THIS THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS COMING UP.

ANYONE WHO'S BEEN IN FLORIDA LONG ENOUGH HAS HEARD THE PHRASE WHEN THUNDER ROARS GO INDOORS.

FOLLOWING A DEADLY LIGHTNING STRIKE ON FORT MYERS BEACH.

ONE GROUP IS REINTRODUCING PEOPLE TO WHETHER TECHNOLOGY DESIGNED TO KEEP YOU SAFE.

HONORING THE MILLIONS OF VIETNAM VETERANS WHO WERE EXPOSED TO THE DANGEROUS CHEMICAL AGENT.

ORANGE.

A PREVIEW OF THE UPCOMING CEREMONY TO HONOR THOSE WHO FOUGHT THE FIGHT FOR THEIR HEALTH HOME AND WHILE FLORIDA IS HOME TO PLENTY OF SUNSHINE AND CELEBRATIONS, A RECENT GATHERING WAS TAKEN OVER BY SOME TIKI INSPIRED CULTURE OF A DIFFERENT KIND.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE SUMMER SEASON MEANS STORM SEASON FOR FLORIDA WITH SEA BREEZES MIXING WITH WARMER WATER, CREATING A PERFECT BREEDING GROUND FOR THUNDERSTORMS.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS FLORIDA EXPERIENCES NEARLY 100 DAYS OF THUNDER AND LIGHTNING EVERY YEAR, MAKING IT THE MOST THUNDERSTORM DENSE REGION IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

BUT WITH THAT BEAUTY OF NATURE COMES THE DANGERS FROM THE STORM ITSELF.

ACCORDING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, AN AVERAGE OF 300 PEOPLE ARE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING EVERY YEAR AND ROUGHLY 7 TO 10 PEOPLE DIE FROM LIGHTNING STRIKES.

NOW THAT INCLUDES A 51 YEAR-OLD MAN WHO DIED AFTER BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

WELL IN THE WATER WITH HIS FAMILY ON FORT MYERS BEACH, LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE RALLYING TO ALERT THE PUBLIC ON THE TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING LIGHTNING DETECTION SYSTEMS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO SAVE LIVES.

WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE HAS MORE.

>> SO FOR MORE ON LIGHTNING DETECTION SYSTEMS, I'M JOINED BY MARC NOVITZKY, A CONSULTANT TO ENGAGE ESTERO, A NONPROFIT VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ASSOCIATION.

SO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

I THINK THIS IS A VALUABLE TOPIC AND A VALUABLE INFORMATION FOR THE COMMUNITY IN AND AROUND ESTERO.

AND ACTUALLY THE COUNTY AT ALL, SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AREA.

>> AND THAT'S WHY I THINK PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE HEARD THE SYSTEMS IN THE DISTANCE.

BUT CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW A LIGHTNING DETECTION SYSTEM ACTUALLY WORKS?

>> OKAY.

IT USES THE MICROWAVE GENERATED BY THE STORMS AND WHEN THEY HIT A CERTAIN LEVEL, THE TO MOUNTED SYSTEMS GO OFF.

AND THAT'S WHEN THEY GET THAT SHIRT OR THAT AUDIBEL THAT YOU HEAR ANYTIME THERE'S LIGHTING WITHIN 10 MILES.

AND THE AUDIBLE SYSTEM, THEN YOU CAN HEAR FOR A HALF MILE, YOU KNOW, CIRCLE A HALF-MILE RADIUS.

SO SOME PLACES ARE MIGHT BE 2 OF THEM LIKE THE NEW U.S.

TARIFFS, SPORTS PARK.

THAT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY BIG THEM.

I NEED 2 OF THEM THERE TO COVER THE AREA.

MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS AWARE THAT THERE'S LIGHTNING IN THE YEAR.

AND WHAT THE SYSTEMS ALSO TELL US IS BASICALLY YOU WAIT 30 MINUTES AFTER THE LIGHTNING TO, YOU KNOW, STRIKES BEFORE YOU COULD RESUME ANY ACTIVITIES.

