Stephanie Byrne

Businesses across the country are closing their doors, but we won’t know the long-term impact for a while. Florida Gulf Coast University is trying to get a picture of the effect COVID-19 is having on business. Warren Frye owns two Beef ‘O’ Brady’s in Cape Coral. “We’ve had to lay off the majority of our […]

An FGCU student has been getting a firsthand look at the impact the coronavirus can have after she had to self-quarantine when returning from a trip to Italy. Now, she’s working alongside her peers to get more coronavirus protection in people’s hands. FGCU student Grace Anderson is among students working alongside a university professor to […]

In times like these, some people would give the shirt off of their backs to help others. In a story we followed, they’re putting on the shirts to do it. We looked at what some people in Southwest Florida are doing to help support those who drive the local economy. Organizers on Fort Myers Beach […]

Serving those who served for us. One Southwest Florida non-profit is distributing food and household goods to help our local veterans during the coronavirus crisis. They’re even getting creative to encourage social distancing. “It’s always important to give back to those who served our country, no matter what time it is,” said Ann Morris, Distribution […]

The coronavirus pandemic is having some positive side effects on the environment. The water looks clearer in the world-famous canals in Venice, Italy and NASA images show how pollution is dropping rapidly in cities across the globe. As people around the globe take precautions against COVID-19, “I think one of the interesting things about it is, […]

Empty shelves at the stores are turning into the new normal. And in these uncertain times, food banks are experiencing a greater need. The Harry Chapin food bank works hard to maintain its supply while continuing to feed families. Harry Chapin Food Bank President and CEO Richard LeBer said, even before the coronavirus hit “we […]

What impact will the coronavirus have on the census? Three congressional members from Florida said we could lose out on millions of dollars because of social distancing, as the homeless and those without internet access might not get counted. “Even though many things may seem uncertain at the moment, one thing isn’t: the 2020 Census […]

A whopping 183,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into your water and now it’s winding its way through the Caloosahatchee. Crews are working on testing to try and find out why this happened and how you are affected. “The smell is pretty bad,” says Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani. The clean water advocate is keeping tabs […]

Southwest Florida’s biggest city is unusually quiet following the closure of two popular attractions over coronavirus concerns and large crowds. Sun Splash Family Waterpark and the Cape Coral Yacht Club are following guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control, but bars and restaurants in the city remain open. “As we all know, you know, […]

Insects and pests are destroying citrus trees of farmers across Florida, but now they’re turning to a new technology to protect their trees. Doctor Ozgur Batuman is a University of Florida citrus pathologist. He’s studying viruses found in psyllids, which are tiny insects they spread citrus greening disease. “Citrus is an over $9 billion industry, […]