IT'S THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, CONSTRUCTION IS BOOMING WITH ROAD PROJECTS AND NEW BRIDGES RISING UP THROUGHOUT THE AREA.

BUT A SHORTAGE IN THIS CIVIL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY COULD LEAVE THE FUTURE OF MANY OF THESE PROJECTS IN LIMBO.

MANY CHILDREN ARE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

WE'RE FINDING OUT HOW MINDFUL PRACTICES TO HELP THEM CAN BE AS EASY AS REMEMBERING TO BRUSH HER TEETH AND CALLING ALL COFFEE LOVERS REACHING FOR THAT FIRST CUP IN THE MORNING MIGHT DO MORE.

THEN JUST HELP YOU GET READY FOR THE DAY.

IT MIGHT GIVE YOU A SOLID HEALTH BOOST.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HAS SEEN A BOOST IN THE NEED FOR MAJOR CONSTRUCTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE POPULATION.

GROWTH AND POST HURRICANE REBUILDING MEANS EXTENSIVE WORK ON ROADS, BRIDGES AND MIXED.

USE DEVELOPMENTS.

BUT ISSUES IN THE HEAVY, HEAVY CIVIL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY COULD IMPACT FUTURE WORK ACCORDING TO WORKFORCE PLACEMENT GROUP, ABEL MAKER 67% OF CONSTRUCTION FIRMS REPORT LABOR SHORTAGES AND FOR EVERY 5 WORKERS RETIRING ONLY ONE NEW WORKER ENTERS THE FIELD.

THIS DISPARITY HAS LED TO A SHORTAGE OF NEARLY 440,000 NEW WORKERS.

NOW SOME GROUPS ARE LOOKING TO ADDRESS THIS SHORTAGE BY FINDING NEW WAYS TO RECRUIT THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.

A FLORIDA COMPANY SUPERIOR CONSTRUCTION HAS LAUNCHED A NEW WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS A LABOR SHORTAGE AND THAT HEAVY CIVIL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

JESSICA PASS KEY IS DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT AND FORMER APPRENTICE CLIFFORD DO JOINS US NOW WITH MORE IN BOTH ARE LOCATED IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

JESSICA, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS NEW WORK FORCE PROGRAM AND HOW IT WOULD HELP GET INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS LIKE ROADS AND BRIDGES BUILT RIGHT HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AND AROUND OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS REALLY FACING SOME SHORTAGES THAT ARE GOING TO BE GETTING BIGGER AS TIME GOES ON AND A LOT OF US WHO ARE MILLENNIALS OR OF YOUNGER GENERATIONS WEEK.

WE CAN LOOK AROUND IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND TELL YOU THERE'S NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE OUR AGE ARE BABY BOOMERS ARE STARTING TO RETIRE.

THEY'RE NEARING RETIREMENT AGE AND WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE COMING IN.

SO WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO THEIR STEP, BRING IN MORE MORE PEOPLE TO THIS WORKFORCE.

SO THAT INVOLVES ALSO TRAINING THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE SO ARE STEPPING TO SHUT.

IT REALLY BRINGS TOGETHER EXTERNAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH HIGH SCHOOLS WITH ON SECOND CHANCE ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS AND IT ALSO COUPLES THAT WITH SOME INTERNAL TRAINING PROGRAMS LIKE THE ONE THAT CLIFFORD PARTOOK IN, WHICH IS KIND OF DEVELOPING OUR SKILLED TRADES A LITTLE BIT MORE.

SO CURRENTLY WE HAVE A HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR PROGRAM.

WE HAVE A CARPENTRY PROGRAM.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SHORTER SKILLED LABOR PROGRAMS, TOO, REALLY GET PEOPLE UP TO SKILL A LOT FASTER >> WHAT DOES STEP STAND FOR AND HOW IS IT DISTINGUISHED FROM OTHER TRADE AND SKILLS, SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS LIKE THAT.

>> SURE, IT STANDS FOR SUPERIOR TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT PATHWAYS.

AND I THINK REALLY WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE IS WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY GEARED TOWARDS HEAVY CIVIL CONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS WHAT SUPERIOR DOES.

WE BUILD ROADS AND BRIDGES.

