Kaitlyn Veras

Law enforcement officers in Southwest Florida responding to a mental health crisis stress that their duties require more than just training and fast decisions. It also requires empathy, patience, and understanding that not every emergency is a crime.Authorities in Lee County, Cape Coral, and Fort Myers are adapting to the rise in mental health calls, which police chiefs say now account for a considerable portion of their workload.

Once Florida Gulf Coast University and Babcock Ranch announced their long-termcollaboration, it was clear that the partnership would be more than just an expansion. Forstudents, educators, and residents alike, the initiative brought a sense of possibility, along with concerns about organization, dimension, and impact.The project, which involves plans for a 125,000-square-foot facility in the nation’s first solar-powered town, is presented as a living laboratory that combines research, sustainability, and community engagement.