Last
year Governor Charlie Crist brokered a deal for the state to spend more
than a billion dollars to buy thousands of acres of land from the U.S.
Sugar Corporation for Everglades restoration efforts.  The impact of
that purchase is the topic of Wednesday night’s annual conservation forum
at Big Arts on Sanibel.  WGCU’s Valerie Alker has more.

Florida
lawmakers are gearing up for another session. This time they have to
deal with a serious budget shortfall, debates over taxes and what to do
with federal stimulus money. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez spoke with
Democratic state senator Dave Aronberg about expectations for this
year’s session.

One
of the nation’s top corporate governance experts speaks this week at
Florida Gulf Coast University about the uproar over CEO compensation. 
WGCU’s Luis Hernandez reports.

The
American Orchid Society is closing its Florida headquarters to visitors
in order to save money.  WGCU’s Valerie Alker reports.

The Seminole Casino in Immokalee is ready to show off its new look today. The Seminole tribe added more than 33-thousand square feet of space to the original structure. It could mean more jobs for the region and more money for the state. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez reports.

Presidential Visit

President Barack Obama spoke at a Town Meeting in Fort Myers Tuesday. He interrupted his own speech to say the Senate had passed the economic stimulus package. The President came to Florida because Fort Myers has topped the country with foreclosures and saw a huge jump in unemployment. WGCU’s Amy Tardif reports.

Fort
Myers awaits the arrival of President Barack Obama tomorrow/Tuesday.
But some wonder exactly what can he do to fix one of the worst counties
in the country for foreclosure? WGCU’s Luis Hernandez reports.

Florida growers spent the day assessing crop damage after Wednesday’s night’s freeze.  It could be several days before the extent of damage is known.  WGCU’s Valerie Alker reports.

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…

Tension is intensifying between teachers and the Lee County School Board over possible cuts in pay and jobs. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez reports.