THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, THE CLAIMS OF FRAUD AND GHOST ACCOUNTS COULD LEAVE 10'S OF THOUSANDS WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE.

>> WE'RE ACTUALLY MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE RECEIVING OBAMACARE SUBSIDIES ARE ACTUALLY ENTITLED TO RECEIVE THEM.

AMAZINGLY, WE WERE DOING THAT BEFORE.

>> HOW ATTEMPTS TO CLEANUP THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT COULD LEAVE ENROLLEES SEARCHING FOR A NEW HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.

AS INFLATION DRIVES UP THE COST OF GOODS.

ONE GROUP IS MAKING SURE HALLOWEEN IS FULL OF TREATS AND NO TRICKS WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDING A COSTUME.

AND COULD WE BE SEEING THE RISE OF DUNK CITY?

2 POINT?

OH, FGCU BASKETBALL IS BACK AND COACHES ARE LOOKING TO GET BACK TO THE WINNING FORMULA THAT MADE THE EAGLES ONE OF THE TOP PROGRAMS IN THIS CONFERENCE IS HELLO.

I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US OVER THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILLION PEOPLE ENROLLED IN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT ARE SET TO BE REMOVED FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH CARE EXCHANGE.

THIS DECISION WAS ANNOUNCED EARLIER THIS WEEK BY VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE.

HE ALLEGED THE ACCOUNTS WERE FRAUDULENT OR NOT REAL PEOPLE TO BEGIN WITH.

>> IF THE SYSTEM WERE ON THE ONE HAND, BROKERS ARE PAID MONEY TO FEED PATIENTS INTO THE SYSTEM.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE GOVERNMENT ISN'T EVEN CHECKING WHETHER THE PEOPLE ENROLLED ARE ACTUALLY ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

OF COURSE, RAMPANT RAMPANT FRAUD.

>> VANCE ESTIMATES THE REMOVAL OF THE UNRELEASED LINKED TO ALLEGED FRAUD COULD SAVE TAXPAYERS MORE THAN 2 BILLION DOLLARS.

BUT SOME HEALTH EXPERTS ARE WORRIED LEGITIMATE ENROLLEES COULD BE CAUGHT UP IN THE CRACKDOWN.

HEALTHCARE RESEARCH, NONPROFIT KFF REPORTS THAT FLORIDA LEADS THE NATION IN MARKETPLACE ENROLLMENT WITH MORE THAN 4 AND A HALF MILLION ENROLLEES.

FOR MORE, I'M JOINED BY MARY MAYHEW, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE FLORIDA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION.

SOME POLICY MAKERS ARE DISPUTING THE CLAIMS OF FRAUD.

WHAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON WHY THE INDIVIDUALS WERE REMOVED FROM THE ACA?

>> FIRST OF ALL, WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF LIMITED RESOURCES.

SO WE CERTAINLY SUPPORT EFFORTS TO ADDRESS AND COMBAT FRAUD SO THAT OUR LIMITED RESOURCES ARE TRULY GOING TO THOSE WHO NEED ACCESS TO THEM, TOO.

IN THIS CASE, ENSURE ACCESS TO MEANINGFUL HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE.

PART OF OUR CONCERNS WITH THE OVERARCHING EFFORT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS THIS.

THIS IS THE SAME ADMINISTRATION THAT VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED THE ENHANCED PREMIUM SUBSIDIES FOR INDIVIDUALS GAINING ACCESS TO THE ACA MARKETPLACE.

WE'RE JUST CONCERNED ABOUT HOW AGGRESSIVELY THE EFFORT IS OCCURRING AND THAT PEOPLE WHO TRULY ARE ELIGIBLE, MAYBE LOSING VITAL HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE.

>> SO YOU BELIEVE THIS IS IMPACTING PEOPLE THAT WE'RE NOT PART OF A FRAUDULENT CLAIM?

AND IF SO, WHAT OPTIONS DO PEOPLE HAVE NOW?

>> WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT FLORIDA HAS LED THE COUNTRY AND THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS GAINING ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE THROUGH THE MARKETPLACE.

