Nineteen Cubans came ashore on a Sanibel Island beach Tuesday morning. Wendy Humphrey reports. (AUDIO)

Increasing demand combined with low interest rates mean skyrocketing property values in southwest Florida. That’s according to the Florida Association of Realtors. Mike Kiniry reports. (AUDIO)

The Babcock Ranch has sold to a real estate developer. Ryan Warner reports. (AUDIO)

Roadways in Southwest Florida are congested – but legislative progress toward alleviating grid lock on the interstate and other major roads was made in Tallahassee this session. That’s what local business and elected officials were told at a briefing Wednesday by members of the Southwest Florida Transportation Initiative. Valerie Alker reports. (AUDIO)

Water managers say Marco Island needs to cut back on water use. The city of Marco has one of the highest per-capita water consumption rates in the region. Now it wants to pump more. But managers say before they grant any permits, Marco Island must come up with a conservation plan. Valerie Alker has more. (AUDIO)

Three cabinet members were in southwest Florida Wednesday to discuss Governor Jeb Bush’s growth management plan. The secretaries of Environmental Protection, Community Affairs, and Transportation took part in the forum at WGCU. They also fielded questions from local elected officials, environmentalists, and planners. Ryan Warner reports. (AUDIO)

There’s not one central issue dominating this year’s state legislative session. That’s according to political reporter for the Fort Myers News-Press, Betty Parker. She’s in Tallahassee… for the final weeks of the two-month long session. But, Parker says among the MANY issues—vying for lawmakers’ attention— is funding for growth. In other words… paying for the infrastructure that’s required with so many people coming to Florida. (AUDIO)

Florida is both blessed and plagued by growth. Accommodating growth while maintaining a sense of place is a challenge many communities now face. Fort Myers is a case in point. Last Thursday night more than 200 people turned out for a public hearing on how city planners want to direct growth. It seemed the majority were upset by what they heard. Valerie Alker reports. (AUDIO)

The Census Bureau is changing the way it collects information to give communities yearly access to key socioeconomic data that until now has been available only once a decade. Alexa Elliott reports. (AUDIO)