>> THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING OFF A CERTAIN PARASITE COULD THREATEN THE SUPPLY.

IT'S CALLED THE NEW WORLD SCREWWORM.

WE'RE GOING IN DEATH TO FIND FACT FROM FALLACY AND WHAT THIS COULD MEAN FOR THE CATTLE INDUSTRY.

A SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SCHOOL DEVASTATED BY MOTHER NATURE MULTIPLE TIMES.

NOW THERE'S AN AGREEMENT BRINGING FORT MYERS BEACH ELEMENTARY BACK TO THE ISLAND.

AND IF YOU FIND YOURSELF FORGETTING WHERE YOU PUT YOUR CAR KEYS ARE WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN ANOTHER ROOM.

ARE YOU JUST IN A HURRY OR COULD YOU HAVE SIGNS OF EARLY ALZHEIMER'S?

COMING UP, NEW EFFORTS TO HELP REDUCE THE STIGMA OF WOMEN AND ALZHEIMER'S AND HELP CATCH THE DISEASE.

EARLY HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE USDA NOW CONFIRMS 5 CASES OF THE FLESH EATING PARA SITE IN TEXAS.

IN THE MEANTIME, FLORIDA HAS ENACTED EMERGENCY RESTRICTIONS ON ANIMAL IMPORTS TO TRY TO KEEP THE INSECT FROM ENTERING THE SUNSHINE STATE.

THE NEW WORLD FLESH EATING, SCREW WARM, CAN DEVASTATE WARM BLOODED ANIMALS LIKE CATTLE HORSES, AND EVEN PETS.

THE THREAT TO HUMANS IS VERY LOW.

HOWEVER, THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA ANIMAL EXPERT DOCTOR SALLY DO KNOW THAT TELLS ME IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE PARASITIC FLY CROSSES INTO FLORIDA.

SHE SAYS THE OUTBREAK WILL GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER.

SHE ALSO EXPECTS IT WILL TAKE YEARS TO ERADICATE AND OUTBREAK ISOLATED IN THE FLORIDA KEYS IN 2016 INFECTED ENDANGERED EAR FOR PETS INCLUDING 3 DOGS AND ONE CAT 130 DEER DIED.

THE PET SURVIVE WITH MEDICAL CARE.

THE USDA USED A STERILIZATION TECHNIQUES TO OFFICIALLY ERRATIC 8.

THE FLY IN 2017 DOWN IN THE FLORIDA KEYS.

BUT IT APPEARED IN TEXAS RECENTLY AFTER BEING DISCOVERED ON A CALF U.S.

SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, BROOKE ROLLINS SAYS THEY ARE URGENTLY WORKING TO HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF THIS PARASITE EXPEDITED.

A TARGETED RELEASE OF STERILE FLIES IN THE AFFECTED AREA TO PREVENT.

>> THE PASS FROM REPRODUCING AND ARE INCREASING TRAPPING FOR NEW WORLD.

SCREWWORM FLIES ALONG THE BORDER.

WE ARE RAMPING UP SURVEILLANCE AND ALSO MANAGEMENT IN OUR WILDLIFE.

IN SHORT, WE ARE USING EVERY TOOL AT OUR DISPOSAL TO ELIMINATE THIS THREAT TO OUR LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS AND TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.

AND WE WILL ACTIVELY KEEP YOU UPDATED.

>> TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THIS FLY COULD AFFECT FLORIDA'S LIVESTOCK.

I'M JOINED BY DOCTOR SALLY DID NOT A CLINICAL ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT UF COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

INSPECTORS HAVE NOW REPORTED THERE WAS AN INFECTED CALF THAT WAS FOUND IN TEXAS.

NOW THERE ARE 4 CASES IN TEXAS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THIS IS TRANSMITTED?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

AND INDEED, AS OF THIS MORNING WE HAVE.

>> 3 BOVINE CASES IN YOUNG YOUNG CAPS AND THEN THIS MORNING THEY ACTUALLY REPORTED A CASE IN A DOG ALL WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

SO THIS IS ACTUALLY A FLY LARVA.

