Shift Coffee Bar in Fort Myers hosts annual Valentine’s Day PartyRoad rage leads to gunfire near US 41 bridge in Punta Gorda
FORT MYERS Shift Coffee Bar in Fort Myers hosts annual Valentine’s Day Party Shift Coffee Bar in Fort Myers held their annual Valentine’s Day pop-up/anniversary event on Sunday morning.
PUNTA GORDA Road rage leads to gunfire near US 41 bridge in Punta Gorda A road rage incident near the Gilchrist Bridge in Punta Gorda led to shots being fired, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
the weather authority Warm, breezy day with evening rain ahead of a slight cold front The Weather Authority says Sunday is starting off warm across Southwest Florida with overnight lows in the upper 60s and 70s, staying warm throughout the day before a cold front sweeps south later this evening.
FORT MYERS Edison Festival parade lights up Fort Myers with floats and bands The Edison Festival parade was a spectacle of lights and sounds, drawing crowds to celebrate the legacy of Thomas Edison.
CAPE CORAL Goth Gala for the Forlorn; How the alt scene honored Valentine’s Day Love Your Rebellion hosted the Goth Gala for the Forlorn at Nice Guys Pizza in Cape Coral on Friday night.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers gears up for Edison Festival parade; road closures in place Downtown Fort Myers is buzzing with excitement as the Edison Festival of Light Parade is set to begin.
the weather authority Near-record heat with sun and clouds for your Saturday The Weather Authority says the above-normal temperatures that Southwest Florida has been experiencing will stick around yet again for Saturday.
LEE COUNTY Savannah Bananas bring fun on the diamond at JetBlue Park The Savannah Bananas amazed and entertained a sold out JetBlue Park Friday night for the first time in Southwest Florida.
CAPE CORAL Caught on Camera: Cape Coral mailbox hit by drifting car A Cape Coral homeowner was left in shock after a car sent her mailbox flying through the air and left tire tracks next to her home.
ARCADIA DeSoto County man sentenced for deadly DUI crash Justice for a mother and son killed by a man driving under the influence.
NAPLES Oldest Black-owned business in SWFL continues to serve community Cleveland Bass Movers, founded in 1969, stands as the oldest Black-owned business in Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS BEACH Broken gate on Lovers Key Beach Resort frustrating residents Residents of Lover’s Key Beach Club in Fort Myers Beach are frustrated with a gate that remains wide open, despite “No Trespassing” signs, since Hurricane Ian struck two years ago.
St. James City Church plans $700k flood-proofing project for future safety Hurricanes have caused flood after flood, and one island church, The First Baptist Church of Saint James City, wants to build higher.
Romance scams rise in the US, AARP warns residents to beware Romance scams are on the rise, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting over 64,000 cases in the U.S. in 2023.
Fort Myers Savannah Bananas make their way to Fort Myers for first time The Savannah Bananas have made their way to JetBlue Park for Friday’s sold-out game in Fort Myers to watch “the greatest show in sports.”
FORT MYERS Shift Coffee Bar in Fort Myers hosts annual Valentine’s Day Party Shift Coffee Bar in Fort Myers held their annual Valentine’s Day pop-up/anniversary event on Sunday morning.
PUNTA GORDA Road rage leads to gunfire near US 41 bridge in Punta Gorda A road rage incident near the Gilchrist Bridge in Punta Gorda led to shots being fired, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
the weather authority Warm, breezy day with evening rain ahead of a slight cold front The Weather Authority says Sunday is starting off warm across Southwest Florida with overnight lows in the upper 60s and 70s, staying warm throughout the day before a cold front sweeps south later this evening.
FORT MYERS Edison Festival parade lights up Fort Myers with floats and bands The Edison Festival parade was a spectacle of lights and sounds, drawing crowds to celebrate the legacy of Thomas Edison.
CAPE CORAL Goth Gala for the Forlorn; How the alt scene honored Valentine’s Day Love Your Rebellion hosted the Goth Gala for the Forlorn at Nice Guys Pizza in Cape Coral on Friday night.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers gears up for Edison Festival parade; road closures in place Downtown Fort Myers is buzzing with excitement as the Edison Festival of Light Parade is set to begin.
the weather authority Near-record heat with sun and clouds for your Saturday The Weather Authority says the above-normal temperatures that Southwest Florida has been experiencing will stick around yet again for Saturday.
LEE COUNTY Savannah Bananas bring fun on the diamond at JetBlue Park The Savannah Bananas amazed and entertained a sold out JetBlue Park Friday night for the first time in Southwest Florida.
CAPE CORAL Caught on Camera: Cape Coral mailbox hit by drifting car A Cape Coral homeowner was left in shock after a car sent her mailbox flying through the air and left tire tracks next to her home.
ARCADIA DeSoto County man sentenced for deadly DUI crash Justice for a mother and son killed by a man driving under the influence.
NAPLES Oldest Black-owned business in SWFL continues to serve community Cleveland Bass Movers, founded in 1969, stands as the oldest Black-owned business in Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS BEACH Broken gate on Lovers Key Beach Resort frustrating residents Residents of Lover’s Key Beach Club in Fort Myers Beach are frustrated with a gate that remains wide open, despite “No Trespassing” signs, since Hurricane Ian struck two years ago.
St. James City Church plans $700k flood-proofing project for future safety Hurricanes have caused flood after flood, and one island church, The First Baptist Church of Saint James City, wants to build higher.
Romance scams rise in the US, AARP warns residents to beware Romance scams are on the rise, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting over 64,000 cases in the U.S. in 2023.
Fort Myers Savannah Bananas make their way to Fort Myers for first time The Savannah Bananas have made their way to JetBlue Park for Friday’s sold-out game in Fort Myers to watch “the greatest show in sports.”
BEIJING (AP) – Lion dancers swayed and confetti canons erupted Friday as news came that Beijing would become the first city to host both the summer and winter Olympics. Local residents praised their city’s winning bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, although celebrations were far more muted than 14 years ago when Beijing exploded in glee after getting the 2008 Summer Games. Much of the celebration centered around the iconic Bird’s Nest stadium at an event attended by about 500 preselected participants. Liu Yunshan, a top Communist Party leader, thanked the crowd and pledged the central government’s support for the effort. “My life is complete,” said Yang Linping, chairman of the National Indoor Stadium Co., who participated in organizing the 2008 Olympics and was looking forward to handling a winter event as well. “This is the result I was expecting, and I am especially happy.” On the street, city residents and tourists expressed happiness reflecting support level percentages that both the IOC and Chinese organizers have put in the high 90s. Many Beijingers looked forward to improvements in city’s notorious pollution and heavy traffic, both of which were alleviated during the 2008 Games through strict restrictions on factories and private drivers. “I feel happy and proud,” 24-year-old office administrator Li Yi said in downtown Beijing. “And I hope to see a big boost for air quality and traffic conditions – anything relating to the quality of life in this city.” The 2022 Games will raise Beijing’s “international profile even higher,” college student Jenny Xiang said near the Bird’s Nest. “We saw what happened after 2008 and I’m sure it will be just as good this time.” Yet the mood was considerably more sedate than in 2001, when Beijing succeeded in its long-yearned-for dream of hosting the Olympics for the first time. That year, crowds poured into Tiananmen Square in the heart of the city, staying up all night waving flags, chanting slogans and exuding a vibe of freedom and genuine joy so rarely felt in the often dour capital of the authoritarian communist state. Beijing had been the front-runner going into Friday’s vote and won chiefly by portraying itself as the seasoned, safe choice. Six of the nine venues intended for the games are already in place, including the Bird’s Nest and adjacent Water Cube arena. That’s helping to keep the total cost for operations and infrastructure to a projected $3 billion, hewing closely to the IOC’s new watchwords of frugality and sustainability. While concerns have been expressed about the distance to the mountain venues, located 60 and 140 kilometers (40 and 90 miles) from the city, Beijing says a high-speed train already in the works will cut travel time to about 50 minutes. The 2008 Summer Games eventually came in at a price tag estimated at about $40 billion, transforming the city with new stadiums, subway lines and sparkling residential communities. The games were a showcase for the city, starting with the riveting opening ceremony in the Bird’s Nest, and Beijing was widely praised for its organizational expertise, despite continuing complaints of repression from human rights groups. In Hong Kong, liberal city legislator Albert Ho said awarding the 2022 Winter Games to Beijing was a mistake. “This is very disappointing. This gives Beijing the wrong signal that the whole world no longer cares about the human rights situation in China and that it cares only that China is a rising power,” he said. “The IOC has lost the spirit of the Olympics.” While the profile of Beijing’s city center is unlikely to alter much because of the games, areas around the mountain sports venues are likely to see major changes. Businesses will look for opportunities to cash in on the attention, while real estate speculators will pile-in, counting on the added cachet the games provide. In Chongli, outside Beijing, 80-year-old resident Wu Yuelai said it had been a long wait for China to finally achieve hosting rights for the Winter Olympics. “I am very happy,” he said, “although I don’t know if I’ll live to see the actual games.”