>> SO WHEN YOU HEAR THAT FIRST BLAST, IS THIS FOR A STORM THAT ENCROACHING IN COMING UPON US OR IS THIS PERSON THING THAT RIGHT WHEN IT'S THERE AND YOU NEED TO SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY?

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S WITHIN 10 MILES OF WHERE YOU ARE.

SO THAT SHOULD GIVE YOU TIME TO GET TO SEEK SHELTER.

IF THE AREA DOESN'T.

HAVE A LINE IN DETECTION SYSTEM, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE IMMEDIATELY NOW IT'S GOING TO BE THE STRIKE AND THEN YOU COULD BE IN TROUBLE.

SO THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE LANEY DETECTION SYSTEMS.

>> AND THEN WHERE ARE THESE SYSTEMS MORE COMMON?

ARE THEY IN NEIGHBORHOODS OR THE MORE IN PUBLIC AREAS >> WELL, THERE'S THERE'S A COMBINATION IN THE GREATER ESTERO AREA THERE IN THE IN LEE COUNTY THERE IN THEIR THEIR METRIC, IN THEIR THEIR PARKS, THEIR COMMUNITY PARK.

SO WE HAVE ONE ANY ESTERO COMMUNITY PARK.

THEY'RE ALSO COMMON IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS WHERE THEY PLAY SPORTS IN THE SPORTS FIELDS.

THERE THEY ARE.

SOMEWHAT COMMON IN GOLF COURSES.

WHETHER IT'S A PRIVATE OR PUBLIC GOLF COURSE NOT EVERY GOLF COURSE HAS WON.

IN MY MIND.

YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT IF YOU'RE OUT THERE PLAYING GOLF IN YOUR PARTICULAR COURSE DOESN'T HAVE ONE.

>> AND THEN ARE OTHER WAYS THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN KEEP THEMSELVES SAFE FROM LIGHTNING WITHOUT RELYING ON THE DETECTION SYSTEM.

YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER AN APP OR PROGRAM.

I THINK THAT PEOPLE CAN HAVE ON THEM PERSONALLY JUST IN CASE THEY'RE NOT ANYWHERE NEAR ONE OF THESE DETECTION SYSTEMS.

>> CORRECT.

SO FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY HAS ACTUALLY TO WEATHER STEM STATIONS.

FLORIDA'S GOT A PRETTY BIG FGCU GOT UPGRADED BIG YOU CAN MONITOR THAT WEATHER STAM STEM APP ON YOUR PHONE TO TELL YOU WHAT'S COMMON ESTERO FIRE RESCUE HAS 3 OF THEIR.

I THINK THEY HAVE 6 OR 7 FIRE STATIONS.

THEY ALSO HAD WHETHER STEP.

SO THEY GIVE THEM AN IDEA.

THE ONE IS WAY OUT EAST CORKSCREW AND THE OTHER 2 ARE KIND OF SPLIT AMONGST THE VILLAGE OF ESTERO.

SO AGAIN, GIVE YOU A LITTLE MORE WARNING FOR THAT.

>> AND THEN FINALLY, IF YOU'D BE ABLE JUST TALK ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE WITH ENGAGE ESTERO AND KIND OF HOW THEY'VE HELPED ALSO IMPLEMENT MORE INFORMATION AND AWARENESS ABOUT THESE DETECTION SYSTEMS.

>> CORRECT.

WE HAVE A ROUGHLY 17,000 EMAIL ADDRESSES THAT WE SEND ARTICLES FOR OUR MISSION IS TO INFORM THE GREATER 0 AREA OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO I WROTE AN ARTICLE AND WAS PUBLISHED LAST WEEK ON.

WHINY DETECTION SYSTEMS AND WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHERE I THINK THEY'RE NEEDED IN SOME OTHER THINGS.