AND IF YOU GO TO A TRADE SCHOOL OR ANOTHER ORGANIZATION, THEY'LL HAVE REALLY GREAT PROGRAMS FOR THINGS LIKE CARPENTRY, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO FOCUS A LOT MORE ON BUILDINGS, RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE REALLY TRY TO TAILOR OUR PROGRAMS, TOO HEAVY CIVIL TO BUILDING ROADS AND BRIDGES.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT IS REALLY NEEDED THROUGHOUT THE STATE HAS EVERYTHING IS GROWING.

>> NOW, SUPERIOR CONSTRUCTION IS ACTUALLY FUNDING THE PROGRAM FROM FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

SO DOES THAT MEAN THAT IT IS TUITION FREE FOR STUDENTS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

OUR PROGRAMS ARE ACTUALLY IT'S KIND OF THE REVERSE OF THAT.

THEY'RE PAID SO ALL OF OUR TRAINEES ARE EMPLOYEES OF SUPERIOR.

WE PAY THEM TO TRAIN.

NOW CLIFFORD.

>> YOU WERE PART OF THE PILOT PROGRAM.

YOU HAVE NOW GRADUATED.

TELL US HOW YOU GOT STARTED IN THE PROGRAM AND WHAT YOU LEARNED AND WHAT YOU'RE CURRENTLY DOING AS A RESULT OF IT.

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO SOME PERIOD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

AND HOW I OF ULTIMATELY GOT STARTED IN THE PROGRAM WAS FIRST NOTICED SHOWING UP EVERY DAY.

WHAT THE WORKING MINDSET AND, YOU KNOW, BEING WILLING TO LEARN ENGLISH TO BE FLEXIBLE, NO MATTER WHAT THE TASK IS.

AND, YOU KNOW, JUST LET MY WORK SPEAK FOR ITSELF.

AND, YOU KNOW, I GOT NOTICED BY A COUPLE OF A FEW OF THE 4 MINS AND THE YOU KNOW, THE KIND OF BROUGHT IT TO THE SIDE.

AND, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY, WHAT ARE MY ANSWERS?

YOU KNOW, IF I WOULD, YOU KNOW, BE INTERESTED IN FURTHERING MY CAREER.

AND, YOU KNOW, EDUCATION HERE WAS A PERIOD, OF COURSE OF I WAS ALL GAME FORWARD.

>> AND HOW DID THIS PROGRAM HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR CAREER GOALS?

>> HOW THAT HELPED ME IS.

>> GIVE ME THE KNOW HOW YOU KNOW.

I'VE SEEN I'VE SEEN THE JOB PERFORM SEVERAL TIMES.

BUT, YOU KNOW, FROM THE EXPERIENCE OPERATORS.

>> AND, YOU KNOW, WAS I GOT NO THE INFORMATION MYSELF.

IT WAS JUST REALLY A DAY BY DAY THING.

AND, YOU KNOW, JUST TAKING IT ONE DAY AT A TIME.

ONE STEP AT A TIME.

AND JUST FINDING A PACE AND A STRATEGY THAT WORKS FOR ME.

>> HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM?

>> I WAS SAD.

PROXIMATE LEE ABOUT LEAVING 4 TO 5, MAYBE 6 MONTHS AND THEN ON THE TAIL AND OF THE THE PROGRAM.

WE HAVE THE ACTUAL FIELD WHERE YOU GO.

YOU GO ONTO THE FIELD AND THAT EQUIPMENT THAT YOU WERE IN CLASS RECEIVE A CERTIFICATION FOR US TO GET THEIR HANDS ON THE EXPERIENCE WHERE YOU GET TO OPERATE.

THE EQUIPMENT WE KNOW, LEARN ALL THE INS AND OUTS FROM OUR REAL WORLD STANDPOINT AND I REALLY HAVE NO COMPLAINTS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS.

>> AND CAN YOU TOUCH ON THE PAY FOR A JOB LIKE THIS?

>> SO JUST TO KIND OF GIVE A LITTLE INSIGHT, MY PAY WENT UP.

TREMENDOUSLY MORE THAN MORE THAN 5 BOOKS ON THE HOUR FOR SURE.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU KNOW, ANYONE MAY BE WONDERING, YOU KNOW, CAN I, YOU KNOW, TAKE CARE OF MY BILL, CANNOT TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY DOING THIS TYPE OF WORK.

I CAN ATTEST, YOU KNOW, FROM BEING A FATHER.

IT, YOU KNOW, BEING A PROVIDER MYSELF.

YOU CAN 110% MAKE A COMFORTABLE LIVING IN.

