THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, EXTREME HEAT AND HUMIDITY BRING TRIPLE-DIGIT TEMPERATURES THROUGHOUT THE SUNSHINE STATE AS THE REGION REMAINS TRAPPED UNDER A HEAT DOME.

WILL THE SWELTERING WEATHER PUT A DAMPER ON THE UPCOMING HOLIDAY WEEKEND?

WITH A RECORD NUMBER OF AMERICANS EXPECTED TO TURN OUT FOR THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

MORE EXPERTS ARE LOOKING AT GEN Z HAS THE DEMOGRAPHIC WHO COULD BE THE DECIDING FACTOR IN KEY RACES AND BUILDING BETTER FATHERS, ONE HAIR TIE AT A TIME.

WE CHECK OUT THE DADS WHO ARE BUILDING A LASTING BOND WITH THEIR DAUGHTERS BY PERFECTING THE SKILLS OF HAIR BRAIDING.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AS MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ARE MAKING THEIR 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY PLANS.

THE WEATHER COULD PLAY SPOILER FOR SOME OUTDOOR CELEBRATIONS ALONG WITH MOST OF THE NATION.

FLORIDA REMAINS IN A HEAT DOME THAT LEADS TO THE FEELS LIKE TEMPERATURE TO BE IN THE TRIPLE DIGIT CLIMATE CHECK SAYS A HEAT DOME OCCURS WHEN A HIGH-PRESSURE SYSTEM PARKS OVER A SPECIFIC REGION AND TRAPS HEAT AND HUMIDITY.

MUCH LIKE WHEN YOU PUT A LID ON A POT FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK AND WELL INTO THE WEEKEND, TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BE 4 DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE, BUT IT WILL FEEL EVEN HOTTER AS HIGH AS 110 DEGREES.

WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE HAS MORE.

>> FOR MORE ON THE HEAT ACROSS FLORIDA AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOUR HOLIDAY WEEKEND PLANS.

I'M JOINED BY IRENE SANZ CERTIFIED METEOROLOGIST WITH F PRINT THE SANDS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO NOW SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, LIKE THE REST OF THE NATION IS UNDER THIS MASSIVE HEAT DOME.

SO WHAT IS THE IMPACT?

THIS WEATHER PHENOMENA IS HAVING ON TEMPERATURES ACROSS FLORIDA AND THE REST OF THE NATION.

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW, LIKE YOU SAID, WE ARE UNDER A HEAT, THOUGH.

IT'S BASICALLY A WIDE HIGH-PRESSURE SYSTEM THAT IT WILL SIT IN THE SAME PLACE FOR A WHILE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TEMPERATURES THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE WELL ABOVE AVERAGE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.

TEMPERATURES AT THAT WILL BE BEATING RECORDS ARE 2 VERY LEAST TYING RECORDS ACROSS MAINLY THE MID-ATLANTIC AND THE NORTHEAST.

WHY?

BECAUSE THE CENTER OF THIS HIGH-PRESSURE SYSTEM, IT'S RIGHT OVER THIS REGION ARE WHERE THE NORTHEAST NOW FOR US, WE ARE STILL GETTING SOME OF THE CREW.

THE PARALLEL IMPACTS OF THIS BILL WHERE BASICALLY A PROTECTION FROM ANY SORT OF FRANCE AND THAT BRAIN, NUMEROUS SHOWERS WILL BE GUESTS.

WE ARE STILL GET IN A FEW SHOWERS, ESPECIALLY IN THE AFTERNOON WITH THOSE THE TYPICAL AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS.

BUT OVERALL CONDITIONS WILL STAY DRIER THAN USUAL, ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE SOUTH, FLORIDA AND ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY FRONTS COMING IN AND THE WINDS, THE WINDS ARE ME OUT OF THE EAST SOUTHEAST, WHICH WILL KEEP THE HOTTEST TEMPERATURES MAINLY FOCUSED ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WHY?

