THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, STATE LAWMAKERS GEAR UP FOR A RETURN TO TALLAHASSEE, REDRAWING CONGRESSIONAL MAPS IS THE PRIMARY FOCUS.

BUT WHAT PROGRESS IS BEING MADE TO AGREE ON A STATE BUDGET.

WE WILL HAVE THE LATEST FOR YOU.

PENMANSHIP IS ALIVE AND WELL IN FLORIDA.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NEW SCHOOL STANDARDS MAY FOCUS ON HANDWRITING, BUT COULD ALSO GIVE A BOOST TO STUDENTS MENTAL HEALTH AND A CARAVAN OF MOTORCYCLES CRUISING FOR A CAUSE.

THE RIDE THAT DOES MORE THAN JUST RAISE AWARENESS FOR THE STRUGGLES OF UNITED STATES VETERANS.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD, FLORIDA'S ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDED 6 WEEKS AGO WITHOUT PASSING A BUDGET.

AND WITHOUT GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS IS PRIORITY OF A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSAL TO CUT OR ELIMINATE HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAXES.

IN THE MEANTIME, A SPECIAL SESSION THE GOVERNOR CALLED TO CONSIDER REDRAWING THE STATE'S CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAPS WAS SUPPOSED TO START THIS WEEK, BUT THAT WAS PUSHED BACK.

STILL.

IT LOOKS LIKE SOME PROGRESS COULD BE ON THE IMMEDIATE HORIZON.

WE'RE NOW JOINED BY WGC HOST AND REPORTER.

>> JOHN DAVIS WITH THE LATEST.

AND JOHN, WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE SPECIAL SESSION THAT SUPPOSED TO START THIS WEEK?

RIGHT TODAY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE LAST DAY OF A SPECIAL SESSION.

>> THAT WAS >> SOLELY TO DEAL WITH CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING.

BUT THAT GOT PUSHED BACK.

NOW.

THAT'S GOING TO START THIS COMING MONDAY.

APRIL 27TH.

WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THE SESSION THAT'S GOING TO START ON MONDAY.

DOESN'T HAVE AN OFFICIAL ADJOURNMENT DATE, AT LEAST AS FAR AS I CAN FIND AND PROBABLY THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT THEY'RE NOT JUST GOING TO BE TACKLING CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING.

THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO BE TACKLING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REGULATION AND OF THIS ROLLBACK OF VACCINE MANDATES FOR KIDS IN SCHOOLS.

NOW, THESE WERE BOTH BILLS THAT WERE CONSIDERED DURING THE REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION, BUT THEY DIDN'T PASS.

BOTH OF THEM PASSED IN THE SENATE.

BUT IN THE HOUSE NEVER TOOK THEM UP.

AND DESANTIS WANTS TO GET THESE DONE.

SO HE'S BRINGING THESE BILLS BACKED UP.

WHAT HAS CHANGED IN THE PAST 6 WEEKS THAT POSSIBLY COULD MAYBE CHANGE THE OUTCOME FOR THE AI BILL OF RIGHTS AND THE VACCINE MANDATE EXEMPTION THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS REALLY PRIORITIZED.

>> WELL, IT'S THE FUNNY THING AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, NOTHING.

THERE REALLY HASN'T BEEN A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING THAT HAPPENED, YOU'LL REMEMBER WE THOSE SPECIAL ELECTIONS DURING WHICH 2 LEGISLATIVE SEATS FLIPPED FROM REPUBLICAN CONTROL.

THE DEMOCRATIC CONTROL.

SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT THROUGH THAT LENS, IT SEEMS LIKE THE LEGISLATURE WOULD HAVE EVEN LESS OF AN APPETITE NOW THAN THEY DID 6 WEEKS AGO.

>> WHEN THEY DIDN'T TAKE UP THE ISSUE AND WE STILL ARE WORKING ON GETTING A BUDGET.

THE FISCAL YEAR STARTS JULY 1ST.

IS THERE ANY HEADWAY ON THOSE TALKS?

