THIS THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, THE FEDERAL RESERVE DECIDES IF IT WILL RAISE THE BENCHMARK INTEREST RATE.

WHAT THIS DECISION MEANS FOR WORKING FAMILIES.

AND IF THIS IS A SIGN THAT THE ECONOMY IS BEGINNING TO TURN AROUND FOR THE BETTER, IT'S A MASSIVE HAUL FOR THE REMOVAL OF INVASIVE LIONFISH.

WE GET AN UPDATE ON THE RECORD BREAKING NUMBERS TO HELP BRING STABILITY TO FLORIDA'S WATERWAYS.

AND STOPPING THE SUGAR RUSH BEFORE IT EVEN HAPPENS.

THE HEALTH RISKS TO BE AWARE OF BEFORE DIVING INTO YOUR HALLOWEEN CANDY.

I'm Jennifer Crawford.

Thank you for joining us.

The Federal Reserve just announced its decision on whether to hike the benchmark interest rate.

WGCU Economics contributor Doctor Victor Claar from Florida Gulf Coast University's College of Business joins us now.

Thanks for joining us in studio.

Great to be here.

Now, Doctor Claire, the fed has decided to leave the interest rate unchanged.

Does this surprise you?

It's not really a surprise.

On one hand, the fed remains laser focused on inflation.

And fed Chair Kevin Wash made that super clear during the press conference after their last meeting a couple of weeks ago.

But as much as they want to raise interest rates to try to rein in spending and cool down the economy and keep prices under control close to their 2% annual goal, they may want to put that off, and it seems like they did, because raising interest rates the week before the midterm elections may not be advisable.

Now, the fed would never say that they take politics into consideration because they're supposed to appear principled and like their governing, they're governing and managing the economy exactly how it should be managed in the most effective way possible.

But part of the Fed's job in 2026 is to manage expectations and be clear about what they might do or might not do.

And it would have been a surprise if today they had, instead of keeping interest rates where they are, if they had raised them, it would have been a surprise and markets would have reacted accordingly later today.

Now, what does this mean for working families, those at home tonight?

At the end of the day?

Does this affect them at all?

The the headline, I think, for working families is that we're going to continue to see positive inflation rates, prices going up, but maybe going up at a slower rate.

The fed had an opportunity today to try to raise interest rates which nobody likes.

Nobody likes to pay more to borrow money for a house or a car or a washer and dryer or a business known loan.

Nobody likes that.

But right now, the fed is much more focused on something that affects every working family price inflation.

And so they're willing to raise interest rates in order to do that.

It just means that since they took a wait and see today, they're not going to have another opportunity to raise those interest rates until December.

So what would be your advice to those folks out there that are maybe in the market for buying a new car, or perhaps looking for a mortgage?

The most important thing always is don't buy things that you can't afford.

But given that interest rates are a bit of a moving target right now, it might make sense to if you can afford to do it.

And if it seems sensible and you can make the money work on paper to borrow more money today rather than tomorrow, because those interest rates are going to continue to climb according to most economic forecasts, because inflation continues to rise.

It seems more likely that the fed would have decided to hike the interest rate just a bit.

Why do you think they did not?

Again, I think what they're doing is they're weighing the advantages of acting today in order to get inflation under control today, because it comes with a lag.

Just because you raise interest rates doesn't mean that price inflation slows down within six hours, or even within six days.

It takes time.

And I think the fed was willing to pass on this opportunity to raise interest rates because they didn't want to introduce uncertainty, assuming that the fed wasn't going to make a change, they didn't do something that would have been unexpected for them.

They'd rather wait.

And even though the fed is laser focused right now on inflation, they're not going to take action.

Additional action on that inflation until the December meeting.

And what are the broader implications of today's decision on our economy overall?

The the fed may have a moment of regret.

That's possible.

Four weeks from now, they may think, oh, we should have raised interest rates in that end of October meeting.

Maybe we should have done that because their next scheduled opportunity is in December.

I think the other thing that's hard right now for the fed is tomorrow, they're going to get two numbers that they pay a lot of attention to GDP for the economy, which they only get to see every three months.

It comes out quarterly.

And then also the price inflation measure they pay the most attention to, which is called the personal consumption expenditure index.

I know that the CPI consumer price index gets most of the headlines, but the fed actually pays more attention to this other number, and it won't know either the GDP numbers for the third quarter of 2026 or the latest personal consumption expenditure inflation number until tomorrow.

