Florida’s west coast has been plagued by a strong red tide over the past month. Some Sanibel and Captiva residents are concerned it’s getting worse and vow to attack the problem. For WGCU, Wendy Humphrey reports.

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The state has a new plan to heal Lake Okeechobee. Governor Jeb Bush, Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson, Senator Ken Pruitt and Representative Joe Negron announced the plan on the north shore of the Lake Monday. The plan accelerates restoration and recovery of the largest freshwater lake in the southeast. WGCU’s Amy Tardif spoke with reporter Bob King, who covered the announcement for the Palm Beach Post.

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Record high gas prices have motivated recent efforts in Congress to increase the nation’s energy supply. But Republican Senator Mel Martinez insists drilling off of Florida’s coast should not be part of that plan. From our Capitol Hill Bureau, Terry Gildea (gil DAY) reports.

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With natural gas prices at record highs, pressure is mounting to increase drilling in the Eastern Gulf. Part of a new bill would open up the entire outer continental shelf to natural gas companies almost immediately, but Fort Myers Republican Congressman Connie Mack says he won’t let that happen. From our Capitol Hill Bureau, Terry Gildea reports.

Eighty-five infant sea turtles were released off the Florida Keys Tuesday. Their release was delayed a week due to Hurricane Rita. Eighty one of the silver dollar-size reptiles were endangered green sea turtles while four were threatened loggerheads.

The director of a turtle hospital in Marathon Richie Moretti says the animals were rescued on the beaches in the Keys about three weeks ago. They were either stuck in the bottom of their nests or tried to swim to sea, but couldn't. Moretti says the release took place on a sargassum weedline about 10 miles off Marathon.

"And they're going to stay in this weed for the next 15-20 years of their life. And they're going to go all around the Sargasso Sea. They're going to go up along North Carolina and turn right to the Azores. Alright. They're waving good-bye, thank you for the ride."

Weedlines are natural habitats that nurture young sea turtles. Early Tuesday, Moretti flew in a small plane off the Keys to find the weedline. The U.S. Coast Guard base in Marathon provided a boat and crew to transport him and the turtles to it.

A Naples marine scientist is out with her 9th book – her first fiction novel – this month. Amy Tardif has more.

Pensacola Republican Congressman Jeff Miller is working with fellow lawmakers Michael Bilirakis and Cliff Stearns to permanently protect Florida’s coastline. From our Capitol Hill Bureau, Terry Gildea reports.