>> YES, FINALLY, WE DO HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS THERE OF AND LAWMAKERS HAVE CALLED A ANOTHER SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THIS IS GOING TO BE AN 18 DAY SESSION THAT RUNS FROM MAY 12 TO THE 29TH, AS YOU'LL REMEMBER, LAWMAKERS ENDED SESSION WITHOUT A BUDGET IN PLACE 6 WEEKS AGO.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE'S PROPOSED PLANS WERE ABOUT 1.4 BILLION DOLLARS APART, BUT FLORIDA'S BUDGET IS PROJECTED TO BE IN THE ROUND BY OVER A BILLION DOLLARS NEXT YEAR AND OR EXCUSE ME, 6 BILLION DOLLARS IN 2 YEARS.

IF YOU KNOW SPENDING OR REVENUES DON'T CHANGE.

SO I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT WHEN WE DO HAVE A BUDGET AGREEMENT.

>> WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME BELT TIGHTENING LEAST.

THERE IS SOME FORWARD MOVEMENT ON THAT WHOLE DISCUSSION.

YES.

AND WITH MIDTERM ELECTIONS NEAR, HOW DO YOU THINK ALL OF THIS IS PLAYING OUT WITH WITH VOTERS >> I REALLY DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE PLAYING OUT WELL WITH EVERYDAY FLORIDIANS BECAUSE WE HAVE THE GOVERNOR SAYING, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE OUR PRIORITIES, LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WANTING TO TACKLE THESE ISSUES.

BUT THEY'RE NOT THE ISSUES THAT POLLING CONSISTENTLY SHOWS US ARE THE TOP PRIORITIES OF REGULAR EVERYDAY FLORIDIANS.

WHAT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT IS AFFORDABILITY.

FLORIDA IS STILL THE STATE WHERE.

WE ARE PAYING MORE FOR PROPERTY INSURANCE THAN PEOPLE IN ANY OTHER STATE.

OUR AUTO INSURANCE RATES ARE ALSO INCREDIBLY HIGH.

ALL RIGHT.

THE SAME TIME THERE HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE'RE SEEING UNEMPLOYMENT CONTINUING TO INCH UP IN FLORIDA OF THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS NOW HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AND HERE'S A WALL STREET JOURNAL ARTICLE HEADLINED FROM THIS WEEK, FLORIDA'S POPULATION BOOM, FIZZLES AS HIGH COSTS DRIVE AWAY MIDDLE CLASS SENATOR RICK SCOTT SHARED A LINK TO THAT ARTICLE ON TWITTER AND HE WROTE, QUOTE, HIGHER COSTS OF LIVING IN FLORIDA ARE DRIVING PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE STATE.

THAT'S BAD FOR FLORIDIANS.

BAD FOR BUSINESS.

BAD FOR EVERYONE.

THIS ON THE HEELS OF LAST MONTH'S JOB NUMBERS IS INCREDIBLY DISCOURAGING.

OUR STATE NEEDS TO GET BACK ON TRACK AND START FOCUSING ON JOBS AGAIN, CREATING NEW PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS AND DRIVING DOWN COSTS BY GETTING GOVERNMENT OUT OF THE WAY AND LETTING PEOPLE THRIVE IS WHAT IS NEEDED SO THAT REALLY DOES SEEM TO BE MORE IN LINE WITH THE PRIORITIES OF EVERYDAY FLORIDIANS.

BUT AGAIN, DESANTIS, HIS MAIN PRIORITY IS ALSO ELIMINATING PROPERTY.

TAXES ARE HOMESTEAD, PROPERTY TAXES AND EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING TO CONFIRM SPECIAL SESSIONS, PROPERTY TAXES STILL ISN'T ON THAT AGENDA.

BUT JUST YESTERDAY AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IN KISSIMMEE, HE INSISTED LAWMAKERS HAVE UNTIL AUGUST TO GET SOMETHING DONE.

SO I THINK WE'RE VERY LIKELY GOING TO SEE A 3RD SPECIAL SESSION JUST TO ADDRESS THIS WHOLE ISSUE OF PROPERTY TAXES AND TRYING TO ELIMINATE OR REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES.

