The Sarasota Herald-Tribune will discontinue home delivery of its paper to Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda and parts of DeSoto County next month. Its publisher – Diane McFarlin – says the decision was driven by the sliding economy and the migration of advertising dollars to the web. She told WGCU’s Mike Kiniry that which areas to cut were mostly determined by geography and population density…

The
revamped Charlotte Sports Park is ready and waiting for spring training
this year.  The American League Champion Tampa Bay Ray’s take up
residence later this month.  The return of pro-ball to the sports park,
seven years after the Texas Rangers moved out, is a financial and
morale boost for the county.  The local museum has even gotten in on
the act...  WGCU’s Valerie Alker reports.

There is somewhat of a bright side to the down economy in Lee County. With
more students leaving the area there are fewer kids competing for their
school of choice. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez reports

The Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center in Downtown Fort Myers is still a few years and a few million dollars from being completely renovated. But the center is hosting its first theatrical production, Macbeth. And the future for the former courthouse-slash-post office has promise. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez has this report.

The developer behind the planned 18-thousand home Babcock Community east of Punta Gorda laid off 9 people who’d been working on the project last week – that’s half its staff…they were planners and office workers. Chairman & CEO of Kitson & Partners – Syd Kitson – told WGCU’s Mike Kiniry they were all doing great jobs and that he wishes he didn’t have to let them go. But he says tough times leave him with little choice…

Florida’s
Water managers narrowly approved a deal yesterday to pay more than a
billion dollars for a large swath of farmland to help restore the
everglades. But official’s risked losing the deal altogether by making
a counter offer. U.S. Sugar officials have insisted they’re not willing
to renegotiate. Trimmel Gomes has more…

As Water managers debate the 1.34 billion dollar US Sugar deal - opponents mount their last stand against the Everglades plan. Trimmel Gomes reports.

Governor Charlie Crist Charlie wants state agencies to speed up construction projects in hopes it will give the state’s lagging economy a boost. At a press conference yesterday he said he wants certain projects pushed forward immediately. Trimmel Gomes reports.

The old historic federal courthouse in downtown Fort Myers…now the Sidney & Bern Davis Art Center…is getting its old doors back. Workers finished tearing down cinder block walls built over the original grand entrances to the ornate East & West Lobbies yesterday.

The Center’s Director - Jim Griffith - says when they converted the building from a Post Office to a court house in the 1960s they put a square peg in a round hole…damaging or removing many of the building’s historic elements. And it sat vacant for six years…with a leaky roof. WGCU’s Mike Kiniry spent some time with Griffith yesterday touring the center – as workers finished chipping away at the walls…

Governor Charlie Crist embarks upon a business development mission to The United Kingdom, France, Russia and Spain tomorrow. Former Florida Governor - Bob Martinez - recalls his own, similar trips during his time in office. Annie Stephens has more…