The Lee County Attorney’s office plans to file a claim against BP for economic losses related to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico nearly a year ago. WGCU’s John Davis reports.

Now that B.P. has decided to open up the claims process to include areas that did not have oil on the beach, Sarasota county businesses have the opportunity to recoup some of their loses. New research conducted by the Sarasota Convention and Visitor's Bureau could help them make a case for compensation. Mia McCormick explains how.

A new report by the Nature Conservancy says restoring the Gulf of Mexico to its pre-spill state won’t be enough to reverse decades of degradation.  WGCU’s Mike Kiniry reports.

Businesses claiming to have lost money due to the Gulf oil spill are getting help this week with workshops in Bonita Springs and Matlacha.  The sessions are designed to guide business owners through BP’s claims process.  WGCU’s John Davis reports.

According to new government computer models there’s less than a 1-percent chance that southwest Florida’s coast will be directly impacted by oil from the Deepwater Horizon blowout. WGCU’s Mike Kiniry has more.

Lee County’s Director of Public Safety, John Wilson, has been deployed to Alabama to help with coastal cleanup efforts there.  Meanwhile experts say there’s a good chance Southwest Florida will be spared impacts from the Deepwater Horizon blowout.  WGCU’s Valerie Alker has more.

Local volunteers with the non-profit Matter of Trust are preparing to protect Southwest Florida’s coastline from the BP oil spill by making their own booms from natural materials.  WGCU’s John Davis reports.

A light oil sheen from the BP spill is now 170 miles from Lee and Collier county shorelines.  Meanwhile, local emergency managers have revised their boom deployment strategy to protect the coastline.  WGCU’s John Davis has more.

The Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau has launched a nationwide TV campaign to let potential tourists know its beaches remain oil free. WGCU’s Valerie Alker reports.

Florida U.S. Congressman, Republican Connie Mack of Fort Myers addressed a crowd of local government officials, public safety personnel, environmental advocates and local business owners on Sanibel Island on Monday.  He expressed anger and frustration over the response to the Gulf oil disaster, from both BP and the federal government.  WGCU’s John Davis was there and has this report.