SO IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO GO TO ESTERO TODAY THAT COM CHECK OUT TO THE ARTICLE ON THAT AND WORK WITH YOUR HR WAYS AND YOUR COMMUNITIES IN YOUR GOLF COURSES.

THE COUPLE GOFF FORCES LIKE THE ONES IN SHADOW WOULD HAVE A LIGHTNING DETECTION SYSTEM.

SOME OF THE OTHER COURSES GRADERS AND YOU DO NOT HAVE IT.

AND THAT.

I KNOW THEY'RE NOT CHEAT.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING $100,000.

PLUS AN ANNUAL FEE.

BUT AGAIN, WHAT'S THE LIFE OF THE WHAT'S A LIFE WORTH?

>> WELL, MR.

NOVITZKY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO EXPLAIN ALL THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR US.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

ANYTIME WE CAN BE OF HELP OUR GOAL AND WHAT YOUR GOAL IS TO IN-FORM AND KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFE.

AND THIS IS ONE WAY TO DO IT.

>> AS THE AFTERNOON STORMS BEGIN TO INCREASE, MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE KEEPING UP WITH ALL THE CHANGES IN THE WEATHER BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE.

WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP, HUNDREDS OF VARIETIES OF SHARKS ARE SCATTERED ACROSS THE GLOBE.

BUT A NEW DISCOVERY SHOWS THAT SOME SPECIES ARE LESS JAZZ AND MORE LIKE A PIECE OF THE SEA.

IN THE EARLY 1960'S.

THE UNITED STATES MILITARY BEGAN USING A NEW TACTIC AS PART OF THE VIETNAM WAR AGENT ORANGE, A POWERFUL CHEMICAL HERBICIDE WAS SPRAYED OVER MILLIONS OF ACRES OF LAND OVER A TEN-YEAR PERIOD.

ACCORDING TO MILITARY RECORDS, AGENT ORANGE WAS MOSTLY USED TO BE FULLY IT FORESTS AND MANGROVES TO EXPOSE AND IN MANY LOCATIONS AND DESTROY ENEMY FOOD CROPS.

THE SEVERE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHEMICAL WERE UNKNOWN AT THE TIME.

HOWEVER, IMMEDIATE EXPOSURE LEAD TO SKIN BLISTERS AND NERVE DAMAGE.

BUT PROLONGED EXPOSURE HAS BEEN LINKED TO NUMEROUS KINDS OF CANCERS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS ESTIMATES 300,000 MILITARY VETERANS HAVE EITHER DIED OR SUFFERED SEVERE HEALTH COMPLICATIONS FROM EXPOSURE TO THE CHEMICAL.

LOCAL GROUPS ARE NOW HONORING THEM AS PART OF AGENT ORANGE AWARENESS DAY ON AUGUST 10TH WGCU CULTURE AND CONNECTIONS.

REPORTER ELIZABETH ANDARGE HAS MORE.

>> TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LASTING IMPACTS OF AGENT ORANGE.

WE'RE JOINED BY LISA OATS, A BOARD MEMBER FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HONOR FLIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

ALICIA, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

FOR ANYONE THAT IS UNFAMILIAR WITH AGENT ORANGE.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS?

CERTAINLY.

>> SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT AGENT ORANGE WAS A CHEMICAL, A HERBICIDE THAT WAS SPRAYED OVER THE JUNGLES TO ELIMINATE THE VEGETATION.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD AND A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SOURCES IS THEY WOULD ADD ADDITIONAL CHEMICALS IN THERE THAT HAD DIFFERENT EFFECTS, WHICH WE DID NOT FIND OUT ABOUT UNTIL MANY YEARS LATER.

>> HOW IS THE PUBLIC AWARENESS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS REGARDING THE USE OF AGENT ORANGE AND SIMILAR HERBICIDES?

>> IT'S DEFINITELY BROUGHT IT TO THE FOREFRONT.

WE HAVE LOST SO MANY VIETNAM VETERANS AND AND THE FOCUS INITIALLY WAS THE VETERANS THAT WERE LOST DURING COMBAT, THAT THIS WAS PART OF THEIR SERVICE.

