Скачать или смотреть Assisting Single Mothers, Artists vs AI & Adoptions En Masse | 12-26-2025 | WGCU News

In this episode of Southwest Florida in Focus, we explore compelling local stories shaping our community:

Our Mother’s Home: Providing Care for 25 Years: There is a concerning upward trend happening throughout Florida, a rise in single-parent homes. According to America First Policy Institute, roughly 38% of children live with a single parent and over 80% of those households are headed by a mother. In Southwest Florida, one non-profit is celebrating 25 years of helping teenage mothers and their children find normality in life. WGCU’s Mike Walcher has the story.

Women Are Taking Over the World of Video Games: The video game industry has continue to blossom and last year, it’s estimated to have brought in over $190 billion in revenue. But who’s manning the controller might surprise you. According to the Entertainment Software Association, the average video game player is 36-years-old, and a woman. WGCU’s Sandra Viktorova sat with Aubrey Quinn, The ESA’s Senior Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs to learn more about this change in demographics.

Adoption Event Brings Families Together in SWFL: In Florida, nearly 4,000 children are adopted according to the Florida Department of Children and Families. To accommodate this rise in adoption rates, the state has streamlined the process and eliminated hurdles that allow families to be united faster than ever before. WGCU’s Elizabeth Andarge was in Collier County for an event that made the holidays an unforgettable experience for a dozen families.

The Role of the Artist with Artificial Intelligence: Composer Franz Schubert passed away at the early age of 31, leaving behind a plethora of astounding pieces and several left unfinished. That included his epic Symphony #8, which due to its beauty and melancholy sounds, if regarded as one of the greatest pieces of classical music, despite being rendered incomplete. 200 years later and with the use of Artificial Intelligence, Emmy Award winning composer Lucas Cantor Santiago did the unthinkable and completed Shubert’s piece. His experience in the process was detailed in his new book, “Unfinished: The Role of the Artist in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”. He sat with WGCU’s Teddy Byrne to talk about the opportunity to stand next to a musical legend like Schubert.


One Families Love for The Swamp Buggy: The old style of Florida living is one that is hard to give up. For many who saw generations survive in the boggy wilderness, they grew up as part of the Swamp Buggy community. These vehicles would traverse the wild Everglades and have since become a bigger part of Southwest Florida’s lineage. On January 22nd, 2026, Swamp Buggy Fever will premier on WGCU TV at 8:30pm. WGCU’s Janiene Zeitlan shared a special feature about one family who ensures the legacy of the Swamp Buggy will live on for generations.

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