BECAUSE US, THOUGH, WENTZ ACROSS THE LAND, IT WARMS THE LAND THIS WAY WARMER IN THE OCEANS.

WE KNOW THIS AND IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THE TO THE AIR TO WARM SE LEACH'S SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN ARRIVES WITH THEM.

LOTS OF HEAT.

THAT'S WHY THE WARMEST TEMPERATURES WHEN THE WHENS ARMENIA MAINLY OUT OF THE EAST-SOUTHEAST, STAY FOCUSED ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

SO WE HAVE ALL THESE UP INGREDIENTS TO HAVE A LOT OF HEAT.

AND OF COURSE, WITH THE HUMIDITY IN PLACE WHERE TALKING ABOUT HEAT INDICES, THAT WILL BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 100 TO ONE OF 5 DURING THE PEAK HOURS OF THE DAY, WHICH IS BETWEEN 12:08PM.

>> SO HOW COMMON ARE THESE?

I MEAN, WE'RE USED TO THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY DOWN HERE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS KIND OF BRING A LITTLE EXTRA SURGE IN WHAT WE'RE USED TO IN THIS AREA.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WILL FREQUENTLY HAPPENING OR IS THIS A RARE OCCURRENCE?

IT HAPPENS.

>> IT HAPPENS ALL.

WE WERE TALKING A SETUP IN THE MIDDLE AND UPPER LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE THAT STAYS IN PLACE.

WHEN WE HAVE POSITION RIGHT UNDER THE HIGHPRESSURE SYSTEM OR NEARBY, THAT'S WHERE WE GET THE WARMEST TEMPERATURES.

AND THE THING IS THAT WITH THIS HIGH-PRESSURE SYSTEM, IT'S WHAT WE USUALLY AND OMEGA BLOCK.

IT'S THAT THE GREEK LETTER OMEGA.

SO WE HAVE A HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM AND 2 LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEMS.

THE PROBLEM IS THIS THAT WE ARE UNDER OR NEAR THE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM AND WHEN WE HAVE TO SET UP THIS OMEGA BLOCK SET UP.

IT TENDS TO STAY WITHIN THE RELATIVES, THE SAME AREA FOR SEVERAL DAYS, SOMETIMES UP 2 WEEKS, WHICH WE SAW THAT HAPPENED IN EUROPE RECENTLY.

NOW WITH THIS OMEGA SET UP THIS HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM THAT WILL MOVE SLOWLY.

WE HAVE SEEN IT SLOWLY CREEP UP BETWEEN THEM IN THE MIDWEST.

THE GREAT LAKES AREA.

NOW DURING THE LATTER PART OF THIS WEEK WILL BE MAINLY FOCUSED ACROSS THE NORTHEAST AND THE MID-ATLANTIC.

NOW FOR US.

WE ARE BASICALLY GET IN THE REMNANTS OF THE SYSTEM BECAUSE HE'S SO WIDE THAT FLORIDA JUST SITS IN THE BOTTOM FOR PRETTY MUCH THE WHOLE WEEK.

SO WE ARE EXPECTING TEMPERATURES TO ABOVE AVERAGE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.

NOW, DURING THIS WHOLE WEEK.

AND OF COURSE, OF THIS SET UP TENTS TO BE MORE COMMON IN THE SUMMERTIME AREA IN THE SUMMERTIME BECAUSE THIS ALSO THE PATENT CHIPS, RIGHT?

WE GET MORE SUNLIGHT.

WE GET MORE MORE MORE TIME FOR THE DAY TOO, TO WARM UP.

AND OF COURSE, THE WINTER AND PLAYS THE HUMIDITY STAYS IN WHEN LIKE THIS THAT CAN MENTION BEFORE WE HAVE THIS HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM SIT IN THE SAME PLACE FOR A WHILE.

WE DID NOT GET ANY FRONTS MOVING IN WHICH ALSO THEY TEND TO BECOME RARE DURING THE SUMMERTIME.

>> SO ARE WE ABLE TO TRACK THIS CURRENT SYSTEM GET AN IDEA OF HOW LONG IT MIGHT LINGER FOR?

