The Florida Department of Environmental protection has been awarded a two-and-a-half million dollar federal grant to help restore the state’s coastal communities. Trimmel Gomes reports.

A Fort Myers medical company is looking for people for a clinical trial of a new Alzheimer’s drug. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez reports.

The Department of Juvenile Justice kicked off its “Zero Tolerance summit” yesterday in Orlando. It’s trying to find ways to reduce the number of children entering the criminal justice system. As Lynn Hatter reports, those numbers are disproportionally affecting minority students.

Early voting is underway across the state. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez has this report on some of the basics people should know about casting their ballot before Election Day.

Turns out there's a glitch with the new credit card-sized "mini"
SunPasses that recently went on sale: they don't work for motorcycles. Doug Phillips reports.

Florida's threatened butterfly populations are now getting some official attention as state wildlife officials launch a major preservation effort. Rick Stone reports.

The U.S. Environmental protection Agency, which has been blasted in the press by politicians and environmentalists in recent months for not doing enough to address global warming, is also failing to protect the Everglades. That’s according to a recent ruling made by a federal judge. Trimmel Gomes has more.

The nation’s largest association for seniors is coming out against Amendment five. The Florida AARP says the proposal leaves too much uncertainty in how to make up the multi-billion dollar financial hole the state is expected to encounter if the measure passes. Lynn Hatter reports.

The Florida Board of Governors says state universities need to give faculty a pay hike to prevent a –quote “brain drain” of professors and staff leaving for other states. The Board met yesterday (Thursday) in Jacksonville. Kevin Meerschaert reports.

In neighborhoods all across Lee County the number of abandoned homes continues to climb. This causes problems for other home owners and law enforcement. It also adds more work to Code Enforcement officers who have to make sure those homes remain boarded up and secure from criminals and drug dealers. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez has this report.