AND THIS IS A BIG DEAL FOR THE GOVERNOR.

YOU'LL REMEMBER IS THE FINAL YEAR OF HIS SECOND TERM.

HE'S TERM LIMITED OUT.

HE'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES, CHAMPIONING THIS FOR SOME 18 MONTHS NOW.

AND I THINK THIS IS REALLY WHAT HE WANTS TO BE HIS GUBERNATORIAL LEGACY.

BUT WHEN I SPOKE WITH LEE COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER, MIKE CALDWELL DURING WEEKS, REALLY COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION MEETING BEFORE SESSION STARTED.

ONE THING I REMEMBER HIM SAYING IS HE DIDN'T THINK THE PROPERTY TAX ISSUE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IN A SINGLE YEAR.

HE THOUGHT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A MULTI-YEAR EFFORT AND EVEN SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN FRONTRUNNERS LOOKING TO REPLACE GOVERNOR DESANTIS WHEN HE LEAVES OFFICE HAVE PLEDGED THEY WOULD CONTINUE THAT BATTLE AS WELL.

SO EVEN IF LAWMAKERS DON'T DO SOMETHING THIS SUMMER, THE WHOLE ISSUE OF PROPERTY TAX REFORM ISN'T GOING AWAY.

>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE LATEST.

AND THERE'S SO MUCH INFORMATION TO KEEP ABREAST OF ASSURANCE.

THANKS FOR SHARING.

OF COURSE.

>> BE SURE TO HEAD TO WGCU DOT ORG.

FOR MORE ON OUR COVERAGE OF THE SPECIAL SESSION AS WELL AS ALL OTHER STORIES IMPACTING SOUTHWEST FLORIDA EARLIER THIS WEEK.

WGCU BROUGHT YOU A POWERFUL DOCUMENTARY ON THE PLANE CRASH ON I-75 THE CRASH OF FLIGHT 823 AND THE FIRST HAND ACCOUNT OF RESPONDERS IN NAPLES.

NOW THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD HAS RELEASED ITS FINAL REPORT ON THE DEADLY CRASH.

THE NTSB SAYS CORROSION IN BOTH ENGINES IS A LIKELY FACTOR OF THE CRASH IN NAPLES.

ON 75 IN FEBRUARY OF 2024, THE REPORT SAYS CORROSION IN THE ENGINES LEAD TO A LOSS OF THRUST AND THAT THE CORROSION WAS EVEN MADE WORSE BECAUSE THE PLANE WAS STORED NEAR THE OCEAN.

AND WAS EXPOSED TO SALT IN THE AIR.

THE PLANE'S 2 PILOTS DIED IN THE CRASH.

THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT AND THE 2 PASSENGER SURVIVED.

YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THE CRASH REPORT.

THE ONGOING LAWSUIT AND FIND THE LINK TO THE DOCUMENTARY FLIGHT 8.23 HOMAGE TO HEROES BY LOGGING ON TO OUR WEB SITE AT WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP NEXT IS THE PEN MIGHTIER THAN THE TABLET?

HOW NEW FLORIDA SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS COULD ALSO LEAD TO BETTER GRADES AND MORE MINDFULNESS.

THIS WEEK, FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS SIGNED AN EDUCATION BILL THAT BRINGS SEVERAL REQUIREMENTS TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

ONE OF THOSE ELEMENTS REQUIRING STUDENTS TO LEARN CURSIVE, WRITING IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, YOU MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT CURSIVE WRITING WAS A THING OF THE PAST, BUT HANDWRITING IS ACTUALLY TRENDING AND THERE MIGHT EVEN BE SOME MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS FROM PICKING UP THE PEN.

LAUREN MOODY BEAR MIGHT JUST BE THE QUEEN OF CURSIVE.

SHE IS THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN HANDWRITING ANALYSIS FOUNDATION AND SHE ALSO RUNS THE ANNUAL CURSIVE IS COOL CONTEST.

