WGCU

Fridays are when we enjoy a new weekly series that's part history, part trivia, and ALL music. The series features selections from former News-Press editor Sheldon Zoldan's 'Song of the Day." The initiative began as a daily lockdown project on Facebook at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, through which Zoldan highlights how every aspect of life has a connection through music. This week's Song of the Day, for April 4th, is "Lions" by Skip Marley.

The Northern Mockingbird is one of the most conspicuous and well-known resident birds in Florida. It is well-adapted, for urban and suburban life where landscaping includes an open mix of mowed grass, trees, and shrubs. As a result of its status as a year-round resident, its habitat preferences, conspicuous behavior, and its presence through much of North America, it is no wonder that the school children of Florida selected this species to be our State Bird.

Winter is when many Florida plants become dormant and lose their leaves until spring. In contrast, most of our ferns remain a vibrant green through the winter. This is in part because ferns are plants that live in moist environments and the water buffers them from the cold. A winter visit to a marsh, swamp, or other wetland can be refreshing on a cold winter day in south Florida. While other plants lose their leaves, ferns generally have a more intimate contact with their wet environment. Fern diversity in wet areas can be spectacular – each species occupying a somewhat unique niche, thus minimizing competition with other species.

A mysterious disease is spreading through the already endangered Florida panther population, and dozens of wildlife scientists working to figure out how to stop it before any more of the beloved and endangered species remain crippled from it or die trying to live with it.

Terry Brennen, retired director of community funding for WGCU public media, had been infected with Vibrio vulnificus, a saltwater bacteria carried in storm surge that’s has led to an unprecedented spike in cases in Florida – 65 so far this year – the most since the health department began tracking cases in 2008.

Third annual cleanup event to rally the community to pick up debris along surrounding island shorelines and waterways.

We listen back to our pre-coronavirus pandemic session featuring music performed live in studio by guitarist Max Hatt and vocalist Edda Glass. You can…

To help people deal with stress and other feelings brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak, graduate students in Florida Gulf Coast Univerity's Counseling…

Governor Ron DeSantis announced three new appointees to the South Florida Water Management District, Thursday, at a press conference in Naples. From North…

We're now more than halfway through Black History Month. So, in honor of those of black heritage here in Southwest Florida, WGCU is featuring local…