But the meeting was today.

Well, thank you, Doctor Victor Clark for joining us today to talk about this decision.

Appreciate it.

You're welcome.

COMING UP, PROPERTY TAXES ARE A CRITICAL FINANCIAL RESOURCE FOR SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE ASKING, SHOULD THOSE WITHOUT CHILDREN THE REQUIRED TO MAKE THAT FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION?

AMENDMENT 3 HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL MEASURES OF THIS YEAR'S NOVEMBER BALLOT.

THE PROPOSAL WOULD MAKE MAJOR CUTS TO HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAXES.

WHILE THE MEASURE DOES NOT CUT FUNDING FOR THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM, IT DOES HAVE SOME PEOPLE ASKING THE QUESTION.

WHY DID THEY STILL HAVE TO PAY TAXES FOR SCHOOLS THAT THEY DO NOT EVEN USE?

WGCU EDUCATION REPORTER DANA HARPSTER JOINS US NOW TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHY PROPERTY OWNERS PAY TAXES FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY HAVE KIDS ENROLLED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND WE RECENTLY HAD A VIEWER SENT IN AN EMAIL WITH THIS VERY QUESTION THAT I THINK IS RATHER COMMON AMONG INDIVIDUALS THAT OWN PROPERTY AND THEY DON'T HAVE KIDS.

ABSOLUTELY.

THE VIEWER ASKED IT.

>> THE CHILDREN, OUR FUTURE, BUT IT SEEMS LOPSIDED TO THEM FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR PROPERTY TAXES FOR SCHOOLS AND ACTUALLY THIS DATES BACK REALLY FAR TO 16.

44 IN MASSACHUSETTS, THAT'S WHEN THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL SCHOOL OF LAW DECIDED THAT THAT THE TOWN OF DEAD HIM, MASSACHUSETTS, I WAS GOING TO PAY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND IT VARIES LIBERATED IN MASSACHUSETTS UNTIL THE LATE 19TH CENTURY WOULD THEN IT EXPANDED ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND BECAME THE PRIMARY WAY THAT SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED.

ACTUALLY, IT'S UNUSUAL IN MOST INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES, THE FEDERAL AND STATE TAXES, PAPER, PUBLIC EDUCATION, NOT THE PROPERTY TAX.

SO THE U.S.

IS KIND OF AN OUTLIER IN THE U.S., BUT THEY'RE SO MANY REASONS WHY THIS IS A GOOD THING FOR THE COMMON GOOD.

YOU MAY NOT USE FIRE AND POLICE, FOR INSTANCE, BUT YOU PAY FOR THEM ALSO BECAUSE THAT MAKES THE COMMUNITY SAFER.

SAME WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND THERE'S ALSO LOTS OF RESEARCH OUT THERE THAT TALKS ABOUT THE IMPACTS.

>> ON AN ECONOMIC LEVEL FOR THE BROADER COMMUNITY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IF YOU'RE A HOMEOWNER IN PARTICULAR STUDIES SHOW THEM ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT HELP YOUR PROPERTY VALUES.

WHEN THE SCHOOLS ARE GOOD.

HOLMES AND TOP RATED DISTRICTS SELL FASTER AND COMMAND HIGHER PRICES.

AND ACCORDING TO REALTOR DOT COM HOLMES AND TOP SCHOOL DISTRICTS SELL AN AVERAGE OF 8 DAYS FASTER AND RECEIVED 26% MORE VIEWS THAN AVERAGE LISTINGS.

AND WE SEE 42% MORE THEN HOMES IN LOWER PERFORMING SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

>> AND I THINK THAT I KNOW I PERSONALLY HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE RELOCATED TO A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREA.

SO THAT'S THEIR KIDS CAN GO TO A GREAT.

>> SCHOOL AT INTEGRATED SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THAT RAISES VALUES FOR EVERYONE.

WHEN WHEN IT'S ASIDE AFTER NEIGHBORHOOD, SURE.

>> AND ALSO THERE'S SOME EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS THAT IT HELPS REDUCE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, ESPECIALLY THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS AMONG YOUNGER PEOPLE.

THOSE NUMBERS GO DOWN.

IF THERE IS A GOOD, SOLID PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THAT COMMUNITY, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE TO.

