Gulf Coast Live: Doug Molloy / Challenges Facing Job Seekers

Southwest Florida’s top federal prosecutor has turned over the reins to someone new.  After more than 20 years as the area’s chief assistant US Attorney in Fort Myers Doug Molloy has moved into private practice.  Meet him today to hear about his time working to convict some of the most heinous criminals in the middle district of Florida – from a mafia boss to a Colombian drug lord, to local politicians gone bad to deputies paid off by drug dealers. And then there’s the title he unwittingly yet justifiably earned – the slavery expert.

About 1.3 million Americans stand to lose their long-term unemployment benefits the week between Christmas and New Years unless Congress reauthorizes the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program. Meanwhile Florida job seekers report problems with the state’s new online system to apply for benefits, called CONNECT. We’ll explore the impact on the unemployed and the economy.

The show will be live at 9AM on 90.1 FM

Call in: 1-877-428-8255
Email: gulfcoastlive@wgcu.org
Click here to go to the show’s page

Gulf Coast Live: Legalizing Medical Marijuana in Florida / Deterring Youth Offenders in Southwest Florida

The United for Care Campaign is currently working to place a constitutional amendment proposal on the 2014 ballot that would place the decision of legalizing medical marijuana in the hands of Florida voters. A recent poll shows Florida voters support allowing adults to use medical marijuana with a doctor’s prescription by a margin of 82% to 16%. Supporters say marijuana has legitimate medical uses and can provide needed relief to Floridians with certain medical conditions. Opponents of the effort, including Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, argue that the language of the proposed amendment would make it too easy for patients to get medical marijuana for less-serious ailments like minor aches and pains. As the Florida Supreme Court prepares to consider whether to allow the proposal onto the 2014 ballot, we’ll hear from both sides.

Community leaders in North Port are looking to adopt a program aimed at keeping youth offenders out of the juvenile justice system and providing alternatives to arrest for kids who commit minor crimes. We’ll take a closer look at those efforts, as well as the Neighborhood Accountability Boards and Civil Citation Program offered through the Charlotte County Department of Human Services which could serve as a model for the city of North Port.

The show will be live at 9AM on 90.1 FM

Call in: 1-877-428-8255
Email: gulfcoastlive@wgcu.org
Click here to go to the show’s page

Gulf Coast Live: Remembering The Sunshine Skyway Bridge Collapse of 1980 / Symposium on Harmful Algae Blooms Returns to Sarasota

On May 9, 1980, tragedy struck Tampa Bay when a 600-ft cargo ship struck the Sunshine Skyway Bridge causing a segment of the bridge to collapse.    Seven cars and a Greyhound bus fell over the edge and 35 people died. We speak with writer Bill DeYoung about his new book, “Skyway: The True Story of Tampa Bay’s Signature Bridge and the Man Who Brought It Down,” covering the state of the bridge prior, details about the tragedy, its aftermath, and the man who was piloting the ship when it struck the bridge.

Researchers, policy makers and students from across the nation will be in Sarasota next week forMote Marine Laboratory and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s 7th annualSymposium on Harmful Algae Blooms in the U.S.We’ll take a closer look at the latest research and monitoring of Red Tide and other algal blooms that plague Florida waters; how they form and how they impact wildlife, the marine environment, the economy and human health.

The show will be live at 9AM on 90.1 FM

Call in: 1-877-428-8255
Email: gulfcoastlive@wgcu.org
Click here to go to the show’s page

Gulf Coast Live: Local Impacts of Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act / Drug Related Deaths on Decline in Florida

The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 went into effect Oct. 1.  The law is intended to close the National Flood Insurance Program’s $24 billion deficit by phasing in a series of rate increases.  However, without action by Congress to delay the law, many Southwest Florida property owners will see exorbitant increases in their flood insurance rates.  We’ll explore efforts to mitigate the law’s adverse effects on property owners, the local economy, and the recovery of the housing market.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and State Attorney General’s Office recently released the 2012 Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons report which finds that drug related deaths are on the decline.  Deaths related to prescription drug use are experiencing the greatest decline.  We’ll explore local drug use trends and what’s behind the decline.

The show will be live at 9AM on 90.1 FM

Call in: 1-877-428-8255
Email: gulfcoastlive@wgcu.org
Click here to go to the show’s page

Gulf Coast Live: Long Term Effects for Survivors of Childhood Cancer / Going Green – The Benefit for Businesses

While the incidence of childhood cancer diagnoses has increased over the past 20 years, the survival rate of patients has also increased dramatically according to the National Cancer Institute.  This has prompted health care professionals to work harder to understand the long-term health effects for survivors.  Ahead of the Golisano Children’s Hospital’s first Pediatric After Cancer Experience Conference on Oct. 19, we hear a local survivor’s story as we take a closer look at addressing the special needs of those who’ve beaten childhood cancer.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection hosts its 2nd annual Greening Your Bottom Line Expo & Conference October 16 -17.  We talk with conference speakers and other experts about how businesses from restaurants and hotelliers to manufacturers can adopt more environmentally friendly practices and how ‘going green’ can effect profitability.  We’ll also explore some state and local programs already in place that encourage green innovation in the private sector.