AND SO THE ADULT FLIES LAY THEIR EGGS IN OPEN WOUNDS OR SORES OR ANY OPEN TISSUE AND THEN THEY HACKED INTO THESE FLESH EATING.

LARVAL STAGE.

THAT CAN BE REALLY QUITE DETRIMENTAL TO THE HOST.

SO IT'S SPREAD BY THE FLY ACTUALLY TRAVELING FROM ONE PLACE TO THE NEXT IN ORDER TO LAY THEIR EGGS ON AND ON A ONEBLOOD HOST.

>> WHY IS THIS SO ALARMING THAT WE HAVE NOW FOUND 4 CONFIRMED CASES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS >> SO THIS IS A DISEASE THAT CAN HAVE REALLY DELETERIOUS EFFECTS ON LIVESTOCK.

IT'S IT'S PAINFUL.

IT'S QUITE BOTHERSOME TO THEM.

IT CAN.

VERY QUICKLY RESULT IN REDUCED PRODUCTIVITY AND IT CAN ACTUALLY KILL THE HOST AS WELL BECAUSE THE INFECTIONS CAN BE QUITE DEEP AND EXTENSIVE AND REALLY AFFECT THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND SO THAT THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS CERTAINLY ON THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY HERE IN THE U.S.

AND THEN ALSO FROM A QUALITY OF LIFE CAN POINT US FOR ALL SPECIES OF ANIMALS.

WE ARE ADVOCATED THIS DISEASE FROM THE U.S.

IN THE 60'S AND HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED NEW WORLD SCREWWORM FREE SENSE THEN AND SO THE FACT THAT THE DISEASE HAS AND AND THE FLY POPULATION HAS SLOWLY CREPT NORTHWARD FROM THROUGH THE DARIEN GAP AROUND PANAMA WHERE IT HAD BEEN CONTAINED FOR THE LAST 60 YEARS UP THROUGH CENTRAL AMERICA AND UP THROUGH MEXICO AND HAS NOW CROSSED OUR BORDERS REPRESENTS A REALLY BIG CHANGE IN JUST THE OVERALL RISK AND STATUS OF THAT DISEASE, TOO.

THIS COUNTRY.

>> LIVESTOCK, OF COURSE, IS A MAJOR INDUSTRY IN FLORIDA AS WELL.

WHAT COULD THIS MEAN FOR OUR CATTLE AND HORSES?

>> WELL, THERE'S CERTAINLY ALSO SUSCEPTIBLE ON.

AND AS YOU MENTIONED, WE HAVE ACTIVE CASES.

NOW.

I WE WILL ERADICATE THIS DISEASE AGAIN.

BUT THE TIME THAT IT TAKES TO DO SO AND AT WHAT COST REALLY DEPENDS ON HOW QUICKLY ANIMAL PRODUCERS, ANIMAL OWNERS, RANCHERS CAN IDENTIFY CASES AND TREAT THEM IN CONCERT WITH THE USDA AND AND REGULATORY VETERINARY MEDICINE.

BUT AS FAR AS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT WILL BE SUBSTANTIAL, THERE WAS A LETTER WRITTEN IN LAST YEAR ON BEHALF OF ABOUT 175 DIFFERENT LIVESTOCK, STAKEHOLDER ORGANIZATIONS AND THEY ESTIMATED THAT THE ANNUAL IMPACT COULD BE UP TO 4 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR AND AND AND REALLY JUST DEPENDS ON HOW LONG IT TAKES TO ERADICATE.

>> AND IT CAN BE ERADICATED IT AS IT WAS IN FLORIDA IN 2016, 2017 WIN.

IT.

THERE WAS AN INFESTATION DOWN IN THE FLORIDA KEYS.

HOW DO THEY ERADICATE THIS INSECT?

>> THIS IS THE GOOD PART OF THE STORY.