LAUREN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FROM WASHINGTON STATE.

HAPPY TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU.

THAT YOU ARE A GRAPH, ALA JUST WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WHAT DOES DO AS A GRAPH ALL ADJUST?

>> GRUFFALO JUST TAKES A LOOK AT A PERSON'S HANDWRITING WHATEVER SAMPLE THEY HAVE AVAILABLE AND WE CAN LOOK AT IT AND FIND OUT WHAT PERSONALITY TRAITS ARE COMING THROUGH.

THE HANDWRITING AND THE REASON THAT IS IS BECAUSE YOUR HANDWRITING IS LIKE AN EKG FOR YOUR PERSONALITY AND YOUR BRAIN.

SO EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE, EVERYTHING THAT YOU FEEL AND THINK COMES THROUGH IN YOUR HAND, READY.

SO WE USE IT A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

JURY SELECTION, TENANT SCREENING AND USE IT FOR.

IN COURTROOMS TO VERIFY SIGNATURES AND AUTHENTICATION OF THINGS.

THEY SUFFER A LOT OF THINGS FOR MY CLIENTS.

AND I TEACH IT.

>> WHAT DOES THE AMERICAN HANDWRITING ANALYSIS FOUNDATION THAT YOU'RE INVOLVED IN AN AND WHAT ROLE DO YOU SERVE THERE?

>> THE I AM THE COMMITTEE CHAIR FOR THE CAMPAIGN FOR CURSIVE AND A MEMBER, A BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE.

SO I DO A VARIETY OF THINGS FOR THE BOARD.

I WAS PRESIDENT IN THE LAST TERM.

SHILO IS CURRENTLY PRESIDENT AND WHAT WE DO IS WE ENCOURAGE CURSIVE, WRITING INSTRUCTION IN THE SCHOOLS AND AND FOR ADULTS, TOO, BECAUSE THERE'S A WHOLE GENERATIONS OF ADULTS WHO'VE NEVER LEARNED CURSIVE, WRITING.

AND SO IT IS BENEFICIAL.

SO WE ENCOURAGE THAT AND WE HELP OUR MEMBERS IN WHATEVER ENDEAVOR THERE DOING FOR THEIR OWN BUSINESS.

AND PAULA T.

>> THIS IS REALLY YOUR PASSION.

WHITE IS HANDWRITING SO IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN AS A SKILL ON BOTH A PERSONAL LEVEL.

AND IN OUR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF HOW IT EFFECTS ARE BRAIN FUNCTION.

WE HAVE GROUPS.

GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE GROWING OLDER, ALL ALL OF US ACTUALLY FROM FROM DAY ONE ARE GROWING OLDER, BUT IT HELPS US TO MAINTAIN OUR MEMORY AND AND OUR SHARPNESS AND WE FOUND THAT THROUGH STUDIES SCHOOL WHEN KIDS ARE TAUGHT IN SCHOOL THERE S A TEASE WHEN THEY GET TO COLLEGE AREA COLLEGE LEVEL ARE BETTER AT THE SCORES ARE BETTER AND THEY MAINTAIN THAT MEMORY.

THE SNAPS US IS CREATED IN THEIR GRADE THROUGH CURSIVE, WRITING TO CONNECTING THE LETTERS AND THE LOOPS AND THE CURLS IT.

IT'S MAINTAINED WHATEVER THEY'VE LEARNED OF WHATEVER SNAPS A SAVE CREATED IN THE BRAIN.

WE'LL STAY WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.

SO GIVES HIM AN EDGE THROUGH THE COLLEGE YEARS AND BEYOND.

>> IS THERE IS THERE A LINK BETWEEN HANDWRITING AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS AMONG CHILDREN'S?

>> THERE IS OF KIDS WHO HAVE CAUGHT WHO ARE TAUGHT IN A KIND OF HANDWRITING, BUT ESPECIALLY CURSE OF WHETHER CONNECTING THE LETTERS.

AND THERE IS A IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIAL.

CONNECTED.

