Thousands of people are expected to flock to Punta Gorda this weekend for the 29^th annual Florida International Air Show.  As
WGCU’s Valerie Alker reports, the event should be an economic shot in the arm for the local community.

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.

After being told by the state Supreme Court that he'd overstepped his bounds, Governor Charlie Crist is considering his options to save a gambling deal he struck with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Phil Latzman has more…

The Seminole Casino has officially unveiled its new Vegas style slot machines in Immokalee. The ceremonial first slot pull brought out dozens of town and tribal officials, as well as some gamblers hoping to strike it rich. WGCU’s Matthew Kay has more…

South Floridians looking ways enjoy the outdoors now have another option…in the form of a massive storm water treatment area. WGCU’s Mike Kiniry reports.

According to national magazines like Paddler, and Canoe and Kayak, southwest Florida is one of the top places in the country for people who love to take to the water. This weekend Lee County celebrates it with a major festival. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez has more.

For an area where you couldn’t get a bagel when the region’s best known food critic moved here 28 years ago – restaurants are taking a lot more risks lately. For year-round residents, now is the time to grab a great table at some of what will be the busiest restaurants come winter. And as Kathleen Moye reports – chef’s imaginations are running wild too.

The state of Florida leads the nation in boating deaths every year. And the U-S Coast Guard feels that could change if people simply used their life vests.

The most recent statistics from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission show that 80-people died in 2005 while boating. And a majority of those deaths were due to drowning. So the U-S Coast Guard Auxiliary is holding a boat safety demonstration Thursday at the Bass Pro Shop at the Gulf Coast Town Center. Spokesman Dan Eaton says too often people just seem to forget about the importance of a life jacket that is new and fits right.

“Unfortunately it does become one of those things that becomes out of sight out of mind…and what we need to turn around and do is build awareness, you know people have to turn around and look at the condition of their life jackets…and maybe it is time to turn around and change it.”

Eaton says along with the demonstration on Thursday, at 11:00 the Fit to Float campaign runs Friday through Sunday at the same bass pro shop store. That’s where people can turn in old life jackets for a discount toward a new one.

April is swimming pool safety month in Florida – as proclaimed by Governor Charlie Crist. It’s a noteworthy designation. Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death of children under age five in the Sunshine State, as well as in California and Arizona.


The reason for the high number of drowning deaths is obvious – year ‘round pool use. There are an estimated one million swimming pools in Florida – many of those are in backyards. The Florida Swimming Pool Association has developed safety guidelines that are posted at its website - Floridapoolpro.com. Spokeswoman Wendy Parker says constant supervision tops the list.

“if there are kids in the a pool it’s good to designate a person as the pool watcher and then just trade off – if the phone rings get everybody out of the pool – don’t go inside – because above all watching your children at all times near any body of water is going to be the best prevention…”

Parker says the guidelines also include installing pool barriers – and – and putting alarms on doors and windows that open to the pool area. Battery operated alarms can also be installed in swimming pools – that are set off by lots of splashing. 65 percent of drowning deaths of young children in swimming pools happen at home

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Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children under the age of five in Florida, California and Arizona. Those numbers prompted Governor Charlie Crist to proclaim April “Swimming Pool Safety Month”. Wendy Parker of the Florida Swimming Pool Association says the best protection for children is constant supervision when they’re in the water. Barriers are also important.

“those would be a mesh fence put up around the pool, a safety cover that actually is an automatic cover that would prevent anyone from falling under – alarms on doors and windows that go to the pool area so that if a door was opened by anyone it would alert anyone in the home and a battery operated alarm in the pool as well.”

There are about a million swimming pools in Florida – most of those are in backyards. 65 percent of drowning deaths of young children in pools happen at the home of an immediate family member.