Culture and Connections

The Jewish New Year or Rosh Hashanah has officially begun, but one community is not able to fully celebrate after their synagogue was intentionally damaged.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is changing how it enforces political rules for churches, creating discussion among Southwest Florida religious leaders.

Family is everything to a lot of people. It's important enough that putting oneself in harm's way isn’t even a consideration. One local woman shares her version of that journey.

When most people think about job interview preparation, they might imagine practicing in front of a mirror. But at Osceola County Corrections, inmates are preparing for the workforce with the help of some very special interview partners: puppets.And there's an FGCU connection at play.

The Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida is opening a private academy — sort of. The organization is converting its current Dunbar location into a private alternative academy. Julian Ramirez, executive director of the center, shared early details about the plan, hinting at what’s to come for the longtime community space.

The world was stunned last week when white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel, signaling the election of a new pope. But what made this moment truly historic: For the first time, the pope is American-born and there’s a local connection.

The city of Cape Coral held its annual multicultural festival over the weekend.

Florida Gulf Coast University has joined the growing list of institutions formalizing partnerships with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The Federal Housing Administration has announced changes to its mortgage eligibility rules that will affect thousands of non-citizens nationwide.

After the Trump administration announced plans to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans, many families were thrown into limbo — including that of one Florida Gulf Coast University student.