Heavy Cape Coral police presence on Skyline Boulevard; one person hospitalizedNear-record heat with isolated rain this Thursday afternoon
cape coral Heavy Cape Coral police presence on Skyline Boulevard; one person hospitalized The Cape Coral Police Department is actively investigating a scene located on Skyline Boulevard.
the weather authority Near-record heat with isolated rain this Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking near-record heat this Thursday, along with isolated rain throughout the afternoon.
Lee County School District sets town hall meeting Spring schedule The Lee County School District has released its Spring town hall schedule, during which parents and community members can voice their opinions regarding their children’s education.
SANIBEL Sanibel teen gearing up to reopen popular food truck The Sanibel Sprout, a beloved local spot, is gearing up for a hopeful reopening in mid-March after two years of rebuilding.
FORT MYERS Man arrested for prowling and enticing a child in Fort Myers A concerned citizen flagged down Florida Highway Patrol state troopers in Fort Myers to report an adult man was harassing his daughter, according to authorities.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte Girl Scout earns Gold Award for pet care project A Port Charlotte teenager has earned the prestigious Gold Girl Scout Award.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers couple’s love grows stronger despite Alzheimer’s diagnosis Jeff and Bunny Edwards of Fort Myers celebrated their 41st anniversary, showcasing a love that has grown stronger over the years.
BONITA SPRINGS Harry Chapin Food Bank volunteers deliver food and a smile Food distributions seem so simple but go a long way in changing people’s lives. In Southwest Florida, the need for food is everywhere.
NAPLES Naples man arrested for cocaine trafficking A Naples man is facing a narcotics trafficking charge after deputies say he pitched cocaine out of his vehicle while trying to elude deputies.
SANIBEL Sanibel’s new rangers educate cyclists on path rules and e-bike limits Sanibel is a popular destination for biking enthusiasts, especially during the busy winter season. With over 26 miles of paved paths, the island offers stunning scenery for cyclists.
Cape Coral residents voice concerns over rental noise and rule-breaking Cape Coral is once again buzzing with discussions on short-term rentals.
Exclusive: Collier County law enforcement using tech to fight traffic congestion Naples is turning to technology to tackle traffic troubles.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers charity loses donation pod after complaint from local realtor Doug Miller and Amy Eldridge watched as their storage pod was towed away, marking the end of an era for their charitable efforts.
dunbar Dunbar’s Southward Village set for affordable housing transformation Southward Village is set to become a new hub for affordable housing as companies prepare to build on the now-empty site.
BABCOCK RANCH Babcock Ranch showcases cutting-edge robot in home construction Neighbors, friends, and students gathered Wednesday morning to witness a groundbreaking event in their community.
cape coral Heavy Cape Coral police presence on Skyline Boulevard; one person hospitalized The Cape Coral Police Department is actively investigating a scene located on Skyline Boulevard.
the weather authority Near-record heat with isolated rain this Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking near-record heat this Thursday, along with isolated rain throughout the afternoon.
Lee County School District sets town hall meeting Spring schedule The Lee County School District has released its Spring town hall schedule, during which parents and community members can voice their opinions regarding their children’s education.
SANIBEL Sanibel teen gearing up to reopen popular food truck The Sanibel Sprout, a beloved local spot, is gearing up for a hopeful reopening in mid-March after two years of rebuilding.
FORT MYERS Man arrested for prowling and enticing a child in Fort Myers A concerned citizen flagged down Florida Highway Patrol state troopers in Fort Myers to report an adult man was harassing his daughter, according to authorities.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte Girl Scout earns Gold Award for pet care project A Port Charlotte teenager has earned the prestigious Gold Girl Scout Award.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers couple’s love grows stronger despite Alzheimer’s diagnosis Jeff and Bunny Edwards of Fort Myers celebrated their 41st anniversary, showcasing a love that has grown stronger over the years.
BONITA SPRINGS Harry Chapin Food Bank volunteers deliver food and a smile Food distributions seem so simple but go a long way in changing people’s lives. In Southwest Florida, the need for food is everywhere.
NAPLES Naples man arrested for cocaine trafficking A Naples man is facing a narcotics trafficking charge after deputies say he pitched cocaine out of his vehicle while trying to elude deputies.
SANIBEL Sanibel’s new rangers educate cyclists on path rules and e-bike limits Sanibel is a popular destination for biking enthusiasts, especially during the busy winter season. With over 26 miles of paved paths, the island offers stunning scenery for cyclists.
Cape Coral residents voice concerns over rental noise and rule-breaking Cape Coral is once again buzzing with discussions on short-term rentals.
Exclusive: Collier County law enforcement using tech to fight traffic congestion Naples is turning to technology to tackle traffic troubles.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers charity loses donation pod after complaint from local realtor Doug Miller and Amy Eldridge watched as their storage pod was towed away, marking the end of an era for their charitable efforts.
dunbar Dunbar’s Southward Village set for affordable housing transformation Southward Village is set to become a new hub for affordable housing as companies prepare to build on the now-empty site.
BABCOCK RANCH Babcock Ranch showcases cutting-edge robot in home construction Neighbors, friends, and students gathered Wednesday morning to witness a groundbreaking event in their community.
Water is a critical resource in Southwest Florida, supporting everything from fishing to boating and beaches. However, the region has faced challenges such as hurricanes, harmful algal blooms, red tide, and water shortages, each leaving a significant impact. Local leaders are taking steps to improve and protect water quality. Captain Ozzie Lessinger, a fishing guide, emphasized the importance of maintaining water quality, stating, “If this water quality degrades to the point that people don’t want to be here, we don’t, we don’t have a lifestyle down here.” Everett Austin expressed concerns about the current state of the water, saying, “They need to find a better system of letting all this stuff in here, keep it out of here. It’s making it really yucky, and the fishing’s bad.” Bob Verrastro, Principal Hydrogeologist for the South Florida Water Management District, explained that nutrient discharge from Lake Okeechobee contributes to algae blooms in the Caloosahatchee River. “When water is discharged from Lake Okeechobee, it does have the nutrients in that are one factor of creating the algae blooms,” said Verrastro. “Those nutrients are essentially what can create algae blooms in the Caloosahatchee River.” In response, Fort Myers is working to reduce these discharges. Jason Sciandra, Assistant Director of the Public Utilities Department for Fort Myers, noted that the city has been discharging treated effluent into the Caloosahatchee River for 40 years. The shift in approach came after the algal blooms of 2017 and 2018. “Currently, we’re permitted to discharge up to 23 million gallons a day of treated effluent,” Sciandra said. A new treatment facility, operational since 2023, processes highly treated wastewater, allowing Fort Myers to send water to Cape Coral. This facility has reduced river discharge by about 6 million gallons a day, with plans to send between 8 and 10 million gallons daily to Cape Coral. Fort Myers is also exploring the use of reclaimed water for irrigation, reducing the need for processed drinking water. This initiative supports local activities like golf courses. Sciandra stated, “The more people can use that water that’s been used once, we can reuse it again for irrigation and other needs like that.” Efforts to manage water resources in Southwest Florida continue to evolve, aiming to sustain the region’s lifestyle and environment.