WGCU News

Cutting through the waters and chilly temperatures off Florida's Gulf coast just after sunrise early Tuesday, a trio of fishermen aboard a small boat experienced the catch of a lifetime: They spotted two 16-year-old friends who had spent the night adrift on a paddleboard waving down their rescuers from atop an oyster bar miles from shore.The teens, identified by family and friends on social media as Eva Aponte and Avery Bryan, survived 16 hours on the water in temperatures that dipped into the low 40s. Rescuers described them as shivering cold with cuts to their hands and feet from razor-sharp oyster shells but otherwise OK.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reopening the public comment period for a proposed rule to list the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Information about how to submit comments can be found on regulations.gov by searching for docket number FWS-R3-ES-2024-0137.

The Florida Wildlife Federation is collaborating with the Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation (Gulf Partnership) to provide $150,000 annually over the next three years, a total of $450,000, to support land and easement acquisitions across Florida.The partnership was announced Tuesday morning.Funding will be directed to the Gulf Partnership’s Project Assistance Fund, which helps cover critical expenses associated with conservation transactions — a crucial step in securing permanent protection for Florida’s natural and working lands.

The first two candidates have filed to run for what likely will be an open seat in congress next year. It's district 19, covering most of Collier and Lee counties.

This is the 39th year that the Alliance for the Arts has organized its 'All Florida Exhibition.' As the name implies, it features work by artists from across the state of Florida. Overall, the exhibition reflects the wide array of subjects and themes that weigh on the minds and hearts of Florida-based artists.

Two outdoor art festivals take place in Southwest Florida March 22 and 23: the 37th Annual Downtown Naples Art Fair and the Art League of Marco Island Craft Show.

This week, only Sarasota Opera House is conducting performances. It is staging eight performances of five separate operas between Tuesday and Sunday afternoon.

Between 2004 and September of 2022, local historian Gerri Reaves wrote a weekly column for The River Weekly News. Most of her articles traced the occupancy of Fort Myers’ historic buildings. She shared some of those stories last week with members of the Southwest Florida Historical Society during a presentation she titled “Scenes from Downtown History.” Her pithy observations prompted several members to ask how to go about preserving her writings and research for posterity.

Over seven million adults serve as a primary caregiver for their parents. But what about the physical, emotional and financial costs that come associated with providing this care?

This week, six shows open, three close and 12 others continue their runs at equity and community theaters from Marco Island to Sarasota. In addition, Southwest Theatre at Gulf Coast Symphony's production of 'West Side Story' will be at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall for two shows only on Saturday and Sunday, March 22 & 23.