THERE IS A BIOLOGIC CONTROL MECHANISM THAT IS ELOQUENT AND EFFECTIVE, WHICH THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THE OF THE WORLD, VARIOUS BIOLOGICAL CONTROL, MECH MECHANISMS ARE METHODS OFTEN HAVE SOME SORT OF OFF TARGET EFFECTS.

AND THIS DID NOT THEY THEY THIS TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT THAT THEY KNOW THE NEW WORLD SCREWWORM FLY ONLY MATE ONCE IN THEIR LIFETIME AND THEN THEY DIE.

AND SO IF WE ARE 88 MALE FLIES AND RELEASED THEM, THEY MATE WITH THE FEMALES AND PRODUCED NO PROGENY AND THE LIFE CYCLE ESSENTIALLY HALTS RIGHT THERE.

AND THEN AND SO THROUGH TARGETED DISPERSAL OF MILLIONS, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF IRRADIATED FLIES.

THIS DISEASE WAS ACTUALLY REMOVED FROM THE U.S.

REMOVED FROM CENTRAL AMERICA.

MEXICO AND PUSHED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO PANAMA WHERE IT HAS BEEN KEPT AT BAY THROUGH.

REGULAR RELEASE OF STERILE FLIES FOR DECADES.

NOW, DR WAS THE RISK TO HUMANS.

SO WE, TOO, ARE WARM BLOODED ANIMALS.

AND SO WE ARE BIOLOGICALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO NEW WORLD SCREWWORM INFECTION AND HUMAN INFECTIONS HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

THEY'RE PRETTY RARE, THOUGH.

AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF CERTAINLY A PERSON.

ACCIDENTALLY ACQUIRING ARE AT OR INQUIRING AFFECTION AND NOT REALIZING IT AND NOT GETTING VERY PROMPT TREATMENT, AT LEAST IN THIS COUNTRY WOULD BE REALLY PRETTY UNLIKELY.

SO CERTAINLY.

PEOPLE SHOULD BE AWARE OF ANY ONES THAT THEY MAY HAVE BEEN ANYONE'S WITH OBVIOUS LARVAL ACTIVITY IN THEIR ANIMALS OR THEMSELVES WOULD PROMPT AN IMMEDIATE APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR VETERINARIAN OR YOUR HUMAN PHYSICIAN.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO OVER EMPHASIZE NECESSARILY AND CREATE PANIC IN IN PEOPLE.

WE ARE SUSCEPTIBLE BUT INFECTION IS VERY RARE.

>> WHAT IS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION FOR CATTLE RANCHERS.

>> IN FLORIDA CURRENTLY.

TO BE COMMUNICATING WITH THEIR VETERINARIAN.

CERTAINLY SO IDENTIFYING ANY INFECTED ANIMAL, ANY ANIMAL THAT HAS A NON HEALING WOUND, ANY ANIMAL THAT LOOKS PARTICULARLY BOTHERED BY A WOUND THAT THEY MAY HAVE THESE THESE INFECTIONS ARE REALLY PAINFUL BECAUSE THE WORM ACTUALLY FEEDS ON LIVE TISSUE, NOT NOT JUST DEAD TISSUE.

AND SO THEY'RE THEY'RE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.

AND SO ANIMALS THAT SEEM OVERLY UPSET OR BOTHERED OR RESTLESS.

THOSE ARE ALL KIND OF CLASSIC SIGNS OF A OF A SCREW WORM INFECTION.

THE RANCHER COULD CALL THEIR VETERINARIAN.

THEY CAN ACTUALLY COLLECT SOME OF THE INSECTS.

SEND THEM OFF TO THE FEDERAL LAB.

IN IOWA FOR IDENTIFICATION.

THERE IS A WAY TO IDENTIFY THE STERILE FLIES FROM THE ACTUAL WILD INFECTIVE FLIES.

IF THEY CATCH FLIES THEM AND THOSE CAN BE DIFFERENTIATED.

THE LARVA CAN BE IDENTIFIED AS WELL.