OFF THIS TYPE OF ARE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

AND JESSICA PASS KEY.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> COMING UP NEXT, HELPING CHILDREN WITH SOME MENTAL HYGIENE.

>> AS MORE CHILDREN DEAL WITH THIS COMING SATURDAY MARKS WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY.

THE CAMPAIGN LOOKS TO OR A RAISE GLOBAL AWARENESS OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND MOBILIZE SUPPORT.

AND THAT INCLUDES HELPING YOUNG CHILDREN.

A RECENT REPORT FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL SAYS ONE IN 9 US CHILDREN ARE CURRENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH ANXIETY.

ONE EXPERT CHAIRS THAT ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO DEAL WITH STRESSORS IS TO BE MINDFUL AND HELP TREAT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WITH DAILY PRACTICES.

>> VERONICA MOYA, A CHILDREN'S WELLNESS EXPERT AND MINDFULNESS EDUCATOR, AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR JOINS US NOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> CAN YOU FIRST DEFINE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE SAY CHILDREN'S MENTAL ILLNESS AND HOW PREVALENT IT IS?

>> YES, SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PERSISTENCE SETTING THIS HOPELESSNESS, DEPRESSION.

>> SOCIETY WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THAT, THAT THOSE RATES HAVE GONE UP.

>> BUT IT IS PREVALENT TRULY.

AND THIS IS WHAT MY WORK IS FOCUSED ON BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE KNOW.

WE KNOW THE PERCENTAGES OF CHILDREN HAVE WHO HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A BEHAVIORAL CONDUCT PROBLEMS IN SOCIETY OR DEPRESSION.

HOWEVER, THERE IS AN EVEN BIGGER NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE NOT BE DIAGNOSED, BUT WHO IS STILL THE DO HAVE THESE FEELINGS, THIS EMOTIONS THIS CHALLENGE US.

SO YES, THIS IS WHY I AM.

I LIKE TO TREAT MENTAL HEALTH.

LIKE A BRUSHING OF TEETH.

YOU KNOW, MENTAL HYGIENE.

IT IS THE AT SPECIALLY THE AND SOCIETY THAT WE ARE SEEING NOW ON THE NUMBERS.

KEEP GOING UP.

IT COME TO BE PREVENTED.

AND I FEEL THAT RIGHT NOW, IF IT SEEMS LIKE.

IT'S IT'S VIEWED US.

IT'S KIND OF BECOMING SOMETHING THAT'S IT'S NORMAL.

I'M VERY HESITANT IN HOUSTON THAT WORK, RIGHT?

THE NORMAL IS NOT NORMAL.

IT SHOULDN'T BE NORMAL AND IT CAN BE PREVENTED JUST LIKE CAVITIES CAN BE PREVENTED.

>> SO YOU BELIEVE EVERY PERSON AS YOUNG AS 5 YEARS OLD SHOULD DO SOMETHING DAILY THAT IS AS IMPORTANT AS BRUSHING THEIR TEETH IN ORDER TO KEEP THEIR THEIR MENTAL HEALTH IN GOOD SHAPE.

>> IN ORDER TO AVOID THIS STRESS RELATED ISSUES LATER ON IN LIFE, WE NEED TO START A MEDITATION PRACTICE AS EARLY AS 5 YEARS OLD.

>> AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOOD TO SE 5.

IT ALL HAS NOW BEEN AMENDED TODAY.

>> I'M HERE TO TELL YOU, THEY DO.

IF YOU.

FOR SENT IT TO THEM IN THE RIGHT WAY.

JUST LIKE THE RUSH OF TEETH.

AND OF COURSE, I'M NOT TALKING OF A 20 MINUTE.

NOW, BUT IT IS SUPER SUPER IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT MENTAL HYGIENE IS A REAL THING AND IT IS THE WAY TO SOLVE FUTURE POTENTIAL ISSUES.

SO A ONE MINUTE RESET VERY, VERY CHECK IN EVERY DAY AS A PARENT TO SITTING DOWN WITH THEM AND GRIEVING TOGETHER FOR LESS THAN A MINUTE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT IT'S SUPER SHORT.

WHAT IT IS DOING IS INFORMING THE PERSON THAT THEY HAVE THE TOOLS INSIDE OF THEM TO SELF-REGULATE.

>> CAN YOU TOUCH ON WHEN A PARENT SHOULD SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP?

>> OKAY.

SO LIKE I SAID BEFORE, SETTING U.S.

