FEMA’s Operation Blue Roof deadline approaching soon in Charlotte CountyFDA proposes to remove ingredient in medications
FEMA’s Operation Blue Roof deadline approaching soon in Charlotte County The deadline for FEMA’s Operation Blue Roof is rapidly approaching for Charlotte County residents affected by Hurricane Milton.
FDA proposes to remove ingredient in medications The Food & Drug Administration proposes removing one ingredient after new data shows it is less effective than listed. 
Riviera Bar and Grill reopens within days of hurricanes Helene, Milton A gargantuan effort from owners and staff allowed the Riviera Bar and Grill to reopen less than a week after two hurricanes flooded the Punta Gorda waterfront restaurant that has been around since the 1950s.
2 men charged in unrelated crimes for deaths related to fentanyl Two men in Charlotte County have been arrested for separate fentanyl-related charges that led to two deaths.
CAPE CORAL Pickup truck crashes into Cape Coral apartment building A pickup truck crashed into a Cape Coral apartment building after what police believe was a head-on collision with another vehicle.
Tim Aten Knows: More new tenants coming to local retail centers Something big is in the works for the long-vacant former Sweetbay Supermarket in Green Tree Center in North Naples.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs house catches on fire 3 times in less than 24 hours A house in Bonita Springs has caught on fire three times in less than 24 hours.
SWFL High School Football Scoreboard Week 12 The regular season finale of high school football in SWFL brings district champions crowned and playoff spots fortified. .
Trash pile on San Carlos Island continues to grow Residents of San Carlos Island have grown tired as garbage and debris from hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton piles up.
Law enforcement presence at Alfie Oakes’ North Naples home and Immokalee packing house Several federal and state law enforcement agencies were at Alfie Oakes’ home and packing house for an investigation that remains undisclosed.
MATLACHA Matlacha restaurant Miceli’s reopens after six weeks Popular Matlacha restaurant Miceli’s has reopened just six weeks after enduring damage from back-to-back storms.
NORTH FORT MYERS Caught on Camera: Accused Dollar General thief arrested A man accused of robbing a Dollar General store is behind bars.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Ward 4 candidate seeks vote recount In the race for Fort Myers city council, Cindy Banyai lost the Ward 4 race to incumbent Liston Bochette by just 77 votes or 1.58% of the vote.
FORT MYERS Lee County considers adding second fixed-base operator to RSW The Lee County Port Authority is officially moving forward with negotiations for a new fixed-base operator at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW).
FEMA’s Operation Blue Roof deadline approaching soon in Charlotte County The deadline for FEMA’s Operation Blue Roof is rapidly approaching for Charlotte County residents affected by Hurricane Milton.
FDA proposes to remove ingredient in medications The Food & Drug Administration proposes removing one ingredient after new data shows it is less effective than listed. 
Riviera Bar and Grill reopens within days of hurricanes Helene, Milton A gargantuan effort from owners and staff allowed the Riviera Bar and Grill to reopen less than a week after two hurricanes flooded the Punta Gorda waterfront restaurant that has been around since the 1950s.
2 men charged in unrelated crimes for deaths related to fentanyl Two men in Charlotte County have been arrested for separate fentanyl-related charges that led to two deaths.
CAPE CORAL Pickup truck crashes into Cape Coral apartment building A pickup truck crashed into a Cape Coral apartment building after what police believe was a head-on collision with another vehicle.
Tim Aten Knows: More new tenants coming to local retail centers Something big is in the works for the long-vacant former Sweetbay Supermarket in Green Tree Center in North Naples.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs house catches on fire 3 times in less than 24 hours A house in Bonita Springs has caught on fire three times in less than 24 hours.
SWFL High School Football Scoreboard Week 12 The regular season finale of high school football in SWFL brings district champions crowned and playoff spots fortified. .
Trash pile on San Carlos Island continues to grow Residents of San Carlos Island have grown tired as garbage and debris from hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton piles up.
Law enforcement presence at Alfie Oakes’ North Naples home and Immokalee packing house Several federal and state law enforcement agencies were at Alfie Oakes’ home and packing house for an investigation that remains undisclosed.
MATLACHA Matlacha restaurant Miceli’s reopens after six weeks Popular Matlacha restaurant Miceli’s has reopened just six weeks after enduring damage from back-to-back storms.
NORTH FORT MYERS Caught on Camera: Accused Dollar General thief arrested A man accused of robbing a Dollar General store is behind bars.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Ward 4 candidate seeks vote recount In the race for Fort Myers city council, Cindy Banyai lost the Ward 4 race to incumbent Liston Bochette by just 77 votes or 1.58% of the vote.
FORT MYERS Lee County considers adding second fixed-base operator to RSW The Lee County Port Authority is officially moving forward with negotiations for a new fixed-base operator at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW).
Nearly one out of five families adopted a pet during the pandemic, but now, there may not be enough veterinarians to take care of them all. More pets, on top of vets retiring and only so many accredited vet schools in the country have complicated this shortage that’s been brewing for years. It is impacting clinics in Southwest Florida, but there are possible solutions to the problem. The Perspective from Local Clinics The phones are always ringing at the Gulf Coast Humane Society Veterinary Clinic. People are calling to get appointments for their pets, but in the back, the exam rooms are filled, and sometimes there’s only one doctor working. “The need doesn’t slow down when we don’t have the ability to care for the pets,” said Gary Willoughby, Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Humane Society. “We’ve had to reduce our hours, so we don’t overwork our existing doctors as well.” So now the clinic is closed on Saturdays, and if you want to book an appointment, prepare to wait a month or more. Dr. Sharon Powell with Edison Park Animal Hospital hasn’t had to cut back hours or turn animals away, but … “I personally know of local clinics that have had to close down because of staffing shortages,” Powell said. “Sometimes clients don’t understand, ‘Hey, we can’t see you right away.’ If it’s a nonemergent case, we have to put them off.” The Vet School Compromise The University of Florida, one of only 33 accredited vet schools in the country, is trying to fill the need, but admission is tight. “Typically, we have had for the last couple years around 1,900 to 2,000 applicants into the program for 150 seats,” said Dr. Amanda House, Associate Dean For Academic And Student Affairs at UF’s veterinary program. “We have a lot of excellent and qualified applicants into veterinary school for about 150 seats, so it’s a very competitive program to get into.” That’s why Florida lawmakers are trying to take some of the pressure off. They’ve sent a bill to the governor’s desk that would let veterinarians use telehealth to see first-time patients and prescribe certain medications. “I mean that’s going to take your time up too, and we still have to take good medical records, regardless of its telehealth or in person,” Powell said. Another bill that didn’t make it through this legislative session would create a mid-level veterinarian position akin to a physician’s assistant. “There are many things doctors do every day that these folks with that master level program and all that experience will be able to do for them as well,” Willoughby said. An employee at Gulf Coast Humane Society is set to graduate in May with her veterinary clinical care degree. They believe she would be among the first in the country to go through it for shelter medicine.