NAPLES Mercato in Naples is getting a makeover Plans are in the works this summer and fall to “refresh” Mercato in North Naples. The popular local destination will be tripling the size of its 3,000-square-foot piazza to accommodate over a hundred annual events.
Miracle Moment: Boy battles cancer three times Twelve-year-old Karsen Winters is staying cool in the face of cancer.
NAPLES Naples based volleyball team bumps, sets and spikes path to national title The Florida Gulfside Volleyball Academy 13U Prime team brought home the club’s first USAV Junior National Championship.
Lee County Commissioner candidate Matthew Thornton says he was election fraud victim Thornton, 62 and a Fort Myers Beach resident, said a 2020 signature on a voter form with his name on it was forged.
New technology revolutionizes upper spine treatment Medication, therapies and surgeries can offer relief, but a new technology is helping people with upper spine issues.
I-75 exit ramp in Collier to close Monday night According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, drivers should be aware of an exit ramp closure on Interstate 75 at exit 80.
Lee County Tax Collector holds survey to improve online services The Lee County Tax Collector has launched a survey asking residents to give feedback regarding online services.
NORTH FORT MYERS Man arrested for deadly Three Oaks Parkway shooting The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of a man suspected in the fatal shooting that occurred at Three Oaks Parkway.
COLLIER COUNTY Burn Ban lifted in Collier County after over a month Earlier this morning, Collier County announced it has lifted the burn ban that was set in place for over a month.
LEE COUNTY Caught on camera: black bear survives strike by truck on I-75 in Lee County A Florida black bear survived being run over by a work truck after trying to cross a highway in Lee County, and the moment was caught on a traffic camera.
FORT MYERS Premier Mobile Health Services offers free school physicals and back-to-school giveaways The Premier Mobile Health Services will provide free school physicals and back-to-school backpack giveaways featuring free school physicals for local students.
CAPE CORAL Christopher Davis pleads not guilty to killing boyfriend in Cape Coral Christopher Davis, who stands accused of killing his boyfriend Barry Schmalbach, pleaded not guilty in court in a regular orange jumpsuit.
the weather authority Storm Tracking: Hurricane Beryl, Tropical Storm Chris and Invest 96L The Weather Authority has been tracking major Hurricane Beryl, Tropical Storm Chris and Invest 96L in the Atlantic.
NAPLES Flash flood causes storm drainage concerns for Naples couple The rain chronicles continue in Southwest Florida. The constant rainfall has caused several roadways, homes, and businesses to flood.
FORT MYERS Heavy rain floods Palm Beach Boulevard As Southwest Florida experiences heavy rainfall, road conditions have been severely impacted, turning areas like Palm Beach Boulevard into a waterway.
NAPLES Mercato in Naples is getting a makeover Plans are in the works this summer and fall to “refresh” Mercato in North Naples. The popular local destination will be tripling the size of its 3,000-square-foot piazza to accommodate over a hundred annual events.
Miracle Moment: Boy battles cancer three times Twelve-year-old Karsen Winters is staying cool in the face of cancer.
NAPLES Naples based volleyball team bumps, sets and spikes path to national title The Florida Gulfside Volleyball Academy 13U Prime team brought home the club’s first USAV Junior National Championship.
Lee County Commissioner candidate Matthew Thornton says he was election fraud victim Thornton, 62 and a Fort Myers Beach resident, said a 2020 signature on a voter form with his name on it was forged.
New technology revolutionizes upper spine treatment Medication, therapies and surgeries can offer relief, but a new technology is helping people with upper spine issues.
I-75 exit ramp in Collier to close Monday night According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, drivers should be aware of an exit ramp closure on Interstate 75 at exit 80.
Lee County Tax Collector holds survey to improve online services The Lee County Tax Collector has launched a survey asking residents to give feedback regarding online services.
NORTH FORT MYERS Man arrested for deadly Three Oaks Parkway shooting The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of a man suspected in the fatal shooting that occurred at Three Oaks Parkway.
COLLIER COUNTY Burn Ban lifted in Collier County after over a month Earlier this morning, Collier County announced it has lifted the burn ban that was set in place for over a month.
LEE COUNTY Caught on camera: black bear survives strike by truck on I-75 in Lee County A Florida black bear survived being run over by a work truck after trying to cross a highway in Lee County, and the moment was caught on a traffic camera.
FORT MYERS Premier Mobile Health Services offers free school physicals and back-to-school giveaways The Premier Mobile Health Services will provide free school physicals and back-to-school backpack giveaways featuring free school physicals for local students.
CAPE CORAL Christopher Davis pleads not guilty to killing boyfriend in Cape Coral Christopher Davis, who stands accused of killing his boyfriend Barry Schmalbach, pleaded not guilty in court in a regular orange jumpsuit.
the weather authority Storm Tracking: Hurricane Beryl, Tropical Storm Chris and Invest 96L The Weather Authority has been tracking major Hurricane Beryl, Tropical Storm Chris and Invest 96L in the Atlantic.
NAPLES Flash flood causes storm drainage concerns for Naples couple The rain chronicles continue in Southwest Florida. The constant rainfall has caused several roadways, homes, and businesses to flood.
FORT MYERS Heavy rain floods Palm Beach Boulevard As Southwest Florida experiences heavy rainfall, road conditions have been severely impacted, turning areas like Palm Beach Boulevard into a waterway.
There have been no boats coming out of the Punta Rassa boat ramp since 2022 after Hurricane Ian hit southwest Florida. This has left local businesses with nowhere to turn. “There’s fishing guides, tour guides, there are traverse there’s commercial fishermen, there’s a whole host of businesses that run out of there,” said Matthew Hawksley of Captain Matt’s Island Charters. “Many of the other guys are trying to make ends meet by either taking on other jobs on the side or by, running extreme distances to make to complete charters at almost no profit. So it’s been really tough on all the businesses there.” One of those guys is Captain Pete Milisci. “I was full-time, and after the hurricane, it was obviously no business for a while. I have sports to go back to work at a local hospital. It was depressing in the beginning because fishing is my passion,” said Milisci. There are other public boat ramps these businesses can go out of. The problem is the distance. “None of the options to run jars out of our nearby. There’s one other ramp located on Sanibel, just on the other side of the causeway.” But that ramp isn’t just for anyone. The Sanibel boat ramp is a recreational boat ramp, and there are rules in place to keep commercial boaters out. “It’s also a small ramp,” said Eric Jackson, Public Information Officer for the City of Sanibel. “So recently, the fines for parking there without the permit or by not paying have increased to $500, and that’s because there were people who were parking there saying, ‘I’ll take the $250 fine just to get out there.’ So steps had to be taken to try to curb that to make sure that spaces are available for the people who have the permits and for the people who are paying for parking.” According to the Florida Department of Transportation, work on the Punta Rassa boat ramp area is expected to be completed by next summer. That’s something these businesses say is too far along to wait for, especially as their businesses are already facing the effects of its closure.