SO AS WE CONTINUE TO LOSE THOSE VETERANS, WE FOCUS ON THE IMPORTANCE ON WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH BY BEING EXPOSED TO THOSE AWFUL CHEMICAL.

>> THEN YOU GUYS ARE DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL THIS WEEKEND TO HONOR THEM.

CAN YOU SHARE WITH US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT?

ABSOLUTELY.

>> LAST YEAR AND WE FOUND THAT IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AT THE THE ORIGINAL VIETNAM WALL.

THEY LIGHT UP THE LAW.

ORANGE.

REMEMBRANCE AND JUST BASICALLY IN RECOGNITION OF ALL OF THOSE THAT HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES, IT'S A NOD TO THE FAMILIES.

IT'S IT'S REALLY STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT THESE VIETNAM VETERANS WENT THROUGH, WHETHER THEY'RE HERE OR NOT AND IT JUST SEEMED LIKE SUCH A SIMPLE WAY TO GIVE BACK TO OUR VETERANS.

WE HAVE SO MANY VETERANS ALL FOR A STATE.

YEAH, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BROUGHT THIS HOME TO THEM.

>> WHAT IS THE FEEDBACK BEEN LIKE FROM SOME OF THESE VETERANS WHO WORK WITH THEM VERY CLOSELY?

ABSOLUTELY.

I HAVEN'T HEARD AS MUCH FROM THE VIETNAM VETERANS THEMSELVES, BUT I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE LOST THEIR SPOUSE DUE TO AGENT ORANGE.

IT'S IT'S A VERY EMOTIONAL CONVERSATIONS ARE VERY EMOTIONAL.

ONE SPECIFICALLY THAT COMES TO MIND.

SHE'S A VERY ACTIVE IN THE VETERAN COMMUNITY.

AND SO WHEN SHE HEARD THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING, I MEAN, I COULD HEAR THE THE STRAIN IN HER VOICE AND SHE WANTED TO HELP, HOWEVER POSSIBLE.

SO I KNOW THAT THIS IS TOUCHING THAT COMMUNITY AND IT IS JUST SO SIMPLE, BUT SO POWERFUL.

>> WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP THE VETERANS.

>> I THINK IT'S MAINLY RECOGNITION.

>> AND JUST ACKNOWLEDGMENT WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH IS IS EDUCATION.

WE OWE THAT TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SERVED, YOU KNOW, TO TAKE THE TIME TO LEARN THE HISTORY.

SO WE DON'T REPEAT IT.

>> AND I SEE ON YOUR SURE YOU ARE WEARING YOUR ORGANIZATION'S LOGO.

CAN YOU PLEASE SHARE WITH US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT?

ABSOLUTELY.

>> SO I AM PROUD TO BE ON THE BOARD FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HONOR FLIGHT.

WE FLY VETERANS TO WASHINGTON, D.C., AT NO CHARGE SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE THEM AT THEIR MEMORIALS.

SO MANY OF THEM HAD SUCH AN AWFUL EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY WITH THEIR WELCOME HOME AND THIS IS REALLY OUR OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK WE HAVE LOST THE BULK OF OUR WORLD WAR 2 AND KOREAN VETERANS.

SO RIGHT NOW, THE BULK OF OUR FLIGHT IS THE VIETNAM ERA.

SO THAT MAKES THIS SO MUCH MORE IMPACTFUL BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY'RE UP TO THAT AND ALL OF THEIR STRUGGLES.

SO THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT IT FEELS LIKE TO SALUTE TO OUR FAMILY.

>> LASTLY, HOW LONG HAS YOUR ORGANIZATION BEEN TAKING PLACE IN GORDA?

>> SO THE FLIGHT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND OCTOBER IS GOING TO BE OUR 25TH WHITE.

SO IS THAT THE PAST FEW YEARS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO TO A YEAR.

SO.

I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THE MAP TAKES US TO.

