LCSO: Lehigh Acres shooting investigation underwayRock for Equality: SWFL non-profit hosts benefit concert for Palestine
lehigh acres LCSO: Lehigh Acres shooting investigation underway The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
Rock for Equality: SWFL non-profit hosts benefit concert for Palestine A Southwest Florida non-profit hosted a benefit concert on Friday night to help with humanitarian aid in Palestine.
Warm, breezy Saturday with a few showers possible The Weather Authority is forecasting a breezy, warm weekend in store across Southwest Florida, with the chance of a few showers, particularly on Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Active investigation underway in South Cape Coral Cape Coral police are investigating at a home on Southwest 49th Terrace in South Cape Coral early Saturday morning.
16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier County According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two airboats crashed south of U.S. 41 east between mile markers 74 and 75, leaving well over a dozen people injured.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes There could be new detectives on the block, located in your nearest auto shop. A new state bill aims at trying to stop hit-and-run drivers from getting away.
CAPE CORAL New leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans A drug now being studied in human trials to kill cancerous tumors, is already approved and helping animals.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral planning a new interchange with I-75 The city of Cape Coral is in the early stages of planning a new interchange with I-75, an idea that has been discussed for more than a decade.
Tracking invasive species after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton didn’t just bring wind and rain, they brought new threats to southwest Florida’s ecosystem.
PUNTA GORDA Woman in Punta Gorda shooting charged with 2nd degree murder A woman in a homicide investigation on Nasturtium Drive in Punta Gorda has been charged with 2nd-degree murder.
Lee County mother continuing fight to get children a bus stop The school district already told her she lives too close to the school to qualify for a bus route but she has not given up.
NORTH NAPLES Grant Thornton Invitational returns to Tiburon Golf Club Stars on the PGA and LPGA Tours are back in Southwest Florida for the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club.
FORT MYERS Black Flag brings classic punk energy to The Ranch in Fort Myers Legendary punk band Black Flag made their mark in Southwest Florida during the Fort Myers stop of their “First Four Years” tour.
Charlotte Technical College breaks ground on aviation facility The Charlotte County School District is flying high and keeping its “Space Academy” designation with a new aviation training facility for students.
CAPE CORAL Man arrested in connection with Cape Coral home invasion The Cape Coral Police Department has announced the arrest of one of three men suspected in a home invasion that took place earlier this month.
lehigh acres LCSO: Lehigh Acres shooting investigation underway The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
Rock for Equality: SWFL non-profit hosts benefit concert for Palestine A Southwest Florida non-profit hosted a benefit concert on Friday night to help with humanitarian aid in Palestine.
Warm, breezy Saturday with a few showers possible The Weather Authority is forecasting a breezy, warm weekend in store across Southwest Florida, with the chance of a few showers, particularly on Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Active investigation underway in South Cape Coral Cape Coral police are investigating at a home on Southwest 49th Terrace in South Cape Coral early Saturday morning.
16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier County According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two airboats crashed south of U.S. 41 east between mile markers 74 and 75, leaving well over a dozen people injured.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes There could be new detectives on the block, located in your nearest auto shop. A new state bill aims at trying to stop hit-and-run drivers from getting away.
CAPE CORAL New leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans A drug now being studied in human trials to kill cancerous tumors, is already approved and helping animals.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral planning a new interchange with I-75 The city of Cape Coral is in the early stages of planning a new interchange with I-75, an idea that has been discussed for more than a decade.
Tracking invasive species after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton didn’t just bring wind and rain, they brought new threats to southwest Florida’s ecosystem.
PUNTA GORDA Woman in Punta Gorda shooting charged with 2nd degree murder A woman in a homicide investigation on Nasturtium Drive in Punta Gorda has been charged with 2nd-degree murder.
Lee County mother continuing fight to get children a bus stop The school district already told her she lives too close to the school to qualify for a bus route but she has not given up.
NORTH NAPLES Grant Thornton Invitational returns to Tiburon Golf Club Stars on the PGA and LPGA Tours are back in Southwest Florida for the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club.
FORT MYERS Black Flag brings classic punk energy to The Ranch in Fort Myers Legendary punk band Black Flag made their mark in Southwest Florida during the Fort Myers stop of their “First Four Years” tour.
Charlotte Technical College breaks ground on aviation facility The Charlotte County School District is flying high and keeping its “Space Academy” designation with a new aviation training facility for students.
CAPE CORAL Man arrested in connection with Cape Coral home invasion The Cape Coral Police Department has announced the arrest of one of three men suspected in a home invasion that took place earlier this month.
MGN ONLINE GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — As the unmanned aircraft industry continues to evolve, the United States is depending on its space agency to help manage small drone traffic close to the Earth. NASA is currently entering the second phase of a four-step plan to draw up rules of the skies for drones that weigh 55 pounds or less and fly no higher than 500 feet. The project is meant to develop performance standards for drones that would be used for commercial purposes by companies such as Amazon and Google. The agency is hoping to present its research to the Federal Aviation Administration before 2020, John Cavolowsky, director of NASA’s Airspace Operations and Safety Program, told attendees at a drone summit in North Dakota last week. By that time, he said, it is estimated there will be seven million small drones in operation, including 2.6 million aircraft for commercial use. “Those are big numbers,” Covolowsky said. “Frankly I think they are underestimating the size of the opportunity that we are going to be facing.” The air traffic management plan, known as UTM, is a virtual system designed to help drone operators deal with weather conditions, restricted air space, airport congestion and other obstacles. The study is looking to develop a standard way of sending and receiving flight data among drone operators and regulators. “The biggest challenge is safety, but along with that is bringing the rest of the world with us,” said Terri Zimmerman, CEO of North Dakota-based Botlink, a cloud-based drone operations platform. “We are going to have to overcome some perceptions and assure the rest of the world there are protocols and procedures in place.” Private companies are pushing the UTM plan more than even NASA expected, according to Nicholas Flom, director of safety for the Northern Plains UAS Test Site in Grand Forks. The first phase of the UTM project included a simultaneous effort in April among drone operators in North Dakota, Alaska, Nevada, New York, Virginia, Maryland and Texas. A total of 24 drones flew several times throughout the three-hour test, and the live flights were interspersed with more than 100 simulated flights. “It was highly successful,” Covolowsky said. “I think it provided us with a very substantial view for the future and opportunities going forward.” The second phase of the project will include testing flights beyond visual line-of-sight of the operator. Stuart Rudolph is president and CEO of SmartC2, which makes software to help drone operators schedule and manage their fleet. He said it makes sense that an agency that can land a small instrument on Mars should be the group managing the integration of manned and unmanned aircraft. “This going to be quite different from the traffic management system we look at today, when we get on a commercial plane. It is totally controlled,” Rudolph said, noting that NASA understands “the space from top to bottom and all the different pieces.”
“Those are big numbers,” Covolowsky said. “Frankly I think they are underestimating the size of the opportunity that we are going to be facing.” The air traffic management plan, known as UTM, is a virtual system designed to help drone operators deal with weather conditions, restricted air space, airport congestion and other obstacles. The study is looking to develop a standard way of sending and receiving flight data among drone operators and regulators. “The biggest challenge is safety, but along with that is bringing the rest of the world with us,” said Terri Zimmerman, CEO of North Dakota-based Botlink, a cloud-based drone operations platform. “We are going to have to overcome some perceptions and assure the rest of the world there are protocols and procedures in place.” Private companies are pushing the UTM plan more than even NASA expected, according to Nicholas Flom, director of safety for the Northern Plains UAS Test Site in Grand Forks. The first phase of the UTM project included a simultaneous effort in April among drone operators in North Dakota, Alaska, Nevada, New York, Virginia, Maryland and Texas. A total of 24 drones flew several times throughout the three-hour test, and the live flights were interspersed with more than 100 simulated flights. “It was highly successful,” Covolowsky said. “I think it provided us with a very substantial view for the future and opportunities going forward.” The second phase of the project will include testing flights beyond visual line-of-sight of the operator. Stuart Rudolph is president and CEO of SmartC2, which makes software to help drone operators schedule and manage their fleet. He said it makes sense that an agency that can land a small instrument on Mars should be the group managing the integration of manned and unmanned aircraft. “This going to be quite different from the traffic management system we look at today, when we get on a commercial plane. It is totally controlled,” Rudolph said, noting that NASA understands “the space from top to bottom and all the different pieces.”