THIS CONNECTEDNESS FOR BEEN ABLE TO SOCIALIZE ADAPT TO WHATEVER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE HAPPENING IN THEIR LIVES.

THERE'S ALSO CAN A STUDIES SHOW THAT AND THEY CAN REMEMBER THERE ARE BETTER AT MATH.

SCIENCE ARTS.

THOSE SKILLS ARE.

REALLY IMPORTANT IN THEIR ACADEMIC.

>> NOW I HAVE READ AND YOU TOUCHED ON IT A LITTLE BIT AS WE AGE.

>> AND IF WE START LOSING THAT ABILITY TO WRITE WELL INFORMED THOSE LETTERS AS WE'RE GETTING OLDER, THAT CAN BE A SIGN THAT WE HAVE DIMINISHED BRAIN FUNCTION AND EVEN CAN BE A AN EARLY WARNING SIGN FOR IT.

DEMENTIA AND ALZHEIMER'S.

IS THAT TRUE?

ONE OF THE FIRST INDICATORS OF PARKINSON'S.

>> BEFORE A PERSON IS DIAGNOSED, OFTENTIMES THEIR HANDWRITING WILL SHOW SIGNS COMPRESSION IN THE HANDWRITING GETS TINY AND THE ROUNDED EDGES THAT WOULD NORMALLY BEING ROUNDED LETTERS GET EDGY AND SO DOCTORS CAN AND HAVE USE IT TOO.

SHOW WHETHER OR NOT A PERSON NEEDS FURTHER TESTING.

>> THAT'S INTERESTING.

WHAT WHAT CAN WE DO TO IMPROVE OUR HANDWRITING SKILLS IN EVERYTHING YOU DO REQUIRES ELECTRONIC RESPONSES FROM TEXTING AND E-MAILING TO ANYTHING WE DO ONLINE.

SO HOW HOW DO WE KEEP THE SCHOOL ALIVE?

WELL, IF WRITE YOUR GROCERY LIST ON A PIECE OF PAPER THAT IS.

>> IT'S JUST A SIMPLE LITTLE THING OR TO DO LIST IS A PIECE OF PAPER.

I I KNOW I'M I USE MY PHONE TOO FOR MY GROCERY LIST TO CHECK IT OFF AS A GONE STORM.

BUT WE CAN DO THINGS LIKE THAT TO DO THIS.

WE CAN WRITE LITTLE NOTES TO OUR GRANDPARENTS WHO ARE FRIENDS, SAY CARTER POSTCARD.

I LIKE POSTCARDS BECAUSE THEY ONLY HAVE THIS MUCH ROOM THAT YOU'RE GAR THAT THAT YOU NEED TO FILL.

SO YOU HAVE A POST CARD.

YOU CAN SEND A POSTCARD TO SOMEBODY AND THAT IS HELPFUL IN MAINTAINING YOUR OWN WRITING.

YOU JUST DO A DOODLES.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ACTUAL WORDS.

IF YOU DO DOODLES LOOPS, UPPER LOOPS AND LOWER LOOPS.

AND IF YOU DO, WHILE MUSIC IS PLAYING, IT REALLY HELPS YOU TO WHATEVER'S GOING ON IN YOUR DAY.

WHATEVER'S GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT.

JUST THINK ABOUT THE MUSIC IN THE DOUBLES AND THEN AND PROVES YOUR HANDWRITING AND YOUR.

MENTAL >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THIS IS WONDERFUL.

AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING TIME TODAY TO TALK TO US ABOUT THIS.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

A GOOD WAY TO BOOST YOUR OVERALL HEALTH.

>> GETTING OUTSIDE AND DOING SOME GARDENING.

EVEN THOUGH EARTH DAY HAS PASSED, THERE ARE STILL WAYS YOU CAN IMPROVE THE PLANET FOR THE REMAINING 364 DAYS OF THE YEAR.

WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE HAS MORE.

>> IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO CELEBRATE EARTH DAY AND GARDENING IS A SIMPLE THING YOU CAN DO TO HELP BOTH THE PLANET AND YOUR HEALTH.