THERE'S A BIG CORRELATION BETWEEN EDUCATION AND THE CRIME RATE.

>> EVERY EXTRA YEAR OF SCHOOLING REDUCES THE STATE ADDRESS RATES NATIONALLY BY 11%.

THEY'RE 15% LOWER ADULT REST OR ARREST RATES BY AGE 30, IN AREAS WITH BETTER FUNDED PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SO WITHOUT THAT EXTRA TIME ON THEIR HANDS WITH KIDS, MAYBE NOT GOING TO SCHOOL OR NOT GETTING GOOD EDUCATIONS, WHETHER IN SCHOOL THEY TEND TO BE ARRESTED.

>> AND DANA, THERE ARE MANY OTHER REASONS AS WELL.

>> THERE ARE IT SHOWS THAT LOWER RATES OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ARE NEEDED FOR WELL EDUCATED STUDENTS.

WHEN THEY GET OUT OF SCHOOL, THEY GET JOBS.

THEY DON'T RELY ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE NEARLY AS MUCH.

AND ALSO PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING AND TO KATE'S THE NEXT GENERATION.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE PEOPLE WHO HELP YOU OUT AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE AT BUSINESSES AND THINGS YOU WANT THEM TO PERFORM.

WELL IN TUNE TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

AND SO YOU WANT THEM TO BE WELL EDUCATED.

AND THERE IS A CONCENTRATION ON TRADE SCHOOLS.

MORE RECENTLY THAT WILL HELP ALL OF THAT AND HELP PUBLIC SCHOOLS BE TURN OUT THE KIND OF CITIZENS THAT WE WANT.

>> IT'S SO IMPORTANT, ISN'T IT?

THAT IS.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE.

YES, THANK YOU, DANA, FOR SHARING THIS INSIGHT.

SURE.

>> THE RACE TO REPRESENT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN CONGRESS HAS TOO LEADING CANDIDATES FROM FORT MYERS VYING FOR THE DISTRICT, 19 SEAT REPUBLICAN JIM SCHWARTZ, HOKE AND DEMOCRAT VICTOR AREAS WILL FACE OFF IN THE NOVEMBER 3RD ELECTION DISTRICT.

19 INCLUDES PARTS OF LEE AND COLLIER COUNTIES.

I REACHED OUT TO THE 2 LEADING CANDIDATES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR PERSPECTIVES ON KEY ISSUES THAT ARE IMPACTING VOTERS.

DEMOCRAT VICTOR AREAS, AN ATTORNEY IN CAPE CORAL AGREED TO MEET ME TO TALK ABOUT HIS GOALS IF ELECTED.

JOINING ME IN STUDIO IS THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

19 VICTOR AREAS.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME IN PERSON TO TALK ABOUT YOUR PLATFORM.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND GOOD MORNING, JENNIFER.

>> LET ME FIRST TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT IS ON THE TOP OF VOTERS MINDS, WHICH IS AFFORDABILITY, THE ABILITY TO BUY GROCERIES TO PAY FOR GAS TO PAY FOR RENT, TO PAY FOR THEIR MORTGAGE PAYMENT AND HEALTH CARE.

IF YOU ARE ELECTED TO CONGRESS, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO HELP ALLEVIATE ALL OF THESE SOARING COSTS?

SURE.

>> SO SO IT'S TRUE.

PEOPLE ARE HURTING.

PEOPLE HURTING EVERYWHERE.

AND IT'S TRUE.

WHAT YOU LAID OUT ABOUT THE GIRLS WHO THESE GUYS AND ALSO PEOPLE ARE PAYING MORE TAXES.

SO WHAT I WOULD DO AS A LEGISLATURE IS TO CREATE GUARDRAILS FOR OUR PRESIDENT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW HE'S A LITTLE BIT FAR TO THE WHITE.

SO WE NEED TO BRING THEM TO THE MIDDLE SO THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE, AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST THAT PEOPLE ARE HURTING, BUT PEOPLE ALSO ARE ATTACKING ONE ANOTHER ON THIS IS SARAH LEE AND THE LEGISLATURE IS THAT WE'VE HAD ARE NOT DOING THE JOB OF THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE VOTED IN WERE VOTED IN TO DO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE NOT TO ENRICH OURSELVES IS TO DO THE ONE OF THE PEOPLE IN RIGHT NOW.