WITHDRAWAL RID ABILITY SHOW UP.

THAT IS.

>> AGAIN, A PRETTY COMMON AND I LIKE TO SAY NORMAL.

SO YOU DON'T NEED.

>> DOCTOR FOR THAT.

I THINK YOU JUST NEED TO PRACTICE MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION AT HOME.

HOWEVER, IF YOU SEE SLEEP AT THAT HEIGHT AWAY CHANGES.

AND FREQUENT HEADACHES, STOMACH ACHES WITH NO REAL MEDICAL COSTS.

THOSE ARE RED FLAGS RIGHT SO IN GENERAL PARENTS.

YOU KNOW, YOU WILL THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS MEDICAL AND IT'S REALLY EMOTIONAL.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

SO IF IF YOU SEE THAT OR DROP IN SCHOOL PERFORMANCE.

YEAH, YOU SHOULD.

PAY ATTENTION AND 6.

YES, 6, SOMEONE TALK OF THE U.S.

WELL.

AND I'VE SEEN THAT IN 5 YEAR-OLDS.

THEY DON'T WANT TO BE HERE.

AGAIN IS MORE COMMON THAN YOU THINK OF THESE WOULD.

FOR WHAT I SEEN IN THE CLASSROOM.

MY MY CLASSES KIND OF A LOUT FOR THEM TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS AND THEIR EMOTIONS.

AND AND YOU HEAR THIS THINGS.

YEAH, IT'S IT'S INTERESTING HOW MUCH THE KITS REALLY PICK UP.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT HOME AROUND THEM.

>> ALRIGHT, MISS MOYA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> FOR MORE STORIES CONCERNING MENTAL HEALTH AND PRACTICES.

YOU CAN MAKE IN YOUR OWN LIFE.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT ORG.

FLORIDA IS THE EPICENTER OF A DANG A FEVER OUTBREAK.

ACCORDING TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, A RECORD-SETTING 252 LOCALLY ACQUIRED CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN FLORIDA SO FAR THIS YEAR.

WGCU REPORTER YOUN JOO PAR SPOKE WITH A BIOLOGIST TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE VIRUS.

>> ACCORDING TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

THE VIRUS IS TRANSMITTED THROUGH A BITE FROM AN INFECTED MOSQUITO.

AND THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN IS MOST PREVALENT IN TROPICAL CLIMATES.

BIOLOGIST SCOTT MICHAEL FROM FLORIDA.

GULF COAST UNIVERSITY GAVE THE LATEST UPDATES.

>> FLORIDA IS DEFINITELY NUMBER ONE.

I MEAN, THERE ARE CASES IN SOME OTHER PLACES IN THE UNITED STATES.

THERE WAS A LOCAL THING.

THE CASE ON LONG ISLAND SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

SO THERE ARE CASES THAT THAT MANAGED TO POP UP HERE AND THERE, BUT THERE WERE LAST.

THERE ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN AND SO I THINK THE BIGGEST IMPACT IS MAYBE TOURISM WITHIN UNITED STATES.

PEOPLE WANTING TO COME TO FLORIDA AND UNDERSTANDING THE RISKS.

>> MICHAEL SAYS IT'S NOVEL TO HAVE THANK A FEVER, FIGURING SO PROMINENTLY IN THE U.S.

BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THERE ARE AROUND 400 MILLION CASES OF THE ILLNESS EACH YEAR, THESE VIRUSES MOSTLY AFFECT PEOPLE IN OTHER COUNTRIES IN.

>> CENTRAL AMERICA, IN THE CARIBBEAN AND SOUTH AMERICA, ESPECIALLY IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS TO 3 YEARS.

THE NUMBER OF CASES OF THING, IT'S JUST SKYROCKETED IN THE NEW WORLD IN THE AMERICAS.

IT'S IT'S.

TERRIFYING.

ACTUALLY >> TCU STUDENT, RESPECTED BY DOW CAN RELATE.

SHE HAS FAMILY IN CUBA WHO HAD TO THINK A FEVER.

>> WAS INFECTED AND SHE'S FINE.

NOW THEY HAVE ACCESS TO MEDICATION OVER THERE DO TOO.

THE LACK OF THE SITE SAYS THAT ON THIS COMPANY HAVE SHE SAYS HER AUNT LIVES ON A STREET WITH POTHOLES.

>> THAT FILLED UP WITH WATER AND ATTRACTED MOSQUITOES.