AND IF IT ISN'T IN TRUE NEW WORLD SCREWWORM INFECTION, THEN THAT PARTICULAR ANIMAL WOULD BE ISOLATED AND TREATED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND EXPERTISE TODAY.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

>> HERE'S MORE ABOUT THE PARASITIC FLESH.

EATING FLY FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS THE USDA IS BUILDING A FACTORY IN SOUTHERN TEXAS THAT CAN PRODUCE UP TO 300 MILLION STERILE FLIES A WEEK TO HELP CONTROL THE POPULATION.

THE FACILITY IS EXPECTED TO OPEN IN 2027 FOR THE LATEST UPDATES ON THIS STORY AND MORE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS.

PLEASE VISIT W TCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP, A NEW FUTURE COULD BE IN STORE FOR FORT MYERS BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE ISLAND COMMUNITY AND ITS STUDENTS.

IT STARTED WITH HURRICANE IAN, BUT THEN MOTHER NATURE AND HER STORMS WOULD NOT LET UP ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THE STORMS EITHER DESTROYED SEVERAL SCHOOLS OR MATT STUDENTS HAD TO CHANGE SCHOOLS, WHETHER FORMER BUILDINGS UNDERWENT EXTENSIVE REPAIRS.

ONE OF THOSE WAS FORT MYERS BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOWN RESIDENTS AND SCHOOL DISTRICT LEADERS DISAGREED, THOUGH, ON ITS FUTURE.

NOW THAT HAS CHANGED WITH PLANS TO REOPEN THE SCHOOL AS A CHARTER SCHOOL WGCUS DANA HARPSTER HAS THE LATEST.

>> JOINING ME NOW IS FORT MYERS BEACH TOWN MANAGER, WILMA CANNING, MR.

MCCANN AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU, DENNIS.

PLEASURE.

BEING HERE.

THIS HAS BEEN A LONG PROCESS OF NEGOTIATION.

WAY BACK.

AND HELENE AND MILTON.

>> HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT THIS?

YEAH, I'M REALLY EXCITED.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED.

THE GUN.

>> TO THIS MILESTONE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE WITH LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME PREDATES ME WHEN I BECOME TOWN MANAGER.

BUT ABOUT A WEEK OR 2 AFTER I WAS APPOINTED, IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TASKS THE TOWN COUNCIL ASSIGNED TO ME WAS TO CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND IDEALLY TO BRING THE SCHOOL BACK TO FORT MYERS BEACH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> RIGHT.

AND IT SEEMED TO INVOLVE THE WHOLE TOWN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

RATHER DOWN JUST PARENTS, EVEN STUDENTS THE PARENTS ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY COMMITTED TO THIS AND PASSIONATE BECAUSE FROM THAT TIME, THEIR KIDS HAVE ALREADY BEEN 2 YEARS OF GOING TO OFF OFF ISLAND TO SCHOOL AT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT SCHOOLS OVER THOSE YEARS HAVING TO MOVE AROUND AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S DIFFICULT ON THE KIDS AND THE PARENTS.

BUT EVEN THOSE WITHOUT KIDS ON THE ISLAND.

RESIDENTS ON THE ISLAND, BUSINESSES ON THE ISLAND ARE VERY COMMITTED TO THIS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT BRINGING THE SCHOOL BACK.

HOW WAS THE DECISION TO HAVE A CHARTER SCHOOL?

>> BEACHED.

SO IT WAS IN THE ORIGINAL AIR LOCAL AGREEMENT OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL COULD BE AN OPTION IF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS UNABLE OR DETERMINED THAT THEY THEY WEREN'T GOING TO REOPEN A PUBLIC SCHOOL.

>> IT WAS IN THE ORIGINAL IOWA THAT IT COULD BE TRANSITIONED TO A CHARTER SCHOOL.

THERE WEREN'T A WHOLE LOT OF DETAILS IN THERE.

SO WE WHEN WE BECAME EVIDENT TO ME AND TOWN COUNCIL THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS NOT GOING DOWN THE PATH OF REOPENING THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.

A FORT MYERS BEACH ELEMENTARY.