>> THERE ARE MANY BENEFITS OF GARDENING FIRST-BALLOT GET TO OUTDOORS.

SECONDLY, IT'S REALLY GOOD EXERCISE.

AND THERE YOU GET YOUR HANDS IN THE DIRT AND YOU CAN SEE THE PRODUCTS OF THE FLOWERS OR THE HERBS OR THE VEGETABLES THAT YOU'VE PLANTED.

>> AS CLEVELAND CLINIC'S DOCTOR DEBORAH VENCILL EXPLAINS.

GARDENING IS A GOOD FULL-BODY WORKOUT THAT CAN SUPPORT BONE HEALTH AND MAY REDUCE THE RISK OF OSTEOPOROSIS AND THEY ALSO HELP KEEP THE MIND SHARP AND LOWER THE RISK OF DEMENTIA.

GARDENING IS A GREAT WAY TO SOAK UP THE SUN AND GET SOME VITAMIN D AS WELL.

JUST DON'T FORGET THE SUNSCREEN.

AND THE BEST NEWS.

IT'S SOMETHING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES CAN ENJOY.

BUT IF YOU'RE JUST GETTING STARTED, DR BENZOYL SAYS IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS.

>> REMEMBER, IT'S EXERCISE TO PREPARE FOR.

DON'T OVERDO IT AND THEY HAVE TO BE DONE TO TAKE A GOOD STRETCH.

AND THEN LOOK FORWARD TO THE SMELL OF THE HERBS, THE TASTE OF THE VEGETABLES, THE BEAUTY OF THE FLOWERS.

>> IF YOU GET ANY ACHES OR PAINS, DR BENZOYL SAYS IT'S BEST TO TAKE A BREAK AND FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR DOCTOR IF IT PERSISTS.

FOR WGCU NEWS IM TEDDY BYRNE.

>> FOR MORE HEALTH RELATED STORIES FROM WAYS TO BOOST YOUR HEALTH TO MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS.

MAKE SURE TO HEAD TO OUR WEB SITE AT WGCU DOT ORG.

>> CERTAIN MEDICATIONS CAN ACTUALLY INCREASE POTENCY OVER TIME.

SO YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL.

AND CONVERSELY, THERE ARE SOME MEDICATIONS THAT LOSE ALMOST ALL OF THEIR POTENCY.

SO CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATE.

>> SATURDAY IS NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION.

TAKE BACK DAY.

EXPERTS SAY IT'S BEST TO KEEP YOUR MEDICATIONS IN A BOTTLES.

YOU CAN BE AWARE OF THE EXPIRATION DATE IF THE DATES NOT VISIBLE OR YOU NOTICE DISCOLORATION IT'S BEST TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION.

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO VISIT A DRUG, TAKE BACK LOCATION, YOU CAN REMOVE THE PILLS FROM THEIR ORIGINAL CONTAINER MIX THEM WITH WASTE LIKE COFFEE GROUNDS AND PLACE THEM IN THE TRASH DOCTOR.

NE AVS OF THE CLEVELAND CLINIC SAYS IT.

IT'S NOT JUST EXPIRED.

PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS PEOPLE SHOULD CONSIDER GETTING RID OF.

>> WE MAY THINK ARE MEDICATIONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT WE PURCHASE FROM THE PHARMACY THAT DON'T REQUIRE PRESCRIPTIONS SUCH AS COUGH, SYRUPS OR MEDICATIONS LIKE THAT ARE COMPLETELY HARMLESS.

BUT IF THEY'VE BEEN OPENED AND SITTING AROUND FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, THEY CAN ACTUALLY HARBOR BACTERIA THAT CAN BE QUITE DANGEROUS TO INGEST.

>> ASIDE FROM EXPIRED MEDS IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO THROW OUT ANY UNUSED MEDICATIONS TO PREVENT OTHERS FROM TAKING THEM.