IF YOU CREATE LEGISLATION AND THESE, FOR EXAMPLE, TO LIMIT THE WAR POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT.

OKAY, WE CAN CHANGE THE OIL SITUATION WITH IRAN AND ALSO THE WHOLE WORLD BECAUSE AGAIN, IF YOU STOP THIS WAR, THEY WERE NEVER PREPARED TO GO INTO IT.

NOR DID WE MAKE A NEW PLANS.

WE WILL BE IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT.

>> LET'S MOVE ONTO AMENDMENT 3.

HOW WOULD YOU VOTE ON AMENDMENT 3, WHICH AIMS TO REDUCE OUR HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX.

I WOULD VOTE NO REASON BEING IS THIS.

>> HE'S JUST LIKE THE WAR THAT WE HAVE.

NOW, THERE ISN'T ANY PREPARATION.

WE DON'T KNOW WHERE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FIRST RESPONDERS ARE GOING TO GET THEIR FUNDING TO DO THE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE SANITATION.

IS GOING TO GET THEIR MONEY.

SO BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF PREPARATION, I'M VOTING KNOW UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS WITH YOU AGREE.

>> TO ANY CONSTRUCTION OF AI DATA CENTERS >> RIGHT NOW, THERE AREN'T ANY CONDITIONS RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S LACK OF EDUCATION.

TO US BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW.

THE ONE OF THE IMPACTS OF DATA CENTERS WE HEAR THAT IS GOING TO USE A LOT OF ENERGY, A LOT OF WATER AND WE NEED THE WATER HERE BECAUSE WE RELY ON THE BEACHES TO BE CLEAN AND BEAUTIFUL.

THAT'S WHAT AND THAT'S WHAT BILLS ARE COMMONLY TOURISM.

SO RIGHT NOW, I WOULD DEFINITELY AGREE TO A MORATORIUM AND ALSO THE OTHER THINGS.

THIS LOCAL RULE.

WE SHOULD BE THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THESE ARE COMMUNITIES SHOULD BE THE ONES DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT WHAT YOU HAVE TO DATA CENTERS.

>> LET'S MOVE ON TO IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IS BEING CONDUCTED IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA?

DO YOU SUPPORT IT?

WOULD YOU CONTINUE IT?

IF NOT, WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MADE?

>> SPECIFICALLY WITH THE CHANGES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO LIKE TO SEE IS THIS.

EVERY ICE OFFICER TO BE TRAINED?

BECAUSE WITHOUT TRAINING, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE DOING THEIR JOB PROPERLY.

ALSO, I WOULD REQUIRE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM TO WHERE THE BODY CAMERAS.

THAT THAT THAT TAKES THEM AND THAT PROTECTS THE INDIVIDUAL.

BECAUSE YOU CAN USE THAT INFORMATION.

WHEN THERE ARE WHEN THERE'S LITIGATION WAR, WHATEVER SITUATION, BUT THAT THE TRAINING IS SUPER IMPORTANT.

AND ALSO THE BAT BODY CAMERAS.

I'M 100% FOR BORDER ENFORCEMENT.

HOW WE DO IT.

AND THE DUE PROCESS RIGHTS.

IT'S A WHOLE OTHER STORY.

AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ICE IS FOLLOWING THE LAW >> YOU MENTIONED FACE.

YES, YOU'VE BEEN A LONGTIME MEMBER OF COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN FORT MYERS.

>> HOW WOULD FACE PLAY A ROLE IN YOUR DECISION MAKING ON CAPITOL HILL IF ELECTED FOR FAITH PLAYS A ROLE IN EVERYTHING THAT I DO.

AS A FATHER AS A HUSBAND, AS A COMMUNITY PERSON S INVOLVED THE COMMUNITY.

FAITH IS ABOUT.

LOVING THY GOD.

WITH ALL THY WILL.

AND HELPING THAT NEIGHBOR.

TO ME, THAT'S FAITH.

WHERE I GO.

MY FAITH SCHOOLS.

SO WHERE I GO GOT COMES WITH ME.

SO EVERYTHING THAT I DO.

I'M DOING IT.

FOR THE BETTERMENT.

>> OF ALL OF US THAT ARE AREAS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT YOUR PLATFORM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATED.

THANK >> WE HAVE INVITED REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE AND LOCAL BUSINESSMAN JIM SCHWARTZ WILL TO SHARE HIS PLATFORM WITH OUR AUDIENCE.