WE KIND OF SHIFTED OUR STRATEGY IN THE NEGOTIATIONS TO SAY THAT.

WELL, WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE TOWN MUNICIPAL CHARTER.

IF THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO, WE'RE WILLING TO DO THAT AND WE WOULD NEED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S ASSISTANCE TO DO THAT AND OTHER DETAILS IN THE IN THE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS.

AND THAT'S THAT WERE INVOLVED.

THE PROPERTY AND ALL THE ALL THE OTHER MATERIALS AND STUFF THAT WE WOULD NEED.

AND THERE WERE SOME DISCUSSIONS OF OF FUNDING.

AND THAT WAS A MAJOR STICKING POINT RIGHT?

>> AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TWISTS AND TURNS IN THE.

PROCESS WITH THE POINT OF MAYBE IT EVEN BEING RAISED AT ONE POINT.

AND THAT WAS KIND OF A SCARY >> POINT FOR YOU GUYS.

I GUESS.

YES, I THINK THAT WAS AN EMOTIONAL LOW POINT TO HER VERY STRESSED POINT FOR RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN AND FOR OUR TOWN LEADERSHIP THAT THAT THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION OF ONE OF THE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAD A CONSULTANT, DO A STUDY OF THE FEASIBILITY OF BRINGING BACK A BRING BACK FORT MYERS BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, JUST ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THAT CONSULTANT REPORT WAS TO RAISE THE BUILDING.

AND AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ONLY DOES IT HAVE MEAN A LOT TO THE COMMUNITY AS A SCHOOL AS ITS CENTER FOR EDUCATION ON THE ISLAND.

IT'S ALSO THE STORY BUILDING HAS BEEN THERE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

ONE OF THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF LAND ON THE ON THE ISLAND DONATED THE SCHOOL, DONATED THE BUILDING TO BECOME A SCHOOL BEEN FOR ABOUT 80 YEARS.

IT WAS A SCHOOL HAS BEEN A SCHOOL ON THE ISLAND.

SO AND IT'S ON THE NATIONAL HISTORIC REGISTRY.

WELL, AND TALK TO ME ABOUT FUNDING OF THIS.

ACCORDING TO THE INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT.

>> I DON'T SEE ANY REFERENCE TO COST IN THERE.

AND IS THE TURNOVER OF THE SCHOOL DONE WITHOUT COST?

AND THEN WHAT KIND OF FUNDING WITH THE TOWN NEED TO COME UP WITH IT?

>> TO AN ORDER TO REBUILD YOUR RIGHT.

AND RIGHT NOW, THE DRAFT NEW INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

IT DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY MONETARY CONCESSIONS TO THE TOWN.

IT ONLY INCLUDES THE TRANSFER OF THE PROPERTY, THE FORT MYERS BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THE ASSOCIATED BUILDINGS AND THE PARCELS THAT IT'S LOCATED ON.

SO WE ARE IT'S A DRAFT.

I FEEL THAT WE'RE STILL IN NEGOTIATIONS ON THAT DRAFT THERE.

STILL SOME BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE STAFF OF LEAK.

LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND WE WILL PROPOSE SOME EDITS TO THAT BACK TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THEN EVENTUALLY TO OUR TOWN COUNCIL.

AND THEY'RE OPEN TO THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

I WILL SAY SO FAR OF EVERYONE I'VE SPOKEN WITH UNDERSTANDS THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME EDITS TO THAT.

IT DOESN'T CONTAIN THOSE CONCESSIONS.

IT WAS ORIGINAL PART OF OUR REQUEST.

I'M SURE YOU'VE BEEN COVERING IT KNOWS OF COVERAGE.

WE DID START OFF IN THE MEDIATION PROCESS WITH THE ASKING FOR, YOU KNOW, THE ABOUT 11 MILLION DOLLARS THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN DISASTER RELIEF FUNDING THAT THAT MONEY BE TRANSFERRED WITH THE PROPERTY.