I MEAN, CAN THIS BE OVER MAYBE BY THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND, CELEBRATIONS OR IS THIS SOMETHING HUMAN NEED TO HUNKER DOWN ON AND INVEST IN A GOOD PAIR OF SHORTS AND FLIP-FLOPS?

ARE THE FUTURE.

>> DEFINITELY INVEST IN THEM.

WE ARE VERY STARTING WITH SUMMER.

WE ARE ONLY WHAT A FEW THEY SUN OFFICIALLY RIGHT.

BUT WE KNOW THAT THE THE WARMEST, THOUGH WEEKS ARE STILL RULING THE MEAN THAT WE STARTED WITH A WARM SUMMER, THAT LITTLE STALE WARM ALL SUMMER.

BUT WE HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL HEAT ADVISORIES THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR.

DEFINITELY NOT AS MANY AS IN 2024, BUT WE ARE COUNTING THE HEAT ADVISORIES AND ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WE ARE ROUNDING UP IN THERE WHERE WE'RE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 6 TO 8 HEAT ADVISORIES THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED SO FAR THIS YEAR.

WE'RE NOWHERE NEAR THE RECORD AMOUNT OF HEAT ADVISORIES THAT ARE ISSUED BACK IN 2024.

BUT WE CAN EXPECT THEM TO TO TO APPEAR SEVERAL TIMES MORE THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.

SO DEFINITELY INVEST IN SHORTS, THE HYDRATED AND THIS IS ALL THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE THIRSTY TO DRINK TO DRINK WATER BECAUSE ONCE YOUR THURSDAY COULD BE TOO LATE ALREADY.

AND OF COURSE, TRY TO LIMIT YOUR TIME OUTDOORS, ESPECIALLY DURING PEAK HOURS OF THE DAY AND TAKE THE SPREADS, ESPECIALLY FOR ALL THOSE WHO SPEND MORE TIME OUTDOORS.

SO WORKERS, ANY ANY ACTIVITIES THAT HE TOO OUT THERE WITH THE KIDS OR WELL WITH THE ELDERLY, WHICH THEY CAN TO BE MORE VULNERABLE.

>> SO NOW YOU DID MENTION SOME OF THE BRUSH FIRES THAT FLORIDA HAS BEEN DEALING WITH ITS COMING OFF.

WHAT HAS BEEN A RECORD DROUGHT SEASON FOR THE STATE IN THE LAST MONTH OR 2.

SO HOW IS THIS CURRENT HEATWAVE IMPACT IN THE DROUGHT AND, YOU KNOW, THE AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS ARE RETURNING, BUT ARE THEY MAKING A DENT IN HELPING US?

>> THEY HAVE HELPED HIM IN A BIT.

THAT THING IS THAT FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE OVERALL, MOST OF THEIR ACTIVITY HAS STAYED IN THE INTERIOR.

SO ALTHOUGH WE HAVE SEEN AN IMPROVEMENT IN A DROUGHT ACROSS MUCH OF FLORIDA, IN FACT, NO REGION OF FLORIDA IS NOW UNDER AN EXTREME JARRED, WHICH IS GREAT NEWS.

WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE VERY HOT TEMPERATURES.

SO ANY.

LITTLE BIT OF RAIN OF MOISTURE THAT THE GROUND HAS ACCUMULATED.

WITH THE HEAT.

IT EVAPORATES.

SO AS SO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE DROUGHT.

THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF DRY VEGETATION OUT THERE.

WE DEFINITELY SEE THAT THE LAST FIRE THAT STARTED ACROSS WESTERN BROWARD COUNTY WAS STARTED BY LIGHTNING.

SO THAT TELLS US THAT THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF DRY VEGETATION OUT THERE.

SO EVEN THOUGH YOUR CATEGORY MET MIGHT HAVE IMPROVED IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

YOU STILL HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH ANY BURN BANS THAT COULD BE IN EFFECT OR EVEN IF THERE'S NOT A ONE IN EFFECT IN YOUR COUNTY OR IN YOUR OWN IN YOUR CITY, YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL, ESPECIALLY WITH THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

COMING UP, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FIREWORKS.

MAKE SURE YOU EXTINGUISH THOSE VERY CAREFULLY BECAUSE ANY LITTLE SPARK COULD SPARK COULD IGNITE A FIRE.

AND IF WE HAVE THE WINDS BLOWING A LITTLE BIT HARD, HE JUST PROPAGATE RAPIDLY AND IT CAN BECOME REALLY DANGEROUS.

>> WIRING STANDS WITH EFREN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> AS THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER CONTINUE TO SIMMER, YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE WITH ALL OF THE WEATHER AND ENVIRONMENTAL STORIES BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE AT WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP, JUST THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN POLITICS.

LIE IN THE HANDS OF THE DIGITAL GENERATION.

WHY MEMBERS OF GEN Z YOU'RE BEING TARGETED WITH A NEW CAMPAIGN INDEED, GETTING THEM OUT TO THE POLLS THIS YEAR.

THIS NOVEMBER POLLING DATA SHOWS MORE AMERICANS THAN EVER ARE EXPECTED TO VOTE.

A RECENT POLL FROM THE ECONOMIST REPORTS 57% OF RESPONDENTS SAID THEY DEFINITELY WILL VOTE WITH THE VAST MAJORITY SAYING THEY ARE VERY MOTIVATED TO CAST A BALLOT THIS YEAR, BUT COULD THE RESULTS OF THIS YEAR'S MIDTERMS COME DOWN TO ONE DEMOGRAPHIC 2 YEARS AGO, MEMBERS OF GEN Z CREATED A PRETTY STRONG BASE THAT HELPED REELECT PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ALMOST HALF OF YOUNG VOTERS CAST BALLOTS IN THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION THIS YEAR.

PROTECT DEMOCRACY IS WORKING TO GET EVEN MORE CINCI VOTERS OUT TO THE POLLS.

NOW SOME ARE TURNING TO GEN Z VOTERS AS WELL AS A KEY LINCHPIN TO DECIDING THE MIDTERMS.

A GROUP CALLED PROTECT DEMOCRACY IS WORKING TO GET GEN Z VOTERS OUT TO THE POLLS.

THIS ELECTION SEASON.

LAURA HICKS JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THEIR EFFORTS.

>> TO MAKE SURE YOUNG PEOPLE GO TO THE POLLS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, JENNIFER.

IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.

WHY IS YOUR GROUP SPECIFICALLY MAKING THIS BIG PUSH?

>> TO FOCUSSED ON GETTING GEN Z VOTERS OUT TO THE POLLS?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU KNOW THIS, JENNIFER, BUT THERE IS AROUND 50 MILLION YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE THIS YEAR.

THAT'S A PRETTY BIG CHUNK OF THE AMERICAN POPULATION.

AND AND ALSO YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE A LOT AT STAKE HERE FROM ELECTION TO ELECTION WITH THE ECONOMIC HARDSHIP.

AND THE CHALLENGE IS THAT THEIR GENERATION IS UNIQUELY FACING COMING OUT OF COVID-19.

AND SO THERE'S A LOT AT STAKE.

AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR DEMOCRACY IS REPRESENTATIVE, YOU KNOW, ACROSS PARTY LINES AND IDEOLOGIES ACROSS FEATS AND RACES, BUT ALSO ENSURE THAT IT IS ONE THAT IS INTERGENERATIONAL, MEANING THAT FOLKS FROM ALL GENERATIONS ARE ABLE TO MEANINGFULLY PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRACY AND OUR ELECTIONS IN OUR INSTITUTIONS.

AND SO THERE'S SOME UNIQUE CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH BEING YOUNG PERSON IN THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

AND OUR HOPE IS THAT BY ORIENTING YOUNG PEOPLE TO RESOURCES THAT EXIST FOR THEM AND TALKING TO THEM ABOUT ELECTIONS AND DEMYSTIFYING SOME OF THE PROCESS WE CAN HELP ENSURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE NOT JUST TURN OUT TO VOTE.

THEY GET THEIR PEERS TO VOTE AND ALSO FEEL LIKE THEY CAN BE CHANGE AGENTS THEMSELVES AND TAKE THAT EXTRA STEP AND GO BEYOND VOTING THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

>> WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO TARGET THIS PARTICULAR DEMOGRAPHIC?

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO SINGLE IT OUT BECAUSE A LOT OF THE EXPERIENCES THAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE DON'T MAP ONE TO ONE WITH THOSE FROM OLDER GENERATIONS.

CERTAINLY THERE MIGHT BE SOME SIMILARITIES, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DEMOGRAPHICS SPECIFIC ISSUES, CONCERNS AND EXPERIENCES AS ENTERING, YOU KNOW, THE WORKFORCE AS BEING STUDENTS AND HAS BEEN DRIVERS OF OUR ECONOMY.

AND SO THOSE EXPERIENCES ARE REALLY UNIQUE.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO SPEAK TO THEM SPECIFICALLY AND TO HONOR THEM.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO SHOW UP TO VOTE BECAUSE THEY'RE SHAPING.

OUR FUTURE.

CANDIDATES AND REPRESENTATIVES WILL LOOK LIKE AND DEMOCRACY REALLY IS A GENERATIONAL STRUGGLE.

SO WE'VE GOT TO ENSURE THAT ALL GENERATIONS SHOW UP AND PARTICIPATE IN OVERCOMING SOME OF THE CHALLENGES IS THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING >> NOW I READ A POLL THAT IN 2024 ALMOST HALF OF THOSE VOTERS ARE 18 TO 29 ACTUALLY WENT OUT TO THE POLLS FOR THE 2024.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

WHAT KIND OF PARTICIPATION NUMBERS ARE YOU HOPING TO SEE FOR 2026?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

AND SO WE'RE HOPING TO SEE SIMILAR NUMBERS, IF NOT MORE WORK WITH STATS THAT WE'VE SEEN FROM THE PAST MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DROP OFF THAT HAPPENS WHEN IT'S NOT A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RACE BUT OUR HOPE IS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S AT STAKE COME ELECTION TIME.

THEY RECOGNIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY HAVE TO VOTE AND TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS.

AND AND ALSO WE EXPECT TO SEE SIMILAR NUMBERS FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN 2024, WE'VE DONE PULLING WITH CIRCLE OUT OF TUFTS UNIVERSITY THAT VOTERS OF TOMORROW AND OTHER GENESEE PARTNERS.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE RELATIVELY HIGH AND ENCOURAGING SIGNS OF VOTER INTENT BY YOUNG PEOPLE, WHICH IS GREAT TO SEE.

>> AND I THINK WE ALSO KNOW THAT A LOT OF GEN Z VOTERS, THEY DON'T REALLY IDENTIFY, HAS STAUNCHLY WITH ONE PARTICULAR PARTY LINE AND THEY'VE ACTUALLY BEEN CALLED FLORIDA'S SWING VOTERS AGAIN.

WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT TO TO REALLY HONE IN AND GET THEM OUT TO THE POLLS?

>> YES, THAT IS SUCH A GREAT POINT.

I'M SO GLAD YOU BRING IT UP.

THIS ACTUALLY ISN'T UNIQUE TO FLORIDA TO.

WE'RE SEEING THIS TREND ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

YOUNG PEOPLE MORE THAN EVER ARE MORE LIKELY TO REGISTER AS INDEPENDENTS AND 2 KIND OF STEP AWAY FROM THE TRADITIONAL 2 PARTY SYSTEM THAT HAS COMPRISED AMERICAN POLITICS.

THEY'RE NOT IDENTIFYING WITH THE DEMOCRAT VERSUS REPUBLICAN OR CONSERVATIVE VERSUS PROGRESSIVE AS MUCH THESE DAYS.

AND AND SO THAT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO ENGAGE YOUNG VOTERS BECAUSE SOME OF THE PRIMARIES AND SOME OF THE ELECTIONS THAT WE HAVE.

HOW TO REALLY ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO SUBSCRIBE TO A PARTICULAR PARTY OR TO REGISTER AND ORDER TO PARTICIPATE.

AND SO YOUNG PEOPLE ARE REALLY SHIFTING THE NARRATIVE HERE AND SAYING, NO, WE WANT TO ELECT CANDIDATES THAT REPRESENT OUR PRIORITIES AND OUR VALUES.

REGARDLESS OF WHATEVER PARTY THAT THEY ARE A PART OF OR THAT THEY IDENTIFY WITH.

BUT THIS ALSO MAKES IT CHALLENGING BECAUSE WE MIGHT MISS OUT ON OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE YOUNG PEOPLE AND ISSUES BECAUSE OF HOW THERE SAID ARE MARKETED IN PARTISAN WAYS.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALLY GET MESSAGE IS CLEAR.

AND ACROSS AND TO INSTILL IN YOUNG PEOPLE THAT THEY SHOULD BE OPEN TO HEARING FROM ALL SIDES ACROSS IDEOLOGICAL LINES BECAUSE YOU MIGHT HAVE MORE IN COMMON WITH THE PERSON RUNNING FOR OFFICE THAT YOU THINK.

>> AND THEN HOW ARE YOU SPECIFICALLY PROMOTING GINCY VOTING TO TRY TO HELP THAT PARTICIPATION >> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

SO WE'RE DOING A NUMBER OF THINGS.

THE INITIATIVE THAT I'M MOST EXCITED TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY HAS CALLED THE GEN-Z THE ELECTION.

DEFENSE TOOLKIT.

IT ORIENT YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE POTENTIAL THREATS TO OUR ELECTION AND WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM WAYS THAT THEY CAN GET INVOLVED.

WHY THEIR VOTE MATTERS AND WHY HOW?

WHY THEM SHOWING UP CAN ACTUALLY BE DECISIVE IN SOME OF THESE REALLY CLOSE ELECTION OUTCOMES.

AND THEN JUST SOME OF THE WAYS THEY CAN GET INVOLVED AND GET THEIR ANSWERS DIRECTLY OR THEIR QUESTIONS DIRECTLY ANSWERED SO THEY CAN ACCESS THINGS LIKE WHAT ARE THE VOTER REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS IN MY STATE?

WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT DEADLINES THEY NEED TO KNOW IF I'M OVERSEAS VOTER, MAYBE I'M A FLORIDA STUDENT THAT'S STUDYING ABROAD IN THE FALL.

BUT I STILL WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE THOSE KINDS OF MATERIALS.

IF YOU'RE A MEMBER OF THE MILITARY, IF YOU'RE A FIRST-TIME VOTER IN NEW VOTER, THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF RESOURCES AND LINKS DIRECTLY INCLUDED IN THIS TOOL KIT.

AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS IT BY GOING TO PROTECT DEMOCRACIES WEBSITE AND JUST DOING A SEARCH FOR GENNA'S.

THE ELECTION DEFENSE TOOK A.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LAURA HICKS THINK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANKS AGAIN FOR HAVING ME.

IT WAS A PLEASURE TO TALK WITH YOU.

LIKEWISE.

>> AS WE HEAD CLOSER TO THE MIDTERMS, YOU CAN STAY INFORMED ON ALL THINGS POLITICAL IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT ORG TODAY MARKS THE END OF PRIDE MONTH, A 30 DAY CELEBRATION OF THE CULTURE AND STRUGGLES THAT FACE THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

NUMEROUS EVENTS SHOWCASED PRIDE EVENTS.

BUT ORGANIZERS SAY THE FIGHT FOR EQUAL RIGHTS CONTINUES.

NAPLES PRIDE IS HOPING TO FOSTER SOCIAL CHANGE AND INFORM PEOPLE ABOUT THE ISSUES FACING THE PRIDE COMMUNITY IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WGCUS KATE CRONIN HAS MORE.

>> FOR MORE ON PRIDE MONTH, I'M JOINED BY CORY CREE QUE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NAPLES PRIDE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> A NAPLES PRIDE HOSTED AN EDUCATIONAL SERIES THIS JUNE KEY.

TELL ME ABOUT SOME OF THE TOPICS THAT YOU ALL EXPLORED.

>> WE EXPORTED WAS REALLY THE HISTORY OF PRIDE.

>> HOW IT ALL STARTED AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TOO.

>> CONTINUE TO SHOW UP.

AND SPEAK UP FOR THE COMMUNITY AND HOW TO YOU KNOW, STAY ENGAGED THE PRESIDENT AND THIS.

TIMES THAT I REALLY TOUGH ON THAT SHOULD BE COMMUNITY.

I WOULD SAY.

>> AND WHO DO YOU SING CAN BENEFIT FROM ATTENDING THESE KINDS EDUCATIONAL EVENTS?

>> ALL I SAY REALLY, ALLIES THE DOOR.

WE HAD A FEW PEOPLE ON THE CALL AND ON THE AT THE EVENT THAT.

DIDN'T KNOW HOW PRIDE STARTED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SO THEY'RE VERY EXCITED TO LEARN.

HOW THAT.

CAME TO BE.

AND ALSO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO SEE AND FOR THEM TOO TO SAY TO STAY ENGAGED AND TO FIND THAT COLLECTION.

NOT JUST THIS DURING PRIDE MONTH, BUT THE ALSO THE REST THE REST OF THE YEAR REALLY?

SO THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY THEY ARE ALONE JUST BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE FRIDAY DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DIDN'T CELEBRATE, YOU KNOW.

>> IT WOULD TO BE ABLE TO GIVE US JUST A LITTLE SNIPPET OF SOME OF THE HISTORY OF PRIVATE.

>> CRITES STARTED I THINK YESTERDAY WAS ACTUALLY ARE THE 55TH 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF WHEN OF THE DATA.

CRY A STONEWALL RIOTS WHICH KICKS AND INTO THE PRIDE MOVEMENT.

AND THE EDGE OF THE LIBERATION OF BACK IN 1969.

ALL OF THAT STARTED WITH.

A BUNCH SOME SOME PEOPLE THAT WERE.

SAY YOU WERE.

ATTACKED.

WE FEEL THE SAY OR IT.

SO IT'S A STOLEN WAS LIKE A BAR IN NEW YORK CITY, THOUGH, WAS RUN BY THE MAFIA BACK THEN AND THE, THE B COMMUNITY WITH GO THERE AND, YOU KNOW, HANG OUT.

AND THEN SAN THE THERE ARE FREQUENT RAIDS.

YOU KNOW, BY THE POLICE.

AND THAT WAS ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD BE.

SO JEAN BEATING.

THIS ONE TIME WAS THIS APP AND THEN THEY THE POLICE SORRY RATING.

THE THE BAR.

AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE SLAMMED INTO CARS AND ARRESTED HIM.

IS THIS?

ONE WOMAN'S LIKE?

FIGHT FOUGHT BACK.

IT WAS A TRANSGENDER PERSON FALL BACK INTO THIS.

YOU KNOW, LIKE WHAT YOU ALL JUST LOOKING AT JUST.

FIGHT BACK IN.

PEOPLE FOUGHT BACK AND THE THAT'S ALL IT ALL.

STARTED BACK IN.

69 PEOPLE FIGHTING BACK AGAINST THE OPPRESSION.

I POLICE BUT ALI.

THE NEXT THE NEXT YEAR.

THE FIRST PRIDE FESTIVAL.

THAN NICE TO HIM.

CELEBRATE THAT PUSHED BACK AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE SHOWED UP IN YOUR CITY TO MARCH.

