SOUTHWEST FLORIDA 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.
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.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA 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.
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.
Marco Island. Credit: WINK News Marco Island has issued a mandatory evacuation order due to Ian. There is a predicted storm surge of 6 to 9 feet which means conditions warrant an evacuation. “Now is the time for residents to leave the Island,” Marco Island said in a news release. A state of emergency is also in place for Marco Island. This activates the island’s disaster emergency plans and makes available resources for people in need. “When sustained winds reach a dangerous level, police, fire rescue and emergency medical response may be suspended. First responders may not be able to respond in the event of an emergency,” the news release states. “Marco Island is expecting tropical storm winds to begin around 8 p.m. Tuesday evening. Hurricane-force winds and storm surge are expected Wednesday morning.” Collier County Emergency Management will open the following shelters by 5 p.m.: Palmetto Ridge High School / Special Needs Shelter – Pet-friendly (special needs only) Oakridge Middle School – Pet-friendly (closest to Marco Island) Corkscrew Middle School – Pet-friendly Golden Gate Middle School – Pet-friendly Immokalee Middle School – Pet-friendly Since Friday, Marco Island city leaders have been telling people to lock everything down and they’ve been doing the same. Marco Island will close all of its city facilities as of 1 p.m. on Tuesday due to Hurricane Ian. The city says you can stay up to date on the latest information on their website. Marco Island does not operate any shelters. City Manager Mike McNees says he knows the island is in a precarious position because there are only two access points and the area is vulnerable to high water. “Now is the time for residents to consider leaving the Island and heading inland toward the East Coast of Florida. This is also the time to prepare for a potential mandatory evacuation, should an order be issued. Due to the potential for rapidly changing conditions, residents are advised to prepare for the possibility of a mandatory evacuation order. To avoid additional stress during an already tense time, develop an evacuation plan now and consider leaving early. The City will not close the Jolley Bridge or impede egress from the Island.” Road underwater in Marco Island. Credit: WINK News Collier County Commissioner Rick LoCastro provided a list of the areas to which county leaders say they’re paying close attention now. “You have Marco, Goodland, Isles of Capri, a lot of communities all the way down, as you drive towards Everglades City, that fall into District 1, Henderson Creek… these are places that, even when we have a mild rainstorm, at times can be flooded significantly,” LoCastro said. Due to the lack of shelters, Marco Island officials urge evacuating neighbors to leave as soon as possible. “We don’t want people to hunker down in an evacuation shelter locally if a serious storm is coming, we want them to leave and be in a more safe place with family and friends or somewhere inland,” LoCastro said. “Often we don’t open them because we have plenty of notice for the storm and people can evacuate. Or, when we do open them, it’s a last-minute emergent type of situation. And we hope they aren’t busting at the seams.” Schools in Collier County are out on Tuesday and Wednesday. The school district says it will make a decision about Thursday by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, at the latest. County commissioners are scheduled to hold a meeting Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. to give an update on Hurricane Ian and the county’s response. Call 311 to sign up for Collier County’s emergency alert system.