Elevate Social Lounge opens Kava bar at University Village near FGCUFuneral procession held for former Lee County firefighter
Elevate Social Lounge opens Kava bar at University Village near FGCU For almost four years, Mitra 9 has marketed itself as the Budweiser of Kava, trying to make mainstream a growing trend of Kava-infused drinks that are said to help reduce anxiety.
ESTERO Funeral procession held for former Lee County firefighter Hundreds joined to pay their respects to a beloved firefighter who passed away in November.
FORT MYERS Will new developments along SR 82 cause traffic problems? New developments are coming to State Road 82 near The Forum, the biggest of which is Amazon’s new robotics fulfillment center.
SANIBEL 36th annual Sanibel Luminary Festival begins It’s the holiday season, and there are events galore across Southwest Florida this weekend. One of those events is the Sanibel Luminary Festival.
FORT MYERS FGCU student arrested, accused of making social media threat against university Florida Gulf Coast University police have arrested a student accused of sending a threat to the university through Snapchat.
SANIBEL Sanibel annual 10K/5K race begins this weekend Sanibel’s annual food programs, island-based social services and Helping Hands “JOG N JAM” 10k/5k race will close several roads this Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Teen accused of stealing vehicle from Cape Coral driveway A 16-year-old with a history of stealing cars has been arrested after allegedly stealing a vehicle from a Cape Coral driveway in September.
Tim Aten Knows: Work begins for new Publix at Wiggins and U.S. 41 Work began in late November to prepare for a Publix supermarket at the Gateway Shoppes at North Bay on the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Wiggins Pass Road in North Naples.
BONITA SPRINGS Woman wanted for credit card theft in Bonita Springs Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on a woman wanted for credit card theft in Bonita Springs.
WINK NEWS Cold front brings stray showers this Friday afternoon and evening A cold front will bring in stray showers this Friday afternoon and evening with warmer temperatures in the upper 70s.
FORT MYERS House fire in downtown Fort Myers caused by smoking There was a massive scene overnight close to Downtown Fort Myers from a house fire with smoke visible from the home.
CAPE CORAL Veterans Memorial Parkway in Cape Coral reopens after pedestrian crash An access point to Midpoint Bridge getting into Fort Myers has reopened after a pedestrian crash early Friday morning.
FORT MYERS Road closures in Downtown Fort Myers due to Festival of Trees Due to the return of the Downtown Fort Myers Festival of Trees, First Street between Jackson and Lee Street will be closed on Friday and Saturday.
FORT MYERS Micro Wrestling Federation makes its way to Fort Myers Professionals with the “Micro Wrestling Federation” put on an amazing show at the ranch in Fort Myers on Thursday.
ESTERO Estero man claims his golf equipment burned on flight An Estero man claims Delta Airlines ruined his golf equipment. His golf bag was destroyed by fire and his clubs are charred.
Elevate Social Lounge opens Kava bar at University Village near FGCU For almost four years, Mitra 9 has marketed itself as the Budweiser of Kava, trying to make mainstream a growing trend of Kava-infused drinks that are said to help reduce anxiety.
ESTERO Funeral procession held for former Lee County firefighter Hundreds joined to pay their respects to a beloved firefighter who passed away in November.
FORT MYERS Will new developments along SR 82 cause traffic problems? New developments are coming to State Road 82 near The Forum, the biggest of which is Amazon’s new robotics fulfillment center.
SANIBEL 36th annual Sanibel Luminary Festival begins It’s the holiday season, and there are events galore across Southwest Florida this weekend. One of those events is the Sanibel Luminary Festival.
FORT MYERS FGCU student arrested, accused of making social media threat against university Florida Gulf Coast University police have arrested a student accused of sending a threat to the university through Snapchat.
SANIBEL Sanibel annual 10K/5K race begins this weekend Sanibel’s annual food programs, island-based social services and Helping Hands “JOG N JAM” 10k/5k race will close several roads this Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Teen accused of stealing vehicle from Cape Coral driveway A 16-year-old with a history of stealing cars has been arrested after allegedly stealing a vehicle from a Cape Coral driveway in September.
Tim Aten Knows: Work begins for new Publix at Wiggins and U.S. 41 Work began in late November to prepare for a Publix supermarket at the Gateway Shoppes at North Bay on the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Wiggins Pass Road in North Naples.
BONITA SPRINGS Woman wanted for credit card theft in Bonita Springs Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on a woman wanted for credit card theft in Bonita Springs.
WINK NEWS Cold front brings stray showers this Friday afternoon and evening A cold front will bring in stray showers this Friday afternoon and evening with warmer temperatures in the upper 70s.
FORT MYERS House fire in downtown Fort Myers caused by smoking There was a massive scene overnight close to Downtown Fort Myers from a house fire with smoke visible from the home.
CAPE CORAL Veterans Memorial Parkway in Cape Coral reopens after pedestrian crash An access point to Midpoint Bridge getting into Fort Myers has reopened after a pedestrian crash early Friday morning.
FORT MYERS Road closures in Downtown Fort Myers due to Festival of Trees Due to the return of the Downtown Fort Myers Festival of Trees, First Street between Jackson and Lee Street will be closed on Friday and Saturday.
FORT MYERS Micro Wrestling Federation makes its way to Fort Myers Professionals with the “Micro Wrestling Federation” put on an amazing show at the ranch in Fort Myers on Thursday.
ESTERO Estero man claims his golf equipment burned on flight An Estero man claims Delta Airlines ruined his golf equipment. His golf bag was destroyed by fire and his clubs are charred.
Credit: Ivanhoe Newswire Nearly 47 million Americans rely on the federal food assistance program. But a new study found it doesn’t cover half of what a healthy diet costs. So how can you feed your family nutritious meals on a skimpy budget? Stephanie Thomas wanted to make healthy meals for her family, but it wasn’t easy on a tight budget. Thomas said “I had to get the cheaper brand, the less expensive brand, but the nutritional ingredients weren’t the same.” Like millions of American families, Thomas’s relied on the SNAP program. “The SNAP program is the largest federal food assistance program in the country,” explained Lindsey Haynes-Maslow, an Assistant Professor at the Department of Agriculture & Human Services at North Carolina State University. Haynes-Maslow wanted to know if families on a limited budget can afford to eat healthy. So she led a study on SNAP. MORE: Students ordering lunch from UberEATS, school district says not so fast “SNAP only really covers about 43-60% of food costs.” Haynes-Maslow stated. The study found the most expensive diet consisted of meat eaters who only ate fresh fruits and vegetables. And the cheapest? Haynes-Maslow said, “eating a vegetarian diet.” With a mix of canned and frozen fruits and vegetables. So what are Haynes-Maslow’s tips to stretching your food budget without skimping on nutrition? First: buy in bulk whenever possible. Be coupon savvy, scan newspapers or download apps that do the work for you. And don’t forget to check food labels. Haynes-Maslow explained, “no added sugar, no sodium added or reduced sodium.” “This is actually spaghetti squash lasagna.” Thomas said about one of the dinners she prepared. MORE: Is alcohol (in moderation) really good for your health? Thomas took a cooking class from her local food bank. She learned to make a fiber packed meal for her family all under ten bucks! Thomas said, “It’s going to feed you that night, maybe the next night, maybe you send your husband to work with leftovers.” SNAP stands for supplemental nutrition assistance program. When looking for savings at the grocery store, look at the upper and lower shelves; stores often stock the priciest items at eye level. For family friendly recipes and tips on eating healthy on a budget visit choosemyplate.gov Contributors to this news report include: Janna Ross, Producer; Roque Correa, Videographer; Roque Correa, Editor.