HE HAS YET TO ACCEPT MY INVITATION.

THE FLORIDA SUMMER MONTHS ARE FOR MORE THAN SOAKING UP SUNSHINE AND ENJOYING OUR BEACHES.

IT'S ALSO THE TIME WITH HUNDREDS DIVERS COMPETE IN AN EVENT TO HELP PRESERVE FLORIDA'S WATERWAYS FOR 10 YEARS.

THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION HAS HOSTED THE ANNUAL LIONFISH CHALLENGE.

THIS YEAR'S EVENT RAN FROM MAY 22ND 2 SEPTEMBER 14TH.

NOW THE GOAL WAS TO CAPTURE AS MANY LIONFISH AS POSSIBLE TO HELP REDUCE THE POPULATION OF THIS INVASIVE SPECIES.

>> WE ARE NOW JOINED BY WGCU SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER TOM BAYLISS.

>> WITH THIS WEEK'S ENVIRONMENTAL UPDATE.

AND TOM WILDLIFE OFFICIALS HAVE REPORTED THAT MORE THAN 36,000 INVASIVE LIONFISH HAVE BEEN REMOVED AS PART OF THIS YEAR'S CHALLENGE.

HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THAT NUMBER?

>> THAT'S A LOT OF LIONFISH.

A LOT OF THOSE INVASIVE SPECIES AND ITS 5,000 MORE THAN LAST YEAR'S CHALLENGE.

WITCHES.

EXCELLENT.

WHEN YOU CONSIDER HOW HARD THEY ARE TO CATCH.

THEY A FISH THAT.

GOT INTO OUR BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THEY WOULD TO MEDICALLY TESTED, THEN REALIZED THAT THEY ALL LINE FISH CAME FROM ABOUT 8 OR 10 THAT WERE RELEASED IN THE LATE 80'S IN BISCAYNE BAY.

AND THEY MOVED AROUND THE STATE AND UP THROUGH THE PANHANDLE AND ALL THE LIONFISH OF A UNIQUE CONNECTION TO THOSE FIRST ONES THAT WE REALLY EXPECT THEM FROM THE AQUARIUM TRADE.

THEY'RE NATIVE TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC AND THE INDIAN OCEAN.

SO THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PREDATORS HERE AND THEY EAT A LOT OF THE FISH THAT ARE HERE.

THEY'RE HARD TO CATCH BECAUSE THEY DON'T BITE ON HOOKS THAT YOU HAVE TO GO DOWN AND YOU HAVE TO SPEAR THEM.

WE HAVE TO GRAB THEM OR PUT THEM IN IN THAT.

AND THAT'S DANGEROUS BECAUSE THEY'RE A MEMBER OF THE SCORPION FISH FAMILY.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.

THEY HAVE THESE VENOMOUS SPINES THROUGHOUT THEIR BODY THAT IF YOU TOUCH THEM, THEY NAIL YOU AND IT'S LIKE GETTING BIT BY A SPIDER.

I MEAN, I THINK SPREAD LIKE A SCORPION.

IT'S NOT IT DOES NOT FEEL GOOD.

AND EVEN AFTER THE FISH DIES IS THE THEM STAYS ACTIVE.

SO AND THE FISHERMEN ARE TAKING THEM INTO IN THIS CAUSE IN THIS CASE TO GET COUNTING FOR THE CONTEST THEY HAVE TO PUT IN THE HARD SIDE TO CONTAIN IT.

SO IT DOESN'T THAT THE WOMAN WALKING IN BECAUSE >> OFFICIALS STILL GET THEM AFTER THEY'RE DEAD.

SO THEY ARE DANGEROUS, BUT THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT.

>> THEY ALSO TALK TO US MORE ABOUT WHY THEY CAN BE SO DANGEROUS.

>> WELL, THE THE BEYOND THE VENOMOUS SPIKES WHICH IS TO URGE IS NUMBER ONE HERE TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, THEY ARE ABLE TO EAT SO MANY OF THE OTHER SPECIES THAT ARE MAINLY AROUND CORAL REEFS IS WHERE THEY HANG OUT THAT THEY ARE DOING DAMAGE TO THE THE FOOD WEB AT THAT LEVEL IS SORT OF THE WAY THE BURMESE PYTHON, AS AS YOU AT THE RABBIT AND SMALL ANIMAL POPULATIONS OF THEY HAVEN'T HAD A DETRIMENTAL U.S.