BUT I'VE BEEN WITH THE ORGANIZATION FOR ABOUT FOR 5 YEARS NOW.

I HANDLE THE TECHNOLOGY, WHICH IS HOW I STUMBLED ACROSS THIS.

I DO A LOT OF RESEARCH BECAUSE I WANT TO SHARE IT THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS.

AND I SAW THAT THEY DID SOMETHING THAT WAS INCREDIBLY POWERFUL.

I SAW THE IMPACT THAT IT HAD FOR THOSE IN DC AND I QUICKLY FOUND OUT OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE THE VIETNAM WALL REPLICA.

THEY'RE DOING THE SAME THING.

SO I JUST THOUGHT WE SHOULD START THAT HERE.

AND I HOPE IT CONTINUES.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

LEASH AN ABSOLUTELY THANK YOU.

>> THE VIETNAM WALL OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS LOCATED IN GORDA AND JASON TO LASHLEY PARK.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT ITS HISTORY BY VISITING VIETNAM.

ALL OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA DOT ORG FOR OVER 450 MILLION YEARS.

SHARKS HAVE RULED THE OCEANS.

BUT DESPITE THEIR TENURE AS WRIST, DOMINANT WATER SPECIES, THERE IS STILL SO MUCH TO LEARN ABOUT THEM.

THE WORLD WILDLIFE FUND SAYS THERE ARE OVER 500 SPECIES OF SHARK AND THAT NUMBER CONTINUES TO GROW.

APPLE LET SHARKS ARE ALSO KNOWN AS WALKING SHARKS FOR THEIR UNUSUAL ABILITY TO SCATTER ACROSS THE OCEAN FLOOR.

NOW, RESEARCHERS RECENTLY STUMBLED UPON A NEW SPECIES OF WALKING SHARK.

THE 10TH DISTINCT VARIETY TO HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED AND FOR FACILITIES SUCH AS THE CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM.

THIS DISCOVERY IS A NEW CHANCE TO SHED MORE LIGHT ON THE UNIQUE UNIQUENESS THAT SHARKS CAN PRESENT.

FOR MORE ON THIS NEW SHARK DISCOVERY.

I AM JOINED BY COURTNEY LARATONDA ANIMALS, CONNECTION MANAGER AT THE CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> HI, EVERYONE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

NOW EARLIER THIS SUMMER.

>> A NEW SPECIES OF A WALKING SHARK WAS DISCOVERED.

WHAT MAKES THIS DISCOVERY SO UNIQUE FROM ITS PEAK ARE COUSINS.

>> IT'S SUPER EXCITING.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY UNIQUE BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T DISCOVERED ANOTHER SPEAKING SPECIES OF WALKING SHARK AND OVER A DECADE.

SO THIS TELLS RESEARCHERS A LOT THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS SPECIES MAY HAVE EXISTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

AND WE'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL DECADES AGO.

BUT WE'RE JUST FINDING IT OR ITS NEW.

SO RESEARCHERS ARE STILL OUT THERE AND FIGURING A LOT OF THAT OUT.

BUT THE BEST PART ABOUT IT IS FINDING SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO RESEARCH SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROTECT IT AND WE DON'T WE'RE NOT GOING BE ABLE TO SAY WHAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

SO THIS IS THIS IS AMAZING.

IT'S VERY EXCITING.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHERE AND HOW IT WAS DISCOVERED?

SO?

THERE'S A COUPLE RESEARCHERS THAT WE'RE DOING FIELDWORK DOWN IN PAPA NEW GUINEA AND AS THEY WERE SWIMMING THROUGH THE WATER.

ONE OF THE SCIENTISTS LOOKED DOWN AND SAW ANOTHER SPECIES.

FROM MY UNDERSTANDING OR A SIMILAR WALKING SHARK SPECIES.

THAT KINDA LOOKED A LITTLE DIFFERENCE.

