2022-04-28 E-Edition

Harvesting Hemp

The environmentally friendlyfriendly, regulated agricultural commodity is also benefiting Florida’s economy


DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD outside of LaBelle in Hendry County, a field of plants grows like — well — weeds, on a small farm enclosed by a high, stout security fence. The sound of a horse whinnying blends with the background whir of large fans running in both a packinghouse as well as smaller shipping containers dotted around the 17 […]

Human activity provides nutrients for longer, stronger red tides, study finds



That humans provide fuel for red tides that makes the smelly fish-killing events stronger and last longer has long been anecdotal. Now, researchers looking at Southwest Florida have explained that the correlation exists. Environmental researchers led by the University of Florida’s Center for Coastal Solutions documented the link after studying a decade of red tide data from the Caloosahatchee River, […]

The censorship dilemma



This may be an unpopular opinion: I think censorship is a valuable tool in public education. James Madison, primary creator of the First Amendment, may not have liked it, I admit. But the governor’s recent rejection of scores of mathematics textbooks designed for elementary, middle school and high school students — likely for including so-called Social-Emotional Learning words and concepts […]

In defense of Elon Musk



A year after being named Time magazine’s person of the year, Elon Musk’s takeover offer to acquire Twitter was accepted by the social media company. To listen to Musk’s critics, you’d believe it’s an act almost on par with Hitler invading Poland not long after being named Time’s man of the year in 1938. A writer for the left-wing website […]

Fishing along the “River of Peace”



Since the beginning of time, humankind has needed water as much as the air we breathe. Early tribal societies revered all bodies of water, and had their own names for each one. Talakchopko was the Seminole name for the Peace River, translated by the early explorers as “River of Pease,” but written on nautical charts as Rio De La Paz […]

57-day 2022 Gulf red snapper recreational season announced


Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the 2022 Gulf red snapper recreational season will total 57 days — the longest season since the state assumed management of red snapper — and will include both a summer and fall season. Those fishing from private recreational vessels in state and federal waters in the Gulf, and charter vessels without a federal reef fish permit […]

Pale gums can signal serious medical problems



I had taken my dog Harper to the veterinarian for some routine blood work. The veterinarian came out to the car, looking worried. “Her gums are really pale,” he said. “Usually when I see gums that look like that, the dog is near death.” That seemed odd. Harper was acting normally and eating well. But he urged me to take […]

Pets of the WEEK

These animals are available for adoption at the Animal Welfare League, 3519 Drance St., Port Charlotte. All animals are microchipped, neutered and current with their shots. We are open by appointments only. All of our adoptable pets are on the AWL website (www.awlshelter.org). If you see a pet that you would like to meet, call to make an appointment. We […]

Seizures of pills containing fentanyl on the rise


National Institutes of Health-supported research highlights fentanyl-containing pills as a growing, dangerous trend, particularly for people new to drug use. Law enforcement seizures of pills containing illicit fentanyl increased dramatically between January 2018 and December 2021, according to a new study. The number of individual pills seized by law enforcement increased nearly 50-fold from the first quarter of 2018 to […]