Pedestrian injured in crash on McGregor BoulevardFamily of Eagles: FGCU volleyball star graduates with Master’s Degree
FORT MYERS Pedestrian injured in crash on McGregor Boulevard The Fort Myers Police Department is investigating a crash that left at least one person injured Saturday night.
Family of Eagles: FGCU volleyball star graduates with Master’s Degree Saturday marked a special day for Florida Gulf Coast University as more than 1,800 students graduated. For one student-athlete, graduating from FGCU runs in the family.
lehigh acres LCSO: Man shot by car owner protecting property The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County residents wait hours for D-SNAP assistance The supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) is at the Lee Civic Center all weekend, ready to help southwest Florida.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA First eaglet hatches in famous SWFL eagle nest Welcome E24! The third eaglet from the nest of M15 and F23 has hatched according to the Southwest Florida eagle camera.
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.
FORT MYERS Pedestrian injured in crash on McGregor Boulevard The Fort Myers Police Department is investigating a crash that left at least one person injured Saturday night.
Family of Eagles: FGCU volleyball star graduates with Master’s Degree Saturday marked a special day for Florida Gulf Coast University as more than 1,800 students graduated. For one student-athlete, graduating from FGCU runs in the family.
lehigh acres LCSO: Man shot by car owner protecting property The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County residents wait hours for D-SNAP assistance The supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) is at the Lee Civic Center all weekend, ready to help southwest Florida.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA First eaglet hatches in famous SWFL eagle nest Welcome E24! The third eaglet from the nest of M15 and F23 has hatched according to the Southwest Florida eagle camera.
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.
CLEWISTON, Fla. A plan by a top Florida Republican to deal with toxic algae discharges is undergoing a major overhaul. The Florida Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved a revised version of a bill that would allow for a reservoir to be built south of Lake Okeechobee to absorb excess water blamed for blue-green algae and murky conditions in the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers. Senate President Joe Negron and other Senate Republicans announced an amendment to the measure on Tuesday that would reduce the price tag from $2.4 billion to $1.5 billion — with half of the costs covered by the federal government — and shift the size and location for a water-storage project south of the lake. The amendment is designed to make the bill more palatable to state House leaders and people living south of Lake Okeechobee. A House budget proposal released last week contained no money for the project. Large farmers in the region, including powerful players in the sugar industry, opposed Negron’s initial plan. U.S. Sugar spokeswoman Judy Sanchez said the proposed amendment improves the bill, but “significant concerns” remains over “arbitrary timelines” for the reservoir. “The decision to no longer take 60,000 to 153,000 acres of farmland out of production is a positive step forward,” Sanchez said in a prepared statement. The revised bill also supports economic development in communities around the lake. A loss of farm lands could lead to major job losses and “a amass exodus of families,” said Clewiston Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Hillary Hyslope, who urged the legislature to find a solution amenable to all sides. Negron said the changes seek “a delicate balance” between the needs of the state and landowners, who along with Glades-area residents and politicians have been highly critical of the reservoir plan. “The goal has always been to use the amount of land that is necessary to create 120 billion gallons of (southern) storage,” Negron said. Sen. Rob Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican who is sponsoring the bill, said he knew it would have to “evolve” as the lawmakers heard from residents, farmers and people on the coast. “The amendment, I think, represents the Senate’s position and it’s a huge step in this process,” Bradley said. The amendment proposes $64 million for the project next fiscal year but delays for a year plans to increase the state’s share of the project through bonding, a form of debt that is opposed by House leaders and Scott. Money would come from the state’s Land Acquisition Trust Fund and grow to $100 million a year that could be used for bonding. Also, instead of first trying to find willing sellers from among farmers for a 60,000-acre reservoir, the proposal would initially use land already in state hands for deep-water storage, reducing the footprint with the Everglades Agricultural Area. “We do not think anymore ag land should be sacrificed,” Clewiston Mayor Mali Gardner said. “We believe the state has the land, and if they’re willing sellers for additional lands, then I think that’s wonderful.” It would be up to the South Florida Water Management District to determine the best layout for the storage, to determine how much additional land may still need to be acquired through purchase, allowing existing leases to expire or via land swaps. Senate Appropriations Chairman Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, said he spoke to Scott last week, asking for some help with the water-management district. “I can’t say they’re on board with this proposal, but they are obviously going to be in the driver’s seat in terms of executing it,” Latvala said of the district. Negron said additional land will be needed. “We’ll see how ultimately things move forward,” Negron said. “All of us are committed to doing this in a way that’s scientifically sound.” The amendment would prohibit the district from using eminent domain to acquire the land. . The proposal also would encourage economic development in the Everglades Agricultural Area through training programs, support for expansion at the Airglades Airport in Clewiston and plans for an inland port in Palm Beach County. The Everglades Foundation, which has been a proponent of Negron’s proposal, quickly gave its support to the changes. “President Negron’s amendment moves us closer than ever before to our goals of greater water storage south of Lake Okeechobee, massive reductions of algae-causing discharges and improvements in the quality of water entering the Everglades and Florida Bay,” Everglades Foundation CEO Eric Eikenberg said in a release. The News Service of Florida and The Associated Press contributed to this report.