OF THE OVER 350 NCAA DIVISION, ONE ATHLETIC DIRECTORS ONLY 62 ARE WOMEN THIS WEEK FGCU FGCU AD CALLING HARGUS ANNOUNCED HE'S A 10 INTENTION TO MOVE ON IN THE DOOR FOR LAUREN LEISTER TO STEP IN ON AN INTERIM BASIS AS WGCUS KATE CRONIN SHARES SHE LOOKS TO CONTINUE TO RISE IN WOMEN ENTERING LEADERSHIP ROLES FOR ATHLETIC INSTITUTIONS.

>> FOLLOWING THE DEPARTURE OF HARGUS WAS HEADED TO NORTH CAROLINA STATE.

THE UNIVERSITY TURN TO SOMEONE WHO HAD BEEN IN CHARGE OF THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT BEFORE.

LAUREN LEISTER.

LEAST OR PREVIOUSLY HELPED RUN THE DEPARTMENT IN 2023.

SHE NOW HAS THE TITLE OF INTERIM ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AND HAS BEEN A PART OF THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT SINCE 2020.

ACCORDING TO LATEST DATA FROM THE NCAA, ONLY 16% OF DIVISION.

ONE SCHOOLS HAVE A FEMALE FLECK DIRECTOR.

WE ASKED LEASER ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE PART OF THAT SMALL GROUP.

>> BEING A FEMALE LEADER IN ANY INDUSTRY.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY.

BUT I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

A LOT SPECIFIC TO THE COLLEGE ATHLETICS INDUSTRY BECAUSE THERE HAVEN'T BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO WHAT YOU DESCRIBED.

I THINK IT COMES WITH A GREAT LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY.

AND WHAT I WOULD SAY ABOUT IT IS.

I OWE IT TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF YOUNG WOMEN TO CREATE THE FLOOR FOR THEM.

SO EVERYTHING THAT I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.

I WANT THE NEXT GENERATION OF WOMEN TO THINK, WELL, THAT'S GREAT.

I'M GOING TO DO BETTER.

>> SHE FACES A DAUNTING TASK OF MOVING INTO THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR ROLE IN A TIME WHERE SMALLER CONFERENCES LIKE THE ATLANTIC SUN ARE LOSING PLAYERS AND A NUMBER OF SPORTS TO LARGER CONFERENCES TO HAVE MORE MONEY FOR YOU.

AND I L. IMAGE IN LIKE THIS MONEY.

THE PLAYERS CAN BE PAID.

WE ALSO ASKED LEAST ARE ABOUT AND I L IN HER NEW ROLE AT THE UNIVERSITY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S SOMETHING I THOUGHT ABOUT.

I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INTO SERVICE OF THE DEPARTMENT IF IF I HADN'T SOMETHING THAT WE TALK ABOUT FREQUENTLY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS ACROSS CAMPUS, INCLUDING UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT IN OUR COACHES.

SO THAT STRATEGY IS IMPORTANT.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL DEFINITELY BE WORKING ON.

>> INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, HER INITIAL PLAN WAS TO WORK IN THE NFL, BUT SHE SAYS WHEN SHE REALIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS, SHE FOUND HER PLACE LEESER MOVES INTO THE INTERIM POSITION WHILE ALSO SERVING AS DEPUTY ATHLETICS DIRECTOR AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M KATE CRONIN >> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, POUNDING THE PAVEMENT FOR A CAUSE.

DOZENS OF MOTORCYCLISTS RIDE IN TANDEM IN SUPPORT OF U.S.

VETERANS.

THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HAS REQUESTED OVER 17 BILLION DOLLARS TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTHCARE AND SUICIDE PREVENTION IN VETERANS.

THE NEED FOR ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT VETERANS GROWS EVERY YEAR TO HELP RAISE MONEY AND AWARENESS.

AMERICAN LEGION MOTORCYCLIST JOIN TOGETHER IN CAPE CORAL FOR THEIR IN STATE UNITY RIDE WGCUS BRYANT MONTEILH HAS THE STORY.

>> ON A BREEZY SUNDAY MORNING IN CAPE CORAL A CONVOY OF MOTORCYCLES CRUISED INTO TOWN.

