More than 75 law enforcement officers and agents from across Southwest Florida took to the streets of Arcadia Friday morning in response to a simulated child abduction. WGCU’s Mike Kiniry has more.

Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottkamp says property tax cuts will go a long way to boosting Florida’s ailing housing market. WGCU’s Valerie Alker reports.

An effort to require public referendums for local land use changes has gathered little more than half the signatures needed to place the amendment on a state-wide ballot. But as James Call reports supporters and opponents of the debate are just entering full campaign mode.

Hundreds of aid workers, students and missionaries from all over the world are in North Fort Myers this week for ECHO's Annual Agricultural Conference. ECHO is a not-for-profit Christian organization that’s been assisting a global network of missionaries and development workers since 1981. WGCU’s Mike Kiniry has this report.

Caregivers need to learn to care for themselves. That was primary message at the Fearless Caregivers Conference yesterday in Estero. WGCU’s Valerie Alker reports.

The effort to get more money for tomato pickers in Immokalee may have hit a wall. Most of Florida’s tomato growers say they won’t participate in the deal between a group of farm workers and fast food giants McDonalds and Taco Bell to pay pickers an extra penny per pound of tomatoes picked. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez reports.

A Ft. Myers man with ALS – also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease - has become an activist – lobbying Congress to pass the ALS Registry Act. Leon Peek has travelled Washington DC to talk to lawmakers. He was a friend of former Southwest Florida TV news anchor Harry Horn –who lost his battle with ALS in August 2005. Horn had also lobbied Congress and raised the profile of ALS in the local community. When he became too ill – he passed the torch to Peek. WGCU’s Valerie Alker has more on the man and his mission.

As we move into the dry season the low level in Lake Okeechobee could spell trouble for everyone who depends on it for water. Water Management officials are holding a news conference on the Lake’s shore Tuesday to update the public on the situation. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez reports.

Supporters of the new property tax amendment that will be on the January 29th ballot are campaigning across Florida. Governor Charlie Crist spent two days last week travelling state supporting the proposal. But as James
Call reports one thing seems clear, so far Floridians are unsure about the measure.

A peer review of the U-S Army Corps of Engineers' plan for strengthening the dike around Lake Okeechobee gives a thumb's up to the proposed project. WGCU's Valerie Alker reports.