SWFL NowVERIFIED NEWS. LOCAL IMPACT.83°F in Cape Coral,Sunny · Cape Coral
The Southwest Florida stories that are too local, too early or too ongoing for the evening news.
Thursday, October 22
Whataburger's second Southwest Florida location opens Thursday, Oct. 22, at 22927 Lyden Drive in Estero, in the former Pollo Tropical building near Coconut Point. A ceremony is set for 10:30 a.m., with service starting at 11 a.m. It will be open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, unlike the 24-hour south Fort Myers location.
Source: Gulfshore Business and 1 more
Boat House Tiki Bar & Grill is now open in the main terminal at Southwest Florida International Airport, in the pre-security hallway to Concourse B, in space that Dunkin' and Beaches Travelmart left in April. State liquor license records show a full license there took effect Oct. 5. The original restaurant at the Cape Coral Yacht Club remains closed after an October 2024 fire; the city approved a 30-year rebuild agreement in September 2025.
Source: Florida DBPR and 2 more
Hertz, headquartered in Estero, announced Oct. 20 that its fleet management business Oro Mobility secured an $80 million strategic equity investment from a group that includes Cohen Private Ventures and funds tied to Certares and Knighthead. Hertz keeps majority economic ownership of Oro, which manages about 45,000 vehicles for rideshare rentals, driver-led fleets and autonomous vehicles in major U.S. markets.
Source: Hertz Newsroom and 2 more
Tuesday, November 17
Estero's Planning, Zoning & Design Board pushed Waypoint Residential's proposal for 355 apartments on the former Regal theater site at Coconut Point to Nov. 17, at the developer's request, after a lengthy review on Oct. 20. The four-story plan is smaller than the five-story, 365-unit version the board criticized earlier this year, but still seeks a reduced amount of garage parking. Residents filed seven written comments and four spoke at the meeting, raising concerns; the Village Council will make the final decision.
Source: Village of Estero Planning and 1 more
Monday, November 9
The Lee County Clerk and Comptroller will open a satellite office Nov. 9 at 600 Homestead Road South in Lehigh Acres, inside the East Lee County Government Complex. The roughly 6,200-square-foot office will handle most services offered in Fort Myers, including traffic tickets, evictions, injunctions and marriage licenses and ceremonies. It will have 12 service windows, a wedding room and a private room for people filing domestic violence injunctions, open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Source: WGCU News and 1 more
Fort Myers City Council's Monday, Oct. 19 meeting ended early when council members Liston Bochette, Fred Burson and Darla Bonk left during public comment, leaving the board without a quorum. Several speakers were urging Mayor Kevin Anderson to resign over sexual misconduct allegations, which he has denied; a Florida Department of Law Enforcement review closed without criminal charges. The city said its charter requires at least four members to conduct business, so the mayor adjourned the meeting.
Source: Gulf Coast News and 3 more
Lee County Judge Bruce Kyle on Oct. 19 granted a new trial to Anastasiya Zadorozhna, whom a jury convicted in August of vehicular homicide in a July 2024 crash on Pine Island Road that killed a 52-year-old man. Her attorney argued that the prosecution's only eyewitness, a co-defendant, misled jurors about his own plea deal. A status hearing is set for Oct. 29; no date has been set for the new trial.
Source: WINK News
Lee County commissioners approved a $991,300 low-bid contract with Fort Myers-based Earth Tech Enterprises to lay interlocking concrete mats along the shoreline by the Punta Rassa Boat Ramp, at the mainland end of the Sanibel Causeway. The mats are meant to cut erosion and wave energy; work should start late this year and finish in spring 2027. The ramp stays open during construction, though parts of the parking lot may close at times, and federal Hurricane Ian recovery grants pay for the project.
Source: WGCU News and 1 more
Frederick Taylor, 38, of North Fort Myers was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison after pleading guilty in March to distributing methamphetamine, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida said. Prosecutors said he ran the operation in the Palmona Park neighborhood through lower-level dealers and sold nearly a pound of meth to an FBI informant. A search of his home turned up several guns and about $12,000 in cash.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office and 1 more
Saturday, November 7
Cape Coral's Veterans Day Parade starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, heading west on Cape Coral Parkway from Cape Coral Street to Chester Street in South Cape. Groups that want to march can fill out the city's parade application and return it to the Special Events team by mail or at SEclerk@capecoral.gov.
Source: City of Cape Coral and 1 more
Wednesday, October 21
Estero residents can bring leftover paint, cleaners, pesticides, pool chemicals and automotive fluids to Estero Park, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21. Nothing will be accepted outside those hours; Lee County's permanent drop-off site on Topaz Court in Fort Myers takes household chemicals on weekdays.
Source: Village of Estero and 2 more
A pedestrian died Monday after being hit by a driver who did not stop at Colonial Boulevard and Plantation Road, Fort Myers police said. Lanes in both directions were shut for several hours before reopening. Police have not identified the victim or described the vehicle.
Source: WINK News and 2 more
Cape Coral police say two registered sex offenders living at a halfway house on Northwest First Place were arrested Oct. 12 and charged with violating probation by having internet-capable phones. The investigation began after a fellow resident reported that one of the men was viewing child sexual abuse material; detectives seized several devices and say more charges may follow. The men, identified by police as William Plumley, 29, and Enrico Mendes Jr., 49, are due in court Nov. 9.
Source: WINK News and 2 more
The Lee County Shuffleboard Club held its first national tournament at the North Fort Myers Recreation Center this past weekend, opening the National Shuffleboard Association season. About 60 players from the U.S. and Canada competed on 24 courts that Lee County covered with an 18,000-square-foot roof and fitted with new lighting and scoreboards in a $2.2 million renovation finished in May.
Source: WINK News and 1 more
A vehicle drove into Mel's Diner on Trails Edge Boulevard in Bonita Springs around midday Sunday, Oct. 18. The Lee County Sheriff's Office confirmed the crash and said the driver was transported, and a patron told WINK News she saw people being treated for injuries. The cause and the number of people hurt have not been confirmed.
Source: WINK News and 1 more
Sunday, October 18
The River Romp, a US Sailing Junior Olympic regatta hosted by Edison Sailing Center, finished Sunday, Oct. 18, after two days of racing on the Caloosahatchee River off North Shore Park in North Fort Myers. Sailors ages 8 to 19 raced in Optimist, ILCA and C420 classes. The park, closed to the public during the event, reopens Monday, Oct. 19.
Source: Edison Sailing Center and 1 more
American Red Cross volunteers provided assistance to four adults following two residential fires in Fort Myers within a 12-hour period on October 17.
Source: WINK News
Saturday, October 17
Free family-friendly card and collectibles show at Edison Mall in Fort Myers from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today including vendors comics and a large bounce house.
Source: Cape Coral Breeze and 1 more
Friday, October 23
The midterm rally featuring President Trump on Oct. 23 is confirmed for Alico Arena at FGCU; the university is modifying campus operations due to expected traffic and parking impacts.
Source: Gulf Coast News and 2 more
Saturday, October 17
Weekly Saturday market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on First Street in the Culinary District featuring local vendors.
Source: SWFL Blog
A Mercedes-Benz was sandwiched in a three-vehicle crash on US-41 at Franklin Street; no injuries reported and road reopened.
Source: Gulf Coast News
