES CONTINUE AS THE SUMMER SEASON BEGINS TO HEAT UP, YOU MIGHT BE CONSIDERING A DAY IN THE WATER WITH THE KIDS OR THE GRANDKIDS.

BUT WHETHER IT'S THE GULF OR A BODY OF WATER, MORE INLAND.

WGCUS TEDDY BURN, LEARN SOME TIPS TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE STAY SAFE.

>> IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO GO SWIMMING IN A LAKE OR RIVER THIS SUMMER, IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL.

THERE ARE MANY DANGERS LURKING BENEATH THE SURFACE.

>> THEY'RE A GOOD SWITCH.

YOU DON'T ALWAYS SEE THE NBA'S OF DEBT, WHICH YOU DON'T ALWAYS SEE.

AND JUST LIKE WITH THIS PERCEPTION, THAT IS THE VEGETATION.

AND BOB IS AS YOU FEEL TO GO DOWN, WHICH COULD MAKE THINGS SLIPPERY.

THERE IS FISH AND OTHER CRUSTACEANS DEAD, WHICH COULD MAKE THINGS VERY TRICKY AS YOU'RE WALKING IN, AS YOU WOULD THINK, A SWIM TOOL.

>> DOCTOR PURVA GROVER IS AN EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN AT CLEVELAND CLINIC.

CHILDREN'S.

SHE SAYS CHILDREN SHOULD WEAR A U.S.

COAST GUARD APPROVED LIFE JACKET IF THEY'RE GOING TO SWIM IN A LAKE OR RIVER, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE NOT STRONG SWIMMERS.

SHE ALSO RECOMMENDS HAVING AN ADULT GO IN THE WATER.

FIRST TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT TOO DEEP.

AND FINALLY, IF YOU NOTICE ANY CHANGES IN THE WEATHER, IT'S BEST TO GET BACK TO THE SHORE IMMEDIATELY.

>> MAKE SURE THAT ANYBODY WHO'S TRYING TO GET IN THE WATER AT ONE WHO WANTS TO BE IN THIS KIND OF FEEL WHAT THE SITUATION AND REALLY KNOWS HOW TO SWIM AND STANCE OF THIS UNDERSTANDS WHAT TO EXPECT.

BUT THEN IF IN ACCIDENT HAPPENS, THE MOST IMPORTANT.

OUTCOME WHICH WE SEE WITH THE MOST FAVORABLE OUTCOME IS GOOD.

CPR DONE AT SITE WITHIN THE FIRST MINUTE OR 2?

>> DOCTOR GROVER SAYS EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW HOW TO DO CPR, THEIR INSTRUCTION VIDEOS AVAILABLE ONLINE AS WELL AS IN PERSON CLASSES.

WGCU NEWS.

TEDDY BURN.

>> IN LESS THAN ONE MONTH, STUDENTS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WHO WILL BE HEADING BACK TO CLASS AND FOR PARENTS.

THAT MEANS BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING.

THE NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION SAYS HOUSEHOLDS ARE EXPECTED TO SPEND OVER 800 AND $50,000 ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES.

MOST OF THE COST IS GOING TO CLOTHING AND SHOES.

WGCU REPORTER YOUN JOO PARK STOP BY IN LEHIGH ACRES, GOODWILL WHERE AN EVENT IS DESIGNED TO EASE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF SENDING CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL.

>> THE SCHOOL YEARS LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY.

>> BUT BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING IS ALREADY CREATING FOOT TRAFFIC AND GOODWILL STORES ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WE METS NEVAEH CHAMPION AT THE GOODWILL STORE AND LEHIGH ACRES AS EVERYTHING HEARS WAY.

HAVE THE COSTS.

>> THE SHOES.

I GOT WORD LET ALONE $100 CHEAPER AND THE SHIRTS RATHER THAN PAY 15, $20 FOR THE UNDER ARMOUR TYPE OF SHIRTS.

THEY'RE ONLY 5, $4 HERE.

>> 6 YEARS AGO, EMPLOYEES AT GOODWILL SAY THEY WERE SEARCHING TO MEET A NEED IN THE COMMUNITY WITH DONATIONS DROPPED OFF AT THEIR SITES.

THE RESULT AN ANNUAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPING EVENT THEY EMPLOY SAY IT IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST WEEKENDS IN MID-JULY AND SAY THE RIGHT RIDE, A BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENT IDENTITY RIGHT UP THERE.

