Warmer with sun and clouds for your Friday plansFDOT to open all lanes of Caloosahatchee Bridge year ahead of construction schedule
the weather authority Warmer with sun and clouds for your Friday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a warmer day ahead, with a mixture of sun and clouds expected this Friday afternoon.
FDOT to open all lanes of Caloosahatchee Bridge year ahead of construction schedule The Florida Department of Transportation announced it will open all lanes of the Caloosahatchee Bridge a year ahead of its pedestrian sidewalk project.
NAPLES 12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidays A 12-year-old Naples boy isn’t worried about what he’s getting for Christmas. Instead, he’s working on his 6th annual “Holiday Sock Drive.”
Fort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays A 75-year-old man is on the brink of homelessness despite working over 80 hours a week.
NAPLES Adoptee uses non-profit to provide suitcases for foster children This holiday season, a Naples woman is on a mission to bring foster children something many take for granted: a suitcase filled with dignity.
MARCO ISLAND City of Marco Island discusses lead awareness during city council meeting The city of Marco Island sent out 4900 letters to residents warning them that their pipes could contain plastic or lead.
NAPLES The future of electric planes in Southwest Florida Features of living near an airport include persistent headache-inducing engine rumbles and foul-smelling jet fuel, but electric planes could play a part in the solution.
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors awaiting answers on Port Charlotte Beach Park repairs Neighbors said a contractor hired by the Florida Division of Emergency Management mishandled the boats at Port Charlotte Beach Park.
FGCU introduces new technology for cognitive health screenings Ten minutes. That’s all it takes for doctors to assess how well you remember, how quickly you learn things, and how your brain is working overall.
WINK Investigates: Disgraced contractor faces new lawsuits and allegations Paul Beattie, a disgraced home builder is back doing business but legal challenges continue as another one of his businesses gets sued. Former employees of Beattie speak out, only to WINK.
SWFL reacts to UNC hiring Bill Belichick Southwest Florida reacts to North Carolina hiring Bill Belichick as its new head football coach and how that could impact the decisions of local recruits.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Some Floridians want more alone time during the holidays The holidays are all about spending time with family and friends, but nearly half of Americans say they really want more alone time during the holiday.
LABELLE Hendry County rolls out cameras for school speed zones The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new way of enforcing school zone speed limits by using cameras that will target drivers traveling over a certain speed in a school zone.
Aggressive driving concerns on the rise in Southwest Florida The arrest of a man who, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said, killed a motorcyclist after crashing into him on purpose is raising concerns over aggressive driving in Southwest Florida.
SANIBEL Sanibel School students prepare for community Christmas performance The school that has had to claw and fight its way back more than once to reopen is getting the chance to celebrate.
the weather authority Warmer with sun and clouds for your Friday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a warmer day ahead, with a mixture of sun and clouds expected this Friday afternoon.
FDOT to open all lanes of Caloosahatchee Bridge year ahead of construction schedule The Florida Department of Transportation announced it will open all lanes of the Caloosahatchee Bridge a year ahead of its pedestrian sidewalk project.
NAPLES 12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidays A 12-year-old Naples boy isn’t worried about what he’s getting for Christmas. Instead, he’s working on his 6th annual “Holiday Sock Drive.”
Fort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays A 75-year-old man is on the brink of homelessness despite working over 80 hours a week.
NAPLES Adoptee uses non-profit to provide suitcases for foster children This holiday season, a Naples woman is on a mission to bring foster children something many take for granted: a suitcase filled with dignity.
MARCO ISLAND City of Marco Island discusses lead awareness during city council meeting The city of Marco Island sent out 4900 letters to residents warning them that their pipes could contain plastic or lead.
NAPLES The future of electric planes in Southwest Florida Features of living near an airport include persistent headache-inducing engine rumbles and foul-smelling jet fuel, but electric planes could play a part in the solution.