>> AND HALAK, YOU MENTIONED THE MOSQUITO, THE VERY ATTRACTIVE TO THE LADDER.

ONE SMALL POOL OF WATER CAN JUST SPREAD EVERYTHING AND OVER THAT THEY HAVE POTHOLES.

AND THEN LATER ON HOLD AND PLAYING OUT.

SO YOU CAN HAVE A STATION RENNER PUTTING YOUR HOUSE IOLA.

JUST MICHAELS SAYS NEW VARIETIES OF TANKING.

>> ARE EMERGING IN PLACES WHERE PEOPLE DID NOT HAVE EXISTING IMMUNITY AND THAT CAUSES PROBLEMS.

WEIRD THING ABOUT THING IS THAT THERE'S 4 >> DIFFERENT VIRUSES THAT WE ROLLED INTO ONE.

AND SO IF YOU'RE GONNA MAKE A VACCINE, IT'S GOT TO PROTECT YOU FROM 4 DIFFERENT VIRUSES AT THE SAME TIME, THAT'S A TALL ORDER.

AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH THING IS IF YOU GET INFECTED WITH ONE OF THESE SERA TYPES, ONE OF THESE DISTINCT YOUR TIGHTS, THAT LEAVES YOU WITH ANTIBODIES THAT DON'T PROTECT YOU AGAINST THE OTHER 3, NECESSARILY.

CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS LATER BECAUSE THOSE ANTIBODIES AND BEHIND TO THE VIRAL PARTICLES AND REDIRECT THE VIRUS AND OTHER CELLS THAT NORMALLY DOESN'T INFECT.

AND THEN THAT MAKES THE DISEASE POTENTIALLY WORSE AS FLORIDA IS EXPERIENCING A >> RECORD-SETTING OUTBREAK OF DENGUE FEVER.

MICHAEL SAYS PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO ELIMINATE WATER SOURCE IS THAT MIGHT ATTRACT MORE MOSQUITOES FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M YOUN JOO PARK.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS IS HISTORY.

SO IF YOU HAVE ALWAYS HAD ALLERGY SYMPTOMS IN THE FALL TIME.

YOU'VE GOT IT.

HE EYES SNEEZY, YOUR NOSE IS ALWAYS DRIBIN.

AND I REALLY SAY A LOT OF PITCHING LIKE 18 YEARS.

IT HE KNOWS THAT HE EYES THAT HOUSE ME MORE.

THAT IT'S ALLERGIES THAT A COLD.

>> FALL ALLERGIES ARE IN FULL SWING.

AND SO WAS THE COLD SEASON.

THE SYMPTOMS CAN BE THE SAME.

SO HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU'RE DEALING WITH ALLERGIES OR AN ILLNESS CLEVELAND CLINIC ALLERGIST DOCTOR SANDRA HONG SAYS COLDER OTHER VIRUSES ARE NORMALLY SHORT-LIVED LASTING ABOUT A WEEK OR 2.

YOU ALSO MIGHT BE DEALING WITH ISSUES LIKE A FEVER, BODY ACHES OR CHILLS.

NOW, IF THAT TURNS OUT TO BE JUST ALLERGIES, IT'S BEST TO START WITH OVER-THE-COUNTER ALLERGY MEDICATIONS FIRST, YOU SHOULD ALSO TRY TO ELIMINATE ANY POTENTIAL TRIGGERS BOTH INSIDE AND OUT.

>> THE IDEA IS WE REALLY WANT YOU TO KEEP THOSE WINDOWS CLOSED.

SO KEEP THEM CLOSED.

TAKE A SHOWER BEFORE YOU CLIMB INTO BED AT NIGHT.

CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES TYPICALLY HEPA FILTERS CAN BE HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE.

AND IF YOU'RE OUTDOORS, TRY TO WEAR A MASK, IF YOU'RE DOING A LOT OF GARDENING OR PLANTING ARE RAKING, IF YOU'RE MISERABLE.

>> DOCTOR, HONG ALSO RECOMMENDS KEEPING PETS OFF YOUR BED.

THEY'RE FROM COULD CONTAIN RAGWEED AND MOLD, WHICH CAN WORSEN.

ALLERGIES FOR MANY AMERICANS.

IT'S THE BEST PART OF WAKING UP.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL COFFEE ASSOCIATION, TWO-THIRDS OF US DRINK COFFEE EVERY AVERAGING ABOUT 3 CUPS PER PERSON DAILY AND HIS WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE LEARNED THAT LOVE FOR JAVA COMES WITH SOME NICE HEALTH BENEFITS.