YES, THAT'S RHONDA ADAMS AND SAMANTHA SANDLIN WHO HAVE BEEN PLANNING THIS EVENT SINCE LAST NOVEMBER.

THEY SAY THAT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S SEASONAL RESIDENTS OR SNOWBIRDS DROP OFF PLENTY OF SUPPLIES WHEN LEAVING TOWN IN THE LATE SPRING TIME.

NO NEW YEAR NEW YOU.

YOU CLEAN OUT THE HOUSE.

SHE RID OF ALL YOUR STUFF.

IT BRINGS TO US.

>> SAME WITH OF THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

YOUR KIDS, IF YOU'RE OUT GROWN.

SO YOU'RE GETTING READY FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

SO THEY BRING US THAT.

THAT WAS ALSO THE SPRING CLEANING.

WE BENEFIT ON A LOT OF THOSE DONATIONS.

>> THESE ITEMS ALLOWED FOR A GOOD REUSE OF MATERIALS THAT NEED A SECOND HOME, ACCORDING TO GOODWILL'S.

DEBORAH DID NOT SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT.

THAT'S HUGE.

WE'VE BEEN RECYCLING BEFORE.

RECYCLING WAS COOL.

>> YEAH, IT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE 19.

0, 2.

AND SO WE SAVED ABOUT 38 MILLION POUNDS OF GOODS FROM GOING INTO LOCAL LANDFILLS JUST HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

>> GENTLY RECYCLED GOODS.

PLUS LOW PRICES IS AN EQUATION THAT MAKES PARENTS LIKE CHAMPION.

HAPPY.

>> I HAVE 3 KIDS AND SHOPPING OBVIOUSLY IT'S EXPENSIVE.

SO TRYING TO GET A BANG FOR MY BUCK.

SHE IS FOLLOW KIDS.

AND SOME SCHOOL CLOTHES AND THEY HAVE AMAZING UNIFORMS AND MANY OPTIONS.

IT'S WAY CHEAPER THAN IN THE STORES.

ONE ITEM THAT SELLS OUT FIRST AT GOODWILL STORES >> SHOES SALMAN SAYS THAT'S BECAUSE PARENTS ARE TRYING TO CATCH OPT TO FIND SHOES.

>> THAT THAT THEIR KIDS GROWING FEET SITES TO GET.

I WILL NOT GO SPEND $65 ON A BRAND NEW PAIR OF SHOES AND MY KIDS ARE GOING TO USE AND ABUSE THE FIRST 3 WEEKS OF SCHOOL.

>> WHEN WE COME HERE TO GET THE SAME EXACT SAME A $10 FOR NOW.

>> IF YOU'RE A PAIR OF THE SHOES AND THE NUMBERS, THOUGH, LESS THAN WHAT I PAY FOR ONE PAIR SHOES AT THEM.

A STORY.

THE GOODWILL STAFF ALL SAY ITS MISSION IS TO ALLEVIATE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON PARENTS BY PROVIDING AFFORDABLE OPTIONS.

AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENT SO POPULAR.

>> ALL RIGHT THERE.

SO THEY'RE GOOD FOR EVERYBODY IN THE WHOLE FAMILY.

THIS ONE ARE REALLY PUSHING FOR THOSE CHILDREN SIZES TOGETHER, NEW DEPOSITS AND SHOWS WE'VE GOT A LIKE.

>> WORK ON I MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY BECAUSE A LOT OF HIGH SCHOOLS DON'T GIVE A UNIFIER.

AND SO THIS SHOPPING TRIP IS A VICTORY FOR CHAMPION WHO NEEDS TO BUY HER DAUGHTER'S UNIFORM.

>> FOR HER, IT'S HELPFUL BECAUSE SHE IS THE ONE WHO WANTS TO CHANGE HER OUTFIT 5 TIMES SOUTH, GETTING READY IN THE MORNING.

DEFINITELY HELPS WITH YOU TO VOTE FOR HER SPECIFICALLY.

>> AS PARENTS PREPARE FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

PARENTS SAY THEY ARE RELIEVED THEY CAN CROSS THINGS OFF THEIR SHOPPING LIST EARLY WHILE HAVING MORE DOLLARS LEFT TO IN THEIR WALLETS FOR WGCU NEWS ON YOUN JOO PARK.

>> AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.