THE PREMIUM SUBSIDIES, THE PREVIOUS ENHANCED PREMIUM SUBSIDIES HAVE BEEN CRITICAL.

WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT WHEN THOSE ENHANCED PREMIUM SUBSIDIES EXPIRED AT THE END OF 2025, OUR HOSPITALS HAVE ABSOLUTELY SEEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS WHO ARE NOW UNINSURED.

>> WHAT CAN BE DONE TO LOWER THE PRICE OF HEALTH INSURANCE FOR FLORIDA FAMILIES.

>> WELL, THAT'S THE IRONY HERE.

WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL HAS THE PEACE OF MIND OF A HEALTH INSURANCE CARD IN THEIR WALLET, IT MEANS THEY HAVE TIMELY ACCESS TO PHYSICIANS TO PRIMARY CARE.

WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THAT CARD IN YOUR WALLET, YOU END UP USING THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT FOR OFTEN PRIMARY CARE SERVICES OR YOUR SITUATION HAS DETERIORATED.

AND NOW YOU'RE IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT FOR A CRISIS THAT HE'S A VERY EXPENSIVE POINT OF ENTRY.

SO WE'RE MOVING PEOPLE AND DENYING ACCESS TO COVERAGE ACTUALLY EXACERBATES THE HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.

>> HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THE IMPACT OF HIGH INFLATION ON HEALTH COSTS?

>> THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME, PARTICULARLY AS WE EMERGED FROM THE PANDEMIC.

THERE ARE 2 COMPONENTS PRIMARILY FOR HOSPITALS ANYWAY, IN TERMS OF THEIR COSTS, IT'S OUR WORKFORCE.

AND THE SALARIES PAID TO OUR PHYSICIANS, TO OUR NURSES, TO OUR ALL OF OUR STAFF AND THEN THE COST OF PHARMACEUTICALS AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES THAT DRIVES OVER 60% OF A HOSPITAL'S BUDGET AND THOSE HAVE BEEN INCREASING BY OVER 25% OVER THE LAST 2 OR 3 YEARS.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO MAINTAIN COVERAGE WITH OPTIONS LIKE THE ACA BEING ELIMINATED?

>> WE ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT CONGRESS NEEDS TO REVISIT ITS PREVIOUS POSITION.

WE KNOW THAT WE HAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AMONG FLORIDA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO, IN FACT, EXTEND THE ENHANCED PREMIUM TAX CREDITS AGAIN, WE HAD OVER 4 MILLION FLORIDIANS GETTING ACCESS TO THE INDIVIDUAL MARKET THROUGH THE MARKETPLACE.

IT'S ALSO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY LONG BEFORE THE ACA HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH AFFORDABLE INDIVIDUAL COVERAGE AND AFFORDABLE COVERAGE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.

MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE GAINED ACCESS TO COVERAGE THROUGH THE MARKETPLACE ARE WORKING AND THEY'RE WORKING IN SMALL BUSINESSES WHERE HEALTH INSURANCE IS NOT AVAILABLE TO THEM.

WE DO BELIEVE THAT CONGRESS NEEDS TO ABSOLUTELY STRENGTH IN ITS SUPPORT FOR THE MARKETPLACE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE IGNORE FRAUD.

BUT THE 2 SHOULD NOT BE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

MARY MAYHEW WITH THE FLORIDA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION.

>> COMING UP NEXT, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HAITIAN MIGRANTS ARE AT RISK OF DEPORTATION.

WE HEAR FROM LOCALS WHO ARE FEARFUL OF AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE FOLLOWING THE REMOVAL OF THEIR TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS FLORIDA IS HOME TO THE LARGEST HAITIAN POPULATION IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

ACCORDING TO WORLD POPULATION REVIEW OVER 360,000 HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS LIVE IN OUR STATE WITH THE ELIMINATION OF TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS.

HAS SOME HAITIANS VOICING CONCERNS ABOUT THE FUTURE, WGCUS SAMUEL BRUCKER SPEAKS WITH A BROTHER AND A SISTER IN IMMOKALEE ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES.

