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News Archive Index
11-30-2005
This is the last day of the historic 2005 Hurricane Season. The Gulf Coast of the United States was especially hard hit – with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita wreaking havoc along the western Gulf – and Hurricane Wilma delivering a decisive blow to the eastern Gulf after devastating part of the Yucatan Peninsula. Speaking in a teleconference yesterday from Washington and Miami, NOAA officials summed up the season – and made some predictions for next year. WGCU’s Valerie Alker listened in and has this report.
11-30-2005
Women’s clothing chain Chico’s said its quarterly profit increased substantially in the last quarter. Fort Myers-based Chico’s says its quarterly profit rose 43-percent. Company executives say higher merchandise prices are the reason for the big jump. Third quarter income was 53-million dollars...that’s compared to 37-million last year. Net sales increased 33-percent to 358-million dollars. Chico’s operates more than 740 stores under the Chico’s, White House/Black Market and SOMA names. Chief Financial Officer Charles Kleman told investors in a conference call, the company’s growth will continue next year.
“At this time we are now planning to open approximately 20 new SOMA stores, 60 net new Chico’s stores and 70 net new White House Black Market stores for a total of approximately 150 net new stores.”
Chico’s reported the earnings after the market closed. But shares of the company have surged in the last year...nearly doubling in value.
11-30-2005
The state Attorney General has opened an official investigation into high gas prices in Southwest Florida. State Attorney General Charlie Crist has launched a probe into why Southwest Florida’s gas prices are as much as 50 cents higher than in other parts of the state. Drivers in Naples are paying 2-40 for a gallon of regular unleaded...motorists in Tampa can fuel up for less than two dollars a gallon. Crist, who’s running for governor, has long complained about peculiar pricing at the pump. He says that’s why he opened an investigation here.
“We are looking into this case in Southwest Florida trying to find out exactly what is happening and why the price may be higher.”
Letter writers to newspapers and editorials have railed in recent days about the price at the pump, which has fluctuated wildly but is still at historically-high levels. The oil industry maintains gas prices are based on supply and demand.
11-30-2005
Lee County Commissioners have unanimously approved the Four-Party Interlocal Planning Agreement outlining how development would occur on Babcock Ranch. With that approval, developer Syd Kitson is now one step closer to making his plans for a community of about 20-thousand homes, and 6-million square feet of commercial space a reality. Commissioner Ray Judah says Kitson’s proposal is an acceptable combination of conservation and development.
“I think what Mr. Kitson’s truly providing is not only an environment to ensure that we are always going to have wildlife here, but the opportunity for gainful employment, for housing, for a well-planned community that we can hopefully feel proud of that’s going to make this community continue to be the exemplary model for the nation in terms of providing a balance for protecting our resources and responsible development.”
The approval does not mean that Kitson can immediately start development. Before that happens, he must convince Lee and Charlotte County commissioners to increase the number of units that can be developed on the property.
11-29-2005
The Florida Department of Transportation says 18 Southwest Florida road projects are being funded as part of the state’s new growth management law. The money comes from the Transportation Regional Incentive Program or TRIP. TRIP is part of the recently signed "pay-as-you-grow" law meant to ensure the roads are there for the people as they move to Florida. Florida Department of Transportation Spokeswoman Debbie Tower says TRIP allows the state to pay up to half of project costs this fiscal year and next.
“It’s a funding source identified out of Senate Bill 360 – growth management. And it allows the state to contribute financially towards some important county projects, regionally significant projects in SWFL.”
With the new funding, Sarasota County gets an advanced automated traffic signal management system. State Road 70 will get much needed attention. Burnt Store Road in Charlotte county, part of Colonial Boulevard in Lee and Collier Boulevard in Collier will all be widened. Also, Three Oaks Parkway in Lee County will be extended south to Bonita Springs.
11-29-2005
Edison College and the Charlotte County School District are working together to fast track prospective new teachers into the profession. They announced their partnership at a news conference Monday at Edison’s Punta Gorda Campus. WGCU’s Valerie Alker reports.
11-29-2005
New housing numbers for Southwest Florida are out...and they continue to show this region has one of the hottest markets in the country. The median price of a home in Fort Myers and Cape Coral last month was 322-thousand dollars. That’s a 65-percent increase in just a year. Naples zoomed to 495-thousand dollars...a 39-percent jump. Sarasota topped 340-thousand. But the number of homes sold, dropped. Analysts attribute that to Hurricane Wilma because insurers stopped writing policies and lenders required re-inspections after the storm. Florida Association of Realtors spokeswoman Marla Martin says the local real estate market appears to be in check.
“Part of that may be some of the areas were really a great, great bargain. You were getting perhaps undervalued real estate in some of the areas for some time. And now the market is just swinging and bringing it back up to where it might actually be the true value.”
Mortgage rates continue their steady upward march. As they increase, economists say homes will stay on the market longer and probably won’t fetch as much. Despite a slowdown in the number of homes SOLD, Steve Tirey with the Chamber of Southwest Florida isn’t concerned. He says this region is in a unique position.
“We have folks who are moving here as a result of their interest in both retirement...but we also continue to create significant jobs in the marketplace that are attracting younger workers to the market. So that’s creating a unique balance here in southwest Florida that may not be seen in many other markets across the country.”
Tirey says the continued housing march is good for homeowners and those who are cashing out. But it still leaves many in the middle who want to make the jump to homeowners and can’t afford it.
11-28-2005
Shoppers turned out in full force in Southwest Florida Friday. By 9:30 a.m. the parking lot at the Miromar Outlet mall in Estero was overflowing. WGCU’s Valerie Alker conducted this informal shopper’s survey.
11-25-2005
It was recognized for innovation, progressive and proactive work in the industry, a reduction in euthanasia and a major increase in adoptions.
Agency staff also won three other best in state awards - Caretaker of the Year, Office Worker of the Year and Humanitarian of the Year. Lee County Commissioner John Albion publicly congratulated the agency.
"Those awards represent two-third of all awards presented statewide and four out of five categories where LCAS was nominated. So that as well as what's happening internationally with this group is amazing. That agency has totally turned around and we can only hope that we can take care of the problem of having to kill animals, hopefully we can do more spaying and neutering."
In the past three years, Lee County Animal Services has won eight best in state awards including at least one winner in every category available for awards.Lee County Animal Services is the only agency in the state to have won every category in the in the past three years.
11-24-2005
Device
Voice recognition technology is helping with bookings and releases at the Lee County Sheriff’s Department detention facility.
Right now about 17-hundred inmates are being held in Lee County – about ten percent speak little or no English. Since human translators aren’t always available the agency has purchased three portable translation devices. Deputy Angelo Vaughn says they’ve been very helpful.
“what it does is phonetically analyze spoken phrases and match those with phrases that are prerecorded foreign languages such as Spanish german and creole. If the inmate is speaking in Spanish it will translate what the inmate is saying to us in English.”
And the device will also translate English into Spanish – or creole. The translators cost about 25 hundred dollars. Vaughn says they can’t replace humans – but are a good substitute in a pinch.
11-24-2005
Holiday shopping #1
Lewis
For: 11-24-05 PM / 11-25-05 AM
Tomorrow (Friday) marks the kick-off of the holiday shopping season. For many businesses the next four weeks are a make-or-break time for the entire yearShoppers will be out en-masse the Friday after Thanksgiving. Many stores will open early…some as soon as 5 a-m. Business owners hope those customers will be carrying lots of cash or credit cards and leave with bags stuffed with merchandise. Economists say it’s been a sluggish year for retailers but it is expected to pick up. Florida Gulf Coast University Marketing Professor Stuart Van Auken says the impact of the Internet is becoming a bigger force. He says while shoppers brave the stores this weekend...online buying kicks off next week.
“And one of the theories is, that consumers will shop at bricks and mortars stores Friday through Sunday and also talk with their friends and relatives about gifts and then they go online on Monday. The idea is to maybe find some of things they have discovered at bricks and mortar stores for cheaper prices.”
Van Auken says the online shopping season wraps up around mid-December because after that, internet retailers often have a difficult time making deliveries. Russell Lewis, WGCU News.
Holiday shopping #2
Lewis
For: 11-24-05 PM / 11-25-05 AM
Shoppers will brave the malls and stores tomorrow (Friday) to cash in on the first major holiday sales. This time of year is an important one for retailers as they try to make up for a sluggish beginning of the season. W-G-C-U’s Russell Lewis has more.
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Local Cuts Disc
Economists are expecting this year’s holiday buying period to be marginally better than last year. They predict a sales increase of five or ten percent. Online sales are projected to be as much as 20-percent higher. That’s due in part to more bricks and mortar stores offering free shipping and discounts on their websites. Florida Gulf Coast University Marketing Professor Stuart Van Auken says toy sales have dropped the last couple of years...but what is UP are sales of electronics to children.
“So what we’re seeing is a movement away from so-called traditional toys into like consumer electronics geared for kids. And the trend for this Christmas is smaller, but higher-priced. And so it’s sort of like small items are in including consumer electronics at maybe a higher price.”
Van Auken says that’s good for retailers because smaller items take up less space so they can stock more and make a bigger profit. Russell Lewis, WGCU News.
11-23-2005
A high-ranking official from the U-S Department of Agriculture says he’ll do everything he can to help Florida growers recover from this year’s hurricane season. U-S-D-A Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner and two Congressmen took a tour of agriculture damage in South Florida Monday. Later they met with growers in LaBelle. W-G-C-U’s Valerie Alker reports.
11-23-2005
A Tampa-based developer has donated a quarter-million dollars for affordable housing in Collier County. With a median home price of 500-thousand dollars in Collier, a quarter-million dollars won’t get you far in one of the hottest real estate markets in the country. But Collier Commissioner Jim Coletta focuses on the positive.
“The message is clear: in Collier County if you’re going to build, you have to keep in mind that affordable housing is something is something that is foremost in the minds of the commissioners. This particular company has helped to set the bar for future developers to follow.”
EcoGroup donated the money to the Empowerment Alliance of Southwest Florida to purchase land in Immokalee. The Alliance aims to bring home ownership to very low and low-income families. Commissioner Coletta believes the money will be able to purchase two homes in the farming community. Collier County officials are applauding the donation of a quarter-million dollars for affordable housing. Tampa-based developer EcoGroup gave the money Tuesday to the Empowerment Alliance of Southwest Florida. The non-profit group will buy land in Immokalee and build homes for low-income people in the farming community. County Commissioner Jim Coletta says the donation will make a difference.
“That’s two families that had been living in small apartments for most of their lives and could never hope to afford a real house at today’s prices. So it means a lot.”
Coletta hopes the donation sends a larger message to the homebuilding industry...and that’s the county is serious about ways to create affordable housing in one of the country’s most expensive real estate markets.
11-23-2005
Heritage
The Military Heritage and Aviation Museum in Punta Gorda is relocating. A legion of volunteers is carefully packing up the exhibits – shrink wrapping the display cases and transporting their contents about five miles across town. WGCU’s Valerie Alker reports.
11-22-2005
Collier sheriff’s deputies have arrested an Ohio man in a 15-year-old Capital Sexual Battery Case. Back in March 1990, an 11-year-old Naples girl was leaving a wooded lot in East Naples. Some local children used the lot as a play area. A man on a motorcycle told her he was a police officer, then took her into the woods and sexually assaulted her. The man wore a helmet with a shield, so the girl never saw his face. Through progress in DNA technology and analysis, the Collier crime laboratory was able to generate a DNA profile from evidence on the victim’s clothing. This month a match was made. Lieutenant Al Ganich was still on the case after 15 years.
“It’s nice. Of course there’s still some investigation needed to be done on my part, now that he has been identified. There’s people I need to talk to still. But for the most part it’s not common that I’m aware of but you know I hear about cases similar to this coming to fruition after many years through DNA so I think it’s becoming more common due to the advances in technology.”
37-year-old Randy Stodgel’s DNA was entered into the national system after he was convicted on a drug charge in Alabama.
Collier sheriff’s investigators arrested him in Ohio, where he awaits extradition. If convicted, Stodgel faces a life sentence. Lieutenant Ganich asks if anyone knew Stodgel in 1990 to call him at the Collier sheriff’s office or call Crimestoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.
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