Cape Coral church picking up the pieces after massive fireDay Two of FEMA code compliance hearings in Cape Coral
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral church picking up the pieces after massive fire Calvary Connection ministries is unrecognizable after a massive fire swept through a Cape Coral Complex on Monday.
CAPE CORAL Day Two of FEMA code compliance hearings in Cape Coral Another 50 people were summoned Wednesday for the second day of code compliance hearings before the special magistrate.
State lawmakers want to hear your opinion on voting in Lee County Right now, everyone votes for or against all five of the Lee Commissioners, but they’re talking about changing the system so that each commissioner represents a specific part of the county.
FORT MYERS Migrants entering Florida under controversial parole program The House Committee on Homeland Security has released documents, which show a surge in migrants entering the United States through a parole program, sparking debate over immigration policies and border security.
North Collier firefighter beats cancer, educates others on safety He’s a father, son, friend and mentor, but for the last four years, he’s been in a battle for his life.
CAPE CORAL Man arrested in connection to brother’s death in Cape Coral A man wanted for questioning in the death of his brother at his Cape Coral home has been arrested in Pennsylvania.
Candidates challenge Punta Gorda incumbents over land, building regulations A growing grassroots movement has united residents seeking to stem high density and restrict building heights, and three are challenging Punta Gorda City Council members who are up for reelection this year.
Hurricane season is one month away The outlook for the 2024 Hurricane Season is for it be active, potentially even hyperactive.
NORTH FORT MYERS 1 dead after crash on SR 31 and Busbee Rd. in North Fort Myers At around noon Wednesday, the Florida Highway Patrol said a PT Cruiser and a car hauler collided on State Road 31 and Busbee Road, near the Lee/Charlotte County line.
Man sentenced to 25 years in prison for molesting Lee County child A Florida man will spend the next 25 years in prison for molesting a child in Lee County.
LEHIGH ACRES Man accused of using stolen credit card from car burglary at Lehigh Acres CVS Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on a man who allegedly used a stolen credit card at the CVS in Lehigh Acres.
ARCADIA Family of flea market murder victim struggles to find closure The family of a woman who was murdered at an Arcadia flea market continues to seek justice as the accused killer awaits trial.
NAPLES Naples man accused of possessing child porn After an investigation, a Naples man has been arrested after allegedly having child pornography in his home.
CAPE CORAL Arrest report for volunteer softball coach accused of inappropriate behavior released New details have been released about the arrest of a Cape Coral volunteer softball coach accused of sending nude photos and touching a 17-year-old student.
The Weather Authority Isolated storms pop up this afternoon and evening Afternoon of isolated storms in Southwest Florida.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral church picking up the pieces after massive fire Calvary Connection ministries is unrecognizable after a massive fire swept through a Cape Coral Complex on Monday.
CAPE CORAL Day Two of FEMA code compliance hearings in Cape Coral Another 50 people were summoned Wednesday for the second day of code compliance hearings before the special magistrate.
State lawmakers want to hear your opinion on voting in Lee County Right now, everyone votes for or against all five of the Lee Commissioners, but they’re talking about changing the system so that each commissioner represents a specific part of the county.
FORT MYERS Migrants entering Florida under controversial parole program The House Committee on Homeland Security has released documents, which show a surge in migrants entering the United States through a parole program, sparking debate over immigration policies and border security.
North Collier firefighter beats cancer, educates others on safety He’s a father, son, friend and mentor, but for the last four years, he’s been in a battle for his life.
CAPE CORAL Man arrested in connection to brother’s death in Cape Coral A man wanted for questioning in the death of his brother at his Cape Coral home has been arrested in Pennsylvania.
Candidates challenge Punta Gorda incumbents over land, building regulations A growing grassroots movement has united residents seeking to stem high density and restrict building heights, and three are challenging Punta Gorda City Council members who are up for reelection this year.
Hurricane season is one month away The outlook for the 2024 Hurricane Season is for it be active, potentially even hyperactive.
NORTH FORT MYERS 1 dead after crash on SR 31 and Busbee Rd. in North Fort Myers At around noon Wednesday, the Florida Highway Patrol said a PT Cruiser and a car hauler collided on State Road 31 and Busbee Road, near the Lee/Charlotte County line.
Man sentenced to 25 years in prison for molesting Lee County child A Florida man will spend the next 25 years in prison for molesting a child in Lee County.
LEHIGH ACRES Man accused of using stolen credit card from car burglary at Lehigh Acres CVS Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on a man who allegedly used a stolen credit card at the CVS in Lehigh Acres.
ARCADIA Family of flea market murder victim struggles to find closure The family of a woman who was murdered at an Arcadia flea market continues to seek justice as the accused killer awaits trial.
NAPLES Naples man accused of possessing child porn After an investigation, a Naples man has been arrested after allegedly having child pornography in his home.
CAPE CORAL Arrest report for volunteer softball coach accused of inappropriate behavior released New details have been released about the arrest of a Cape Coral volunteer softball coach accused of sending nude photos and touching a 17-year-old student.
The Weather Authority Isolated storms pop up this afternoon and evening Afternoon of isolated storms in Southwest Florida.
A glass of water may seem harmless enough, but communities around the country are increasingly faced with a concerning reality: contaminants are turning up in their drinking water – and getting them out may be a lot harder than you think. A report by the non-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that water supplied by at least some utilities in all 50 states contained a known carcinogen called radium, reports CBS News correspondent Anna Werner. The EWG website also offers information about radium in Southwest Florida: Fort Myers Beach City of Cape Coral Lee County Utilities Naples Water Department In Brandon, South Dakota, resident Spencer Schenk and wife Laura worry about their public water supply that contains radium. “It’s something that’s really concerning to us, a known cancer-causing agent in our water,” Schenk said. The radioactive substance can occur naturally, and it’s been in the city’s water for decades. It’s also not uncommon across the country. An analysis by EWG found 170 million people exposed to radium from drinking water in 22,000 utilities nationwide. Brandon’s radium level does not exceed federal guidelines, but many health experts say there is no “safe” level of that carcinogen. To get that level down to zero would mean expensive modifications to the city’s water treatment system and city administrator Bryan Read said residents would have to decide to foot that bill. “We are striving to get the lowest radium levels we can at a reasonable cost. … You can probably get all the radium out of all the water if you’re willing to spend enough money,” Read said. Radium is just one of hundreds of contaminants found in drinking water systems nationwide like arsenic, cadmium, pesticides and metals including hexavalent chromium and lead. The approach to treating them can vary from city-to-city, state-to-state. In Newburgh, New York, the state is building a brand new water treatment plant to remove a toxic chemical known as PFOS from the water supply. The price tag? $50 million. The pollution came from a nearby Air National Guard base. “It’s a very big deal. New York state is leading the nation, frankly. We’re one of the first states in the nation to actually regulate these contaminants,” said Martin Brand, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s deputy commissioner for remediation. But not all cities can afford a major overhaul of their treatment systems. So what’s a consumer to do, if they want cleaner, safer water at home? “I think it can be really daunting for consumers to try to understand these issues with water,” Rick Andrew said. He works for NSF International, a group that tests and certifies products including water filtration systems. Asked how much it would cost to treat the water at home, Andrew said it could be “a wide, wide range.” A simple filtering water pitcher could be $30. A whole-house system could be a couple thousand dollars. It’s also important to find out from your utility which contaminants are in your water and get the right system. “It’s definitely not a ‘one size fits all’ thing when you start to get into water treatment. And so some technologies are good at one type of contaminant, but they not very effective on others. So often times, people end up with a multistage system,” Andrew said. Back in Brandon, the city decisions on treating that radium are likely to take a year or more. But Schenk isn’t waiting. He’s installed two types of water-treatment systems in his home to make sure his 2-year-old daughter and 3-month-old twins don’t absorb carcinogens along with their water. “It’s frustrating for us because we just want a clean sustainable water source, that’s all we’re asking for,” Schenk said. Werner decided to check her own water supply in New York City. She plugged in her zip code and found six contaminants that were detected at levels either higher than the national average or some health advisories. EWG is one resource. Consumers can also check their Consumer Confidence Report, which lists what’s in your water system, or even call their local utility to find out. For an interactive map, click here. * This report was originally published on CBS.