The Weather Authority: Hot temperatures, rain, and we’re watching the tropicsWoodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Hot temperatures, rain, and we’re watching the tropics Get ready for a typical Southwest Florida weekend. It’s going to feel like the triple digits before rain rolls in and we’re watching the tropics.
ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Hot temperatures, rain, and we’re watching the tropics Get ready for a typical Southwest Florida weekend. It’s going to feel like the triple digits before rain rolls in and we’re watching the tropics.
ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
There is an expansion project in the works to help accommodate the booming population in Lee County and increased traffic flow. The one hiccup is that a trust owns a chunk of the land near Fiddlesticks and Daniels, and Lee County has filed a lawsuit for eminent domain. That lawsuit is just one piece of the puzzle. The county doesn’t just get rights to the property by filing an eminent domain lawsuit, though. Even if a judge agrees, the county must reach a financial agreement with the landowner. After 20 years of talking about it, a former commissioner said Lee County can’t afford not to get this done now. Nobody likes traffic, Wendy Tauscheck included. “Oh, it’s crazy right now. And we get hung up all the time.” Traffic is only expected to worsen because Lee County’s population is growing. Former county commissioner John Albion said he has proof from the office of economic development. “When you look at Alico to Daniel’s, which is where this extension is supposed to take place. If you use US-41 as a western terminus, and Skyplex, which is about two miles east of I-75, the number of jobs in that rectangle in 2019 was approximately 90,000 to 95,000 and is projected by 2030 to possibly be as high as 140,000, maybe even a little higher,” said Albion. Fifty thousand additional people are going to and from that small area, so something has to change. “The reality is, is that having these alternatives to I-75 is going to be critical for Lee County,” Albion said. Three Oaks Extension Project. (Credit: Lee County) “It will give us another option for our north-south access. It will help us to avoid the Daniels Fiddlesticks intersection. We don’t have to get on I-75. Just (to) head south,” said Tauscheck. The Three Oaks Parkway Extension Project would provide another north-south option for drivers. Tauscheck said moving forward with the plan will be convenient and safe. Albion said not only that but said moving forward, the project is essential. “Areas have to be opened up to where people can afford to live to be able to fill the jobs that we need filled,” said Albion. For a long time, there was only US-41. Then came I-75, and now Lee County wants drivers to have another north-south option by connecting Three Oaks Parkway from Alico Road to Daniels Parkway. The plan is still on the table, with construction yet to begin 20 years after the project’s inception. Emma: “Why does it take so long to make something like this happen? What factors go into it?” Albion: “When there is a disagreement in the acquisition stage, for example, which is what’s going on now, the county is decided they need to use eminent domain to condemn the property. And they’re going through the process now.” On Tuesday last week, Lee County filed for eminent domain to take possession of someone else’s property. Property that the county needs to move forward with construction. “They must pay fair value for the property. And if there’s buildings involved, you know, other costs that might be associated,” said Albion. That is where the hold-up is. The attorney of the trustee for the land the county needs is working on an analysis of the county’s appraisal. Like in most things, money talks. “We hope that it goes through,” said Tauscheck. The attorney for the trustee said if all goes well, meaning the county offers the right amount of money, the deal for the land could be done within the next 90 days.