WGCU News

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will hold a series of virtual public meetings to collect feedback directly from Florida residents on proposals for highly regulated black bear hunting in Florida.

City of Punta Gorda has mixed opinions at their city council meeting on Wednesday, March 19.

Why do humans still look to the skies for signs of alien life? Or spend countless hours in the woods trying to lure Bigfoot? A new book takes a deep dive into the history of these fringe theories

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.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said his office would investigate Monday night's split vote by the Fort Myers City Council that will now block city police from entering into a federal government agreement on immigration operations.

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.