Southwest Florida has seen two well-publicized small plane crashes into buildings or onto city streets in recent weeks. With another fatal crash in the Everglades last month, attention has been focused on South Florida air traffic and what could be behind the deadly incidents.

In just 20 years, the number of Americans over the age of 65 will increase by 100 percent. That's roughly 80 million Americans , and as the LGBT community ages alongside their heterosexual friends and neighbors, doctors focused on that population say LGBT persons face unique concerns when it comes to aging, and a host of health care disparities ranging from housing discrimination to social isolation.

Venezuela, the oil-rich South American nation, has been gripped by political turmoil, civic unrest, and an economic crisis for months. Now Gov. Rick Scott is calling on state agencies and other businesses to cut their connections to Caracas.

The Florida panther's status as endangered is up for review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The iconic big cat has been on the list of federally-protected endangered species since it was first drawn up in 1967. The federal agency wants to hear from stakeholders in South Florida about what, if any, protections the panther should have in the future.

It’s been 27 years since the Americans With Disabilities Act was signed into law by President George H. W. Bush. The law has helped people with disabilities live their lives through physical accessibility, public services, and working against discrimination. ADA Advocates at the Gulf Coast Center for Independent Living say much has changed for the better, but more needs to be done.

The 2017 Pine Island Mango Mania festival kicks off this weekend, a 21-year tradition that has brought mango growers, preservers, chefs working with the fruit, and more to the area to revel in mangos and other tropical fruits.

A new Florida law has captured headlines across the country. It allows any resident of a Florida county to challenge the classroom materials used in that county’s public schools, regardless of whether they are the parent or guardian of a student. The bill was drafted by Naples’ Rep. Byron Donalds , who joins Gulf Coast to talk about why he feels the new law is necessary.

So-called "food deserts" denote areas without access to grocery stores or fresh food, but Sarasota County Libraries and the Sarasota Housing Authority are launching the Book-Rich Environment campaign to address "book deserts" by bringing books into homes and helping families engage with their local libraries.

Punta Gorda City Manager Howard Kunik is waiting for the results of an internal affairs report before he decides whether suspended Police Chief Tom Lewis keeps or loses his job. Lewis was acquitted of culpable negligence the last week of June in the death of 73-year-old Mary Knowlton during a shoot/don’t shoot demonstration at police headquarters last August.

The results are in for Healthy Lee’s 2017 look at wellness in Lee County, and while strides have been made in some areas, obesity remains a persistent problem.