Santa Ono, who has led the University of Michigan since 2022, is the sole finalist to become president of the University of Florida, UF announced Sunday.A presidential-search committee recommended that the UF Board of Trustees approve Ono after a search that began last year following the abrupt resignation of former President Ben Sasse. Kent Fuchs, a former UF president, has served as interim president.

A hands-on gardening and sustainability event at Florida Gulf Coast University's Food Forest gave students a chance to reconnect with the land and imparted to them essential permaculture practices.Officially titled the FGCU Food Forest Maintenance & Gardening Event, it was sponsored by the FGCU Food Forest and the Environmental Sustainability Office.

The Education Department will begin collection next month on student loans that are in default, including the garnishing of wages for potentially millions of borrowers, officials said Monday.Currently, roughly 5.3 million borrowers are in default on their federal student loans.

A local FTC robotics team called Java the Hutts is heading to Houston next week to compete in the FIRST World Championship. Java the Hutts has been a team for eight years, with students from across Southwest Florida moving through program as some age out. This is the team’s third qualification to Worlds — they brought home the World Champion title once before in 2022. We talk with three of the Java the Hutt team members to learn about their team, the FIRST competitions, and how engaging with robotics is helping them prepare for the world ahead.

Students, parents and friends alike recently helped cheer on athletes from the Life Skills program in celebration of the 15th annual Inclusion Basketball Game at Fort Myers High School.

Gardens are popping up all over Lee County, thanks to programs like farm-to-school. In February alone the Lee County School District expanded its garden program to 14 schools. Farm-to-school teaches students about healthy eating and also produces fresh food for school cafeterias.

Florida’s multi-million-dollar pet fish trade is skyrocketing.But in the Sunshine State, only 10% of that industry breeds salt-water fish. And yet, demand for real-life, ocean-dwelling Dorys and Nemos is greater than ever.

Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed Dr. Larry Antonucci and reappointed Robbie Roepstorff to the Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees.