THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, IT'S BIG BUSINESS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AGRICULTURE AND WHO WILL BE IN CHARGE OF MAKING DECISIONS TO OVERSEE ITS FUTURE.

WHILE THE TITLE OF COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE MAY NOT BE ON THE LIST OF CANDIDATES YOU ARE STUDYING BEFORE YOU VOTE.

WE'LL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHY THIS CABINET POSITION IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

DESPITE WARNINGS AND CAMPAIGNS AIMED AT KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE.

THE MOST VULNERABLE ARE STILL DYING AFTER BEING LEFT INSIDE HOT CARS WE'RE LOOKING AT WHY THIS KEEPS HAPPENING, ESPECIALLY IN FLORIDA AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP PREVENT THESE KINDS OF TRAGEDIES.

WE HAVE NOT REACHED THE PEAK HURRICANE SEASON JUST YET.

BUT AS WE GET CLOSER TO IT IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, THERE'S A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE REALLY BOUND THAT'S HAPPENING IN A TOWN THAT WAS DEVASTATED BY HURRICANE IAN.

ALMOST 4 YEARS LATER, IT IS MAKING A COMEBACK.

I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

AS FLORIDA'S AUGUST 18TH PRIMARY ELECTION QUICKLY APPROACHES THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR AND THE U.S.

SENATE SEAT ARE GARNERING QUITE A BIT OF ATTENTION.

THE RACE FOR FLORIDA COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE HAS BEEN A MORE QUIET CONTEST DESPITE THE POSITION BEING ONE OF FLORIDA'S MOST POWERFUL AND INFLUENTIAL, IT'S A POSITION THAT DATES BACK TO 18.

88 AND OF THE 13 PEOPLE WHO HAVE HELD THE SPOT ONLY 3 WERE REPUBLICANS.

THE FIRST OF THOSE 3 WAS NOT ELECTED UNTIL 2002.

THAT WAS CHARLES BRONSON APPOINTED TO THE SEAT BY GOVERNOR JEB BUSH.

THEN WINNING CONSECUTIVE TERMS.

AND SINCE THEN, ONLY ONE DEMOCRAT HAS HELD THE SEAT.

NIKKI FRIED.

SHE WAS DEFEATED IN THE 2022 ELECTION BY CURRENT AG COMMISSIONER WILTON SIMPSON.

JOINING US NOW FOR A CLOSER LOOK IS WGCU HOST AND REPORTER JOHN DAVIS AND JOHN, THE TITLE OF FLORIDA STATE AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER.

A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE THAT THIS POSITION HAS A LOT MORE TO DO WITHIN JUST FARMING.

CAN U TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT THE POSITION TALES?

YEAH, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY POWERFUL AND INFLUENTIAL POSITION IN FLORIDA.

FOR ONE THING, IT'S JUST ONE OF 3 INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED OFFICERS ON THE STATE.

>> CABINET AND OF COURSE, OVERSEEING AGRICULTURE.

THAT IS A HUGE PART OF IT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY IS VITAL FOR FLORIDA.

WE'RE TALKING, YOU KNOW, A 270 BILLION DOLLAR ANNUAL ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR AGRICULTURE ALONE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT CROP AND LIVESTOCK INDUSTRIES PLANT PAST ANIMAL DISEASE PREVENTION A CITRUS INDUSTRY, AGRICULTURE, MARKETING AND PROMOTING, YOU KNOW, FRESH FROM FLORIDA, ALL THOSE KIND OF CAMPAIGNS, AQUA CULTURE AND FORESTRY, EVEN IN DISASTER RESPONSE.

THEY GO OUT AND HELP OUT FARMERS AFTER EVENTS LIKE HURRICANES.

IT'S A LOT MORE THAN THAT, THOUGH.

THE ACTUAL TITLE IS FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES.

THAT'S WHAT HE'S THE COMMISSIONER OFF.

SO THEY ALSO INVESTIGATE THINGS LIKE CONSUMER FRAUD, CHARITY FRAUD.

YOU KNOW, A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS DOING A STORY ON A SHAM CHARITY, IT WAS THEIR DEPARTMENT WHO I WENT THROUGH TO GET THE DATA THAT IT DID.

IDENTITY THEFT COMPLAINTS.

THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THAT'S THE DEPARTMENT.

IT'S GOING BEST TO GET THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

ALSO, FOOD SAFETY SERVICES LIKE INSPECTING GROCERY STORES PRODUCE PACKING HOUSES.

AND OF COURSE, THIS HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS A LOT LATELY WITH THE ONGOING CYCLO-SPORA OUTBREAK.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH.

THEY ALSO OVERSEE THE FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE TO THEIR HANDLING THINGS LIKE FOREST MANAGEMENT AND PRESCRIBED BURNS.

THEY MANAGE OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING FOR JOBS IN FLORIDA THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A STATE LICENSE TO DO.

SO.

I MEAN, IT'S REALLY FAIR TO SAY THERE IS NOW A FLORIDA RESIDENT WHOSE LIFE IS NOT IMPACTED BY THIS DEPARTMENT AND THE PEOPLE WHO RUN IT.

>> AND HOW IS THE RACE SHAPING UP?

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FOR OUR FLORIDA STATE AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER?

>> WELL, THIS IS NOT SHAPING UP TO BE A COMPETITIVE RACE.

WE HAVE THE INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN WILTON SIMPSON WHO IS SEEKING REELECTION.

HE FACES ONE REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER NAMED MATT TAYLOR.

THEN THERE ARE 2 DEMOCRAT IN THE AUGUST 18TH PRIMARY ELECTION, DON PRITCHARD AND JOEY MENDOZA OUTCOMES.

AND THEN THERE'S ONE WRITE-IN CANDIDATE KYLE CASEY, GIVE SOME.

SIMPSON HAS THE ENDORSEMENT OF TRUMP GOVERNOR DE SANTIS.

AND THAT'S JUST NOTABLE BECAUSE GOVERNOR DESANTIS IS IS NOT MAKING ENDORSEMENTS AND SAY THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE.

HE IS NOT CAMPAIGNING FOR THE PROPERTY TAX AMENDMENT.

SIMPSON ALSO HAS THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE FLORIDA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND 61 OF THE STATE'S 67 COUNTY SHERIFFS.

>> AND HOW IS THE RACE SHAPING UP WHEN IT COMES TO CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE RACE, NOT BEING THAT COMPETITIVE WILTON SIMPSON HAS RAISED EXPONENTIALLY MORE MONEY THAN EVERY CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE COMBINED.

HE'S GOT NEARLY $905,000 IN HIS OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN.

HE ACTUALLY ENTERED THIS RACE WITH SOMETHING LIKE 33 MILLION DOLLARS.

AND THIS WAS AN POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES THAT SUPPORT SIMPSON.

SO IT'S SEPARATE FROM HIS OFFICIAL RACE.

THIS CAME OUT IN SOME RECENT REPORTING.

REALLY GOOD REPORTING FROM THE FLORIDA TRIP.

SEE WHEN YOU'RE DONATING TO A FISH WILL CAMPAIGN.

THEY'RE OUR LIMIT LIKE THE LIMIT IS $3,000 PER DONOR PER YEAR FOR A CAMPAIGNER PER ELECTION.

I SHOULD SAY.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MONEY GOING TO THESE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES, THERE IS NO LIMIT ON HOW MUCH AN INDIVIDUAL OR COMPANY YOU CAN DONATE TO THOSE PACKS.

AND UNLIKE IN OTHER STATES, UNDER FLORIDA LAW, THERE ARE REALLY NO PROHIBITIONS ON A CANDIDATE AND THOSE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES COORDINATING THEIR EFFORTS SO CONVERSE LEE, HIS PRIMARY CHALLENGER HAS RAISED A LITTLE MORE THAN $258,000.

THE WRITE-IN CANDIDATE I MENTIONED BEFORE GIBSON, HE'S RAISED JUST OVER $2300 AND THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY IN THIS RACE IS JUST BIZARRE.

YOU HAVE A JOEY MENDOZA, ATKINS WHO WAS CAMPAIGN IS OFFICIALLY RAISED JUST $180 UNTIL RELATIVELY RECENTLY.

DID HAVE A CAMPAIGN WEBSITE.

BUT IT INDICATED HE WAS RUNNING FOR SENATE, NOT EVERY CULTURE COMMISSIONER.

MEANWHILE, DONALD PRITCHARD'S CAMPAIGN, HE'S RAISED NEARLY $24,500.

BUT UNTIL A DAY OR 2 AGO, HE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A CAMPAIGN WEBSITE IS NO SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE.

I AND THIS IS JUST BIZARRE TO ME THAT THERE'S SO LITTLE MONEY GOING INTO ONE SO LITTLE CAMPAIGNING ACTIVITY COMING FROM THESE CANDIDATES AND NOT EVEN AN ONLINE CAMPAIGN PRESENCE BECAUSE 10'S OF THOUSANDS OF BALLOTS FROM REGISTERED DEMOCRATS IN FLORIDA HAVE ALREADY BEEN RETURNED.

AND IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON THESE CANDIDATES, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE REALLY BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING SUBSTANTIVE UNTIL VERY RECENTLY SO I THINK SIMPSON HAS THE CLEAREST PATH TO VICTORY HERE HE'S GETTING, BUT WHERE HE'S GETTING SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY FROM THESE PACKS, I THINK IS IMPORTANT, TOO, BECAUSE HE'S GETTING SUPPORT FROM SUGAR GROWERS AND BACK WHEN SIMPSON WAS FLORIDA SENATE PRESIDENT HE HELPED PASS A LAW TO SHIELD SUGAR GROWERS FROM LAWSUITS OVER THE AIR POLLUTION.

UNLIKE THE ASH THAT FALLS ON THE NEARBY COMMUNITIES.

WHENEVER THEY BURN THEIR FIELDS.

SIMILARLY, HE'S BEEN GETTING SUPPORT FROM THE SEMINOLE TRIBE AND WHEN HE WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE, HE HELPED TO BROKER THE SEMINOLE TRIBE'S EXCLUSIVE GAMING COMPACT WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

HE'S EVEN GETTING MONEY FROM THE FIREWORKS DISTRIBUTOR.

THAT'S NOTABLE, I THINK BECAUSE THINK ABOUT THE LAST, YOU KNOW, JULY 4TH THAT WE JUST HOWEVER, WE'RE STILL UNDER SEVERE DROUGHT CONDITIONS IN A LARGE PART OF THE STATE FIREWORKS COULD CAUSE FIRES CAN BE PROBLEMATIC.

THAT WOULD BE THE AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER WHO WOULD STEP UP AND SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT THIS YEAR, BUT IF THIS PERSON IS GETTING A LOT OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES YOU KNOW, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON HOW THEY VIEW THE ROLE AND HOW THEY VIEW THE PHYSICIAN AND HOW THEY MAY BE ADVOCATE FOR COMPANIES AND PRIVATE INTERESTS OVER THE WELL-BEING OF FLORIDA.

RESIDENTS.

SO I THINK THIS IS A RACE.

EVERYBODY SHOULD REALLY LOOK AT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT GETTING THE ATTENTION IS SAVE THE SENATE RACE OR THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE.

IT'S CERTAINLY TOUCHES EACH ONE OF US.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED, EVERYBODY AT THE GAS YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, JOHN DAVIS, THANKS.

>> HERE'S MORE ON THE POSITION OF THE STATE'S COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM.

THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AG AND CONSUMER SERVICES SAYS THE ORIGINAL CREATION OF THE OFFICE DATING BACK TO 18.

68 WAS CALLED THE OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER OF IMMIGRATION.

THE IDEA BEHIND THAT OFFICE ATTRACTING SETTLERS TO FLORIDA.

YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE HISTORY OF OUR STATE BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE AT WGCU DOT ORG.

AND COMING UP FROM MOM AND POP SHOPS MAKING A COMEBACK.

2 NEWLY ARRIVING FRANCHISE IS TAKING SHAPE THE NEW LOOK OF FORT MYERS BEACH.

IT'S TOURIST ECONOMY.

AND HOW IS RECOVERING NEARLY 4 YEARS AFTER HURRICANE IAN.

THE SUNSHINE STATE LEADS THE COUNTRY IN CHILDREN DYING IN HOT CARS WITH 5 DEATHS SO FAR THIS YEAR.

ALL OF THEM IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, A ONE YEAR-OLD LITTLE GIRL IN FORT MYERS, THE MOST RECENT VICTIM, THE TODDLER DIED JUST ONE WEEK AGO AFTER REPORTEDLY BEING LEFT IN A HOT CAR OFF COLLEGE PARKWAY.

WHILE THE DRIVER WENT TO WORK, THE NONPROFIT GROUP KIDS AND CAR SAFETY SAYS THIS KIND OF TRAGEDY IS FAR TOO COMMON AND REPORTS ALMOST ALL HOT CAR DEATHS INVOLVED, CHILDREN 3 YEARS OLD OR YOUNGER.

THE ORGANIZATION SAYS SINCE THE 1990, AT LEAST 1000, 180 CHILDREN HAVE DIED IN HOT CARS AND AT LEAST 7500 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN INJURED.

>> I'M JOINED BY AMBER ROLLINS.

SHE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF KIDS AND CAR SAFETY.

>> THIS ROLLINS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> SURE, THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> NOW, PERHAPS THE MOST HEARTBREAKING ASPECT OF THESE CHILD DEATHS, 100% OF THEM ARE PREVENTABLE.

THIS YEAR ALONE, FLORIDA HAS LOST 5 CHILDREN AFTER BEING LEFT IN HOT CARS.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN FLORIDA THAT HAS PLACED OUR STATE IN THIS REALLY TERRIBLE POSITION OF HAVING THE HIGHEST HOT CAR DEATHS SO FAR THIS YEAR IN THE ENTIRE NATION.

WELL, IN FLORIDA, IT'S HOT.

>> POTTER AND HOT FOR LONGER.

SO YOU GUYS ARE DEFINITELY AT AN INCREASED RISK.

HUMIDITY ALSO PLAYS A FACTOR AND CHILDREN OVERHEATING.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT ALL OF THESE THINGS WORKING AGAINST YO.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO STAY TOP OF MIND IN FLORIDA FOR ALL FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS ALL YEAR ROUND.

REALLY?

>> YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.

OUR TEMPERATURES, THEY AVERAGE IN THE 90'S.

OFTEN OUR HEAT INDEX GOES ABOVE 100 DEGREES, WHICH IS VERY HOT.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE HOW THIS KIND OF HEAT WOULD IMPACT A CHILD THAT WOULD BE LEFT IN A CAR AND HOW QUICKLY?

>> A VEHICLE ESSENTIALLY ACTS LIKE A GREENHOUSE.

SO IT ALLOWS SOLAR ENERGY TO COME IN THROUGH THE WINDOWS AND HEATS UP VERY QUICKLY.

IN FACT, THE MAJORITY OF THE TEMPERATURE INCREASE HAPPENS IN THE FIRST 10 MINUTES OR SO.

AND THEN YOU COMBINE THAT WITH THE FACT THAT A CHILD'S LITTLE BODY TEMPERATURE RISES 3 TO 5 TIMES FASTER THAN AN ADULT.

AND YOU HAVE A RECIPE FOR DISASTER IN LITERALLY MINUTES AND LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT OUR FURRY FRIENDS, TOO.

DOGS ALSO DO NOT REGULATE THEIR BODY TEMPERATURE MUCH LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN AND CAN OVERHEAT VERY QUICKLY.

I SAW SOME INFORMATION FROM YOUR WEBSITE.

>> THAT TALKED ABOUT A ONE QUARTER OF HOT CAR DEATHS HAPPENED WHEN A CHILD GETS INTO THE CAR WITHOUT A PARENT OR A CAREGIVER, EVEN KNOWING IT.

SO WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING?

>> YEAH.

SO THIS HAPPENS WAY MORE OFTEN THAN PEOPLE WOULD THINK.

AND UNFORTUNATELY AND ABOUT 70% OF THE KIDS WHO GET INTO CARS ON THEIR OWN ARE LITTLE BOYS.

SO, YOU KNOW, AGE ONE TO 4 LITTLE BOYS ARE THE MOST AT RISK.

OF COURSE, WE DO WANT TO PROTECT THE LITTLE GIRLS AS WELL.

BUT A COUPLE THINGS THAT PARENTS CAN DO.

THIS IS SO IMPORTANT.

FIRST SAFEGUARD THE INSIDE OF YOUR HOME.

SO THOSE DOORS LEADING TO THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME.

SAFEGUARD THEM WITH THOSE DOOR COVERS.

THEY MAKE THESE LITTLE STICK ON DOOR ALARMS THAT YOU CAN BUY ONLINE AND THEY WILL SOUND AN AUDIO TIME IF YOUR CHILD OPENS THE DOOR UNEXPECTEDLY A LOT OF TIMES THIS HAPPENS AT NAP TIME.

A QUIET TIME WHEN MOM AND DAD ARE GETTING THINGS DONE AND THE CHILD IS SUPPOSED TO BE NAPPING AND THEY SNEAK OUTSIDE WITHOUT ANYBODY NOTICING.

YOU WANT TO ALSO KEEP YOUR CAR LOCKED.

100% OF THE TIME.

EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE CHILDREN AND KEEP YOUR KEYS AND KEY FOBS OUT OF REACH WHERE THE KIDS JUST CANNOT ACCESS THEM BECAUSE EVEN AT A VERY YOUNG AGE OF AROUND ONE YEAR OLD, THEY WATCH US USE THESE KEY FOBS AND THEY KNOW HOW TO USE THEM.

AND, YOU KNOW, ONE THING I HEAR A LOT FROM PARENTS IS I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT MY TODDLER COULD OPEN THE FRONT DOOR THEMSELVES OR GET INTO A CAR ON THEIR OWN.

THEY'RE LEARNING NEW SKILLS EVERY DAY AT THIS AGE AND YOU MAY NOT EVEN KNOW THEY'RE CAPABLE OF DOING THIS AND THEN THEY DO.

THE OTHER THING.

WE REALLY WANT PARENTS TO BE MINDFUL OF IS IF YOUR CHILD GOES MISSING AND IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE INSIDE FLOORBOARD AND TRUNK OF ALL VEHICLES IN THE AREA.

EVEN IF THEY'RE LOCKED IN.

AND THIS IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE MANY TIMES THESE CHILDREN COULD HAVE BEEN FOUND IF THE PARENTS JUST KNEW TO GO LOOK IN THOSE AREAS.

AND ONE THING THAT'S NOT REALLY TALKED ABOUT A LOT IS FOR THE KIDDOS TO GET INTO CARS ON THEIR OWN.

TYPICALLY THAT CAR HAS BEEN PARKED AND CLOSED UP FOR A PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE THEY ENTER THE VEHICLE.

SO THAT CAR HAS ALREADY REACHED THESE DEADLY TEMPERATURES AND THEY'RE GETTING INTO THIS CAR.

YOU KNOW, THE TEMPERATURE COULD BE ONE.

31 41, 50 DEGREES AND THEY'RE GOING TO BECOME VERY QUICKLY OVERWHELMED WITH HEAT, DISORIENTED, CONFUSED AND THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THEMSELVES OUT.

>> AND MORE THAN HALF OF THESE CASES OF OF HOT CAR DEATHS ARE WHEN THEY'RE FORGOTTEN BY A LOVED ONE IN THE BACK SEAT IN THESE ARE PEOPLE OF ALL THEY'RE ALL WALKS OF LIFE ARE CORRECT.

AND AND AND WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING TO TRY TO HELP GET THE WORD OUT TO HELP HER MIND?

PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO LOOK IN THE BACKSEAT.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THIS CAN LITERALLY HAPPEN TO ANYBODY.

IT'S HAPPENED TO A TEACHER POLICE OFFICER, A FIREFIGHTER, A STAY-AT-HOME MOM, A DAYCARE PROVIDER.

IT'S HAPPENED TO MOTHERS AND FATHERS, PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND, YOU KNOW, THE INFINITELY ORGANIZED AND THE ABSENT MINDED ALIKE.

I MEAN, IT JUST LITERALLY CAN HAPPEN TO ANYBODY.

AND FORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, EVEN AFTER 30 YEARS OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THESE DANGERS, PEOPLE STILL TRULY BELIEVE THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN TO THEM.

AND WE JUST DESPERATELY NEED PARENTS TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HUMAN BRAINS THAT CAN FAIL US AND OUR MEMORY SYSTEMS.

WHEN WE'RE SLEEP DEPRIVED FROM, WE'VE GOT CHANGES IN OUR ROUTINE AND WERE OPERATING IN AUTOPILOT MODE.

WE CAN LITERALLY LOSE AWARENESS OF A SLEEPING BABY IN THE BACKSEAT IN A REAR-FACING CAR SEAT THAT WE CAN'T SEE.

WE CAN'T HEAR BECAUSE THEY'RE SLEEPING AND IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYBODY.

>> AND WHAT IS YOUR ORGANIZATION RECOMMENDING AS FAR AS A WAY FOR PARENTS TO HAVE A PHYSICAL REMINDER?

I KNOW THAT'S A COMMON THEME.

YES.

SO WE WANT HERE IS TO DO A COUPLE THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, LOOK BEFORE YOU LOCK.

>> OPEN THAT BACK DOOR.

CHECK THE BACKSEAT EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE.

>> THIS HAS TO BECOME AN EVERYDAY EVERY TRIP HABIT.

SO, YOU KNOW, EVEN BEFORE YOUR CHILD'S BORN, IF YOU'RE EXPECTING START GETTING INTO THAT HAPPENED, IT TAKES A COUPLE WEEKS TO BUILD A HABIT AND THEN YOU JUST START DOING IT NUMBER 2, WE WANT AN ADDED LAYER OF PROTECTION.

SO PUT A STUFFED ANIMAL, THE BACK SEAT OF YOUR CAR AND LEAVE IT THERE ANYTIME YOU BUCKLE THE BABY IN THE BACKSEAT.

GRAB THAT STUFFED ANIMAL, BRING IT UP FRONT IN YOUR LAP AS A PHYSICAL Q, A REMINDER THAT YOUR CHILD IS WITH YOU.

AND YOU KNOW, PARENTS WHO BELIEVE THIS WON'T HAPPEN TO THEM MAY THINK THIS IS KIND OF CRAZY.

BUT WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT BEFORE THE MID 1990'S, WHEN CHILDREN USED TO RIDE IN THE FRONT SEAT, THEY WEREN'T FORGOTTEN BECAUSE THERE WAS A REMINDER RIGHT NEXT TO THEM.

YOU COULD SEE THEM.

THEY WERE RIGHT WITH YOU.

BUT AS SOON AS WE MOVE CHILDREN TO THE BACK SEAT BECAUSE OF OVERPOWERED AIRBAGS.

THESE DEATHS WERE CHILDREN BEING FORGOTTEN IN CARS JUST SKYROCKET AND THEY HAVEN'T GONE DOWN SENSE.

SO CREATING THAT PHYSICAL REMINDER WITH YOU IN THE FRONT SEAT IS SO IMPORTANT AND THEN ONE 3RD LAYER OF PROTECTION WE REALLY RECOMMEND IS TALKING TO YOUR CHILD CARE PROVIDER WHO EVER WATCH AS YOUR CHAIRMAN AND ASKED THEM TO CALL YOU IMMEDIATELY IF YOUR CHILD DOESN'T SHOW UP AS SCHEDULED.

>> AMBER ROLLINS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION WITH US TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

BE SAFE.

>> FOR MORE INFORMATION WHEN IT COMES TO CHILD SAFETY AND OUR COVERAGE ON THIS STORY.

>> YOU CAN VISIT WGCU DOT ORG.

AS WE PUSH FARTHER INTO THE ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON, WE STILL FEEL THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF EM AS WE APPROACH THE 4TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STORM HITTING SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FORT MYERS BEACH.

IT'S BEEN A PROCESS THAT INCLUDES RESTORING TIMES SQUARE, MAKING PLANS TO REBUILD THE PIER AND ALSO THE RETURN OF SOME BUSINESSES WHILE BRINGING IN NEW ONES WGCU REPORTER YOUN JOO PARK TAKES US DOWN TO FORT MYERS BEACH TO LOOK AT HOW IT'S PROGRESSING DURING THE OFFSEASON.

>> AT FORT MYERS BEACH.

>> TOURISTS MAY FEEL LIKE EVERY HOUR OF THE DAY IS BECAUSE >> LIKE COMMODORE E CAME FROM LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK TO CELEBRATE HER SWEET 16TH BIRTHDAY WITH A FRIEND.

>> THE BEACH, THE POOL, THE BANANA BOAT.

>> ANGEL DOLPHIN AND HIS DAUGHTER ARRIVED FROM MISSISSIPPI TO VISIT FAMILY IN THE AREA.

JULY IS TYPICALLY ONE OF THE SLOWER MONTHS AND FOR GOOD REASON HE HAS SOUGHT SIR.

>> AND HUMID, VERY HUMID.

>> FEWER TOURISTS MEANS THAT THE OWNER OF BEACH BOYS ISLAND WRITES CHRIS LEE AND FELT HER CAN RELAX AND HIS GOLF CART WHILE WAITING FOR CUSTOMERS.

THEY WERE ODD SEASON NOW.

SO IT'S IT'S CRAZY, BUSY DURING SEASON, BUT NOW ONE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, PEOPLE ARE STAYING HOME.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN THEIR STAYS ONE, IT'S WARM.

OBVIOUSLY AND ARE PLANNING ON VACATIONS.

WONDER WHETHER STARTS GETTING CALLS.

TOURISM IS NOT ONLY THE LIFELINE.

>> BUT ALSO THE BACKBONE OF THE COMMUNITY AS DESCRIBED BY JACK IN THE SACK PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE FORT MYERS BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PUT A BOWLING BALL DOWN ESTERO BOULEVARD AND YOU CAN'T HIT ANYBODY SEASON.

SO.

>> QUIET BUSINESSES HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE NOT ONLY FINANCIALLY FOR THAT, MAKE THE MONEY IN THE GOOD TIMES AND PUT AWAY FOR, YOU KNOW, THE SUMMER AND FALL MONTHS BEAT.

THE QUESTION IS.

>> HOW DO BUSINESSES ADJUST THEIR OPERATIONS?

>> TO ACCOUNT FOR SEASONAL FLUCTUATIONS IN THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS ARE NIA JAX AND STARTED WORKING AT THE SWEET LAKES ICE CREAM SHOP 7 MONTHS AGO.

SHE SAYS THERE ARE LINES OUT THE DOOR WHEN SPRINGTIME BRINGS MANY TOURISTS TO FORT MYERS BEACH.

SO MANY PEOPLE THAT COME HERE.

>> THEY'RE PEOPLE THAT COME HERE FROM AUSTRALIA FROM SINGLE POOR ON.

OBVIOUSLY A BUNCH OF PLACES HERE LIKE WE GET A LOT OF SNOWBIRDS FROM WHY UTAH ON MISSOURI AND STAFF.

>> JACKSON SAYS BEING AT THE ICE CREAM SHOP BACK IN JANUARY.

I WAS LIKE STEPPING INTO A DIFFERENT WORLD FROM HER HOMETOWN OF FORT MYERS JUST ACROSS THE BRIDGE WAS DEFINITELY AN ADJUSTMENT FOR HIS CAUSE.

>> I GOT HIRED DURING PEAK BUSINESS SEASON.

SO WHY WAS CHENEY AND SO LIKE THAT?

I WAS SEEING ALL THE BUSY LINES.

I SAW THE PEOPLE AND THEN TOWARDS THE END OF MAY OR THE END OF APRIL, BEGINNING OF MAY DOESN'T START TO SLOW DOWN A LOT ARE HOURS CHANGED.

A LOT OF THING THAT NEEDED CHANGE FOR US.

WE DO DO COFFEE OR RECORDS OR LINES CURRENTLY BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE SLOW SEASON.

ANOTHER ICE CREAM SHOP IS THE NATIONAL CHAIN COLD STONE CREAMERY.

>> WHICH CAN BE MISSED WHEN YOU DRIVE OVER THE BRIDGE INTO FORT MYERS BEACH.

>> THERE WERE NO CUSTOMERS ON THIS HOT JULY MIDDAY.

SO EMPLOYEES TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE DOWN TIME BY MAKING WAFFLE CONE.

COLD STONE OWNER ME TO CHILL TANI SAYS THAT DURING THE PEAK OF TOURIST SEASON, HE STRATEGICALLY PLACES HIS MOST EXPERIENCED EMPLOYEES TEMPORARILY AT THE FORT MYERS BEACH SITE TO ACCOMMODATE THE INFLUX OF CUSTOMERS IN THIS COUNT, THE BE ON A 8 STORES.

>> SO BASICALLY WE ALWAYS HAVE EMPLOYEES WHO CAN PULL FROM ONE STORE TO ANOTHER STORE.

>> GIVEN THAT COLD STONE CREAMERY IS A CHAIN FRANCHISE.

SO TONY HAS ENOUGH LOCATIONS SO THAT HE CAN DISTRIBUTE WORKERS TO VARIOUS SITES THROUGHOUT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, DEPENDING ON NEED IN FORT MYERS BEACH, MOST FOOD INDUSTRY BUSINESSES ARE PRIVATELY OWNED MOM AND POP STORES.

HOWEVER, A SECOND CHAIN FRANCHISE FOOD JOINT C'EST OPENED UP THIS PAST WEEK.

WHEN CONSIDERING A NEW RESTAURANT LOCATION FOR JERSEY MIKE'S SUB SHOP.

TRACEY GROW.

LINDAHL SAYS IT WAS A NO-BRAINER TO CHOOSE FORT MYERS BEACH.

I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE EBBS AND FLOWS OF THE TRANS YET CLIENTELE.

THAT COULD HAPPEN.

>> THAT DOES NOT AT ALL SCARE US OR PROHIBIT US FROM OPENING HERE.

>> IN FACT.

>> SHE SAYS HER INSIGHT OR KNOWLEDGE LET HER TO SELECT JULY.

>> AS THE OPENING MONTH SO THAT HER STAFF CAN EASE INTO WORKING AT A UNIQUE LOCATIONS, SUCH AS FORT MYERS BEACH, WHO'S READ THEM AS SET BY THE TOURISM SEASON RATHER THAN OPENING IN OCTOBER.

WHEN WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE BUSY.

>> IT'S BEST TO OPEN NOW.

SO WE GET SNOW.

THE PEOPLE AROUND US SO WE CAN FEEL SUPPORTED AND WE CAN SUPPORT THEM.

ACCORDING TO THE ZACH OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

>> TOURISM IN FORT MYERS BEACH IS FINALLY REBOUNDING.

>> AFTER COVID-19 AND DEVASTATION FROM STORMS.

AND OF COURSE, WE HAD SEPTEMBER OF 2022.

AND HURRICANE IAN HIT.

>> AND YOU CAN SEE HOW WE'VE STRUGGLED.

WE HAD NO BUILDINGS.

>> SHE SAYS THE OPENING OF THIS NEW CHAIN FRANCHISE DEMONSTRATES THE RESILIENCE OF FORT MYERS BEACH BUSINESSES FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M YOUN JOO PARK.

>> COMING UP, THE CLOCK IS COUNTING DOWN TO WHAT WE CALL MANY LOBSTER SEASON.

BUT IF YOU'RE NOT PREPARED, IT CAN PASS RIGHT BEFORE YOU IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.

STARTING ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 29TH.

THE COUNTDOWN IS OVER AND THE HUNT IS ON FLORIDA'S ANNUAL MANY LEE LOBSTERS SEASON OPENS THIS WEDNESDAY AT ONE MINUTE AFTER MIDNIGHT AND IT ENDS JUST 24 HOURS LATER AT MIDNIGHT ON JULY, 30TH.

NOW THAT MEANS THOUSANDS OF DIVERS AND BOATERS ARE HEADED TO THE FLORIDA KEYS FOR ONE OF THE STATE'S MOST ANTICIPATED RECREATIONAL HARVEST WITH HUNDREDS OF BOATS AND DIVERS EXPECTED TO BE ON THE WATER.

OFFICIALS SAY VISIBILITY IS KEY.

DIVERS AND SNORKELERS MUST DISPLAY A DIVER DOWN WARNING DEVICE AND REMAIN AS CLOSE TO IT AND THEIR VESSEL AS PRACTICAL.

IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT TO MITT ELON TO SEASON THE REGULAR FLORIDA SPINY LOBSTER SEASON BEGINS ON AUGUST.

6TH.

IT RUNS THROUGH MARCH 31ST OF 2027.

COMING UP ON THE NEXT SOUTHWEST, FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

KIDS AREN'T MAKING FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS OR STARTING CAMPFIRES THAT THE SPECIAL CAMP, THEY'RE DISSECTING SHARKS.

WE'RE GOING TO VISIT A SANIBEL BEAST PART CAMP, PART SCIENCE LAB.

AND TAKE A CLOSER LOOK.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HAD A WGCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

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