Police responding to rollover crash in Cape CoralBeat the heat with an ice-cold beer at Beerfest this weekend
CAPE CORAL Police responding to rollover crash in Cape Coral The scene is near the intersection of Andalusia Boulevard and Pine Island Road.
FORT MYERS Beat the heat with an ice-cold beer at Beerfest this weekend Summer is officially here. This weekend, you can beat the heat with an ice-cold beer at Fort Myers’s Brewing Company.
FORT MYERS Music Walk happening Friday evening in downtown Fort Myers Music is returning to the streets of downtown Fort Myers Friday evening.
CAPE CORAL Family of American hero relieved after killer’s sentencing Thursday, the man responsible for the attack that killed Daniel Eggers got the maximum sentence of 30 years.
VILLAS Land donated for permanent memorial for 12-year-old killed in crash When tragedy strikes, your community should wrap their arms around you. The Villas is a prime example of just that.
NAPLES Paragon theaters to host free film with director and actors present Paragon Theaters in Naples is set to host a free screening of the independent film “The Occult” by director Peter Hyoguchi.
FORT MYERS City of Fort Myers hosts summit to help first-time home buyers Buying a home is part of the American dream, but that dream is staying a dream for many young adults.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Mosquito Help: A county-by-county guide to battling the biting insects Why are mosquitoes attracted to certain people more than others?
FORT MYERS BEACH Lee County Commissioners vote for $11M replacement for Fort Myers Beach Pier Lee County Commissioners chose the more expensive option for replacing the Fort Myers Beach Pier, costing the county more than $11 million.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral residents frustrated with lack of reliable wells North Cape Coral residents are once again victims of dry wells despite all the rain and flooding just last week.
COLLIER COUNTY Collier County Sheriff’s Office detective dies after medical event The Collier County Sheriff’s Office announced the passing of Detective Kerry Sill following a medical event Thursday morning.
CAPE CORAL Largest swimming lesson in Southwest Florida focuses on safety for all ages The world’s largest swimming lesson took place today in Southwest Florida, launched by the World Waterpark Association.
SEBRING Zephan Xaver’s sentencing: Physical or developmental issues impacting decision making What is behind the eyes of a killer is one of the main points of discussion in the penalty trial of Zephan Xaver, the man who admitted to killing five women execution-style at a bank in Sebring in 2019.
“Trust me, without medications, I do not feel well at all” Locals feel the pinch of injectable diabetes drug shortage Like millions of Americans monitoring their blood sugar, Lee Quick is diabetic. For almost two decades, the Cape Coral man has relied on medications to manage his type 2 disease.
FORT MYERS Man arrested for arson after Fort Myers hotel fire damages 11 rooms Fort Myers police officers responded to a hotel fire early Thursday morning, where the flames damaged 11 rooms.
CAPE CORAL Police responding to rollover crash in Cape Coral The scene is near the intersection of Andalusia Boulevard and Pine Island Road.
FORT MYERS Beat the heat with an ice-cold beer at Beerfest this weekend Summer is officially here. This weekend, you can beat the heat with an ice-cold beer at Fort Myers’s Brewing Company.
FORT MYERS Music Walk happening Friday evening in downtown Fort Myers Music is returning to the streets of downtown Fort Myers Friday evening.
CAPE CORAL Family of American hero relieved after killer’s sentencing Thursday, the man responsible for the attack that killed Daniel Eggers got the maximum sentence of 30 years.
VILLAS Land donated for permanent memorial for 12-year-old killed in crash When tragedy strikes, your community should wrap their arms around you. The Villas is a prime example of just that.
NAPLES Paragon theaters to host free film with director and actors present Paragon Theaters in Naples is set to host a free screening of the independent film “The Occult” by director Peter Hyoguchi.
FORT MYERS City of Fort Myers hosts summit to help first-time home buyers Buying a home is part of the American dream, but that dream is staying a dream for many young adults.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Mosquito Help: A county-by-county guide to battling the biting insects Why are mosquitoes attracted to certain people more than others?
FORT MYERS BEACH Lee County Commissioners vote for $11M replacement for Fort Myers Beach Pier Lee County Commissioners chose the more expensive option for replacing the Fort Myers Beach Pier, costing the county more than $11 million.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral residents frustrated with lack of reliable wells North Cape Coral residents are once again victims of dry wells despite all the rain and flooding just last week.
COLLIER COUNTY Collier County Sheriff’s Office detective dies after medical event The Collier County Sheriff’s Office announced the passing of Detective Kerry Sill following a medical event Thursday morning.
CAPE CORAL Largest swimming lesson in Southwest Florida focuses on safety for all ages The world’s largest swimming lesson took place today in Southwest Florida, launched by the World Waterpark Association.
SEBRING Zephan Xaver’s sentencing: Physical or developmental issues impacting decision making What is behind the eyes of a killer is one of the main points of discussion in the penalty trial of Zephan Xaver, the man who admitted to killing five women execution-style at a bank in Sebring in 2019.
“Trust me, without medications, I do not feel well at all” Locals feel the pinch of injectable diabetes drug shortage Like millions of Americans monitoring their blood sugar, Lee Quick is diabetic. For almost two decades, the Cape Coral man has relied on medications to manage his type 2 disease.
FORT MYERS Man arrested for arson after Fort Myers hotel fire damages 11 rooms Fort Myers police officers responded to a hotel fire early Thursday morning, where the flames damaged 11 rooms.
The definition of middle class isn’t so common for most people these days. With the rapidly changing economy and inflation, some people make less than the poverty line while others make more. A recent analysis study from GOBankingRates determined the range of income needed to earn a spot in the middle class in all 50 states. The analysis is based on the latest data available from the 2022 American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau. GOBankingRates defines the middle class as those with an annual household income of two-thirds to double the median income. The good news for people in Florida is that they don’t need to earn as much as many other states to be considered middle class. Mississippi has the lowest household income needed to be middle class at $35,323. Maryland has the highest at $65,641. Florida comes in at $45,278. Florida was ranked 13th for the biggest increases in what someone needs to earn to be considered middle class. What it takes to be considered middle class in Florida and other states jumped greatly between 2012 and 2022. The middle-class income range in 2012 was about $31,500 to around $95,000. Ten years later, the minimum is $45,000, ranging up to around $136,000. That’s a 44% jump over ten years. According to this analysis, some people in Southwest Florida don’t consider themselves middle class. People like Christian Garland, who’s worked in the food service industry with his parents for years, have experienced the struggle first-hand. “The middle class out here is gone, I believe,” said Garland. “I believe there will be no classes left here except the ultra-poor class. My parents used to own several businesses here. It was the hardest thing we ever did. They don’t put any money into the business here.” Garland has also experienced the financial disadvantages food services go through. “I was making less than $20 years prior, and I have been making $20 recently in the last few years,” said Garland. “It’s impossible to do. You can’t afford everything: housing, food, and gas to get back and forth to work. It’s impossible. The price of inflation is still rising, so you’re gonna pay more for the goods. That’s what inflation is. It’s just like a secret tax.” Even people like Roy Schoelfled, who is retired and considers himself middle class based on the analysis, believe the lowest end of middle-class income is too low to be considered middle class. “I don’t know how anyone could live in Lee County on $45,000 a year,” said Schoelfled. “I would raise it up to about $60,000 at the bottom. $45,000 really seems low, but I don’t make the rules. I just live by them.”