Aging baby-boomers, a retiring workforce, and a growing population are driving up the demand for health care providers. It may be an impending problem for some areas. But in certain rural communities, this has long been their reality.

Residents of Glades County have been dealing with a doctor shortage for decades. The county has a new doctor –and he’s its only one. READ MORE

On Election Day some Collier County voters will do more than help choose a GOP Presidential Nominee. Golden Gate, East Naples and Immokalee Fire Districts in Collier County all say they need more money to keep up emergency services. Falling property values have created a funding crisis.  

So they’re asking voters to approve referenda to increase their maximum tax rate.  All reduced staff and closed fire stations. If voters approve, the fire districts would be able to increase the tax rate.  Golden Gate Fire Chief Robert Metzger said property values fell there by more than 50 percent over the last few years. He said he expects to have to make more cuts – including closing two stations if the referendum doesn’t pass. READ MORE

GOP Presidential candidate Mitt Romney chose a foreclosed home in Lehigh Acres as the backdrop for a campaign event Tuesday.  WGCU’s John Davis reports.

Constructions has just been completed on a  76 bed mental health care facility in Lee County.  Park Royal Hospital expects to begin admitting patients by mid February.  WGCU’s Valerie Alker has more.

James Dwyer reminisces about his trip to Panama last May.

“It was just a great experience,” he said. “If you could have a good experience getting a root canal, I would say it was the best.”

Dwyer had never considered dental care overseas – that is until his appointment for a root canal got canceled weeks before his trip to Panama. READ MORE

Tuesday night’s freezing weather took a fairly light toll on area growers compared to last year’s impacts.

UF Extension Agent Gene MacAvoy said some tomato and eggplants suffered frost damage as did a some fields of beans and squash. Damage is estimated between $10 to 20 million. But, MacAvoy said it’s still early in the winter growing season. 

An exhibit  is now open at the Florida Gulf Coast University ArtLab featuring the only known Jewish partisan to document their wartime experiences on film. 

“Pictures of Resistance: The Wartime Photos of Jewish Partisan Faye Schulman” is a rare collection of images that captures the camaraderie, horror and loss, bravery and triumph of the partisans who fought the Nazis.  READ MORE

State wildlife officials will soon do their annual manatee census.  It’s done in winter because the endangered marine mammals congregate in large numbers in warm water outflows from springs and power plants when the weather turns cold.  Now in addition the counting the animals – they’re doing genetic sampling. READ MORE 

A cold front moving down the Peninsula is expected to bring freezing temperatures to Southwest Florida tonight. WGCU’s John Davis reports vegetable and citrus growers are taking measures to protect their crops.

People are waking up and turning up their thermostats----electric utilities says there’s plenty of power to  meet demand but urge conservation all the same.  WGCU’s Valerie Alker reports.