OCCASION, THE 8TH ANNUAL IN STATE UNITY RIDE.

ITS TOP OF THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 90 IN CAPE CORAL AS PART OF THE 7 ROUT OF THE UNITY RIDE.

THEIR MISSION TO RAISE AWARENESS AND MONEY TO ENSURE VETERANS HAVE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS.

AND IN VETERAN SUICIDE.

WE SPOKE WITH SOME OF THE WOMEN RIDERS WHO ARE TAKING PART OF A FIVE-DAY TREK, WHICH WILL COVER ABOUT 1800 MILES RYDER SOON MISSED IS ONE OF THE STATE UNITY RIDE COORDINATORS.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US BECAUSE OUR VETERANS ARE WHAT KEEP OUR COUNTRY FREE.

>> THEY'RE THE ONES THAT MADE OUR COUNTRY WHAT IT IS TODAY AND WE WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP THEM AND SUPPORT THEM IN ANY WAY WE CAN.

MISSY HANLEY IS ANOTHER RIDER ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE.

>> A GOOD SUPPORT SYSTEM.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE ALL THESE WOMEN WRITERS WITH US TO SUPPORT THEM THEN AND EVEN WOMEN SERVICE WOMEN.

>> ROBIN MALTESE SAYS IT'S ALL ABOUT TEAM WORK.

CAMARADERIE HERE IS AMAZING.

I GOTTA SAY THE VETERANS IN OUR COUNTRY IS THE LARGEST BEST STRONGEST TEAMS.

YOU TALK ABOUT NFL HOCKEY, BASEBALL, THESE VETERANS, THEY ARE OFFER WON.

ARMY NAVY MARINES, COAST GUARD SPACE FORCE DOESN'T MATTER.

IT'S ONE HECK OF A TEAM.

AND WITHOUT THEM WE WOULD NOT BE THE COUNTRY.

WE ARE ACCORDING TO PROJECT VET RELIEF EVERY DAY, AN AVERAGE OF 22 VETERANS LOSE THEIR LIVES TO SUICIDE >> JIM WARREN LINDH IS A VIETNAM VETERAN AND CHAIRMAN OF THE AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS OF FLORIDA.

WE HAVE A >> OF ABOUT 40 MENTAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

AND ALSO WE HAVE 40'S ARE TEACHING PARTNERS THAT WE HELP FUNDS SO THAT THE VETERAN TO GET HELP.

GOOD.

WE WE COVER THE COSTS.

THE MAJOR THING ABOUT THIS RIDE IS THAT THIS IS THE RIDE THAT SUPPORTS SUICIDE PREVENTION SIDE, A PROJECT THAT REALLY.

>> OVER THE PAST 7 YEARS, THE UNITY RIDE HAS RAISED MORE THAN 1 MILLION DOLLARS.

THE GOAL THIS YEAR IS 42500,000 LOOKS ARE KNOWN AS THE AMERICAN LEGION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA POST 9 TO BE COMMANDER.

SHE'S THE FIRST FEMALE COMMANDER IN THE POST HISTORY AND A RETIRED AIR FORCE COMMAND CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT.

ONE THING THAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT NO VETERAN IS EVER ALONE.

>> WHETHER IT'S THEIR COMMUNITY OR OTHER FELLOW VETERANS, THEY'RE NEVER ALONE.

THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE SUPPORTED.

THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT ALONE AND THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE TO HELP THEM.

24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR THE EVENT BROUGHT TOGETHER ABOUT 300 PLUS RIDERS TRAVELING NEARLY 2500 MILES ACROSS FLORIDA.

>> THE FINAL RALLY WILL BE IN SANFORD, FLORIDA, ON APRIL.

25TH.

FOR WGCU NEWS IM BRYANT MONTEILH >> ON THE NEXT PROGRAM, GROWING OLD IN STYLE.

WE TALK WITH THE LONGEVITY EXPERT TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO AVOID THE ACHES AND PAINS THAT COME ALONG WITH EACH PASSING YEAR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE TO HEAD TO WGCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT TIME RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS GOODNIGHT.