Digging Deeper: Lee County Sheriff’s Office budget One Lee County Commissioner wants to change how taxpayers view the Lee County Sheriff’s Office budget following a possible federal investigation and a grand jury meeting.
A new way to identify snakes There’s a new tool to identify locations of the slithering beasts overtaking the Everglades and other invasive snakes.
Car crashes into canal in Lehigh Acres Authorities are investigating a crash after a car became fully submerged in a canal Thursday night.
SB lanes on US 27 shut down due to 3 vehicle crash Hendry County Deputies, along with first responders, are currently on the scene of a traffic crash near Sky Valley at the intersection of South US 27 and Bass Road.
FORT MYERS BEACH Times Square clock reinstalled on Fort Myers Beach The famous Times Square clock on Fort Myers Beach returns just in time for the holidays! It was removed before hurricanes Helene and Milton to protect it.
Flag planting debate takes over college football Flag planting at the end of rivalry college football games sparked fighting on the field and debates away from it.
FORT MYERS Daycare burglarized in Fort Myers One business owner is recovering after a burglar broke in and stole from her daycare.
Hurricane debris still lines road in Fort Myers Shores Over 70 feet of memories formed a giant pile of debris at the end of Aruba Avenue in Fort Myers Shores.
FORT MYERS Airline travel and Christmas gifts tips to get you through TSA If you plan to travel this Christmas with gifts for your loved ones, be prepared. Before you buy, make sure you can fly.
WINK NEWS SWFL stars ink with Division I programs during Early Signing Period Several Southwest Florida football standouts are taking their talents to Division I gridirons after signing during the Early Signing Period.
FORT MYERS Travel Safely: protect yourself from mosquito-borne illnesses this holiday season It’s the holiday season and for some, that means traveling.
NAPLES No charges filed in Collier County child abuse case The state attorney’s office will not file charges against a Collier County woman accused of child abuse.
ESTERO Elevate Kava Bar, offering an alternative nightlife experience, to open near FGCU University Village near Florida Gulf Coast University will soon be home to a new kava bar.
Hope Card program protects victims of domestic violence in Lee County Lee County has implemented the Hope Card Program, a new statewide initiative to help victims of domestic violence.
Woman in custody following Charlotte County fatal shooting According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, a woman is in custody after a fatal shooting at a home in Charlotte County.
Digging Deeper: Lee County Sheriff’s Office budget One Lee County Commissioner wants to change how taxpayers view the Lee County Sheriff’s Office budget following a possible federal investigation and a grand jury meeting.
A new way to identify snakes There’s a new tool to identify locations of the slithering beasts overtaking the Everglades and other invasive snakes.
Car crashes into canal in Lehigh Acres Authorities are investigating a crash after a car became fully submerged in a canal Thursday night.
SB lanes on US 27 shut down due to 3 vehicle crash Hendry County Deputies, along with first responders, are currently on the scene of a traffic crash near Sky Valley at the intersection of South US 27 and Bass Road.
FORT MYERS BEACH Times Square clock reinstalled on Fort Myers Beach The famous Times Square clock on Fort Myers Beach returns just in time for the holidays! It was removed before hurricanes Helene and Milton to protect it.
Flag planting debate takes over college football Flag planting at the end of rivalry college football games sparked fighting on the field and debates away from it.
FORT MYERS Daycare burglarized in Fort Myers One business owner is recovering after a burglar broke in and stole from her daycare.
Hurricane debris still lines road in Fort Myers Shores Over 70 feet of memories formed a giant pile of debris at the end of Aruba Avenue in Fort Myers Shores.
FORT MYERS Airline travel and Christmas gifts tips to get you through TSA If you plan to travel this Christmas with gifts for your loved ones, be prepared. Before you buy, make sure you can fly.
WINK NEWS SWFL stars ink with Division I programs during Early Signing Period Several Southwest Florida football standouts are taking their talents to Division I gridirons after signing during the Early Signing Period.
FORT MYERS Travel Safely: protect yourself from mosquito-borne illnesses this holiday season It’s the holiday season and for some, that means traveling.
NAPLES No charges filed in Collier County child abuse case The state attorney’s office will not file charges against a Collier County woman accused of child abuse.
ESTERO Elevate Kava Bar, offering an alternative nightlife experience, to open near FGCU University Village near Florida Gulf Coast University will soon be home to a new kava bar.
Hope Card program protects victims of domestic violence in Lee County Lee County has implemented the Hope Card Program, a new statewide initiative to help victims of domestic violence.
Woman in custody following Charlotte County fatal shooting According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, a woman is in custody after a fatal shooting at a home in Charlotte County.
Restaurant, Sicily Trattoria off of Cape Coral Parkway East. Every year for the past three years, businesses in Cape Coral have seen rent increases, according to the city. Added together, retail businesses in the Cape have seen a 15.6% increase. This comes after the City of Cape Coral released their Quarterly Economic and Business Development Report in their agenda for next week’s Committee of the Whole meeting. Businesses in Cape Coral combat raising rent prices to keep their various stores and restaurants open. “Business is Business” Vinny Tuminello and his family have owned their restaurant, Sicily Trattoria, in South Cape for 15 years. He says raising rent is a sign of the times, but it’s worth it to keep their doors open. “So, rent did increase in 2024, but it is 2024. So we expect everything is free. So when we get we deliver that costs more money. Insurance does cost money, and taxes cost more money. Everything costs more money,” said Tuminello. He attributes rising rent prices to not only the economy but also the popularity of Cape Coral over the years. He says as the area continues to grow, they continue to see prices jump. RELATED: Cape Coral completes Caloosahatchee Connect pipeline As prices around him rise, he is careful not to raise his own prices at his restaurant. Aside from the food service, his prices affect the customers he sees come through their doors. “You can only charge your guests so much are dependent kind of customers. Yeah. Because if you if you charge them 15% More, chances are they’ll find someplace else that doesn’t have those increases. But in the same sense, I mean, it is the cost of the business,” Tuminello said. Cape Coral Re:Made see’s business pick up during season. Volunteering to pay the bills Down the plaza from Sicily Trattoria is that shop, Cape Coral Re: made. Executive Director Shannon Barkdull said they, too, feel the raise in rent. “This space isn’t free. As a nonprofit, a lot of people think that we get free rent and for utilities. And that’s just not the case. So we did get a little bit of a rent increase at the first of the year. This is our first year in this space and so we’re having to make up on the back end,” said Barkdull. Barkdull describes Cape Coral Re: made as a “Nonprofit run by volunteers with a passion to create purpose by repurposing. We have artists, makers, and entrepreneurs who, in exchange for our service, get to sell their items in the store.” With handmade items displayed throughout their store, each item is carefully created and worked on with making rent in mind. As rents rise, she said that only drives their production further. “Just busy producing more, we see that what’s going out is reflecting what’s coming in. And so we just we’re making adjustments as we go,” said Barkdull. Each purchase has a purpose at Cape Coral Remade. The proceeds from merchandise sold support local special needs students, entrepreneurs, and “new residents to Cape Coral, who come here to find community,” she said. While rents may be rising in the Cape, businesses like Tuminello and Barkdull’s are continuing to push through to keep their open signs lit.