>> HAITIAN TPS HAS EXPIRED ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER COUNTRIES UNDER THE DIRECTION OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, IS A TEMPORARY HOME TO MORE THAN 27,000 HAITIANS MAINLY LIVING IN LEE AND COLLIER COUNTIES.

A PSEUDONYM TO PROTECT HIS IS ONE OF THEM.

HE SAYS THE COUNTRY IS DANGEROUS AND IS OVERRUN BY GANG VIOLENCE, MAKING IT UNSAFE.

>> YEAH, THIS IS DUE TO >> YEAH, THEY PERSECUTING ME.

THEY WANTED ME TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THEM TO BE ONE OF THEM.

BUT I DID NOT GET INVOLVED.

SOMETIMES THEY WANT YOU TO BE A LIKE THEM TO GET INVOLVED IN THE WRONGDOINGS.

I DID NOT WANT TO GET INVOLVED BY THE EU.

>> HE CAME TO THE U.S.

IN 2006 LEAVING BEHIND A WIFE AND 7 CHILDREN SEEKING ASYLUM AND WAS DENIED UNTIL 2010 WHEN HE WAS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR TPS AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE STRUCK HAITI.

IT LEFT INFRASTRUCTURE DECIMATED.

>> THE I LEFT THE COUNTRY A LONG TIME AGO.

NOW IT IS WORSE.

IT IS NO GOOD.

NO GOOD GANGS EVERYWHERE.

THEY'RE KILLING PEOPLE.

SO MANY PEOPLE GET KILLED C.

>> WHILE HE WORKED, HE WOULD SEND HOME FOOD AND MONEY ALONGSIDE HIS SISTER ROSE ALSO SPEAKING ANONYMOUSLY.

BUT NOW HE CAN'T.

HE LIVES WITH HIS SISTER WHILE SHE TAKES CARE OF ALL EXPENSES, BEATRICE KEPT.

CASTOR IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE HAITIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY COALITION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

SHE SAYS THAT BECAUSE HAITIANS CANNOT WORK.

SOCIETY IS BOUND TO FEEL THE IMPACTS PEOPLE THAT ARE BORN HERE.

DON'T WANT TO.

>> DO THOSE BLUE COLLAR JOBS IS IN ON THE IMMIGRANTS ARE WILLING TO DO IT BECAUSE THEY COME HERE.

THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAME HERE TO WORK AND TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILY.

>> HER HUSBAND UNICAST OR SAYS IT'S NOT ONLY INDUSTRIES THAT ARE IMPACTED PEOPLE DISKIN EVEN TO COME TO.

>> IT'S GOOD TO GO TO THE SUPERMARKET.

THIS SCHEDULE TO GO OUT.

GOOD TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

THEY JUST COULDN'T FIND PEOPLE TO DO.

WHAT DOES IT FEEL TO THE 2 LEADERS HAVE EASILY BEEN USING BECAUSE OF SITUATION?

>> SHE KEPT CASTOR SAYS IT'S NOT THE PATIENTS DON'T WANT TO GO HOME.

THEY JUST CAN'T BECAUSE OF SAFETY.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN?

>> IS THAT THEY WILL BE KILLED BY GANG MEMBERS BECAUSE, AGAIN, MEMBERS LOOK AT THEM AS HEY, YOU'VE BEEN IN THE U.S.

ALL ALONG AND NOW YOU'RE COMING BACK.

SO THEREFORE, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND TAKE YOUR LIFE.

JUST TO MAKE A STATEMENT TO THE UNITED STATE.

>> ROSE SAYS THAT IF THE COUNTRY WERE SAFE, THEY WOULD GO BACK TO GETHER.

>> GOING BACK TO HAITI.

HAITI IS NOT SAFE YET.

THEY ARE KILLING PEOPLE.

NOW THERE'S SO MANY PROBLEMS WE CAN'T LIVE THERE.

IT IS A MESS.

WE WOULD HAVE ALREADY GONE TO HAITI.

WE WOULD NOT STAY HERE FOR THAT LONG.

WE WOULD LOVE TO GO, BUT WE CAN.

>> BOTH CONTINUE PRAYING THAT THE EXPIRATION WILL BE REVERSED OR HAITI BECOME SAFE WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR HONEST WORK.

>> SEE THE THING THAT USUALLY >> WE BELIEVE THINGS MAY CHANGE AT ANY MOMENT UNEXPECTEDLY IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE, BUT ONLY GOD CAN DO THAT.

HE CAN DO ANYTHING HE WANTS.

WE ARE NOT LOSING HOPE >> WE ARE NOW JOINED BY WGCU REPORTER SAMUEL BRUCKER.

SAMUEL, THANKS FOR JOINING US IN STUDIO.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BUILT THEIR LIVES IN OUR COUNTRY.

THEY HAVE SPENT 10 OR 15 YEARS.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY SUDDENLY LOSE THEIR LEGAL STATUS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO.

>> TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS.

TPS IS A MECHANISM THAT ALLOWS THE GOVERNMENT TO GRANT TEMPORARY LEGAL STATUS TO NATIONALS OF THE COUNTRY BEING IMPACTED BY DIFFERENT CONDITIONS.

NOW, THOSE CONDITIONS CAN INCLUDE NATURAL DISASTERS AND GANG VIOLENCE.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S OCCURRING RIGHT NOW IN HAITI IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR TPS, A NATIONAL MUST BE PHYSICALLY IN THE U.S.

REGARDLESS OF THEIR LEGAL STATUS SINCE THE DESIGNATION STATE.

SO WHAT IT MEANS WHEN SOMEONE LOSES TPS IS THEY ESSENTIALLY LOSE THEIR RIGHTS TO WORK AND LIVE IN THE COUNTRY LEGALLY.

PEOPLE WHO ARE GRANTED TPS, I USE THAT PROTECTION TO BUILD LONG-TERM LIVES.

AND NOW THAT LEGAL BASIS HAS VIRTUALLY DISAPPEARED WITH THE SWIPE OF A PEN, EVEN THOUGH IT'S EXPIRED, IT DOESN'T ERASE YEARS OF WORKING CONNECTIONS MADE HERE IN THE U.S.

>> WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL RIPPLE EFFECTS OF EMPLOYERS IN INDUSTRIES WHO ARE TRYING TO EMPLOY THESE PATIENTS WHO NO LONGER HAVE LEGAL STATUS?

ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, THIS WILL ABSOLUTELY IMPACT EMPLOYERS IN INDUSTRIES.

SO I SPOKE WITH AND AIR AT THE MINE, CO-FOUNDER OF THE MINE IMMIGRATION LAW FIRM.

>> AND WE SHE SAYS WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF WHAT SHE CALLS A CATCH.

22 WERE ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.

WE ARE TERMINATING LEGAL STATUS IS FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHILE ON A LOCAL LEVEL, EMPLOYERS ARE SCRAMBLING TO FIND WILLING AND SKILLED WORKERS WHEN SOMEONE LOSES EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION AND EMPLOYER CANNOT SIMPLY CONTINUE TO EMPLOY THAT PERSON.

IT'S UNLAWFUL JUST IN THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY ALONE.

22% OF THE 510,000 EMPLOYED HAITIAN AMERICANS IN 2024.

WORTH IN SOME FORM OF HEALTH CARE.

AND THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE MIGRATION POLICY INSTITUTE.

THAT'S MORE THAN ONE-FIFTH OF THE ENTIRE HAITIAN AMERICAN WORKFORCE.

AND THAT'S A BIG CHUNK.

AGRICULTURE IS ANOTHER INDUSTRY THAT WILL BE IMPACTED AS EMANUEL AND OTHERS LIKE HIM CANNOT LEGALLY PICK VEGETABLES AND FRUITS LIKE THEY ONCE DID FOR DECADES.

ROSE EVEN DID IT FOR OVER 45 YEARS.

THIS IS HOW WE MANUAL SAW HIS OPPORTUNITY IN THE U.S.

WHILE BEING ABLE TO EARN AN HONEST LIVING AND SEND MONEY AND FOOD BACK TO HIS FAMILY IN HAITI.

>> SAMUEL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EXTENSIVE REPORTING ON THIS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> FOR MORE STORIES ON TPS REMOVAL AND OTHER ISSUES INVOLVING IMMIGRATION.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT ORG.

EVEN THOUGH OUR HURRICANE SEASON HAS BEEN QUIET SO FAR IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN, FIRST RESPONDERS, GOVERNMENT LEADERS AND NONPROFIT GROUPS STILL MADE A POINT TO COME TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT PREPAREDNESS FOR THE NEXT STORM.

WGCUS SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER TOM BAYLES REPORTS.

>> I'M AT THIS YEAR'S SOUTHWEST FLORIDA RESILIENCY SUMMIT WHERE LEADERS FROM PRETTY MUCH EVERY AGENCY INVOLVED IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND WATER PLANNING HAVE COME TOGETHER TO FIND A WAY TO DO THE EFFECTS FOR THE COMMUNITY OF THE UPCOMING CHANGES DUE TO GLOBAL WARMING.

JENNIFER HECTOR IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE COASTAL AND HEARTLAND ESTUARY PARTNERSHIP.

>> THIS SUMMIT HAS TAKEN ON A FLAVOR OF THE PRIOR YEAR'S EVENTS EACH YEAR IT'S BEEN HELD IN.

AND IN PRIOR YEARS AT FOCUS VERY MUCH ON HURRICANE RESPONSE AND RECOVERY AND WHAT WE'VE LEARNED WORKED OR DIDN'T WORK SO THAT WE CAN TRANSFER THAT INFORMATION AND PREPARE BETTER FOR FUTURE STORM EVENTS.

>> THIS IS THE 6TH YEAR FOR THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA RESILIENCY SUMMIT.

IN PAST YEARS.

THE CONVERSATION OFTEN FOCUSED ON RESPONSE AND RECOVERY AFTER MAJOR STORMS.

WHAT WORKED?

WHAT DIDN'T AND WHAT COMMUNITIES LEARNED AFTER HURRICANES FLOODING, DROUGHT AND WILDFIRE.

THIS YEAR WITHOUT A MAJOR HURRICANE STRIKE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

ORGANIZERS SAY IS THE SUMMIT COULD FINALLY LOOK FARTHER AHEAD.

THAT MEANS LOOKING AT WHAT HAS TO BE STRENGTHENED NOW BEFORE THE NEXT DISASTER DRIVES.

>> OUR ENVIRONMENT, OUR ECONOMY, OUR WAY OF LIFE IS AT STAKE AT THIS POINT.

WE KNOW THAT.

IT'S CONDITIONS ARE CHANGING FOR HAVING MORE EXTREME HEAT.

WE'RE HAVING DROUGHTS.

WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF WILDFIRES WERE HAVING A LOT OF HURRICANES, THOUGH, THANKFULLY, NOT THIS YEAR.

WE KNOW THAT THAT IS JUST GOING TO GET MORE AND MORE PREVALENT AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND WE NEED TO BE BETTER PREPARED BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO AFFECT OUR BUSINESSES, OUR HOMES, OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> ANCHOR SAYS MUCH OF WHAT COMMUNITIES RELY ON WAS BUILT FOR CONDITIONS OF THE PAST.

THAT INCLUDES ROADS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, EVACUATION ROUTES AND CRITICAL OPERATIONS LIKE FIRE AND POLICE STATIONS AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS.

THE QUESTION NOW IS WHETHER THOSE SYSTEMS CAN KEEP WORKING AS CONDITIONS CHANGE.

THE SUMMIT ALSO LOOK TO BE ON CONCRETE AND STEEL.

HECKER SAYS COMMUNITIES ARE LOOKING AT PLACES WHERE NATURE ALREADY PROVIDES PROTECTION THAT CAN INCLUDE UNDEVELOPED LAND.

THAT STORES FLOOD WATER DUES LIVING SHORELINES IN PROJECTS THAT COMBINE ENGINEERING WITH NATURAL SYSTEMS.

RECENT STORMS HAVE ALSO SHOWN WHAT HOLDS UP AND WHAT DOES NOT THE MESSAGE IS TO SHARE THOSE LESSONS.

NOW BEFORE NEW PROJECTS ARE DESIGNED AND BEFORE THE NEXT MAJOR STORM ARRIVES.

>> PEOPLE OUGHT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE DIFFERENT EVENTS.

WE'VE EXPERIENCE THAT HAVE IMPACTED.

OUR COMMUNITIES ARE NOT ONE-OFFS THAT UNFORTUNATELY, WE KNOW SCIENTIFICALLY THAT THESE ARE NOT ANOMALIES, THAT WE'RE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE MORE AND MORE OF THESE EVENTS OVER TIME.

AND SO WE NEED TO SHIFT A LOT OF OUR DESIGN AND HISTORICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WAS BUILT FOR HISTORICAL CONDITIONS AND THOSE CONDITIONS ARE NOT GOING TO OCCUR AGAIN.

>> THE TAKE AWAY FROM TODAY.

>> IS WHAT NATURE CAN PROVIDE AND WHAT MANKIND CAN BUILD NEED TO COME TOGETHER.

AND PRODUCE THINGS THAT CAN PROTECT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE FROM THE CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO OCCUR WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND BE REALISTIC THAT IN OTHER AREAS DEVELOPMENT NEEDS TO STOP.

BECAUSE WHAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS GOING TO BRING IN THE FUTURE WILL BE TOO GREAT FOR CERTAIN AREAS TO CONTINUE TO BE OCCUPIED.

FOR WGCU NEWS, IN PUNTA GORDA, I'M TOM BAYLES.

>> ITS WINGS OFF AT FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY AS THE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAMS RETURN TO THE COURT FOR THEIR FIRST PRACTICES OF THE SEASON.

TIPOFF IS JUST OVER A MONTH AWAY.

AND THIS YEAR THE EAGLES ARE LEANING ON FAMILIAR FACES IN THEIR QUEST FOR SUCCESS.

WGCUS JORGE MURILLO GETS THE BALL ROLLING WITH THIS REPORT.

>> WHEN IT CAME TO OFFSEASON PRIORITIES.

>> PLAYER ATTENTION WAS TOP OF MIND FOR BOTH MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TEAM COACHES.

>> THE NCAA TRANSFER PORTAL ALLOWS PLAYERS TO LEAVE SCHOOLS AND TRANSFER TO OTHER UNIVERSITIES EACH YEAR.

THAT CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR VETERAN OR EVEN NEW COACHES NAVIGATING THE PORTAL LANDSCAPE.

>> I THINK IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOME SORT OF RETENTION TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE.

WHAT WE DID IS UNHEARD OF.

>> REINA HARMON IS ENTERING HER SECOND SEASON AT THE HELM OF THE FGCU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM AND SAYS HER GROUP OF RETURNING PLAYERS.

IT'S A SIGN OF STEADY PROGRESS.

>> WE'RE TRULY BLESSED TO BE IN THAT SITUATION WHERE THEY CAME BACK WITH.

THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE BUILDING FROM THE GROUND UP AND DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY.

>> 7 WOMAN'S PLAYERS AND 8 MEN'S PLAYERS FROM LAST SEASON'S SQUAD RETURNS FOR THIS UPCOMING SEASON.

A 5TH YEAR HEAD MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH PAT CHAMBERS SAYS THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

>> REALLY PROUD OF WHAT THE STAFF.

>> WAS ABLE TO DO.

YOUR TOP OF THE LIST IS RETENTION.

>> I THOUGHT WE DID AN AMAZING JOB.

I THINK WE'RE TOP 4 IN OUR LEAGUE IN THAT.

>> JUST A GREAT FEAT RIGHT THERE.

DAN WILLIAMS, A JUNIOR GUARD WHO AVERAGED MORE THAN 6 POINTS A GAME LAST SEASON, REALLY SQUASH CONTINUITY, SOMETHING THE EAGLES CAN USE TO THEIR ADVANTAGE ON THE COURT.

>> I THINK THAT DEFINITELY GIVES US A LEAD HAVING THAT ON AND OFF THE COURT LIKE A NATION WILL BE SOMETHING THAT THOSE TURTLES IN A ROW DURING A GAME, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, I THOUGHT WE COULD GET TO A LITTLE BIT EASIER BECAUSE JUST AS BEING TOGETHER FOR SO LONG >> UNDER HEAD COACH CHAMBERS, THE EAGLES REACHED THE SEMIFINALS OF LAST SEASON'S ATLANTIC SUN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT.

IF WE CAN STACKED GOOD DAYS, WE CAN CHASE THOSE GREAT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE REPS.

THEN IT WILL HAPPEN AND WE MIGHT NOT SEE IT RIGHT AWAY.

FOR CONSISTENT OF WHAT WE DO AND FINES.

>> CARMEN, LET THE WOMEN'S TEAM TO A 16 16 OVERALL RECORD AND THEN 11 7 RECORD IN THE SIGN.

THE EAGLES POSTSEASON INCLUDED A TRIP TO THE WOMEN'S NATIONAL INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT.

AFTER A FOUR-YEAR OF EXPERIENCE BEHIND OR HARMON SAYS SHE FEELS MORE COMFORTABLE POINT SECOND SEASON.

>> YOU KNOW, WITH OUR TEAM, WE'RE ALL SPEAKING THE SAME LANGUAGE NOW.

AND SO I FEEL A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE GOING INTO IT.

>> LIKE YOUR HEAD COACH JR SON DIED.

DOUGLAS IS ALSO GOING INTO HER SECOND SEASON WITH THE PROGRAM.

SHE LED THE WOMAN SEEN IN SCORING LAST YEAR AND IS AIMING TO RAISE THE BAR EVEN HIGHER THIS UPCOMING SEASON.

>> I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO A BETTER YEAR BUILDING OFF OF LAST YEAR.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK WE WENT WHERE WE WANT TO GO, BUT I FEEL LIKE THIS YEAR, LIKE I SAID, WE JUST HAVE A LOT MORE UNDER OUR BOAT.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF US ARE SOFTWARE IS NOW A JUNIOR YEARS.

AND I JUST FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A LOT MORE EXPERIENCE TO FIND OURSELVES.

NOW.

>> BACK TO THE NCAA TRANSFER PORTAL.

THE EAGLES ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT AS WELL.

THE MEN'S TEAM ADDED 4 FRESHMAN AND 4 PLAYERS FROM THE PORTAL.

WHILE THE WOMEN'S TEAM BROUGHT IN TO FRESHMAN AND FOR TRANSFERS.

CHAMBERS SAID HE'S EXPERIMENTED WITH NEW STYLES OF PLAY EXPLAINING THAT THIS YEAR'S MEN'S TEAM IS MORE ATHLETIC AND FEATURES MORE 3 POINT SPECIALIST.

IT'S NEVER HAT REALLY ATHLETIC.

GOT GREAT SPEED.

>> MORE SHOOTERS THAT I'VE EVER HAD, INCLUDING MY 2020 TEAM AT PENN STATE FOR THAT'S WHAT THE FANS CAN LOOK FORWARD TO.

I THINK THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO LIKE IT.

AND AGAIN, WE HAVE GOT A SYSTEM.

NOT CONCEDING CITY ALL THE WAY BUT CLOSE, RAINING THREES ON ONE SIDE, MAYBE DUNK CITY AS NOTES.

>> THE WOMEN'S TEAM ISN'T HOLDING BACK EITHER.

HARMON SAYS THIS YEAR'S SQUAD SHOW SIGNS OF A CLOSE KNIT GROUP.

THEY'RE GONNA COMPETE.

>> THEY PLAY WITH JOY.

I THINK LAST YEAR WE PLAYED WITH EACH OTHER THIS YEAR.

THEY'RE STARTING TO PLAY FOR EACH OTHER AS WE START TO DELVE INTO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEIR WHY DID YOU CHOOSE FGCU WHICH IS SUPER IMPORTANT.

>> WHILE IT'S A NEW SEASON FOR THE EAGLES, THE GOAL REMAINS THE SAME.

>> WE WANT TO WIN THIS YEAR LIKE WE WANT TO BE A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM.

>> THE SEASON TIPS OFF IN NOVEMBER WITH THE MEN'S TEAM STARTING NOVEMBER SECOND AGAINST THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA AND THE WOMEN'S TEAM OPENING AGAINST INDIANA ON NOVEMBER.

3RD, MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON WTC YOU THOUGHT OR FOR WGCU NEWS WITH PHOTOGRAPHY FROM AMANDA INSCORE WHITTAMORE I'M JORGE MURILLO., WITH, SAMUEL BRUCKER.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, GETTING IN THE HALLOWEEN SPIRIT WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK.

THE PROGRAM THAT IS MAKING SURE EVERY CHILD HAS A TRICK OR TREATING OUTFIT.

THE SPOOKY SEASON IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER AS OCTOBER IS LESS THAN A WEEK AWAY FOR MANY KIDS.

NOW IS THE TIME TO PICK OUT WHAT THEY WILL BE FOR HALLOWEEN II.

BUT FOR FAMILIES LIVING ON A BUDGET PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, BUYING A NEW COSTUME EVERY YEAR CAN BE ANOTHER COSTLY EXPENSE.

WGCUS EMMA RODRIGUEZ ATTENDED A RECENT EVENT IN CAPE CORAL THAT LOOKED TO EASE THAT SEASONAL FINANCIAL BURDEN.

>> IT'S A DINOSAUR INFLATABLE I BECAUSE OUR LAWS.

IT'S JUT COOL TO BE IN AN INFLATABLE.

>> THAT WAS 9 YEAR OLD AND THE PEACE.

LAST WEEK SHE TOOK PART IN THE COSTUMES WA FOR A CAUSE IN CAPE CORAL.

FOR THESE KIDS.

IT'S HALLOWEEN COSTUMES AT NO EXPENSE.

THE EVENT WAS SPEARHEADED BY AND THEN BRANDS A DIGITAL MARKETING FIRM BASED IN THE CITY LEADING UP TO THE EVENT, COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE INVITED TO DONATE SPARE OR OUTGROWN HALLOWEEN COSTUMES TO BE PUT UP FOR GRABS AND THEN BRANDS.

PRESIDENT MELISSA MOORE SAYS THE EVENT MEANT MORE THAN JUST SPREADING SOME HALLOWEEN CHEER.

>> IT'S NOT JUST GAS PRICES.

IT'S EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW JUST TO SURVIVE.

IT'S TOUGH.

AND SO IF THIS EVEN TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF FINANCIAL STRAIN OFF OF A SINGLE FAMILY AND WE'VE REALLY ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING HERE.

>> ALL LEFTOVER COSTUMES AT THE END OF THE EVENT WERE DONATED TO ABUSE COUNSELING AND TREATMENT ACT.

A LOCAL NOT-FOR-PROFIT SERVING THE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE AND ASSAULT.

THE GLINTING A D AS DIRECTOR OF ASSAULT OUTREACH SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE ORGANIZATION SAYS EVEN NON-ESSENTIAL ITEMS LIKE HALLOWEEN COSTUMES ARE IMPORTANT FOR FAMILIES IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS.

>> A HALLOWEEN COSTUME IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FEEL.

>> THINGS ARE NORMAL FOR THEM OR THEY'RE GOING THROUGH HARDSHIPS AND WHERE.

>> THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.

WHAT FRIENDS ARE DOING WITH THE COMMITTEE'S DOING THAT HELPS HIM.

YOU KNOW, IT'S FEEL NORMAL AND AWAY WITHIN WHAT SOCIETY EXPECTS AND THAT THIS ALSO HELPS THEM.

THE KITS >> FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M EMMA RODRIGUEZ IN CAPE CORAL.

COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM.

>> WHILE THE USE OF AI IN THE WORKFORCE IS DRAWING MIXED REACTIONS.

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