>> SENATOR ECOSYSTEM.

YES, THE UNDERWATER ECOSYSTEM IS BEING AFFECTED BY THEM AND WE GOT TO GET RID OF THEM AND MAYBE.

>> MAYBE WE I HAD ENOUGH AND THE LION FISH THAT WITH NUMBERS LIKE THESE, WE MIGHT ACTUALLY GET SOMEWHERE AND AGAINST THIS.

THIS PRETTY DANGEROUS INVASIVE SPECIES ARE.

HOPEFULLY THIS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SLOWING DOWN.

>> THOUGH, PROCREATION OF THIS SPECIES.

YES, FEMALES CAN RELEASE.

>> THOUSANDS OF EGGS EVERY 2 DAYS.

SO THEY'RE VERY PROLIFIC IN THAT AREA.

AND THAT'S ONE REASON WHY THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO NOW OCCUPY THE CARIBBEAN SOUTH FLORIDA, OUR COAST AND UP THROUGH THE PANHANDLE ON THEIR THEIR MOVING RIGHT ALONG.

SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A LOT MORE OF THESE TYPES OF TAKE ARE GETTING SOME OF THEM OUT OF THE WATER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU, TOM, FOR THAT UPDATE, CHRISTINE.

IT.

>> FOR MORE ON THIS YEAR'S LIONFISH CHALLENGE AND A VARIETY OF OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL STORIES.

CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE WGCU DOT ORG.

AFTER THE BREAK.

MAKING SURE THAT ANY HALLOWEEN TREATS WON'T TRICK YOUR BODY.

HAVE YOU OR YOUR CHILDREN CAN AVOID ANY HEALTH SIDE EFFECTS THAT COME WITH EATING WAY TOO MUCH.

CANDY.

AS TRICK OR TREATERS, PUT THE FINAL TOUCHES ON THEIR COSTUMES THE NEXT BIG ISSUE WILL BE WHICH PIECE OF CANDY WILL BE DEVOURED FIRST, ACCORDING TO THE MAYO CLINIC, AMERICANS BY MORE THAN 600 MILLION POUNDS OF HALLOWEEN CANDY EVERY YEAR WITH THE AVERAGE AMERICAN EATING 1.2 POUNDS OF CANDY ON HALLOWEEN ALONE.

BUT ALL OF THAT TO YOUR CONSUMPTION COULD LEAD TO SOME HEALTH PROBLEMS.

YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF.

WITH MORE.

I'M NOW JOINED BY PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGIST WITH UF HEALTH DOCTOR, BRITTANY BRUGGEMAN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

>> I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

AND I SAID, I CONFESS I JUST HAD A LITTLE ALMOND JOY TO GET READY FOR THIS SEGMENT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT.

>> ALL THINGS SUGAR AND HOW DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, MANY OF US ARE SO TEMPTED TO EAT.

SWEET TREATS FROM CANDY, THE COOKIES AND SPECIALTY CAKES.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR BODIES WHEN WE OVERLOAD ON SUGAR?

>> WELL, I DEFINITELY DO NOT WANT TO BE THE GRINCH OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON WHEN IT COMES TO SUGAR.

SO I AM NOT, YOU KNOW, TELLING EVERYONE TO AVOID ALL SUGAR, BUT WE DO NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE EFFECTS THAT THE SUGAR WILL HAVE ON OUR BODIES SO WE CAN ADEQUATELY PREPARE FOR THAT.

AND ALSO JUST MAKE SURE WE AND OUR KIDS, THEY'RE ALL HEALTHY AND ENJOYING THE HOLIDAYS TO THE GREATEST EXTENT BY STAYING HEALTHY DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

SO SUGAR IS SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY CRAZY.

YEAH, I'M SURE EVERYONE HAS EXPERIENCED CRAVING THAT ALMOND JOY AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE RELEASE THESE FEEL-GOOD NEUROTRANSMITTERS LIKE DOPAMINE WHEN WE SUGAR AND IT ALSO DRIVES US TO EAT MORE SUGAR.

OUR BODY IS DESIGNED TO GO AFTER SUGAR, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, OUR BODY IS NOT DESIGNED FOR ALL OF THIS PROCESS, SUGAR THAT WE NOW HAVE AVAILABLE TO US.