SO THEY WERE ABLE TO COLLECT ONE OF THE ONE OF THEM, BRING THEM ON BOARD AND DETERMINED THAT DUE TO THE WHITE DASHES AND DOTS ON IT.

IT WAS A COMPLETELY NEW SPECIES OF WALKING SHARK.

>> AND HOW DOES THIS SPECIES OF SHARK ACTUALLY WALK?

SO THEY DON'T WALK.

>> ON LAND LIKE HUMANS WHERE THEY'LL GET UP AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE LEGS TO WALK AROUND.

BUT IF YOU TAKE A LOOK, THEY HAVE TO PACK TO FINS ON EACH SIDE AND THEN 2 PELVIC FINS THAT ARE RIGHT BEHIND IT.

SO ALL 4 OF THOSE FINS, KINDA.

GO UNDERNEATH THEM AND THEY WOUDL BACK AND FORTH AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE WALKING.

THEY ARE ABLE TO GO FROM DIFFERENT TIDE POOLS TO TIDE POOLS BECAUSE THEY LIVE IN SHALLOW WATERS TO BE ABLE TO HUNT FOR FOOD LIKE INVERTEBRATES AND CRUSTACEANS SO THEY CAN WIGGLE THEIR WAY USING THOSE FLIPPERS ON LANDS TO ANOTHER TIDE POOL.

SO THAT'S WHAT CONSIDERS THEM WALKING.

>> AND WHAT BENEFIT DOES THE WALKING PROVIDE?

BECAUSE MOST SHARKS ARE KNOWN AS FEARED HUNTERS DOESN'T THE SLOW THEM DOWN?

>> YOU KNOW, THEY LIVE IN THE SHALLOW WATERS WHERE OTHER BIG ANIMALS CAN'T GET THEM.

SO, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T POSE A THREAT TO HUMANS.

OTHER SHARKS CAN'T REACH THEM.

THEIR BOTTOM DWELLERS, JUST LIKE A LOT OF OTHER SPECIES LIKE NURSE SHARKS.

SO THEY KIND OF JUST RELAX AND CHILL, BUT THEY WILL GO FROM SHALLOW WATER TO SHALLOW WATER HUNTING, BUT HUMANS PAY MORE OF A THREAT TO THEM WHERE 5 OF THE 10 NOW DISCOVERED SPECIES ARE OLIVER VULNERABLE.

SKEWS ME OR ENDANGERED?

SO WE GOT TO DO OUR PART TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT.

THE 9 AND THE NEWLY DISCOVERED SO WE CAN KEEP IT HERE ON EARTH FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

THE SHARKS ARE SOME OF THE OLDEST ANIMALS ON EARTH.

>> BUT THIS IS A STRANGE EVOLUTIONARY ADAPTATION.

WHAT CAN WALKING SHARKS PROVIDE IN THE EVOLUTION OF MARINE ANIMALS?

>> THEY CAN PROVIDE SO MUCH.

SHARKS PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN OUR ECOSYSTEM.

SO US JUST.

SHOWING THAT THERE'S A NEW SPECIES OPENS THE EYES THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO FIND MORE SPECIES AND CONTINUE THE RESEARCH.

>> AND WHEN YOU THINK OF SHARKS IN THE SUMMER OR THE FIRST THING THAT MANY OF US THINK OF IS THIS MOVIE JAWS.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS SURROUNDING SHARKS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE?

SO WHEN?

>> PEOPLE FIRST THINK OF SHARK ARE SHARK ATTACK THE A LOT OF TIMES THE FOOTAGE THAT PEOPLE SEE ARE FROM MOVIES LIKE JAZZ OR, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, AN ACCIDENT HAPPENING.

BUT IT'S VERY RARE IN SOME CASES THAT THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS OR A HUMAN GETS ATTACKED DOESN'T HAPPEN.

YES, BUT PEOPLE SHOULDN'T FEAR SHARKS.

THEY NEED TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT SHARKS.

SHARKS MIGRATE ALL OVER THE WORLD.