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors awaiting answers on Port Charlotte Beach Park repairs Neighbors said a contractor hired by the Florida Division of Emergency Management mishandled the boats at Port Charlotte Beach Park.
FGCU introduces new technology for cognitive health screenings Ten minutes. That’s all it takes for doctors to assess how well you remember, how quickly you learn things, and how your brain is working overall.
WINK Investigates: Disgraced contractor faces new lawsuits and allegations Paul Beattie, a disgraced home builder is back doing business but legal challenges continue as another one of his businesses gets sued. Former employees of Beattie speak out, only to WINK.
SWFL reacts to UNC hiring Bill Belichick Southwest Florida reacts to North Carolina hiring Bill Belichick as its new head football coach and how that could impact the decisions of local recruits.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Some Floridians want more alone time during the holidays The holidays are all about spending time with family and friends, but nearly half of Americans say they really want more alone time during the holiday.
LABELLE Hendry County rolls out cameras for school speed zones The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new way of enforcing school zone speed limits by using cameras that will target drivers traveling over a certain speed in a school zone.
Aggressive driving concerns on the rise in Southwest Florida The arrest of a man who, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said, killed a motorcyclist after crashing into him on purpose is raising concerns over aggressive driving in Southwest Florida.
SANIBEL Sanibel School students prepare for community Christmas performance The school that has had to claw and fight its way back more than once to reopen is getting the chance to celebrate.
Ravaging flood waters and powerful winds during Hurricane Ian destroyed the heart of one Southwest Florida community and their voting process hasn’t been the same since. But that recently changed – just in time for what is expected to be a historic election year. Marietta Cox still shudders when she talks about the Isles of Capri in the days and weeks following Ian. “Oh my gosh, it was like a war zone,” Cox remembers. “Furniture and everything just piled feet high on both sides of the road.” The entire island flooded, while homes and restaurants were destroyed. “I still get emotional talking about it because this is my family here,” said Joyce Beatty, the current president of Capri Community Inc., the island’s leadership committee. “It hurt me to see everybody going through such a traumatic time after Ian. Everybody losing everything.” In the 18 months since Isles of Capri has been restored to a piece of paradise. The wreckage and debris have been removed and homes and businesses have been restored. Healthy, green palm trees and water compliment postcard views. Right in the middle of it all, sits the Isles of Capri community center. “We’re a big family here and we just helped each other,” Beatty beams, remembering how far the island has come. At one point during the storm, the entire island was underwater The community center shines now, but it took on more than a foot of water and suffered catastrophic damage during Ian, barely a month before the 2022 election season. Matt Crowder was the president of Capri Community Inc. when the storm hit. He says it’s been a long road for the tiny building that acts as the island hub. “We walked into an interior that was basically devastated,” Crowder winces. “We lost years of corporate records, historical documents, financial documents.” It took months of rehab and renovations, but for the first time since the storm, the community center returned as a voting precinct in March 2024. “We had so many volunteers on the island,” Beatty recounts. “Neighbors and friends that helped with everything. Helped with the community center and bringing it back to life.” It’s no secret that 2024 is expected to be a historic election year, both in Florida and across the country. For voters, being able to vote at a local landmark is about more than convenience: it’s about community strength and pride. “It’s very heartwarming and exciting to see this happen,” Beatty says. “We’re actually back to normal.” Before the center reopened, Capri voters were forced to travel to Marco Island to fill out ballots. Its return is expected to boost voter turnout. “A lot of them don’t like to go off the island, especially this time of year with the traffic,” Beatty admits. “It’ll help people get out and get their vote in. It’s close for everybody.” “It’s very convenient,” Cox admits, claiming she’ll be busy voting several times across the rest of the year. “I love it, yeah!” Finally able to make their votes count in the place they call home again. Many voting precincts damaged during Hurricane Ian are back and operational for the upcoming election season. To find your voting location, follow the appropriate link below. Click here for Collier County voting locations. Click here for Lee County voting locations. Click here for Charlotte County voting locations.