A cool, comfortable first weekend of 2025 with lots of sunshineLocals respond to Surgeon General advisory on alcohol
the weather authority A cool, comfortable first weekend of 2025 with lots of sunshine The Weather Authority is kicking off the first weekend of 2025 on a chilly note with morning temperatures in the 40s and 50s across Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Locals respond to Surgeon General advisory on alcohol Many think a cancer warning label won’t stop anyone who is planning on having a drink from having one. But at the same time, hearing alcohol could increase their cancer risk did get them thinking about drinking.
New provision to Florida law gives public the authority to sue over homeless camping People now have the power to sue local leaders for not stopping the homeless from camping in public if a report is made.
CAPE CORAL Understanding water restriction in Cape Coral The city of Canals has water problems again!
SANIBEL Future of the Sanibel Pier Sanibel Island is looking much better since Hurricane Ian, but while the lighthouse is standing tall, the pier isn’t doing too well.
downtown fort myers Large crowds expected for Fort Myers Seafood & Music Festival Downtown Fort Myers is on higher alert as this weekend’s 4th Annual Fort Myers Seafood & Music Festival is expected to draw large crowds.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral neighborhood growing frustrated over debris piles Pounds of trash and debris are blowing through a Cape Coral neighborhood, through the streets, into canals and every which way.
Inside a Lee County special corrections program More than 3,000 bags of trash, 19 interstate projects, nearly 100 citizen requests and over one hundred truckloads of trash—that’s the work done by nonviolent offenders in Lee County, who are doing their part to make our county more beautiful.
FGCU NCAA implements rules for checking pitchers for foreign substances The NCAA will soon send out an instructional video on in-game foreign substance checks for pitchers.
Surgeon General calls for cancer warnings on alcohol In the new year, there’s a new call to warn Americans about the negative effects of alcohol.
Family of Charlotte deputy killed during traffic stop releases statement The family of Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sgt. Elio Diaz is breaking their silence.
Southwest Florida battles the Flu Flu cases are skyrocketing in Southwest Florida, making this busy season even more challenging.
FORT MYERS SWFL 19-year-old hurt in New Orleans terrorist attack releases statement One of the young women from Fort Myers hurt during the New Orleans New Year’s Eve attack is speaking out for the first time.
Bonita Bill’s to close Jan. 5 prior to pending $5.5M sale HM Restaurant Group, owners the adjacent Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille and Dixie Fish Co. restaurants, has been named as the buyer.
naples Beloved Naples Zoo giant anteater, Dee Gee, passes away The Naples Zoo is mourning the loss of a beloved male giant anteater who had given nearly 10 years of joy to visitors.
the weather authority A cool, comfortable first weekend of 2025 with lots of sunshine The Weather Authority is kicking off the first weekend of 2025 on a chilly note with morning temperatures in the 40s and 50s across Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Locals respond to Surgeon General advisory on alcohol Many think a cancer warning label won’t stop anyone who is planning on having a drink from having one. But at the same time, hearing alcohol could increase their cancer risk did get them thinking about drinking.
New provision to Florida law gives public the authority to sue over homeless camping People now have the power to sue local leaders for not stopping the homeless from camping in public if a report is made.
CAPE CORAL Understanding water restriction in Cape Coral The city of Canals has water problems again!
SANIBEL Future of the Sanibel Pier Sanibel Island is looking much better since Hurricane Ian, but while the lighthouse is standing tall, the pier isn’t doing too well.
downtown fort myers Large crowds expected for Fort Myers Seafood & Music Festival Downtown Fort Myers is on higher alert as this weekend’s 4th Annual Fort Myers Seafood & Music Festival is expected to draw large crowds.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral neighborhood growing frustrated over debris piles Pounds of trash and debris are blowing through a Cape Coral neighborhood, through the streets, into canals and every which way.
Inside a Lee County special corrections program More than 3,000 bags of trash, 19 interstate projects, nearly 100 citizen requests and over one hundred truckloads of trash—that’s the work done by nonviolent offenders in Lee County, who are doing their part to make our county more beautiful.
FGCU NCAA implements rules for checking pitchers for foreign substances The NCAA will soon send out an instructional video on in-game foreign substance checks for pitchers.
Surgeon General calls for cancer warnings on alcohol In the new year, there’s a new call to warn Americans about the negative effects of alcohol.
Family of Charlotte deputy killed during traffic stop releases statement The family of Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sgt. Elio Diaz is breaking their silence.
Southwest Florida battles the Flu Flu cases are skyrocketing in Southwest Florida, making this busy season even more challenging.
FORT MYERS SWFL 19-year-old hurt in New Orleans terrorist attack releases statement One of the young women from Fort Myers hurt during the New Orleans New Year’s Eve attack is speaking out for the first time.
Bonita Bill’s to close Jan. 5 prior to pending $5.5M sale HM Restaurant Group, owners the adjacent Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille and Dixie Fish Co. restaurants, has been named as the buyer.
naples Beloved Naples Zoo giant anteater, Dee Gee, passes away The Naples Zoo is mourning the loss of a beloved male giant anteater who had given nearly 10 years of joy to visitors.
Now that November has ended, so has the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which ran from June 1 to Nov. 30. In total, there were a total of 18 named storms in the Atlantic during this active hurricane season. Eleven of those became hurricanes, with five reaching major hurricane status, meaning Category 3 or higher. In an average hurricane season, typically, there are 14 named systems, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. Hurricane Beryl became the earliest Category 5 hurricane to ever develop in the Atlantic. While it did weaken some, Beryl brought flooding and storm surge to both Louisiana and Texas. After an active start, there was a lull in activity during the summertime months. “This is typically when we see activity begin to ramp up; however, we didn’t see things really pick up until late September,” said Weather Authority meteorologist Lauren Kreidler. On Sept. 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall along the Big Bend area of Florida as a Category 4 hurricane with 140-mile-per-hour winds. According to NOAA, preliminary data shows that Helene was the deadliest hurricane to impact the United States since 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. Helene resulted in over 150 casualties, most of which occurred in the Carolinas. Southwest Florida experienced its own impacts from Helene, including gusty winds and feet of storm surge. Then, Hurricane Milton made landfall along Siesta Key less than two weeks after Helene. Hurricane Milton peaked as a Category 5 storm with 180-mile-per-hour winds and then weakened into a powerful Category 3 hurricane before making landfall with 120-mile-per-hour winds. Aside from the heavy rain, strong winds, and storm surge that Southwest Florida experienced, a tornado outbreak across South Florida resulted in a whopping 46 tornadoes. In October, Hurricane Milton formed, and for the first time in Atlantic basin history, three hurricanes, including Milton, Kirk and Leslie, were active simultaneously. Both Kirk and Leslie stayed far away from the United States. November is the month when storm activity significantly decreases. Only 8% of hurricanes form during the month of November. Late in the season, Hurricane Rafael formed and made landfall in Cuba as a major Category 3 hurricane on Nov. 6. The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season was definitely a “bottom heavy” season. Twelve named storms developed after the peak of hurricane season, Sept. 10. Seven hurricanes developed after Sept. 25, allowing for the most hurricanes on record during this time period. Southwest Florida’s resilience shined through the hardest days of hurricane season. We do our best by coming together and showing how strong this community is. Now that hurricane season is officially over, let’s enjoy those upcoming cold fronts!