SO WE WOULD HAVE THE FUNDS TO TO STARTED UP AS A SCHOOL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

AND THEN THOSE NUMBERS CHANGED AS WE WENT BACK AND FORTH IN THE NEGOTIATION.

ULTIMATELY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE SCHOOL BOARD DECIDED THAT KNOW THE LAND CONCESSION.

I WOULD BE A AN IN KIND TO MONETARY IN THEIR MIND.

THERE IS SOME VALUE TO THE LAND.

ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE LAND HAS VALUE.

AND SO I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, NOT APPRECIATIVE THAT I AM.

SO WE FEEL THAT AT THIS POINT BASED ON WHERE THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE, IF IF WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SCHOOL, WE'LL JUST WE'LL NEED TO ACCEPT THE PROPERTY TRANSFER AND AND MOVE FORWARD SO WE CAN START GETTING A SCHOOL OPEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> BUT I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PRIDE IN THE SCHOOL AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT HAPPENS TO IT.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ADD ABOUT THE SITUATION THAT I HAVE NOT TALKED TO YOU ABOUT?

I THINK YOU STARTED OFF WITH A DINNER AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED.

THE COMMUNITIES IS THRILLED.

>> AND AND ALSO CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC.

ABOUT THIS.

BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GREAT INTEREST.

LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HELP US TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO JUST THANK THE LEADERSHIP OF THE TOWN FOR THEIR STRONG LEADERSHIP IN PUSHING THIS AS THEY HAVE THE TOWN COUNCIL, THE MAYOR, THE VICE-MAYOR AS WELL AS OUR APPRECIATION TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT STAFF AND THE SCHOOL BOARD THAT IT'S BEEN A VERY COLLABORATIVE PROCESS AT TIMES, CONTENTIOUS.

CERTAINLY YES, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ALL WANT THE SAME GOAL.

WE WANT EDUCATION FOR OUR KIDS.

AND WE FEEL THAT IT'S CLOSE IS THAT CAN BE TO THE KIDS HOME.

THE BETTER.

>> BUT THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION.

AND I KNOW OUR VIEWERS WILL APPRECIATE KNOWING MORE ABOUT THIS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THANK YOU.

>> AS THIS STORY DEVELOPS, WE'LL BRING YOU THE LATEST INFORMATION YOU CAN FIND IT BY VISITING WT C U DOT ORG.

WELL, WE ARE NOW AND WHAT'S CONSIDERED RAINY SEASON IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IT'S STILL BEEN QUITE SPORADIC AND SCATTERED.

THE DROUGHT MONITOR STILL SHOWS THAT OUR AREA IS A LONG WAY FROM RECEIVING THE RAINFALL THAT WE NEED TO GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

DROUGHT WISE IS WGCUS SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER TOM BAYLISS.

>> THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT THIS WEEK RESCINDED ITS STRICT LONG WATERING RULES PUT IN PLACE MONTHS AGO FOR LEE AND COLLIER COUNTIES.

SEVERAL MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REGION HAVE LIFTED BANS ON OUTDOOR BURNING.

LEE COUNTY'S 5 MONTH LONG BURN BAN ENDED IN LATE MAY HAS TO CAPE CORAL'S.

THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT'S DECISION IS BASED ON MORE THAN 4 INCHES OF RAIN THAT WILL FALL ON LEE AND COLLIER COUNTIES SINCE LATE MAY.

A BACKYARD RAIN GAUGE ALONG THE PEACE RIVER IN GORDA IS SHOWING MORE THAN 18 INCHES FELL THERE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

THOSE TOTALS ARE NOT INDICATIVE OF WHATS HAPPENING THROUGHOUT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN MOST PLACES SUMMER SHOWERS HAVE BEEN SPOTTY AND OCCASIONAL.

AND EVEN IF THE REGION WERE TO BE BLANKET AND MORE THAN 4 INCHES OF RAIN, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TO SAY SHE A DROUGHT THAT'S BEEN BUILDING FOR OVER 18 MONTHS.