>> MORE GOOD NEWS FOR COFFEE LOVERS.

A RECENT STUDY SHOWS HIGHER COFFEE CONSUMPTION WAS ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER RISK OF CIRRHOSIS, LIVER CANCER AND LIVER RELATED DEATH.

>> WAS UNIQUE AND COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

THE FIRST OF WHICH IS THE IT'S REALLY LOVE A POPULATION.

ALMOST 400,000 INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN FOLLOW PROSPECTIVELY MEETING OVER AND THE EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

THE THE PERIOD OF TIME EXCEEDS THE NEWS.

>> DOCTOR NIZAR ZEIN HAVE COLLEGES AT CLEVELAND CLINIC.

HE WAS NOT INVOLVED WITH THE STUDY BUT SAYS ANOTHER UNIQUE FACTOR WAS THAT PARTICIPANTS UNDERWENT MRIS AND BLOOD TESTS.

SO WHAT EXACTLY DID THE FINDINGS SHOW?

IT APPEARS PEOPLE WHO DRANK 5 OR MORE CUPS A DAY HAD A 32% LOWER RISK OF CIRRHOSIS.

47% LOWER RISK OF LIVER CANCER AND A 42% LOWER RISK OF LIVER RELATED DEATH.

THAT WAS COMPARED TO THOSE WHO DIDN'T DRINK COFFEE.

RESEARCHERS NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT BENEFITS COULD BE SEEN WITH JUST A CUP OR 2 PER DAY.

DOCTOR ZEIN ADDS THAT COFFEE ALONE IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO IMPROVE LIVER HEALTH.

THERE ARE MANY OTHER LIFESTYLE CHANGES THAT ARE NECESSARY.

>> SO IF YOU WANT TO PUT PUFFY INTO PERSPECTIVE, I WOULD SAY AVOID THIS OFF OF A HOLD ON TO THE PROCESS FOR THE TRULY FOR THEM ON ONE HAND ON THE OTHER IS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, PARTICULARLY THE THE ONE THE MOST OF THOSE US TO STOP OFFENSIVE SIZES HAVE ALL SHOWN TO DECREASE THE DEGREE OF THE VOTE.

5, THE INJURY ALONG WITH THINKING PUFFY ALONG THE WAY.

SO IT'S NOT, BUT IT'S OF THE TREATMENT.

BUT THAT'S PART OF ALL THE LAUGHS.

THE MOTHER, FEW PATIENTS THAT ONE CAN DO TO PREVENT FUTURE THE SCENES.

>> DOCTOR ZEIN SAYS ANOTHER INTERESTING DISCOVERY WAS IT DIDN'T MATTER IF THE COFFEE WAS CAFFEINATED OR NOT, WHICH INDICATES THAT IT'S NOT THE CAFFEINE HELPING WITH LIVER HEALTH, BUT THE COFFEE ITSELF.

WHY EXACTLY THAT IS REMAINS UNCLEAR FOR WGCU NEWS.

IM TEDDY BYRNE.

>> NOW COFFEE IS THE PREFERRED DRINK FOR MANY AMERICANS.

BUT HOW DOES IT STACK UP ON A WORLDWIDE LEVEL?

WELL, ACCORDING TO NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC COFFEE IS THE 3RD MOST CONSUMED BEVERAGE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.

AT NUMBER 2.

TE.

AND THEN THE NUMBER ONE SPOT WATER, ALL 3 DRINKS COME WITH POSITIVE HEALTH BENEFITS OF THEIR OWN FOR MORE WAYS TO BOOST YOUR HEALTH.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT ORG.

AFTER THE BREAK, A LEADER OF ONE OF THE SMALLEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS DREAMING BIG.

HE IS LEADING A RECOVERY IN GLADES COUNTY AS THE SUPERINT THIS IS A BIG WEEK FOR A LOCAL EDUCATOR FROM ONE OF FLORIDA'S SMALLEST AND POOREST SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

SHE HAS TO CALIFORNIA TO FIND OUT IF YOU WANT A TOP SPOT IN A NATIONAL COMPETITION FOR HER WORK IN GLADES COUNTY WGCUS EILEEN KELLEY HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE SUCCESSES AND THE STRUGGLES OF THIS RULE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> IF SUPERINTENDENT OF GLADES COUNTY SCHOOLS, ALICE BARR, FIELD, WERE GIVEN A CHANCE TO PRODUCE AN EPISODE OF SESAME STREET.

