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While the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences — or IFAS — is probably most often associated with ‘growers and farmers and issues around agricultural’ their work goes far beyond that, including helping individuals and businesses, as well as growers, before, during, and after natural disasters like Hurricane Ian. We sit down with David Outerbridge, director of the UF/IFAS Extension office in Lee County to talk about the work they’re still doing helping people recover from Ian’s landfall last September. We also check in with Asmaa Odeh, Project Director for the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council to learn about SWFL Fresh: Choose Local, Choose Fresh.

We shine some light on a southwest Florida nonprofit that’s been working to make the lives of this area's seniors better for more than half a century. Founded in 1973, Senior Friendship Centers began in a small bungalow in Sarasota, and first began expanding when it began receiving federal funding to provide meals to older adults. Erin McLeod joined the organization as Director of Communications in 2004. It was her first job at a nonprofit and she says she immediately fell in love with the mission and has been there ever since, now as its CEO.

Hospitalization rates in Florida due to the coronavirus pandemic broke another record, Tuesday, for the third consecutive day, reaching 11,515 patients. Sarasota Memorial Hospital also reported another record high number of COVID-19 patients, Tuesday, and other hospital systems throughout Southwest Florida also continue to report increases.In defiance of guidance from the CDC and public health experts in Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis continues to oppose requiring mask wearing in schools as the start of a new school year is just weeks away.Fully vaccinated students and staff in the Sarasota County School District will not be required to quarantine if they're exposed to COVID-19. The school board confirmed that policy change, Tuesday, for the coming school year. However, anyone showing symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to quarantine.A new investigative report from the Orlando Sentinel finds that the death rate for people with COVID-19 at Florida correctional facilities is more than 1.5 times that of the general public. WLRN’s radio program “Sundial,” recently took a closer look at the report.

Florida’s record $90.98 billion spending plan for next fiscal year and more than 100 new laws will hit the books Monday.

When discussing climate change, the conversation is usually about what’s to come, as in how much seas will rise or how high temperatures will get. Far less common is what happened yesterday, who lived where, and how climate change will affect the artifacts they left behind.

A group of Sarasota County residents and solar power advocates gathered today at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota to announce another new solar co-op.…

State health officials reported 17,783 new COVID-19 infections, Wednesday, for a total of 1,409,906 cases to date.The Florida Department of Health also reported 132 coronavirus-related deaths, yesterday, increasing the statewide death toll to 22,647 fatalities since the start of the pandemic.

While the small lakes or ponds found in many communities here in Florida allow more people to live on or near a waterbody, their real purpose is to help manage water flows and help maintain water quality. Many of these small lakes are actually man-made stormwater management ponds. We learn what it takes to ensure stormwater management ponds are well-maintained — and what outreach efforts exist to teach people who live around them best practices for doing just that.

Pollinators are responsible for assisting about 80% of the world's flowering plants to reproduce, and that includes quite a few crops grown for food. So, it’s fair to say that pollinators play a crucial role in not only our ecosystems, but our economies and lives.We learn about the work being done by pollinators all around us, and get some tips on how to attract them to our yard, and how to keep from harming them by misusing pesticides.

A small team of paramedics is quietly transforming community health in Manatee County, scheduling house calls and building relationships with patients who…