THE REALITY IS THAT THIS IS A SEVERE DROUGHT.

IT WILL TAKE DAYS AND DAYS OF THAT DRIZZLY TYPE OF SHOWERS, NOT COMMON DURING THE SUMMER IN FLORIDA.

AND JUST LIKE LAST SUMMER.

RIGHT AT THIS TIME, THE FORECAST BY STATE AND FEDERAL DROUGHT MONITORING AGENCIES ARE MIXED.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE'S CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER IS FORECASTING ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES THROUGHOUT AUGUST.

SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T HELP EASE THE DROUGHT.

RAIN DOES, BUT A PREDICTION CENTER CAN'T SAY WHETHER THERE WILL BE MORE OR LESS PRECIPITATION IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS.

NO IS.

DROUGHT MONITOR IS SHOWING ALL OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA LOCKED INTO A SEVERE OR EXTREMELY PARCHED CONDITIONS, AT LEAST THROUGH THE END OF THIS MONTH.

LONGER TERM.

THE DROUGHT MONITOR SAYS THE DROUGHT WILL CONTINUE HERE, BUT ITS GRIP WILL BEGIN TO LOOSEN.

LAST SUMMER'S HOPES THAT THE RAINY SEASON WOULD QUENCHED.

THE TROUT FELL SHORT ON THE LACK OF SHOWERS LEFT DEFICITS OF MORE THAN A FOOT IN THE MORE IN THE FORT MYERS REGION.

THAT KICK STARTED THE DROUGHT.

AND THE WILDFIRE THREAT WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A REAL CONCERN.

MORE THAN 150,000 ACRES OF FOREST HAVE BURNED STATEWIDE.

THAT'S NOT A RECORD, BUT IT IS FAR MORE THAN WHAT IS BURNED IN A TYPICAL WILDFIRE SEASON.

AND THERE ARE MONTHS LEFT IN THE HEART OF THE WILDFIRE SEASON THIS YEAR.

WE ARE.

>> YOU KNOW, STILL ON HIGH ALERT AND READY TO RESPOND TO ANY LIGHTNING STRIKES OR BACKYARD FIRES AS THE BURNS BANNED FROM BANDS ARE SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN RESCINDED, THOUGH.

SOME OF THE BACKYARD FIRES IF THEY GET OUT OF CONTROL, WE'RE ALWAYS READY TO RESPOND.

>> THE WILD CARD UPCOMING IS THE PREDICTED.

SUPER EL NINO, WHICH IF IT HAPPENS, WILL SUPERCHARGE THE SUBTROPICAL JET STREAM AND BRING A MUCH WETTER WINTER TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

MAY VERY WELL QUENCH THE DROUGHT THAT HAS BEEN BLANKETING FLORIDA SINCE THE BEGINNING OF LAST YEAR.

>> YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH TOM BAYLISS ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BY AGAIN VISITING OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP, A NEW EFFORT ABOUT DIAGNOSING ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE AND WHY THIS CAMPAIGN IS REACHING OUT TO WOMEN.

>> THE EARLY STAGES OF ALZHEIMER'S CAN LOOK DIFFERENT FOR EACH PATIENT.

>> THE IMPORTANCE OF AN EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND CHANGING PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THE DISEASE IS THE GOAL OF A NEW JOINING US NOW TO TELL US MORE IS CEO OF HEALTHY WOMEN.

BETH AND KERRY DENNIS, WHO HAS EARLY STAGES OF THE DISEASE.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

CAN YOU FIRST TELL US WHAT IS THIS CAMPAIGN AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT?

>> THIS IS A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN CALLED THIS IS ALL SAND.

OUR GOAL HERE IS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE EARLY STAGES OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

THIS CAMPAIGN IS POWERED BY HELPING WOMEN AND OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT EARLY ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE IS DIFFERENT.

THEN LATER, STAGE, ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE FOR MANY OF US.

WE PICTURE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AS AN OLDER PERSON'S DISEASE.