SO WHEN WE HAVE A BIG LOAD OF SUGAR AFTER, YOU KNOW, HALLOWEEN, CANDY BUCKET OR THANKSGIVING PIE OUR BODY HAS THIS BIG SURGE IN SUGAR IN THE BLOODSTREAM AND THEN INSULIN IS A HORMONE THAT'S RELEASED IN ORDER TO BRING THAT SUGAR FROM THE BLOODSTREAM INTO THE CELLS OF THE BODY TO USE THAT AS ENERGY.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN WE HAVE THESE BIG LOADS OF PROCESSED SUGAR, ESPECIALLY INSULIN HAS A HARD TIME KEEPING UP AND CAN KIND OF OVERDOING IT A BIT.

>> THAT DOES THE TIMING OF WHEN WE EAT THE SUGAR, WHETHER IT'S AFTER A MEAL OR ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.

DOES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND HOW IT IMPACTS OUR BODY?

>> IT ABSOLUTELY DOES.

SO ONE OF THE BIG RECOMMENDATIONS I ALWAYS GIVE PEOPLE IS TO EAT A HEALTHY MEAL BEFORE YOU EAT THE SUGAR AND THAT WILL ACTUALLY HELP A LOT WITH YOUR BODY'S PROCESSING OF THE SUGAR.

SO IF YOU EAT A GOOD PROTEIN LIKE ON THANKSGIVING, YOU COULD HAVE SOME GOOD TURKEY AND THEN EAT THE VEGETABLE.

DO SKIP THE THANKSGIVING.

BUT CIVIL OR HALLOWEEN, YOU KNOW, GOING AND MAKING A NICE HEALTHY DINNER BEFORE YOU GO OUT, YOU CAN EVEN BRIGHTER KIDS.

YOU KNOW, THEY EAT THEIR BROCCOLI.

THAT CAN HAVE SOME CANDY LATER BUT HAVING THAT HEALTHY MEAL WILL SLOW DOWN THAT INITIAL SPIKE IN BLOOD SUGAR BY SLOWING DOWN DIGESTION AND SO IT PREVENTS THAT ROLLER COASTER OF BLOOD SUGAR THAT WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID.

>> AND SO WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR FOLKS, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR TO REALLY TRY TO CURB THEIR SUGAR CONSUMPTION.

>> LIKE I SAID, I DON'T WANT TO BE THE GRINCH OF THE HOLIDAYS AND IT IS A SPECIAL TIME OF YEAR WITH THAT.

WE'RE ENJOYING WITH OUR FAMILY AND WE'RE HAVING OUR SPECIAL TRADITIONS.

AND SO I DON'T WANT US TO CUT THOSE OUT IN TIME.

ALI, I THINK THAT COMES WITH DOWNSIDES, TOO.

BUT AS YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR MY KIDS ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT, I LIMIT THEM TO A COUPLE PIECES OF CANDY WHILE THEY'RE WALKING AROUND.

I ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE WALKING AS WE GO TRICK-OR-TREATING BECAUSE EXERCISE CAN HELP PULL THAT SUGAR INTO THE MUSCLES.

SO TRYING TO DO THAT.

YOU KNOW, THE EXERCISE LIAR, WHICH ARE TREATING ARE DOING THE TURKEY TROT ON THANKSGIVING TRYING TO INCORPORATE EXERCISE INTO YOUR HOLIDAY TRADITIONS CAN BE A REALLY GREAT WAY TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE EXCESS SUGAR AND THEN TRYING TO HAVE SOME IN MODERATION.

NO CHOOSING THE TREATS THAT YOU LOVE THE MOST AND HAVING A REASONABLE PORTION SIZE OF THOSE AND MANY FORGOING SOME OF THE TREATS THAT YOU DON'T CARE AS MUCH ABOUT TO BRING SOME BALANCE TO THE HOLIDAY SEASON CAN HELP US TO FEEL BETTER.

AND THEN WE CAN ENJOY THE STREETS ALL THE MORE FOR FEELING GOOD I LOVE THAT MODERATION IN EVERYTHING.

>> YES, EXACTLY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM, MEET THE WOMEN THAT ARE BRINGING THE FIRE POWER INTO THE WORKFORCE.

HOW A SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FIREARMS MANUFACTURER IS SUPPLYING A CAREER PATH WITH MOSTLY WOMEN TAKING THE REINS.

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 ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUSED.