Sanibel dredging raises questions about red tide and beach conditionsMost Wanted Wednesday: Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for February 12, 2025
SANIBEL Sanibel dredging raises questions about red tide and beach conditions The beaches of Southwest Florida are a major attraction and a key reason why many visit or move to the area. However, a recent look at the Gulf waters shows a concerning change.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Most Wanted Wednesday: Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for February 12, 2025 Here are some of Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for Wednesday, February 12, 2025.
Charlotte County faces drought, Punta Gorda limits lawn watering Charlotte County is feeling the heat as it grapples with a significant drought.
LEE COUNTY Red Sox pitchers and catchers return to SWFL Boston Red Sox pitchers and catchers report to JetBlue Park for the first workout of the Spring Training season.
FORT MYERS Man arrested for prowling and enticing a child in Fort Myers A concerned citizen flagged down Florida Highway Patrol state troopers in Fort Myers to report an adult man was harassing his daughter, according to authorities.
Exclusive: Collier County sheriff explains how immigration crackdown helps residents There is concern over illegal immigration in Southwest Florida and its impact on safety and money.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers man pleads guilty following Papa Johns armed robbery A Fort Myers man has pled guilty to multiple charges following a robbery at a Fort Myers Papa Johns in September.
Proton therapy center advances in SWFL Proton therapy is taking a significant step forward in Southwest Florida with the addition of a new medical director to the team.
Pitbull located after getting lost in Lee County crash A missing pitbull has been located after being lost for days.
FORT MYERS US Marshal shoots suspect at Mel’s Diner in Fort Myers The Fort Myers Police Department has confirmed that a U.S. Marshal shot a suspect at Mel’s Diner on Cleveland Avenue.
Commerce Bank economist discusses Trump tariffs, economic outlook Scott Colbert, chief economist for Commerce Bank and Trust, visited Naples this week from his home in St. Louis, where he works for one of the nation’s top 50 banks, one with $32 billion in assets, $25.3 billion in deposits and $74.8 billion in total trust assets.
Homes, hotel, commercial development planned for Murdock Village area Kolter Group LLC got the green light to move forward with its development plans for 670 residential units, a 150-room hotel, 250,000 square feet of regional commercial space and another 150,000 square feet of commercial and governmental space.
naples Preliminary report released for New Year’s Day plane crash at Naples Airport The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report on a plane crash that involved four people at Naples Municipal Airport.
LEHIGH ACRES LCSO searching for family of wandering non-verbal teen in Lehigh Acres Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies are seeking the family members of a young boy found between the ages of 13 and 16 years old.
FORT MYERS Southwest Florida Ag Expo brings agriculture and fun to Fort Myers Fort Myers is holding the Southwest Florida Ag Expo, which promises a mix of agriculture, entertainment, and education this year.
SANIBEL Sanibel dredging raises questions about red tide and beach conditions The beaches of Southwest Florida are a major attraction and a key reason why many visit or move to the area. However, a recent look at the Gulf waters shows a concerning change.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Most Wanted Wednesday: Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for February 12, 2025 Here are some of Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for Wednesday, February 12, 2025.
Charlotte County faces drought, Punta Gorda limits lawn watering Charlotte County is feeling the heat as it grapples with a significant drought.
LEE COUNTY Red Sox pitchers and catchers return to SWFL Boston Red Sox pitchers and catchers report to JetBlue Park for the first workout of the Spring Training season.
FORT MYERS Man arrested for prowling and enticing a child in Fort Myers A concerned citizen flagged down Florida Highway Patrol state troopers in Fort Myers to report an adult man was harassing his daughter, according to authorities.
Exclusive: Collier County sheriff explains how immigration crackdown helps residents There is concern over illegal immigration in Southwest Florida and its impact on safety and money.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers man pleads guilty following Papa Johns armed robbery A Fort Myers man has pled guilty to multiple charges following a robbery at a Fort Myers Papa Johns in September.
Proton therapy center advances in SWFL Proton therapy is taking a significant step forward in Southwest Florida with the addition of a new medical director to the team.
Pitbull located after getting lost in Lee County crash A missing pitbull has been located after being lost for days.
FORT MYERS US Marshal shoots suspect at Mel’s Diner in Fort Myers The Fort Myers Police Department has confirmed that a U.S. Marshal shot a suspect at Mel’s Diner on Cleveland Avenue.
Commerce Bank economist discusses Trump tariffs, economic outlook Scott Colbert, chief economist for Commerce Bank and Trust, visited Naples this week from his home in St. Louis, where he works for one of the nation’s top 50 banks, one with $32 billion in assets, $25.3 billion in deposits and $74.8 billion in total trust assets.
Homes, hotel, commercial development planned for Murdock Village area Kolter Group LLC got the green light to move forward with its development plans for 670 residential units, a 150-room hotel, 250,000 square feet of regional commercial space and another 150,000 square feet of commercial and governmental space.
naples Preliminary report released for New Year’s Day plane crash at Naples Airport The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report on a plane crash that involved four people at Naples Municipal Airport.
LEHIGH ACRES LCSO searching for family of wandering non-verbal teen in Lehigh Acres Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies are seeking the family members of a young boy found between the ages of 13 and 16 years old.
FORT MYERS Southwest Florida Ag Expo brings agriculture and fun to Fort Myers Fort Myers is holding the Southwest Florida Ag Expo, which promises a mix of agriculture, entertainment, and education this year.
Cape Coral canal. Credit: WINK News. There are concerns ahead of Lake Okeechobee releases to the Caloosahatchee River. The water quality crisis at its height in 2018 is not something locals will soon forget in Southwest Florida. But experts say the releases expected in the near future could actually bring benefits. The weather is cooling down, and Florida Gulf Coast University professor Barry Rosen with The Water School said that makes it unlikely that we will see blue-green algae blooms due to Lake O releases coming to waterways in Southwest Florida. He says it’s all about timing, and a release in the fall should help canals stay clean and clear. The canal behind Anthony Karp’s home in Cape Coral had no sign of algae on Friday, a stark contrast from 2018 when the canal filled with gunky blue-green algae that kept him and his family from going outside. “It would give you a burning sensation when you inhale through your nose and into your lungs, so you knew it was bad,” Karp said. Karp says he believes the gunk came from Lake O water released into the Caloosahatchee. “It was going right down the river, the Caloosahatchee River, towards the Gulf, and it was settling in all the canals,” Karp said. Karp wants to make sure the upcoming lake releases won’t cause another water nightmare. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to release 4,000 cubic feet per second of water into the Caloosahatchee next week. That’s enough to fill four tanker trucks. It’s all because recent rainfall pushed lake levels above 16 feet. “So the lake is rising faster, and it’s increasing its rate of rise,” said Col. Andrew Kelly with the corp’s Jacksonville district. Rosen said the releases shouldn’t cause a cyanobacteria outbreak in Southwest Florida’s freshwater systems. “It’s not summertime. There’s not a big bloom inside the lake. There’s not much in the canal system as far as cyanobacteria goes,” Rosen said. “It’s going to actually wash things out. With that kind of volume, it’s going to push things out pretty quickly.” As for salty and stagnant water, Rosen said we could see some small blooms with the mixture of freshwater from the releases. He said it will take a couple of weeks to see if anything grows. The releases will last four weeks depending on how much rain falls moving forward. Karp hopes the releases “will be controlled much better this time and that we won’t have to suffer anymore.”