ONE, IN FACT, THERE ARE MANY YOUNGER PEOPLE THAT MAY BE LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE BUT MAY NOT BE SHOWING THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS EARLIER THAT YOU'RE DIAGNOSED, THE MORE OPTIONS THAT YOU HAVE AS FAR AS TREATMENT PLANNING YOUR LIFE, PUTTING TOGETHER YOUR SUPPORT TEAM AND HAVING A VOICE IN YOUR TREATMENT CARE PLAN.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE KEY SYMPTOMS THAT WOULD LET SOMEONE KNOW THAT THEY MIGHT MIGHT BE SHOWING THE BEGINNING SIGNS OF THE DISEASE.

YEAH, I'D LOVE TO SHARE MY STORY.

FOR ME.

>> SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I NOTICED I ATTRIBUTED TO NORMAL AGING, ESPECIALLY AT HOME.

I WALK INTO A ROOM.

YOU CAN'T REMEMBER WHY YOU'RE THERE.

YOU LOSE YOUR KEYS TO MISPLACE YOUR PHONE, BUT FOR ME AT WORK IS WHERE THE SYMPTOMS BECAME MUCH MORE NOTICEABLE.

SO I WORKED IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES LET A LARGE DEPARTMENT OF LEADERS AND ASSOCIATES AND I STARTED NOTICING THAT.

THINGS BECAME ARE BECOMING MUCH HARDER, MUCH MORE DIFFICULT AND THE THE HARD BECAME HARDER.

THE ALARMING PART WAS THE EASY BECAME HARDER.

AND SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS MANAGING MY CALENDAR OR WRITING AN E-MAIL EMAILS BECAME MY NEMESIS.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RIGHT.

AND A TYPICAL WEEK, I WOULD PROBABLY WRITE 100 EMAILS AND IN 3 MINUTES ANY MAIL WOULD BE OUT AND I WOULD SIT AND TRY TO GET THE WORDS OUT OF MY HEAD AND CONNECT THE DOTS TO MAKE AN E-MAIL AND IT WOULD TAKE.

20 MINUTES.

AND SO IT WAS IT WAS WHEN THE EASY THINGS WE'RE JUST BECOMING TOO DIFFICULT TO DO THAT.

I REALLY KNEW THAT IT WASN'T JUST NORMAL AGING.

>> AND I APPLAUD THE FACT THAT YOU ACTUALLY WENT AND RECOGNIZE SYMPTOMS AND YOU TOOK STEPS TO GET TREATMENT WHERE I THINK A LOT OF OLDER ADULTS ARE AFRAID TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

VERY MUCH SO.

IT IS.

>> IT I WILL.

IT IS A SCARY DIAGNOSIS.

IS SCARY.

IF I COULD SAY, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT I HAVE LEARNED SINCE GETTING MY DIAGNOSIS IS IT GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY AND TO LIVE MY LIFE INTENTIONALLY.

I WAKE UP EVERY DAY AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY AND I AM MAKING MEMORIES FOR AS LONG AS I CAN.

AND I'M LIVING A LIFE OF PURPOSE.

AND THAT IS A GIFT.

I AM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF TREATMENTS.

I AM WORKING WITH A CARE TEAM THAT SUPPORTS ME.

I'M IN A SUPPORT GROUP WITH FRIENDS JUST LIKE ME.

AND THERE IS.

THERE IS IT'S.

YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S A SCARY DIAGNOSIS, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF THE RIGHT REASONS.

FORGETTING A DIAGNOSIS.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S A PERSONAL DECISION.

BUT WHEN YOU MAKE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE US, JOY, ON THE OTHER SIDE.

>> THAT COULD YOU TELL OUR VIEWERS WHERE THEY CAN GO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGN?

>> SURE.

WE INVITE YOUR VIEWERS TO VISIT.

THIS IS ALL AILS THE DOT COM FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO HEAR OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE SHARING THEIR STORIES OF LIVING WELL WITH EARLY-STAGE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY AND TELLING US ABOUT THIS REALLY IMPORTANT CAMPAIGN.

WE APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS.