THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP AS THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS GET CLOSER.

THE TOPIC OVER MAIL-IN BALLOTS IS BEGINNING TO HEAT UP AS LEE COUNTY PREPARES TO SEND OUT THOUSANDS OF BALLOTS THROUGH THE MAIL.

THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS.

HE'S HOPING MORE PEOPLE JOINING IN AN ARTIFICIAL REEF IS DOING MORE THAN PROVIDING NECESSARY RESEARCH FOR OUR LOCAL ECOSYSTEM.

IT'S ALSO SERVING AS A LAUNCHING POINT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF MARINE BIOLOGISTS AND YOU COULD BE SITTING ON A HIDDEN FORTUNE AND NOT EVEN KNOW IT.

LEARN HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A PIECE OF THE BILLIONS IN UNCLAIMED PROPERTY IN FLORIDA.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE FIRST BALLOTS CAST IN THE MIDTERM GENERAL ELECTION.

OUR ALREADY TRICKLING IN TO THE LEE COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE IN FORT MYERS, THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, JENNA PERSONS-MULICKA SAYS HER OFFICE HAS JUST RECEIVED DOZENS OF VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS FROM MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTERS REGISTERED IN LEE COUNTY PERSONS-MULICKA SAYS ALMOST 1000 BALLOTS WERE SENT OVERSEAS AND MORE THAN 120,000 WILL BE MAILED STATESIDE NEXT WEEK.

THAT MEANS IF YOU REQUESTED ONE, YOURS SHOULD ARRIVE BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK.

NOW THEY ARE JUST SOME OF THE MILLIONS OF VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS EXPECTED TO BE SENT OUT TO FLORIDIANS IN ALL.

67 COUNTIES BY OCTOBER.

1ST.

>> JOINING ME NOW IN THE WGCU STUDIO IS LEE COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS.

>> THIS JENNA PERSONS-MULICKA, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US IN STUDIO.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

WE ARE UNDER 6 WEEKS AWAY FROM THE ELECTIONS IN THIS IS A VERY BUSY TIME FOR YOUR OFFICE.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DEADLINES THAT VOTERS NEED TO BE AWARE OF OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS?

>> WELL, THE MOST IMPORTANT DATE IS NOVEMBER 3RD, THAT IS THE GENERAL ELECTION DAY.

AND IF YOU HAVEN'T REGISTERED TO VOTE YET, YOU STILL HAVE TIME.

THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IS OCTOBER.

BETH, IF YOU WANT TO VOTE BY MAIL, WHICH IS A PERTH FOR GOOD WAY TO VOTE FOR FOLKS IN LEE COUNTY AND YOU HAVEN'T SIGNED UP FOR A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT.

YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO DO SO.

THE DEADLINE IS 05:00PM ON OCTOBER 22ND.

YOU CAN GO ONLINE TO OUR WEB SITE.

VOTER GIVE OUR OFFICE THE CALL AND WE'LL GET YOU SET UP IF YOU RECEIVED A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT IN THE PRIMARY, YOU ALREADY SIGNED UP TO GET ONE FOR THAT GENERAL ELECTION.

BUT IF YOU DIDN'T, IT AND YOU WANT ONE, MAKE SURE YOU CONTACT OUR OFFICE.

>> NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR OFFICE IS GETTING READY TO DO THEIR BIG DROP OF VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT PROCESS.

AND WHEN THEY'RE GOING OUT.

>> LAST WEEK ON SEPTEMBER 18TH, WE SENT THE VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT TO OUR VOTERS WHO ARE OVERSEAS OR IN THE MILITARY.

THERE ARE AROUND 900 OF THOSE BALLOTS THAT ALREADY WENT OUT.

BUT FOR DOMESTIC VOTERS, VOTER STATESIDE, WE ARE SENDING THE FIRST BIG DROP OUT ON SEPTEMBER.

29TH.

SO IF YOU SIGNED UP FOR A VOTE BY MAIL WATCH YOUR MAILBOX BEGINNING OCTOBER FIRST BECAUSE IT SHOULD BE ARRIVING SHORTLY.

>> AND HOW MANY HAVE YOU COUNTED SO FAR?

THEY'RE GOING TO BE GOING OUT.

>> IN THAT FIRST DOMESTIC DROP, THE WE'RE ESTIMATING MORE THAN 120,000 VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS THAT WILL BE SENT OUT.

>> NOW YOU MENTIONED YOU'RE TRYING TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO REGISTER TO RECEIVE THE VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS.

WHY IS THAT?

>> WE'D LOVE TO GET UP TO AROUND 150,000 VOTE BY MAIL REQUESTERS.

THAT WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH PRIOR YEARS AND OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE VOTING EASY AND ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.

WE DON'T WANT YOU TO WAIT IN A LONG LINE ON ELECTION DAY.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW YOUR OPTION TO HAVE THE CONVENIENCE OF VOTING BY-MAIL YOUR HOME AND WE PAY FOR THE POSTAGE TO COME BACK TO US.

SO IT'S A VERY CONVENIENT WAY OF VOTING.

YOU ALSO CAN VOTE EARLY IN LEE COUNTY AND WE'LL HAVE EARLY VOTING FROM OCTOBER 19 THROUGH OCTOBER 31ST.

THAT'S ANOTHER CONVENIENT WAY TO VOTE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU WANT TO VOTE IN PERSON.

I PERSONALLY I GO AND VOTE EARLY.

I LIKE VOTING IN PERSON.

BUT I LIKE TAKING OF ADVANTAGE OF THAT FLEXIBLE IN-PERSON VOTING OPPORTUNITY.

YOU CAN CHECK WAIT TIMES ON OUR WEBSITE.

WE VOTE AT ANY OF THE 12 EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS AND YOU CAN VOTE IN ANY OF THEM AND THEY'LL BE OPEN ON OCTOBER 19, THROUGH OCTOBER 31ST FROM 10:00AM TO 06:00PM.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS SO INTERESTING WHEN I HEARD THAT SOME OF THESE VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS HAVE BEEN SENT AROUND THE WORLD TO SOME REALLY INTERESTING PLACES.

>> YES, WE HAD LEE COUNTY VOTERS RESIDING IN JAPAN, CANADA, SWEDEN, COSTA RICA ALL OVER THE WORLD AND WE'RE EXCITED THAT THEY'RE STILL EXERCISING THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE.

>> AND THEN HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THAT THE ONE OF THE PROTOCOLS THAT ARE IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT BALLOT IT'S GETTING MAILED.

IT ARRIVES IN KENYA.

I KNOW YOU SAID YOU HAD SOMEONE IN AFRICA, YOU KNOW, HOW DOES THAT PROCESS WORK TO TRACK IT TO MAKE SURE IT'S SECURE AND SAFE?

>> ANY VOTER WHO CHOOSES TO VOTE BY MAIL CAN GO ON OUR WEB SITE, VOTE AND YOU CAN TRACK THE STATUS OF YOUR OWN INDIVIDUAL BALLOT.

YOU CAN ALSO DECIDE, KNOW, PULL UP YOUR SAMPLE BALLOT RIGHT NOW ON OUR WEBSITE AND START STUDYING THE DIFFERENT RACES AND BALLOT MEASURES THAT ARE ON YOUR BALLOT.

BUT YOU CAN TRACK THE STATUS OF YOUR VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT ILL SHOW WHEN IT WAS MAILED ILL SHOW WHEN IT ARRIVED WHEN IT COMES BACK TO US AND WHEN IT'S COUNTED.

>> AND WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR THE VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS TO BE RETURNED IN ORDER TO TO COUNT?

>> FOR STATESIDE VOTERS, BALLOTS HAVE TO BE BACK IN OUR OFFICE BY 07:00PM ON ELECTION DAY, NOVEMBER.

3RD.

>> AND YOU ALSO MENTIONED THAT SOME VOTERS MAY HAVE REQUESTED A BALLOT FOR THE PRIMARY, BUT THEY MIGHT NEED TO REQUEST AGAIN FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION.

>> IF VOTERS REQUESTED A BALLOT FOR ALL ELECTIONS IN THIS CYCLE AND YOU RECEIVED ONE IN THE PRIMARY, YOU WILL RECEIVE ONE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

IF YOU ONLY REQUESTED A BALLOT FOR SPECIFIC ELECTION, YOU'LL NEED TO REQUEST ANOTHER ONE.

BUT YOU CAN CHECK YOUR STATUS.

GO ON OUR WEB SITE.

LEAD UP, THOUGH, AND YOU CAN YOU CAN SEE WHETHER YOU'RE SIGNED UP FOR A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT AND WHEN IT WILL BE COMING TO YOU.

AND FINALLY, I KNOW YOU'RE A TEAM IS GOING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT SENIORS AND >> VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, INCLUDING THIS IS THE DISABLED.

>> HAVE THE ABILITY TO VOTE BY MAIL AND REGISTER.

>> TOUCH ON THOSE EFFORTS.

>> WE DO WANT TO MAKE VOTING ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE, INCLUDING OUR SENIOR VOTERS.

>> I TEAM HAS BEEN GOING AROUND.

THEY THEY WENT WENT AROUND BEFORE THE PRIMARY.

NOW THEY'RE GOING AROUND BEFORE THE GENERAL TO MULTIPLE ASSISTED LIVING AND INDEPENDENT LIVING SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES.

WE WILL HIT AROUND 50 OF OUR SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES BEFORE THE GENERAL ELECTION TO MAKE SURE FOLKS ARE NOT ONLY REGISTERED BUT THAT IF THEY WANT TO VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT SAFE, THEY SIGNED UP FOR ONE AND WE CAN PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION THEY NEED TO GET ELECTION READY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US IN STUDIO.

JENNA PERSONS-MULICKA.

OUR SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS IN LEE COUNTY.

THANK YOU.

>> AND ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE LESS THAN 6 WEEKS AWAY FROM THE GENERAL ELECTION AND FROM LOCAL RACES TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN TALLAHASSEE.

YOU CAN STAY INFORMED BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP 4 YEARS AGO, HURRICANE IAN FORMED AFTER A QUIET START TO THE 2026 HURRICANE SEASON.

ARE WE BEING SET UP FOR A POTENTIAL IT HAS BEEN A QUIET ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON ON SUNDAY, TROPICAL STORM FAY BECAME JUST THE 6TH NAMED STORM OF THE SEASON AND WELL, MORE DEVELOPMENT COULD FORM BEFE THE OFFICIAL END ON NOVEMBER.

30TH WEATHER EXPERTS SAY THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT A MAJOR STORM WILL NOT IMPACT FLORIDA THIS YEAR.

BUT THIS COMES 4 YEARS TO THE DAY WHEN HURRICANE IAN RAPIDLY FORMED IN THE GULF AND WITHIN 5 DAYS MADE LANDFALL.

SO THE QUESTION REMAINS, IS THERE STILL A CHANCE FOR A MAJOR HURRICANE THIS SEASON?

>> A QUIET STORM SEASON SO FAR ON THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA.

>> WE ARE NOW JOINED BY CERTIFIED METEOROLOGIST IRENE SANZ FROM THE FLORIDA PUBLIC RADIO EMERGENCY NETWORK IRENE.

IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

GREAT TO SEE IT TO US.

>> ASHLEY, WITH AMERICANS, IT'S GREAT NEWS, ISN'T IT?

YES, IT IS.

>> WE ARE APPROACHING THE ANNIVERSARY OF HURRICANE IAN MAKING LANDFALL HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA YET THIS YEAR.

SO FAR HAS BEEN STRANGELY QUIET.

WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND OF THIS?

>> IT'S MAINLY DUE TO AN EL NINA EL NINO.

IT'S A WEATHER PATTERN IS NOT JUST ONE SYSTEM IS NOT A HURRICANE OR A TORNADO.

IT'S A BIG, BIG WEATHER PATTERN THAT HAPPENS IN THE TROPICAL PACIFIC.

BUT THIS HAS BIG IMPLICATIONS PRETTY MUCH ACROSS A BIG CHUNK OF THE WORLD FOR US HERE IN THE ATLANTIC.

IT SUPPRESSES HAVE TROPICAL STORM ACTIVITY AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT DOWN?

ENHANCES THE VERTICAL WIND SHEAR WHICH THEN SUPPRESSES THE TROPICAL STORM ACTIVITY.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF STORMS IN THE STORMS THAT WE HAVE SEEN.

THEY HAVE FREE MEAN WEAKER.

SO HAVING A NEW PRESIDENT AND THE TROPICAL PACIFIC JUST BRINGS.

WEAKER STORMS, NOT NECESSARILY LESS STORMS, BUT THE STORMS THAT DO FORM TEND TO BE WEAKER.

NOW, THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE NEED TO PUT OUR GUARD DOWN.

WE STILL NEED TO LEAVE OUR GUARD UP BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THE PEAK OF THE SEASON HAS COME AND TELL A CHUCKLE.

SPEAKING HAS PASSED, WE COULD STILL SEE A FEW SYSTEMS.

FOREMAN.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT EL NINO AND ITS IMPACT ON THE WEATHER PATTERNS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT QUITE UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKS OR WHY IT IMPACTS OUR STORM SEASON.

CAN YOU SIMPLIFY IT FOR US?

>> DEFINITELY SO.

AND THEN YOU HAPPENS IN THE PACIFIC.

IT ENHANCES WIND SHEAR, WHICH IS THESE STRONG WINDS IN THE UPPER LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE.

IS THAT BASICALLY DENSE TROPICAL SYSTEMS.

IT DOESN'T ALLOW THE NATURAL CYCLE TO CONTINUE OFF THE TROPICAL SYSTEM.

THE WATERS IN THE PACIFIC HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY WARM ACROSS THE EASTERN PACIFIC.

THEY'RE RUNNING AROUND 4.5 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT ABOVE NORMAL.

THIS IS A LOT.

I MEAN, THINK OF IT AS HAVING A FEVER OR 8, 1, WHEN OUR BODY TEMPERATURES GO UP ONE OR 2 DEGREES.

WE STARTED A LITTLE BIT ILL.

THE SAME THING WITH THE EARTH NOW IN THE TROPICAL PACIFIC.

THIS WHAT ARE SURE EXTREMELY WARM AND IT BRINGS HIGHER TROPICAL ACTIVITY IN THE PACIFIC.

AND THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN.

THEY HAVE HAD 6 SOME SIZE, 7 HURRICANES, 4 OF THEM HAVE BECOME MAJOR HURRICANES FOR US.

IT'S OPPOSITE.

WE COULD STILL HAVE WARMER WATERS THERE FOR US.

WE HAVE HAD SOME STORMS FORMING, BUT WE HAVE HIGHER THAN NORMAL WINDSHEAR.

THOSE VERTICAL WIND SHEAR IS THAT THE UPPER-LEVEL WINDS THAT TEND TO DENT THE SYSTEM A LITTLE BIT MORE AND DO NOT ALLOW FOR THIS NATURAL CYCLE TO CONTINUE OF A TROPICAL SYSTEM.

THAT'S WHY THE STORM SAID WE HAVE HAD THE SEASON HAVE BEEN WEAKER OR HAVE STAYED IN THE TROPICAL STORM STATUS AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN A HURRICANE THIS SEASON IN THE ATLANTIC, WHICH IS GREAT, GREAT NEWS AND EVEN OUT IN THE WATER OUT IN THE OPEN WATERS OF THE ATLANTIC AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENS IN THE MODERN ERA, WHICH WE TEND TO SAY FROM THE 1960'S OVER BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN STARTED OR VIOLENT.

AND THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE AN EYE ON A CROSS.

THE EARTH.

>> WELL, YOU HAVE A GREAT STORY ABOUT RAINFALL.

ALL THAT COMING AT US IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

HOW DOES THAT IMPACT OUR CURRENT DROUGHT?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW, THE DROUGHT HASS.

>> IMPROVED THE CROSS OF FLORIDA WEISE.

WE'RE STILL SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF A DROUGHT HAPPENED IN ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE WESTERN CENTRAL FLORIDA REGION WHERE THEY STILL ARE ARE DEALING SOME PATCHES OF EXTREME DROUGHT ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST, FLORIDA.

WE'RE STILL UNDER A NORMALLY DRY CONDITIONS, BUT THIS IS IMPROVING.

WE HAVE DEFINITELY SEEN MORE CLOUD COVERAGE, WHICH HELP SUPPRESS A LITTLE BIT.

THE HEAT THAT WE'VE HAD PRETTY MUCH ALL SUMMER.

AND WE'VE HAD SEVERAL ROUNDS OF RAIN ACROSS THE SOUTH, FLORIDA.

NOW, MOST OF THE RAIN, THE MOST INTENSE RAIN IN THE PAST FEW DAYS HAVE BEEN FOCUSED MANY ACROSS SOUTHEAST FLORIDA FOR HAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED THE 3RD WETTEST SEPTEMBER SO FAR FOR US HERE.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE ROUNDS AND ROUNDS OF RAIN AND WE ARE ALSO EXPECTING A COLD FRONT NOW.

DON'T GET TOO EXCITED BECAUSE THIS COLD FRONT IS BUSH AN OVER THE PENINSULA UP, BUT IT'S NOT QUITE GOING TO MAKE IT TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WE COULD SEE A DRYING TREND.

2 WORDS SAID THE WEEKEND, BUT OVERALL CONDITIONS WILL STILL STAY RAINY AT TIMES WITH THOSE TYPICAL SUMMER AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE LATTER PART OF THE WEEK.

AND THEN WE MOVE INTO THE WEEKEND WHERE ONE THINKS GOOD DRY.

ADD A LITTLE BIT.

>> AND WE ARE OFFICIALLY NOW INTO FALL.

IT MAY NOT FEEL LIKE IT, BUT WE ARE AS WE MOVE FORWARD INTO FALL AND WINTER.

ARE THERE ANY WEATHER PATTERNS THAT YOU'RE KEEPING TABS ON?

>> WELL, WITHOUT BEING A PRECEDENT, WHICH IS MOST LIKELY GOING TO THE PRESIDENT, AT LEAST UNTIL EARLY NEXT YEAR.

WE CAN START TO NOTICE HOW THE PATTERN IS GOING TO SHIFT NOW.

WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL SWING ACROSS THE SOUTHERN REGION OF THE UNITED STATES WHERE WE'RE EXPECTING MORE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WHEN WE HAVEN'T AND, YOU KNOW, PRESENT DURING DURING THE WINTERS.

BUT WITH THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS WHICH TEND TO TRAVEL IN THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONTINUES UNITED STATES.

WE CAN START TO SEE MORE THUNDERSTORMS AND MORE ARE STRONGER SYSTEMS PUSHING FROM WEST TO EAST, WHICH BRING STRONGER FRONT ACROSS FLORIDA.

WHAT USUALLY?

CLEMENTA LOGICALLY SPEAKING WHEN WE HAVE AN AMINO PRESENT BRINGS COOLER AND WETTER CONDITIONS IN THE WINTER MONTHS.

SO I WOULD BE LOOKING OUT FOR MAYBE COOLER CONDITIONS IN THE WINTER.

STORMIER WEATHER WHICH TENDS TO PRODUCE, OF COURSE, THE MORE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.

AND THIS IS THE TYPE OF PATTERN THAT WE JUST NEED TO KEEP AN EYE OUT, ESPECIALLY NOVEMBER DECEMBER, JANUARY AND FERRY.

>> WE MIGHT ACTUALLY NEED WHETHER YEAR IN FLORIDA IT SOUNDS LIKE.

>> I LIVE IN LIGHT OF MOVEMENT.

THANKS TO INVEST IN MAYBE A LIGHT JACKET.

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

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH OF A GREAT THING.

>> AS WE INCH CLOSER TO THE END OF PEAK HURRICANE SEASON.

>> MAKE SURE YOU ARE KEEPING UP WITH ANY WEATHER RELATED STORIES BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE.

WGCU DOT ORG.

WHEN KIMBERLY'S REEF WAS ORIGINALLY ENVISIONED.

THE GOAL WAS TO CREATE AN ARTIFICIAL REEF TO GIVE RESEARCHERS THE CHANCE TO LEARN ABOUT OUR OFFSHORE WATERWAYS.

WELL, NOW THE REEF IS ALSO HELPING TO EDUCATE CHILDREN ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE ECOSYSTEMS AS PART OF THE UPCOMING DOCUMENTARY KIMBERLY'S REFUND UNDERWATER LIVING LABORATORY WGCUS PAM.

JAMES SHARES HOW THE REEF IS HELPING TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF MARINE BIOLOGISTS.

BOULDER DOWN THIS KIND.

AND SO I THINK ONE OF MY HAIR CAN SIDE ON THE SIDE.

>> IT'S LIKE REALLY EXCITING BECAUSE WE GET TO DO THINGS THAT LIE LIKE MORE REAL MARINE MILE JUST TO SO IT'S LIKE SHOWS US WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO BE A LINE ABOUT JUST ONE YEAR OLD.

>> SO THE BEST A MARINE SCIENCE SUMMER CAMP IS A SUMMER CAMP TO GET LOCAL MIDDLE SCHOOLERS OUT ONTO THE WATER.

>> STUDENTS FROM LEE COLLIER AND CHARLOTTE COUNTIES CAN SPEND A WEEK EACH SUMMER LEARNING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT WITH THE WATER SCHOOL AT FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY >> SO WE TRY TO GET THEM OUT ON THE WATER AND MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE WATER, QUALITY ISSUES WITH THE CREATURES THEY MIGHT SEE OUT THERE.

WHY THIS AREA IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO PRESENT FOR THE FUTURE >> YEAH, I THINK MY FAVORITE DAY WAS EITHER TODAY OR YESTERDAY WE DIDN'T RING GEOLOGY.

SO WE PUT LIKE THIS BIG LIKE METAL PIPE DOWN IN THE GROUND.

AND WE GOT LIKE LATE SHARES OF THE SETTLEMENT AND WE COULD SEE LIKE HURRICANES AND STUFF LIKE THAT SIDE OF THE RING.

>> ON THIS DAY, THE STUDENTS WERE TAKEN OUT BY BOAT TO ESTERO BAY.

>> WE WENT TO THE SEAGRASS FLATS IN ESTERO BAY, WHICH IS AN ESTUARY.

IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT NURSERY GROUND FOR ALL SORTS OF GAME FISH, COMMERCIAL FISH SPECIES, INVERTEBRATES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO WE TOOK THE SAYING THAT AND WE WENT TO A SAND BAR AND A SEAGRASS FOR IT.

AND WE DID A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE BIODIVERSITY THAT WE SEE IT.

EACH OF THE SITES.

>> AND SO WE TAKE THE SAME AT IN.

IT HAS TO 2 POLLS ON THE EITHER SIDE, THE SUN AND BETWEEN AND HAS LIKE WEIGHTS ON THE BOTTOM AND BLUES ON THE TOP.

SO LIKE FLOATS IN TANKS AND THEN WHEN YOU HOLD IT, YOU WALK AS FAR OUT AND AS LONG AS YOU CAN AND THEN YOU COME AND MEET US, ALL THE ANIMALS AND STUFF ARE IN THE MIDDLE.

AND THEN ALL OF US FISH AND STUFF LIKE YOU GOT TO GET THE NET IN THE MOVIES TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T FLY AT HALF AND COLLECT AND THEN PUT AN END TO LIKE BUCKETS AND THEN LIKE OBSERVE THEM COUNTED AND STUFF.

WE GOT LIKE FASHION.

>> A FRIEND.

THEN WE GOT A CRAB.

WE GOT TO SEE HORSES AND A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT STUFF.

WELL, IT'S KIND OF FUN TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN PULL OFF.

THE BOTTOM FEELS LIKE YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE LIKE THE WATERS KIND OF MURKY.

AND SO IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT'S DOWN THERE >> IT'S REALLY WELL COUNTING FISHES, FUN.

IT SERVES MANY PURPOSES, ESPECIALLY FOR COMPANIES REEF.

>> SO THINGS LIKE MANGROVE, SEAGRASS BEDS AND EVEN OYSTER REEFS PROVIDE ENOUGH LIKE STRUCTURE.

AND IT SHALL NOT, THAT THE BABIES CAN COME IN AND DEVELOP UNTIL THEY GET TO A BIG ENOUGH SIZE BEFORE THEY MOVE OFFSHORE.

SO THAT THEY DON'T GET EATEN BY A BARGE OR PREDATORY FISH LIKE THE J GOOD THROUGH PRAYER THAT ARE OUT AT 3.

>> THE NUMBER OF FISH CAN ALSO CORLEY WITH THE HEALTH OF SEAGRASS BEDS AND MANGROVES IN THESE BRACKISH WATERS.

SOME HEALTH CHALLENGES CAN BE FROM EXCESS OF FRESH WATER FROM STORMS.

ALGAE GROWTH FROM TOO MANY LAND-BASED POLLUTANTS AND BOAT TRAFFIC WHICH CAN CAUSE PROP SCARS.

>> SO THEY'RE OK AND CAN HANDLE THAT FOR SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

BUT OVER TIME WITH REPEATED STRESSORS, WE'LL START TO SEE THEM DIE OFF A LITTLE BIT.

AND THAT'S NOT GREAT BECAUSE NOT ONLY THEIR FOOD SOURCE FOR CERTAIN INVERTEBRATES AND THEN OTHER SMALL PREY SPECIES.

THEY ACTUALLY FORM A HABITAT FOR THE SMALL FISH AND INVERTEBRATES TO LIVE IN.

>> SUMMER CAMPS AND OUTREACH TO ADULTS HELP EDUCATE PEOPLE ON OUR LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS.

>> THE FULLY GRASP EXACTLY EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.

AND SO WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO PROVIDE THAT OUTREACH THEM SO THEY CAN SEE, HEY, THIS IS THE ISSUE THAT ACTUALLY AFFECTS ME.

IT ACTUALLY AFFECTS THE ENVIRONMENT TO LIVE IN.

THAT ACTUALLY AFFECTS WHAT I LIKE TO DO FOR FUN.

WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY SEE THE OCEAN AFFECTS THEM AND THAT THEY AFFECT THE OCEAN.

YOU RIGHT THERE.

>> WGCU PUBLIC MEDIA'S LATEST DOCUMENTARY KIMBERLY'S REEF, AN UNDERWATER LIVING LABORATORY CHRONICLES THE ORIGINS AND THE EFFORTS BEING MADE BY THIS REMARKABLE RESEARCH FACILITY.

IT PREMIERES THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1ST AT 08:00PM RIGHT HERE ON WHEC UTV.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN UNCLAIMED PROPERTY IS SITTING WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF YOU MAY HAVE TREASURE WAITING TO BE CLAIMED THAT YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES SAYS IT HAS 4 AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF ABANDONED PROPERTY JUST WAITING FOR THE RIGHTFUL OWNERS TO CLAIM THAT INCLUDES 750,000 ACCOUNTS IN THE FORT MYERS, NAPLES AREA.

AND THAT'S ACCORDING TO CFO BLAISE INGOGLIA AND GO YES.

OFFICE LAUNCHED A NEW PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO HELP YOU FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE UNCLAIMED PROPERTY IN FLORIDA, THE PROPERTY CAN BE ANYTHING FROM AN UNCASHED CHECK TO TANGIBLE ITEMS THAT WERE LEFT IN ABANDONED, SAFE DEPOSIT BOXES, ONE BUSINESS AS THEY HELP CONSUMERS TRYING TO CASH IN ON UNCLAIMED PROPERTY.

WE ARE NOW JOINED BY MALDONADO, THE CEO OF A NATIONWIDE ASSET RECOVERY BUSINESS.

WE CLAIM DOT ORG.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FROM MIAMI TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> LET'S START WITH WHAT'S CALLED SENATE BILL 1452.

AND HOW THE STATE IS INFORMING PEOPLE THAT THEY MAY HAVE UNCLAIMED MONEY.

CAN YOU GIVE US AN IDEA ABOUT WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS BILL?

>> YEAH, SURE.

SO A COUPLE OF BIG WINS BEFORE THE STATE WOULD NOT NOTIFY FOLKS FOR ANY CLAIMS UNDER $1000.

AND NOW THAT'S THAT'S CHANGING, TOO, WHERE, YOU KNOW.

FOLKS WILL BE ABLE TO BE NOTIFIED A BETTER.

BASICALLY THERE'S THERE'S THERE'S MORE REPORTING FROM BOTH.

THE BUSINESS IS REPORTING THAT MONEY AS WELL AS THE STATE TRYING TO NOTIFY FOLKS INDIVIDUALLY.

SO THAT'S ONE THING.

AND THEN THE SECOND IS THAT $50 OR MORE GETS A DIRECT NOTIFICATION ATTEMPT FROM THE STATE PRESIDENT FOR THAT NUMBER WAS $250.

SOME ARE SO IF YOU HAVE $50 OR MORE SITTING, YOU KNOW, AS I'M CLAY MONEY WITH THE STATE YOU YOU WILL NOW RECEIVE A NOTIFICATION OR SHOULD RECEIVE A NOTIFICATION FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

>> WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT FOR FLORIDIANS TO BE AWARE OF?

>> WELL, I THINK NOW MORE THAN EVER WE HAVE A STRUGGLING ECONOMY.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF JOB INSECURITY AND TO KNOW THAT THERE IS POTENTIALLY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SITTING OUT THERE IN YOUR NAME IN THE HANDS OF GOVERNMENT.

IT'S KIND OF A BIG DEAL.

YOU KNOW, IT CAN MEAN THE FOLKS GET TO PAY THEIR RENT ON TIME.

AND YOU CAN MEAN THAT THEY JUST HAVE A LITTLE EXTRA BREATHING ROOM FINANCIALLY.

SO THAT THERE'S MORE MONEY THAN EVER.

THAT IS THE SON CLAY.

AND THEN WE THINK THAT AMERICANS SHOULD GET IT BACK.

>> NOW I READ THAT FLORIDA'S CFO BLAZE IN GOAL YET RETURNED 847 MILLION DOLLARS.

2 RESIDENTS IN BETWEEN JULY OF 2025.

AND THIS YEAR, HIS FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE.

BUT BILLIONS REMAIN.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THESE DOLLARS END UP IN THE STATE'S POSSESSION TO BEGIN WITH AND GIVE US SOME EXAMPLES.

>> YEAH, OF COURSE.

SO.

>> YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE IT CAN BE MANY DIFFERENT REASONS ANYWHERE FROM LIKE A FORGOTTEN BANK ACCOUNT YOU KNOW, AN CLAIMS STOCK THAT YOU HAD IN THE COMPANY OR MAYBE AN UNCASHED CHECK FROM A PAST EMPLOYER.

IN OUR CASE, WE DEAL WITH A LOT OF FOLKS WHO IT'S ABOUT ACTUALLY THERE IN MIAMI.

BUT IT WAS A FAMILY MEMBERS WHO PASSED AWAY AND NEVER LEFT A WILL OR TRUST OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

AND SO THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEY'RE ENTITLED TO THAT MONEY.

SO IT IT REALLY RANGES.

ANY KIND OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNT IS KIND OF A UP FOR GRABS, IF YOU WILL.

BUT THE THOSE ARE THE MOST POPULAR THAT WE SEE INCLUDING LIFE INSURANCE BOSSES.

>> NOW, JUST RECENTLY, SEPTEMBER 15TH, THE STATE OF FLORIDA DID LAUNCH A WEBSITE CLAIM YOUR CASH FL DOT GOV TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS FO FOR FLORIDIANS TO SEE IF THEY DO HAVE ABANDONED PROPERTY.

AND IT'S WHERE YOU CAN FIND OUT FOR FREE.

IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE AND YOU CAN START THE PROCESS THEY'VE PREVIOUSLY DONE THIS UNDER ANOTHER WEBSITE.

HOW DOES YOUR COMPANY TIE IN AND WORK WITH WHAT THE STATE OF FLORIDA ALREADY DOES?

>> YES, SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY HAPPY WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN PUTTING A LOT OF EFFORT AND RESOURCES INTO MAKING THIS WHOLE PROCESS MORE DISCOVERABLE FOR PEOPLE.

AND THAT INVOLVES THEIR RECENT WEBSITE.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF CLAIMS ARE VERY EASY TO FIND AND FILE AND CLAIM.

AND THAT'S THAT'S FANTASTIC.

WERE WHERE WE COME IN IS, YOU KNOW, FOR MORE COMPLICATED ASSETS THAT MAY HAVE MORE THAN ONE OWNER TO IT OR PERHAPS IT'S AN ACCOUNT FROM A LONG TIME AGO THAT FOLKS DON'T REALLY HAVE THE PROOF OF ACCOUNT FOR OR PROOF OF ADDRESS BECAUSE THEY'VE MOVED FROM THEN.

SO WE HANDLE, YOU KNOW, ALL TYPES OF CLAIMS, BUT TYPICALLY WHAT WHAT FOLKS MOST RELY UPON US IS IS THE COMPLEX ONES THAT INVOLVE PROVING TO THE SAY, HEY, I AM IN FACT, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT OF CANDOR AND IN THIS MONEY, EVEN THOUGH I CAN'T PROVE IT, THAT'S WHERE WE KIND OF PICK UP THE SLACK AND MAKE IT STREAMLINED AS POSSIBLE FOR FOLKS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IT IS GREAT INFORMATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

RICKY MALDONADO.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> NOW, IF YOU THINK YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ANY UNCLAIMED PROPERTY, THE STATE OF FLORIDA SAYS TO REMEMBER IT NEVER CHARGES A FEE TO SEARCH FOR UNCLAIMED PROPERTY OR CLAIM YOUR CASH.

AND IT WILL NEVER SEND A TEXT ABOUT ABANDONED PROPERTY.

ALSO ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE OFFICIAL FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES SEAL AND REPORT ANY SUSPECTED SCAMS AND YOU CAN LEARN MORE BY HEADING TO THE STATE'S OFFICIAL WEB SITE.

CLAIM YOUR CASH FL DOT GOV.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HAD TO WGCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU WILL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

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