Aggressive Africanized honeybees are in Florida – spurring the state’s Department of Agriculture to launch a public awareness campaign—initially aimed at beekeepers, first responders, and pest exterminators. Africanized bee colonies are becoming more common in the sunshine state…sometimes taking over European Honey Bee hives. They’re extremely defensive of their hives - and surrounding territory. Department of Agriculture spokeswoman - Denise Feiber says Floridians should be aware.

“I think people have learned to accept the fact that regular honey bees were not to be feared like yellow jackets or other types of wasps, but now that we’re seeing more Africanized honey bees coming in that’s going to have to change people’s behavior around them.”

The Africanized honey bee has been known to chase perceived threats for up to a quarter of a mile. Experts advise people to run in a zig-zag pattern to avoid them. The Africanized bees swarm up to sixteen times a year…that’s when they leave their hives to reproduce. European honeybees swarm only once or twice a year. The Africanized variety can also deliver multiple stings, while their European counterparts only one.

Members of Florida’s congressional delegation are commenting on the president’s pick for the next Supreme Court justice. Ryan Warner reports. (AUDIO)

Two Head Start administrators from Immokalee graduate from a Management Fellows program today at UCLA. The program was launched 14 years ago after a study revealed focused management training would ensure Head Start leaders would be able to better handle their limited resources to provide for children and families. Amy Tardif spoke with one of the local fellows. (AUDIO)

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is seeking local input as it prepares to update management plans at the state’s 41 aquatic preserves. Mike Kiniry reports. (AUDIO)

While a federal ban protects Florida from oil drilling until 2012, Republican Congresswoman Katherine Harris wants to make it permanent. From our Capitol Hill Bureau, Terry Gildea reports.
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A top magazine is recognizing Charlotte County as one of the best places in the country for golfers. Charlotte County officials say they’re thrilled by making Golf Magazines list of top spots for golfing and golfers. The magazine named Punta Gorda and environs as the 3rd “Best in America for quality of life and golf. Becky Bovell director of the Charlotte County Visitor’s Bureau says it’s wonderful publicity.

”Golf digest is circulated to about 2 million people – and is considered the premiere publication among golfers, so for us to be listed as number 3 is sort of like scoring a double eagle”

Charlotte County has fourteen golf courses with public access. They range from the Four Star Riverwood Golf Club – to executive courses. Golf Digest bases its selections on access to golf, weather, the cost of a round of golf, and the quality of courses. The top spot went to Auburn, Alabama.

Cat Fanciers – and their prize felines -- from around Florida were in Ft. Myers this weekend. The Harborside Event Center hosted the Platinum Coast Cat Fanciers 15th annual show. Valerie Alker has the scoop. (AUDIO)

There’s a new organization in Cape Coral—focused on promoting European trade, culture and education. The new “European Business Council” will operate under the Chamber of Commerce.
It’s main mission is to establish a network between European and Cape businesses. The council came about after a group of 36 local chamber members traveled to Germany to meet with business leaders– and were interested in what they saw. Council Chairman - Dr. Juergen Hartwich – says there are mutually beneficial connections to be made…

“I think there are companies in Cape Coral that have very good products and they’re maybe interested to connect to German or European countries too to sell their products. I think on both sides we’re looking to bring investors over and give companies from the region here the opportunity to connect to businesses in Germany or other countries in Europe.”

Dr. Hartwich says, after the trip, he was overwhelmed by the response from German companies wanting to do business in southwest Florida …including a microbrewery and cuckoo-clock maker.
The council’s focus goes beyond the economic. Hartwich says they’re also talking to German universities about a satellite campus. For now, he says, the focus is on German-speaking countries – but that will likely broaden to all of Europe sometime soon.

According to investigators, it’s likely people had fed the 12 foot alligator that killed a North Port man Friday night. It’s illegal in Florida to feed gators. 41 year old Kevin Murray was attacked when he jumped into a canal near Port Charlotte. He’d been mowing his employer’s lawn and jumped into the water to clean up. Officials found Murray dead… then went to look for the animal. That’s according to Charlotte County Sheriff’s spokesman, Bob Carpenter.

They were looking for the gator when he went under water. And they were wearing these lanterns on their hats—these kind of coal-miner hats. They did located the gator with the brightness of his eyes showing. So they fired a bow and arrow with a rope on it. They managed to penetrate the gator and bring him to the boat—with him thrashing. They then fired to shotgun shells into the gator’s head and killed it.“

By law, any alligator that attacks a human must be destroyed. Wildlife officials will conduct a necropsy of the animal at a lab in Gainesville… that includes examining the contents of its stomach. Alligators kill their prey by pulling them underwater—and drowning them. Carpenter underscores the importance of NEVER FEEDING ALLIGATORS… and thereby eroding their natural fear of humans.

More than 50 volunteers from local environmental groups, businesses and government gathered at Lakes Park in Fort Myers over the weekend… to plant a filter marsh. The idea is to create a small wetland to help clean water as it flows out of the park into Hendry Creek, on its way to Estero Bay. Project Manager- Janet Strutzel says it was nice to see planning turn into action.

“There was a real positive feeling…yeah, we’ve been talking about things for a year and a half, now we’re getting something done. It may have been a simple step…first project, and you know, the magnitude of it, but I thought it was very positive in that we’ve gotten a project in the ground and can move forward with new projects.”

Strutzel says they’re waiting on data from a study by Johnson Engineering that will help identify similar projects in the area. The filter marsh is just the beginning for Lakes Park. Strutzel says restoration there will go way beyond Saturday’s planting.