The show will be live at 9AM on 90.1 FM

Call in: 1-877-428-8255
Email: gulfcoastlive@wgcu.org
Click here to go to the show’s page

Gulf Coast Live: Risks of Head Injuries in Football / Sea Turtle Nesting in Southwest Florida

The NFL and thousands of former players settled their concussion related lawsuits this summer with retired players who have cognitive issues becoming eligible for money. The settlement doesn’t mean anyone agreed football caused the problems. It does mean retired players will get help and more funding will be available for research aimed at making the game safer.  So what is the truth about the risks of head injuries for football players of all ages? We’ll explore that question ahead of the PBS Frontline investigation League of Denial: The NFL’s Concussion Crisis airing next week on WGCU-TV.

Unhatched sea turtle nests remain on Southwest Florida beaches but the nesting season, which runs from May through October is winding down. Although Loggerhead Sea Turtles are most prominent locally, endangered Green Sea Turtles are the comeback story this year with nest numbers breaking records. We’ll take a closer look at how this year’s nesting activity in Southwest Florida along with beach monitoring efforts aimed at keeping track of nesting activity, protecting nests and educating the public.

The show will be live at 9AM on 90.1 FM

Call in: 1-877-428-8255
Email: gulfcoastlive@wgcu.org
Click here to go to the show’s page

Gulf Coast Live: Implementing the Affordable Care Act in Florida / Creating a Role Playing Video Game Theme Park

The launch of Florida’s federally-run healthcare exchange is set for Oct. 1 and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates about 3.5 million Floridians will be eligible for coverage under the Affordable Care Act. We’ll take a closer look at the Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida’s Navigator Project to help people sign up for coverage along with other efforts to reach out to Floridians who could get coverage through the exchange.

Nov. 1 – 3, the Fort Myers downtown River District will be transformed into an interactive role playing adventure based on storytelling, video game culture and gaming competitions.  The Game Nation Celebration marks a roll-out event of a much larger initiative looking to create the world’s first video game based theme park and resort experience.  We’ll meet members of the team behind the push to combine the theme park and video game industries, right here in Southwest Florida.

The show will be live at 9AM on 90.1 FM

Call in: 1-877-428-8255
Email: gulfcoastlive@wgcu.org
Click here to go to the show’s page

Gulf Coast Live: TRIM Appeals / PBS Correspondent Ray Suarez on his book “Latino Americans”

Last month, Southwest Florida property owners began receiving Truth in Millage (TRIM) notices in the mail.  The notices are an estimate of property taxes the owner will incur based on a property’s assessed value, and the time to dispute that assessed value is quickly coming to a close.  We’ll speak with Lee County Property Appraiser Ken Wilkinson along with Fort Myers-based real estate attorney Mike Hagen for a look at how a property’s assessed value is determined, what owners considering an appeal need to know about the process, and trends for 2013 petitions and tax roll estimates.

During National Hispanic Heritage Month we speak with Ray Suarez, senior correspondent for PBS NewsHour and host of the public radio show America Abroad. He’s written a companion book to the PBS documentary series called “Latino Americans: The 500-year Legacy That Shaped A Nation”.

The show will be live at 9AM on 90.1 FM

Call in: 1-877-428-8255
Email: gulfcoastlive@wgcu.org
Click here to go to the show’s page

Gulf Coast Live: Amphibians in Decline / Sarasota to host 2017 World Rowing Championships

The International Federation of Rowing Association’s Congress recently chose Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota as the site of the 2017 World Rowing Championships.  The event is expected to bring some 42,000 visitors to the region and inject millions into the local economy.  We’ll explore how officials are preparing to host the sport’s most important event outside of the Olympics.

A recent study from U.S. Geological Surveyresearchers finds that frog, toad, and salamander populations are declining at a rapid rate throughout the country including in Florida.  The study, published in the scientific journal PLOS One, is a first-of-its kind estimate on the animals’ populations from around the country.  We’ll explore the findings and what they could indicate for future survivorship of many amphibian species.

The show will be live at 9AM on 90.1 FM

Call in: 1-877-428-8255
Email: gulfcoastlive@wgcu.org
Click here to go to the show’s page

Gulf Coast Live: Dreaming in Color / Foreign Illegal Fishing in the Gulf of Mexico

August 28 marks the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech at the 1963 March on Washington.  In the days leading up to that anniversary, the News-Press has been running a special series taking a closer look at race relations in Southwest Florida then and now and the challenges still facing a community where racial divides still run deep.  We’ll talk with News-Press reporters Melanie Payne and Janine Zeitlin who interviewed more than 50 community members from all walks of life for their “Dreaming in Color: ‘I Have a Dream’ 50 years later” series.

Foreign illegal fishing in the Gulf of Mexico is growing problem that poses risks to our economy, national security and the sustainability of the commercial fishing industry. It’s even been linked to drug smuggling and human trafficking, yet many people don’t even know it occurs. We’ll explore the extent and impact of foreign illegal fishing, barriers to law enforcement getting a handle on the problem, and proposals now making their way through the U.S. Senate aimed at addressing the issue.

The show will be live at 9AM on 90.1 FM

Call in: 1-877-428-8255
Email: gulfcoastlive@wgcu.org
Click here to go to the show’s page