IT'S VERY LIKELY SHE WOULD CLOSE THE SHOW ANNOUNCING THE PROGRAM WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE LETTER R I AS AN RETHINK WHAT WORLD MEANS.

>> I WANT THE MESSAGE TO BE.

THAT ROLE DOES NOT MEAN LESS CAPABLE OR LESS DESERVING OR LESS IMPORTANT.

GLADES COUNTY CHILDREN DESERVE ACCESS TO EXCEPTIONAL TEACHERS SAFE AND MODERN SCHOOLS.

ADVANCED COURSEWORK CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND THE SAME EXPECTATIONS FOR EXCELLENCE AS CHILDREN ANYWHERE ELSE IN AMERICA.

>> AND PART OF HEALTH HAS A LOT TO BACK THAT UP IN JUST A SHORT TIME, SHE WAS ELECTED SUPERINTENDENT IN THE YEAR 2020, TAKING THE HELM WHEN THE DISTRICT RANKED DEED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND WAS HURLING TOWARDS IN HALF.

THEN THE COVID PANDEMIC GAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS SOME GRACE WITH ITS RIGOROUS GRADING STANDARDS.

SINCE THEN BYFIELD HER STAFF AND THEIR SCHOOL CHILDREN HAVE EARNED AN A RATING BY THE STATE AND THEY DID IT AGAIN THIS LAST SCHOOL YEAR PUTTING THEMSELVES AMONG THE LARGE, AN AFFLUENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR BACK-TO-BACK TOP SUCCESSES, THE KIND OF CORNY.

BUT I FEEL LIKE IT'S LIKE TO DONATE STORY BECAUSE THE COMET IS A CINDERELLA STORY TO ENCOURAGE ANOTHER SMALLER ROLE DISTRICT.

SOME ONE OF THE COUNTRY NOT JUST FLORIDA, SOME OF THE COUNTRY, THEN THIS RECOGNITION BECOMES EVEN MORE MEANINGFUL.

THERE ARE SO MANY EXTRAORDINARY CHILDREN AND EDUCATORS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS AMERICA.

AND YOU DON'T HEAR ABOUT THEM AS MUCH AS YOU DO FROM LARGER DISTRICTS.

I'M TOM.

THEY JUST SIMPLY NEED SOMEONE WILLING TO BAT FOR THEM, BELIEVE IN THEM AND MAKE SURE THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD.

>> RECENTLY BARFIELD WAS NAMED A FINALIST FOR SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR IT'S AN INNER RECOGNITION OF THE NATION'S GREATEST EDUCATORS FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS >> TO ME BEING NOMINATED, I'M STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS US SO MANY PEOPLE.

I HAVE A PHENOMENAL TEACHING STAFF.

I HAVE.

HE ADDS THAT ARE SO DESERVING AND A WONDERFUL I EVEN THOUGH ON WOULD BE ON THE WAR AND IT REALLY REPRESENTS GREAT KELLY AND WHO THEY ARE AS A COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF AND CREDIBLE CRIES.

WHEN I BECAME SUPERINTENDENT, WE WERE LIKE 64TH OUT OF 67 SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

NOW WE ARE 8 OUT OF 67.

I'M GOING TO BE ONE OF THE TOP 10.

SO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE.

I AM DETERMINED THAT WE WILL GET THERE.

>> BUT FIELDS SAID THE TRANSFORMATION BEGAN TO HARD WORK AND BY MAKING SURE EVERYONE STUDENTS, THE TEACHERS, THE COMMUNITY LEARN THE RULE THAT BEGINS WITH THE LETTER R RID THEMSELVES OF THE NOTION THAT EARL IS BAD.

>> YOU KNOW, WE JUST STOPPED ALLOWING OUT A CONSENSUS OF THE FINE ARTS, THE NATION.

WE STOPPED TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE COULDN'T DO BECAUSE WE'RE SMALLER.

WE'RE WE WERE ALL AND WE START TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO DO TO GET OUT CHILDREN THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES THAT EVERYONE ELSE IN FLORIDA AND WELL AS WELL AS THE UNITED STATES SAYS, ARE.

>> AND THAT'S A LESSON WORTH REPEATING.

FOR WGCU.

THIS IS EILEEN KELLEY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TO MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WGCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU WILL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

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