Sales of alcohol in the United States spiked sharply back in mid March. According to Nielsen , sales of alcoholic beverages rose 55% in the week ending March 21st, and there was a 243% increase in online orders. While data shows that overall alcohol sales have settled back down, and that the alcohol industry is beginning to suffer , we’re exploring how stresses caused by living under social distancing guidelines during a global pandemic might be causing some people to drink too much. And how the added stresses we’re all under, and just plain fear, might be exacerbating the problem for people who were already struggling with alcohol, or any addiction, before COVID-19 spread around the world.

Gulf Coast Live

Alcohol Consumption on the Rise During COVID-19

Collier County beaches, particularly in and around Naples, were inundated with crowds on Saturday, leading The City of Naples to close its sandy shores at midnight on Saturday. While this was a city decision, the county will face some tough questions as some other counties are keeping their beaches closed at least until June.

We talk with a Collier Commissioner about Balancing Safety with Open Beaches

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for an Antigen Test for the coronavirus, produced by Quidel Corporation . We talk with Dr. Sharon Isern , Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University and a molecular virologist to learn what makes this test different, and how it basically works.

FDA Issues Emergency Use Authorization for new "Antigen" Test for COVID-19

We listen back to our pre-coronavirus pandemic session featuring music performed live in studio by guitarist Max Hatt and vocalist Edda Glass . You can hear that episode in its entirety here . Their original music truly defies genre classification, but has been described as cinematic folk, including jazz, and Bossa Nova. They garnered a Grand Prize win at the 2014 NewSong Competition at Lincoln Center in New York. They’ve performed all over the country and have appeared on both NPR and PBS.

Max Hatt and Edda Glass Live in Studio! ENCORE

Restaurants can now open in Florida, but only at 25% capacity in their dining rooms and with social distancing at outdoor tables. But is that number of customers an economically viable option for restaurants?

The Business of Running a Restaurant during a Pandemic

As news circulates about COVID-19 and the new coronavirus that causes it the need for well-informed media literacy might be more important now than ever before, with everything from truly fake news to simply overhyped headlines flooding our online feeds.

Making Sense of the Media in the time of COVID-19

Another week of experiencing life with the new coronavirus has passed, and the rate of new cases in Florida has declined by about 15% versus the week before, and area hospitals are not currently being overwhelmed by new cases. Hospitals are resuming elective and urgent surgeries today.

COVID-19 Weekly Update - Remdesivir, Convalescent Plasma Trial Update, & Antibody Testing Efforts

We take a reprieve from coverage of the coronavirus pandemic to catch up with the mother and daughter team behind the podcast “ Cool Dead Women .” The podcast was created in 2018 by author, professor, editor and historian Erika Waters , Ph.D. and her daughter, Brooklyn-based filmmaker, musician and music journalist Blair Waters .

“Cool Dead Women” Podcast Features Odd Florida Connections

The Southwest Florida Amphibian Monitoring Network, or Frog Watch , was established in the year 2000 in order to collect long-term data on frog communities of the region. Volunteers, which include researchers, students, and members of the public walk specific routes at night during the summer listening for the sounds of frog calls, and collecting that data.

Encore: Citizen Scientists Track SWFL Frog Populations by Walking & Listening

New research published in the journal Historical Archaeology confirms Mound Key in Estero Bay was the location of a Spanish fort historians have long-suspected once existed in Southwest Florida. Fort San Antón de Carlos was built in 1566 in the capital of the Calusa, who were the most powerful Native American tribe in the region.

New Research Confirms a Spanish Fort was Built on Mound Key in the 16th Century

While new cases of COVID-19 continue to show up across southwest Florida, the rate of increase seems to have settled at a pace that’s currently not overwhelming hospitals.

COVID-19 Weekly Update: Hendry County, Antibody Testing, & Plasma Study

On Thursdays we typically focus on the local arts scene. But, during these times of social distancing most of it is on hold, and our entire station is working remotely, so for the time being we’ve been broadcasting episodes of the WGCU podcast Three Song Stories: Biography Through Music . We use the way songs connect us to our memories and lives as a means of getting to know our guests in a more intimate way.

Three Song Stories: Fabiana Solano

For the past four years Southwest Florida-based photojournalist and artist Lisette Morales has been documenting the lives of women who work and live in Immokalee. So, when the new coronavirus started spreading she headed to the small farming town with her camera to witness how life there was changing during these times. We talk with her about her work, and the needs she sees in Immokalee.

Photojournalist Documenting Life in Immokalee During COVID-19

According to Gene McAvoy from UF/IFAS normally this time of the year about 15 million pounds of produce leaves Immokalee every single day. And this year had been a good one for south Florida farmers. But, that number has been reduced by about 80% since mid March when social distancing guidelines went into place.

Major Tomato Grower Responds to COVID-19

We’re almost a month into most schools and restaurants being closed and cruise ships sitting empty, and travel restrictions have slowed tourism to a trickle. All of which is happening at the height of harvest season here in south Florida. With orders for fresh produce down by up to 80%, that leaves producers large and small looking for alternative ways to get fresh fruits and vegetables to consumers.

Southwest Florida Ag Industry Hit Hard by Shutdown

Gulf Coast Live is a live, locally produced, call-in radio show focusing on issues that matter to Southwest Floridians. It's your chance to share your thoughts and connect to your community, live on the radio. Gulf Coast Live invites you to interact with experts, decision makers and each other via phone calls, emails, texts, on Facebook and blogs. Hosted by: Julie Glenn Produced by: Mike Kiniry Call: 1-877-GCU-TALK email: gulfcoastlive@wgcu.org Facebook: WGCU Public Media Twitter: twitter.com/ wgcu - #GCL Gulf Coast Live is funded by the Elizabeth B. McGraw Foundation.

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