Fires burning in the Big Cypress Preserve have  burned more than 16 thousand acres and led led to air quality advisories as far north Charlotte County.  The problem is expected to persist for several more days.  The smoke commonly causes throat and eye irritation.  People with chronic lung conditions could experience shortness of breath.  And spokeswoman for the Collier County Health Department, Deb Milsap,  she says children are especially sensitive to smoke. Read More...

Love bugs are back. The bi-annual infestation has many drivers busy with hoses and sponges. And Florida Gulf Coast University Entomologist Tim Durham says that’s good. It’s important to get the bugs off your car as soon as possible.

“There was some research done and their bodies if you actually macerated in them kind of pureed them in a blender the body ph is around 6.5 which is not terribly acidic but if you allow it to fester in the sunlight that ph will lower to about 4.5 which is almost on par with lemon juice”

Durham says love bugs are attracted to auto fumes; so many live, breed and die on roadways. They can pose a danger to drivers if they obscure windshields. They should begin dissipate in about two more weeks and reappear again in late August.

The Harry Chapin Food Bank in Ft. Myers is gearing up to provide food to the hungry this summer. WGCU’s Valerie Alker reports.