Melissa Montoya

A convoy of trucks crossed the Sanibel Causeway on Tuesday afternoon as Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the causeway would be open for that traffic. DeSantis said the causeway will be open for civilian use on Oct. 21. The trucks began to travel across the causeway ahead of schedule, DeSantis said, adding that it was supposed […]

Search and rescue operations on Fort Myers Beach could stop as soon as this weekend. “We hope to provide access points to residents this weekend,” Commissioner Michael Greenwell said during a press conference on Friday. Access to the island would most likely be provided on the north end because the south end of Fort Myers […]

Ninety-two people across Florida so far died in storm-related deaths due to Hurricane Ian. In Lee County, 50 people died in storm-related deaths, the Florida Medical Examiners Commission found. That number could grow as search and rescue operations continue. While how the victims died was released, their identities have not. The majority of the deaths […]

Cape Coral has issued a temporary burn ban to limit fire hazards within the city, effective on Thursday. The measure prohibits recreational and city-permitted burns and includes burning vegetative debris left behind by Hurricane Ian. Fires solely for cooking purposes where the fire, flames and heat generated are contained within the device being used are […]

The Florida Department of Health in Lee County (DOH-Lee) has issued a countywide precautionary swim advisory for all public beaches and swimming pools. DOH-Lee is advising the public not to enter the water due to the possible increase of waterborne illnesses. The water quality has been affected by Hurricane Ian and at this time, swimming […]

Officials are reminding residents that only a select few will be allowed access to Pine Island. Pine Island Road reopened on Wednesday to connect the barrier island to the mainland. On Thursday, officials said there is a lot of traffic backup near Pine Island Road and Burnt Store Road. Cape Coral police initially said only […]

Florida Power and Light CEO Eric Silagy said 94% of FPL customers in Lee County had their electricity back on. In Charlotte County, he said about 90% of customers had their power on. He hoped to get the next 10% connected before the end of the week. Silagy spoke during a press conference held on […]

Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell said one of his deputies was injured early Thursday morning as he patrolled the area of Babcock Ranch. Prummell said the deputy found a juvenile prowling near a restaurant and when he questioned the child, the two got into an altercation. The sheriff’s office did not release the age of […]

The Florida Division of Emergency Management is opening a medical center in the old Sears location at Edison Mall. The location was previously used as a vaccination site during the pandemic. It will be the first community medical center to provide emergency and urgent medical support post-Hurricane Ian, according to a news release from the […]

The City of Fort Myers is asking residents to conserve water. In a tweet, the city said it has restored water to most homes, but it is still working to reconnect water for the last six communities. The city asks residents not to wash cars, fill pools or hot tubs, pressure wash driveways or homes […]