A LOT OF SPECIES HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY SWIM IN ORDER TO BREATHE, BUT THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS HUNTING SUMMER, OPPORTUNISTIC HUNTERS.

SO ONE NAME MIND A FREE MEAL.

THEY'RE GOING TO GO FOR IT.

BUT THE MORE EDUCATION EVERYBODY KNOWS AND EVERYONE FEELS THEMSELF WITH.

WE CAN PROTECT THEM AND PROTECT OURSELVES.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR VIEWERS ABOUT WALKING SHARKS?

>> YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST THING I WANT TO SHARE WITH EVERYBODY HAS JUST KEEP FOLLOWING THESE RESEARCHERS.

SEE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GET BACK OUT THERE IN OCTOBER AND WE HAVE AT LEAST 5 OF THE 10 SPECIES THAT ARE ENDANGERED.

SO WE NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM.

KEEP FOLLOWING THEM ANYWHERE THAT THEY GO AND WE'D LOVE TO CONTINUE TO SHARE THEIR STORY HERE AT THE CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM.

IF THERE'S EVER ONE OF THE NEW SPECIES THAT'S NEEDS RESCUED, GIVE US A CALL.

WE'D BE HAPPY TO BUT WE DO HAVE 3 EPPLE AT HERE.

SO IF YOU WANT TO COME CHECK OUT A LOCKING SHARK COME THE CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM AND SEE US.

>> THAT SOUNDS AWESOME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

COURTNEY.

THANK YOU.

AND HERE'S ANOTHER FUN SHARK.

FACT FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM.

DON'T EXPECT WALKING SHARKS TO WIN IN THE PARENT OF THE YEAR AWARDS, ACCORDING TO SEAWORLD WALKING SHARKS TYPICALLY LAY 2 EGGS AT A TIME AND AFTER THEIR LATE, THEY IMMEDIATELY LEAVE THE OFFSPRING TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES.

IT CAN TAKE UP TO 130 DAYS BEFORE THE PUPS ARE TOTALLY INDEPENDENT AND CAN GO OFF ON THEIR OWN.

YOU CAN FIND MORE NATURE STORIES BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE AT WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, IT'S PALM TREES AND SANDY BEACHES OF A DIFFERENT VARIETY.

THE FLORIDA STYLE GIVEAWAY AS A WAVE OF HAWAIIAN HISTORY CRASHED DOWN ON THE SHORES OF FLORIDA MAY HAVE ITS OWN TROPICAL VIBES BUT HALFWAY ACROSS THE GLOBE IS THE ORIGINS OF LUAU CELEBRATIONS IN 2 KEY STYLE FOR OVER 1000 YEARS.

HAWAIIAN CULTURE PASSED DOWN THEIR STORIES THROUGH MOVEMENT AND DANCE THAT ANCIENT TRADITION FOUND ITS WAY TO GORDA WHERE WGCU CULTURE AND CONNECTIONS.

REPORTER ELIZABETH AND RG TOOK PART IN THE 10TH ANNUAL TO KEITH BEST.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE A PARTY GRASS SKIRTS PLACE HEADBANDS EVERY DETAIL YOU SEE IS A PART OF THE STORY.

>> AND SO WHAT WE HAVE REPRESENTS TAKING IT.

WE HAVE SHAW'S.

WE HAVE A FISHERMAN'S HAT.

SWITCH.

WE'RE DOING A GAS THAT THAT REPRESENTS THE FISHERMAN SO ARE A LITTLE BIT IN THAT THAT CATEGORY A LITTLE POWER.

I L 2 AND A LITTLE BIT OF THAT ACCENT.

>> SHIRI COFFEE IS THE DIRECTOR OF HULA CONNECTIONS OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THE GROUP HAS EXISTED FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS DANCING TRADITIONS FROM ACROSS THE ISLANDS.

SO >> THEY TEACH AND ANSWERS NOT ONLY JUST WOMEN BUT MEN, TOO WELL, HAVE A LOT OF HIS WORK.

