Largest Lee County land deal closes, $100M for 1,745 acres in northwest Cape CoralMajor 2 vehicle crash shuts down NB lanes of U.S. 41 in Charlotte
Largest Lee County land deal closes, $100M for 1,745 acres in northwest Cape Coral The most lucrative land deal in Lee County history just closed at a price of $100 million for 1,745 acres in northwest Cape Coral, where building up to 3,500 homes and commercial property to support it has been in the planning stages for almost two years.
CHARLOTTE HARBOR Major 2 vehicle crash shuts down NB lanes of U.S. 41 in Charlotte After a major traffic accident near Sunseeker Resort in Charlotte County, all Northbound lanes of U.S. 41 were closed.
FORT MYERS Apple AirPods lead LCSO to an arrest ; over $100,000 worth of stolen items recovered Through the use of Apple Airpods, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office was able to locate nearly $100,000 worth of stolen items, leading to an arrest.
LABELLE Hendry County rolls out cameras for school speed zones The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new way of enforcing school zone speed limits by using cameras that will target drivers traveling over a certain speed in a school zone.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral officials approve replacement funding for hurricane-damaged stop signs The Cape Coral City Council has approved funding to replace stop signs damaged during Hurricane Milton, resulting in an emergency purchase.
Holiday events happening in Southwest Florida Southwest Florida is embracing the holiday spirit with a variety of festive events this Christmas season.
Collier man accused of supplying fentanyl-laced pills, enough to kill 531,500 people The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man accused of supplying more than 10,000 fentanyl-laced pills disguised as prescription painkillers.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral council supports construction of I-75 interchange into city The Cape Coral City Council has approved a resolution requesting support from Lee and Charlotte counties to prioritize state and federal funding for the Interstate 75 Interchange at Slater Road.
PUNTA GORDA Crews removing derelict boats from Gilchrist Park Crews are working to remove derelict boats from Gilchrist Park after several of them washed ashore during Hurricane Milton in October.
33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County Another Florida panther has been killed by a vehicle, this time in Hardee County, increasing the death toll of the endangered species to 33 for 2024.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon After waking up to a cold morning, the Weather Authority is tracking warming conditions to the low 70s this Thursday.
Police release threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite motherās measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
Largest Lee County land deal closes, $100M for 1,745 acres in northwest Cape Coral The most lucrative land deal in Lee County history just closed at a price of $100 million for 1,745 acres in northwest Cape Coral, where building up to 3,500 homes and commercial property to support it has been in the planning stages for almost two years.
CHARLOTTE HARBOR Major 2 vehicle crash shuts down NB lanes of U.S. 41 in Charlotte After a major traffic accident near Sunseeker Resort in Charlotte County, all Northbound lanes of U.S. 41 were closed.
FORT MYERS Apple AirPods lead LCSO to an arrest ; over $100,000 worth of stolen items recovered Through the use of Apple Airpods, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office was able to locate nearly $100,000 worth of stolen items, leading to an arrest.
LABELLE Hendry County rolls out cameras for school speed zones The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new way of enforcing school zone speed limits by using cameras that will target drivers traveling over a certain speed in a school zone.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral officials approve replacement funding for hurricane-damaged stop signs The Cape Coral City Council has approved funding to replace stop signs damaged during Hurricane Milton, resulting in an emergency purchase.
Holiday events happening in Southwest Florida Southwest Florida is embracing the holiday spirit with a variety of festive events this Christmas season.
Collier man accused of supplying fentanyl-laced pills, enough to kill 531,500 people The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man accused of supplying more than 10,000 fentanyl-laced pills disguised as prescription painkillers.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral council supports construction of I-75 interchange into city The Cape Coral City Council has approved a resolution requesting support from Lee and Charlotte counties to prioritize state and federal funding for the Interstate 75 Interchange at Slater Road.
PUNTA GORDA Crews removing derelict boats from Gilchrist Park Crews are working to remove derelict boats from Gilchrist Park after several of them washed ashore during Hurricane Milton in October.
33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County Another Florida panther has been killed by a vehicle, this time in Hardee County, increasing the death toll of the endangered species to 33 for 2024.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon After waking up to a cold morning, the Weather Authority is tracking warming conditions to the low 70s this Thursday.
Police release threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite motherās measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Democratic Congressman Alan Grayson announced Thursday he will seek the Senate seat Republican Marco Rubio is leaving to run for president, dismissing the idea that he is too liberal to win a statewide election in Florida. The decision guarantees a feisty primary between the unabashed liberal and U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, a former Republican who is running as a moderate and who has garnered the support of many party leaders. Grayson, who represents a central Florida district, made his announcement on Orlando television station WKMG. Grayson, 57, is a wealthy lawyer who’s proud of being non-establishment. He calls himself a congressman with guts who answers to no one but voters. While his headline-making comments will certainly be discussed in during the campaign – as well as his messy divorce and some ethical questions about hedge funds – Grayson says his record of accomplishment and not his rhetoric will be what’s measured in the election. “I am the most productive member of Congress. Time magazine referred to me as a standup congressman in a do-nothing Congress,” Grayson said in a telephone interview. And despite previously calling Republicans the White Christian Party that has a platform of hate and fear, he said no one else has been more successful at working across political aisles to pass good legislation. Grayson also said Democrats won’t support Murphy, who once donated money to Mitt Romney and who is running as a moderate. Grayson predicted he would win the primary with the support of every major segment of his party. “The black vote, the Hispanic vote, the Jewish vote, the gay vote, the liberal vote, the labor voteĀ – these are all blocs that have seen me accomplish concrete things to the benefit of those groups. These are my supporters,” Grayson said. “I suppose that Patrick has the support of all the Democrats who gave $2,300 to Mitt Romney, because he’s one of them.” Murphy issued a statement shortly after Grayson’s announcement. “I look forward to a clean, honest discussion of the issues in this primary. I have built a strong record of working together to get things done, while remaining true to core Democratic principles,” he said. Don’t expect party leaders to suddenly change their thinking that Murphy is the better general election candidate in a state that is politically more toward the middle, having elected a Republican governor five straight elections but supported President Barack Obama twice. “Grayson has a following, he will work the progressive wing of the party very hard, but in the end I think Murphy will be more formidable candidate,” said Rod Smith, a former state Democratic Party chairman who sought the Democratic nomination as a moderate in 2006. “If we’re going to win the general election, Murphy is the more likely candidate.” Republican U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis has already announced he’s running for the GOP nomination, as has little-known businessman and veteran Todd Wilcox. Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera is expected to enter the race next week and Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller is strongly considering a run. As Grayson enters the race, he has a stronger social media following than Murphy. Here are the numbers as Grayson prepared to make his announcement: – Facebook: Grayson, 127,458 likes; Murphy, 31,350 likes. – Twitter: Grayson, 59,646 followers; Murphy, 4,174 followers. – YouTube: Grayson, 11,175 subscribers and 10,756,712 views; Murphy, a combined 155 subscribers and 51,080 views between his congressional and campaign accounts. Both men are formidable fundraisers and Murphy has also proven he can win a tough fight against a partisan favorite, though in his case it was tea party star and then-Congressman Allen West who he ousted, not a fellow Democrat. He beat West in 2012 in a close race and easily won re-election last year in a slightly Republican-leaning district. Murphy, 32, has already wrapped up the endorsement of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, as well as a long list of Florida legislators, mayors and members of Congress. Grayson has scoffed at the support Murphy is receiving. Leading up to his announcement, Grayson posted on Facebook and Twitter a question asking voters who else in Congress can make this statement: “I am unbought and unbossed. I owe nothing to anyone but The People.”