Special to WGCU

A young osprey rescued from a fishing line entanglement high in a tree on Marco Island has been successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild after receiving care at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida's von Arx Wildlife Hospital.

A multi-agency effort united Lee, Collier and Hendry County agencies to address child exploitation.

The 36-home Habitat neighborhood helps families achieve dreams of affordable homeownership.

Norman Coffman exceeds 50 years of safe aviation experience.

The rehabilitation of a young Florida panther injured in a vehicle collision is being recognized as a powerful example of statewide collaboration among wildlife and veterinary partners working together to protect one of Florida’s most iconic endangered animals. ZooTampa at Lowry Park played a key role in the panther’s survival and has now provided him a permanent home as a conservation ambassador. The panther, named "Loper," will remain at the zoo permanently and serve an important purpose in helping guests understand the threats facing Florida panthers and the need to protect the habitat they depend on.

Over the weekend, a fascinating yet fragile reproductive phenomenon called the coral spawn, took place in the Upper Keys at one of Reef Renewal USA’s offshore nurseries. In August annually, after the full moon, millions of gametes, or reproductive cells, are released underwater in a synchronized mass-spawning exchange, enabling the eggs and sperm to enter the water.

A 13-Year-Old Fort Myers girl was the 170,000th Disney Wish Recipient on Disneyland Resort’s 70th Anniversary in July. The tech-loving Make-A-Wish teen was hosted by Disney Imagineers at Walt Disney Imagineering and Disneyland for her wish.

There were 64 photos entered in the Youth category — age 17 and younger — by 42 photographers in the 2025 Six Mile Cypress Slough’s photo contest honoring Carolyn Babb. A total of 270 photos were submitted in all categories combined by 113 different people. Twenty-nine photos received honors. The contest is limited to amateur photographers.