WELL, REALLY EMPHASIZE THEIR HIPS IN HAWAII AND HULA.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE GRACEFUL TELLING THE STORY, FOR EXAMPLE, WE MIGHT HAVE A NICE LITTLE FLOWING PALM TREE.

AND SO EVERY EVERY ONE OF THE APOLLO MISSION ISLANDS WILL HAVE THEIR OWN STYLE.

BUT YES, THEY'RE VERY ANCIENT.

AND MARY HAVE BEFORE WRITTEN HISTORY.

THAT WAS HOW THEY THEY PASSED DOWN THE HISTORY IN THE SONGS AND DANCES TOLD THE STORIES OF THE OLD DAYS SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ALL THE PEOPLE >> IT'S A PART OF WHAT MAKES TEA Q-FEST DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER DAY ON THE CALENDAR.

THERE'S DIFFERENT EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

>> BUT I THINK THIS ONE IS REALLY SPECIAL BECAUSE WE GET TO.

>> EVERYBODY GETS TO DRESS UP IN THE LITTLE TROPICAL HAVE SOME FUN WITH IT.

AND EVERYONE WE TALKED TO SAYS WE'RE SO HAPPY YOU'RE HERE.

WE LEFT SENIOR DANCES.

WE LEFT THERE CULTURE THAT YOU'RE YOU'RE PRESENTING TO US.

>> THAT OPENNESS SHOWS UP INSIDE THE ORGANIZATION AS WELL.

>> HAVE WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE HAWAIIAN.

SOME PEOPLE ARE TOO.

OUR FILIPINO, MAYBE OR DIFFERENT CULTURES.

AND THEN SOME OF US ARE WHAT WE CALL HOLLY, WHO ARE PART 4 UNDER MOSTLY WHITE.

BUT WE ALL HAVE HAWAII IN OUR HEARTS.

AND SO THEY CAUSE HAWAIIANS AT HEART.

>> COFFEE SAYS WOULD ACTUALLY HOLDS THE GROUP TOGETHER HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHERE THEY'RE JUST INTERACTING WITHIN THE GROUP.

WE HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDSHIPS THAT ARE MADE.

I AM.

AND JUST A LOT OF LOVE AND I THINK THAT COMES OUT WHEN WE PERFORM BECAUSE THAT THAT IS REALLY WHAT WE HAVE TO HEAR FROM FROM OUR HEARTS.

IT IS KIND OF A HEALING >> EXPERIENCE THE WGCU NEWS.

>> I'M LISBETH ANDARGE.

>> YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD TO AVOID STARING DIRECTLY INTO THE SUNLIGHT.

BUT AFTER TAKING A LOOK AT THE NEWEST IMAGES CAPTURED OF ARSON, IT MIGHT BE HARD TO LOOK AWAY.

SCIENTISTS RECENTLY CAPTURED THE SURFACE OF THE SUN IN HIS CLEAREST DETAILS YET.

AND IT WAS ALL DONE BY ACCIDENT.

RESEARCHERS WERE TESTING THE LIMITS OF A SOLAR TELESCOPE LOCATED ON THE ISLAND OF MAUI IN HAWAII AFTER VIEWING THE RESULTS THEY SAW A PATTERN RIPPLING ACROSS THE SURFACE.

THE RIPPLES ARE CAUSED BY BITS OF MAGNETIZED PLASMA MOVING ACROSS EACH OTHER.

SOME SCIENTISTS HAVE COMPARE THESE IMAGES.

2 CLASSIC PAINTINGS, INCLUDING AN INTERSTELLAR OF AND GOES STARRY NIGHT.

ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM, TACKLING THE QUESTIONS OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AFTER A SENATE COMMITTEE VOTES TO HOLD DOCTOR ANTHONY FAUCI IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS.

A WAR OF WORDS EMERGES AFTER THE DOCTOR WHO HANDLED THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PLEADED THE 5TH FOR THE ENTIRETY OF HIS CONGRESSIONAL HEARING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU VISIT 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.