WHO IN THE PARADE IN.

THAT'S HOW IT ALL STARTED AS A RESISTANCE AGAINST THE.

THE THINGS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS LOOKING AT A TIME TO OPPRESS THE PEOPLE COLLATION.

>> POWELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

CORE.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> OF COURSE, YOU'LL COME.

>> HERE'S ANOTHER PRIDE FACT FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM.

THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PRIDE FESTIVAL KNOWN AS THE LARGEST ONE IN THE AREA HELD ITS INAUGURAL EVENT IN 2009 THAT MARKED THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STONEWALL RIOTS.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT LGBTQ+ ADVOCACY IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE AT WGCU DOT ORG COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, FATHER'S STEP INTO THE UNKNOWN WORLD OF COSMETOLOGY TO PICK UP A NEW SKILL THAT BRINGS THEM CLOSER TOGETHER WITH THEIR DAUGHTERS.

THAT BRIGHT WATER LAGOON TO SOME DADDY'S OF LITTLE GIRLS BROUGHT OUT THERE IN HER HAIRDRESSER.

WTC IS CULTURE AND CONNECTIONS.

REPORTER ELIZABETH AND ARCHIE SHARES.

HOW WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM THE FLORIDA ACADEMY COSMETOLOGY SCHOOL, A SIMPLE GESTURE STRENGTH AND THAT THE DADDY-DAUGHTER CONNECTION.

>> IT'S NOT EXACTLY THE KIND OF SKILL MOST ADS PLAN ON PICKING UP WELL, AND HE'S A PRACTICE DOING IT.

I WOULD DEFINITELY GET IT.

>> AND THAT FOR A FEW HOURS AT PONY TAILS AND PINTS.

THE ASSIGNMENT IS LEARN HOW TO STYLE YOUR DAUGHTER'S HAIR.

UNLIKE JIMMY CREWS, GENERAL MANAGER OF BRIGHT WATER LAGOON SAYS.

>> THIS IS AN EVENT THAT REALLY CELEBRATES THE BOND BETWEEN A DAUGHTER AND A FATHER AND IN SOCIETY.

I THINK A LOT OF A LOT OF DADS ARE LIKE BEING PROUD OF BEING LIKE GIRL, DADS.

AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER WAY OF GETTING BETTER AT THAT.

>> FOR CRIST GOERING, THE IN MAY CAME FROM AN ONLINE POST THAT BASICALLY SOLD ITSELF.

SOMEBODY AND OUR FACEBOOK GROUP >> FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD POSTED THIS UP HERE AND IT HAD BEER AND I CAN DO YOUR HAIR.

SO I FEEL LIKE.

>> IT WAS A WIN-WIN BEFORE THE LESSON HE READ HIS SKILLS SOMEWHERE NEAR NON-EXISTENT.

>> I WAS A 0, ONE.

THE FLY OUT HERE.

AND NOW I FEEL LIKE I'M IN ABOUT A SECOND THERE.

>> AND WHILE HE'S NOT PLANNING A CAREER CHANGE, HE SAYS IT DIDN'T CHANGE HOW HE SEES SMALL EVERYDAY MOMENTS WITH HIS DAUGHTER.

I HOPE THIS.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

I LOVE HER AND THE OTHER.

ANYTHING FOR.

JUDGING BY THE FINISHED PRODUCT ON ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS >> IT'S GOOD AND YOU LIKE THEM TO TRIAL.

>> MISSION ACCOMPLISHED WGCU NEWS IM ELIZABETH ANDARGE >> COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM, TRIPLE A SAYS GAS PRICES REMAIN UNDER $4 A GALLON NATIONWIDE FOR THE SECOND WEEK IN A ROW.

BUT THE COST IS STILL HIGHER IN ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, WE BREAK DOWN WHY THE COST OF GAS IN AMERICA IS DICTATED BY WHAT IS GOING ON OVERSEAS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU VISIT W G C DOT ORG.

WE'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST