Skip to content
SWFL NowVERIFIED NEWS. LOCAL IMPACT.

83°F Cape Coral

Sign in

What's happening in Lee County

The Southwest Florida stories that are too local, too early or too ongoing for the evening news.

  1. Confirmed
    Beaches & Environment

    Fort Myers

    Fort Myers reclaimed water project among winners in state's $100 million water grants

    Gov. Ron DeSantis announced $100 million for 45 water projects on Oct. 28, split evenly between springs restoration and alternative water supplies expected to add more than 60 million gallons a day. Six reclaimed water projects, including one in Fort Myers, share $19.1 million; WINK reports the Fort Myers money supports reuse expansion at the city's Central Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility.

    Source: WINK News and 1 more

  3. Confirmed
    Development

    Lee County

    Lee commissioners adopt southeast Lee growth plan with fewer homes, more commercial

    Lee County commissioners have adopted Comprehensive Plan changes for about 82,000 acres of southeast Lee, the area that includes the Density Reduction/Groundwater Recharge lands. The News-Press reports the plan preserves about 61,000 acres and cuts nearly 5,000 potential homes while allowing up to 32 million square feet of commercial and industrial space. Environmental groups asked for more time, citing panther habitat and water supply.

    Source: News-Press and 1 more

  4. Confirmed
    Local Government

    Estero

    Estero council votes to close on $19.8 million rail corridor purchase for BERT

    Wednesday, October 28

    Estero's Village Council voted Oct. 28 to go ahead with buying 66.7 acres of rail corridor inside village limits from the Trust for Public Land for $19,792,209, the village's final step toward the Bonita Estero Rail Trail. Closing is set for on or before Jan. 14, 2027, after council heard an environmental review of the soil samples. Council also approved a $224,500 water monitoring contract and SportsPark landscape upkeep of up to $324,595.

    Source: Village of Estero

  5. Confirmed
    Politics

    Lee County

    State ethics panel finds no probable cause against Lee Sheriff Marceno

    The Florida Commission on Ethics said Wednesday it found no probable cause on the complaint against Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno, going against its own advocate's recommendation on the gift allegation. The case involved furniture he allegedly received and failed to report, and whether he misused his office by hiring the complainant as a consultant. The Sheriff's Office says the complaint was dismissed in full.

    Source: WGCU and 1 more

  6. Single source
    Business

    Fort Myers

    Farmers market chicken salad vendor opens first restaurant in south Fort Myers

    Twila Mae's Chicken Salad, a fixture at Southwest Florida farmers markets since 2020, opened its first storefront Oct. 23 at 18011 S. Tamiami Trail in the San Carlos Park area. Owner Landon Stevenson named the business for his grandmother, whose recipe is the base for seven flavors plus a seasonal one. The stand will keep working its weekly markets, including Captiva and Marco Island.

    Source: News-Press and 1 more

  8. Confirmed
    Business

    Cape Coral

    Cape Coral announces deal to bring the city's first Costco to Chiquita Blvd.

    Cape Coral says it has partnered with Costco Wholesale on a warehouse of about 165,000 square feet with a member fuel station at 600 Chiquita Blvd. S., the chain's first store in the city. City Council will consider an incentive package of up to $10 million for site work and impact fees at its Nov. 2 meeting. No opening date has been set; it depends on Costco's construction schedule.

    Source: City of Cape Coral and 3 more

  9. Confirmed
    Local Government

    Captiva

    Judge upholds Lee County's South Seas Resort rezoning on Captiva

    Circuit Judge James Shenko of the 20th Judicial Circuit has denied a petition challenging Lee County commissioners' rezoning approval for South Seas Resort, finding the decision was backed by substantial evidence, applied the correct law and gave the public due process. The ruling lets the resort continue with its redevelopment after Hurricane Ian. Earlier court challenges by the Captiva Civic Association to county approvals for the resort also failed.

    Source: WGCU and 2 more

  12. Confirmed
    Events

    Fort Myers

    Alliance for the Arts' Stage Fright Nights haunted house runs through Halloween

    Saturday, October 31

    The Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers runs its séance-themed haunted house, Stage Fright Nights: Summoning the Damned, on select nights through Oct. 31. Remaining nights include a discount night Oct. 28, a free FreakArt After Dark fundraiser Oct. 29 and a Boos & Booze Halloween night Oct. 31. General admission is $20, or $15 for members.

    Source: Alliance for the Arts and 1 more

  19. Single source
    Crime & Safety

    Fort Myers

    Deputy struck by car at Tice Street school bus crash scene in Fort Myers

    A school bus crash around 6:12 a.m. Monday closed all lanes of Tice Street near Country Lakes Drive, in front of Manatee Elementary and Oak Hammock Middle schools in Fort Myers. The Lee County Sheriff's Office says no students were hurt; it confirmed other injuries in the crash but gave no details. While deputies worked the scene, one deputy was hit by a vehicle and taken to a hospital with injuries that are not life-threatening.

    Source: WINK News and 1 more

  20. Confirmed
    Traffic & Roads

    Fort Myers Beach

    Broken pipe opens sinkhole at Bay Beach Lane and Estero Boulevard on Fort Myers Beach

    Town of Fort Myers Beach staff fixing a water service line break at Lake Valencia Condominiums found a broken underground pipe, and erosion beneath the road opened a sinkhole near Bay Beach Lane and Estero Boulevard. Traffic leaving Bay Beach Lane is down to one lane, while Estero Boulevard itself is unaffected. The town reports no active leaks or water service interruptions; repairs were set to start Monday, Oct. 26, pending further assessment.

    Source: WINK News and 1 more

  21. Single source
    Traffic & Roads

    Fort Myers

    Midpoint Bridge to close 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 11 for Veterans Day 5K

    Wednesday, November 11

    Lee County will close the Midpoint Bridge from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, for the Midpoint Madness Veterans Day 5K Run/Walk, which starts at 6:30 p.m. Race activities are based at Royal Palm Square, 1400 Colonial Blvd., at the foot of the bridge. Drivers can use the Cape Coral Bridge or the U.S. 41 and Business 41 bridges; county message boards go up Nov. 2, and closure questions go to 239-533-9400.

    Source: WINK News and 1 more

  22. Single source
    Politics

    Fort Myers

    Senate candidate Angie Nixon makes Monday campaign stops in Fort Myers

    Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Angie Nixon scheduled three Fort Myers stops Monday, Oct. 26: the Quality Life Center on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from noon to 1:30 p.m., the Ella Piper Senior Center from 1:45 to about 2:30 p.m., and Mildred's Restaurant on Michigan Avenue. Nixon is challenging Republican U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, who spoke at President Trump's Fort Myers rally on Friday. Election Day is Nov. 3.

    Source: WINK News

  23. Single source
    Crime & Safety

    Fort Myers

    Contractor airlifted to burn center after electrical injury at Fort Myers Walmart

    A contractor working at the Walmart on Six Mile Cypress Parkway in Fort Myers was shocked around 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, and flown to a burn center in Bradenton. Power went out in about half the store and shoppers were told to leave; South Trail Fire responded and FPL crews were on site. Walmart says the worker was not one of its employees, and the contractor's condition has not been released.

    Source: WINK News and 1 more

  24. Confirmed
    Events

    Bonita Springs

    Free Happy Haunts Halloween stroll lights up downtown Bonita Springs through Oct. 31

    Saturday, October 31

    The City of Bonita Springs' free Happy Haunts Immersive Halloween Experience runs nightly through Oct. 31 in downtown Bonita Springs, with decorations, lights, projections and music from 5:30 to 10 p.m. There is no candy on the stroll itself; trick-or-treating is part of the Downtown Bonita Alliance's Trick or Treat on Old 41 on Oct. 31 from 5 to 8 p.m.

    Source: City of Bonita Springs and 1 more

  25. Confirmed
    Community

    Cape Coral

    Cape Coral's Niko Price steps back from the UFC after Las Vegas win

    Cape Coral native and Mariner High alumnus Niko Price says he is stepping away from the UFC after his first-round TKO of Leon Shahbazyan on Oct. 10 in Las Vegas, WINK News reports. Price, a father of seven, said the decision came after his wife and daughters told him they no longer liked watching him take punches. He is still training locally and says he's open to other combat sports.

    Source: WINK News and 1 more

  27. Single source
    Crime & Safety

    Lehigh Acres

    Driver bites FHP trooper and runs after Lehigh Acres chase ends in PIT stop

    A driver who fled a Florida Highway Patrol speeding stop near State Road 82 and Gun Club Road Friday night bit a trooper's arm and ran off on foot after troopers ended the chase with a PIT maneuver, WINK News reports. The trooper was treated at a hospital. FHP says it found trafficking amounts of meth and cocaine plus a gun in the BMW, has identified the driver and is seeking a warrant on charges including battery on an officer.

    Source: WINK News and 1 more

  28. Single source
    Community

    Fort Myers

    Haitian community leaders respond after Trump cites Lee County killings at rally

    At Friday's rally at FGCU's Alico Arena, President Trump pointed to two Lee County killings while making his case on immigration, WINK News reports. The president of the Haitian American Community Coalition of Southwest Florida said the community is grieving and worries about being judged by one person's actions. Relatives of both victims told WINK the renewed attention is emotional.

    Source: WINK News

  29. Confirmed
    Local Government

    Estero

    Estero council to weigh rail trail and SportsPark contracts on Oct. 28

    Wednesday, October 28

    Estero's Village Council meets at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Village Hall to consider items on the Bonita Estero Rail Trail, landscape upkeep at Estero SportsPark, a water monitoring contract and state funding requests. A workshop on the village's vulnerability assessment follows. Residents can send eComments until noon the day before the meeting.

    Source: Village of Estero

  31. Single source
    Development

    Cape Coral

    Cape Coral council approves $500 million Bimini East redevelopment in South Cape

    Cape Coral City Council gave final approval to the $500 million Bimini East project, a 34-acre mixed-use redevelopment around Bimini Basin with apartments, hotels, shops and a marina. The plan takes in Four Freedoms Park, which city leaders say will be relocated and redesigned, though some nearby families worry about losing the greenspace. No construction start date is set, but the agreement requires work to begin within two years.

    Source: WINK News and 2 more

  32. Confirmed
    Politics

    Fort Myers

    Trump rallies for Byron Donalds at FGCU's Alico Arena ahead of Nov. 3 election

    President Donald Trump spoke for close to two hours Friday afternoon at Florida Gulf Coast University's Alico Arena, urging supporters to back gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds and the rest of the Republican ticket. Gov. Ron DeSantis met him at Southwest Florida International Airport, and his remarks covered the economy, energy prices, foreign policy and his Democratic opponents. He finished around 4:20 p.m. and Air Force One left RSW shortly before 5 p.m.

    Source: WINK News and 3 more

  34. Single source
    Traffic & Roads

    Lee County

    Three Oaks Parkway extension to Daniels Parkway opens Nov. 2

    Monday, November 2

    Lee County plans to open the Three Oaks Parkway extension across the Fiddlesticks Canal to Daniels Parkway on Nov. 2, after a 10 a.m. ribbon-cutting south of the new Fiddlesticks Boulevard intersection. The link gives drivers a north-south route parallel to I-75 from Collier County through Bonita Springs and Estero. The contract had allowed until mid-2028; remaining restriping and Daniels Parkway paving should wrap up in early 2027.

    Source: WINK News and 2 more

  35. Confirmed
    Traffic & Roads

    Cape Coral

    Cape Coral Parkway East set to open three lanes each way, parking ends

    The City of Cape Coral expected three through lanes in each direction to open by Oct. 23, weather permitting, on Cape Coral Parkway East between Coronado Parkway and Del Prado Boulevard. Parking will no longer be allowed on either side once the lanes open. Overnight paving and striping continue from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., and the project should finish in November.

    Source: Cape Coral Breeze and 2 more

  36. Single source
    Local Government

    Cape Coral

    Cape Coral council backs push for full-service VA hospital and veterans campus

    Cape Coral City Council voted Oct. 21 on a resolution supporting expansion of the city's outpatient VA clinic into a full-service veterans hospital, with a campus offering independent living, assisted living, nursing and memory care. The measure also lets city staff seek funding help from the Legislature and other partners. Veterans say many now make a two-hour trip to the Tampa Bay area for specialized or inpatient care, and a grassroots committee plans to ask the five Southwest Florida counties for similar resolutions.

    Source: WINK News

  39. Confirmed
    Local Government

    Cape Coral

    Florida DOGE review calls Cape Coral staffing lean, flags $3.8M to $6.5M in savings

    A state DOGE review of Cape Coral estimated the city could save $3.8 million to $6.5 million, mostly through changes to personnel costs and purchasing. The city says the review, dated Oct. 16, found its staffing below the median of comparable cities and no misuse of funds. Cape Coral plans to post a response to each recommendation by the end of October.

    Source: WINK News and 3 more

  40. Single source
    Politics

    Fort Myers

    Fort Myers mayor race: Anderson stresses safety and housing, Ware pledges full audit

    Mayor Kevin Anderson, in office since 2020, is seeking another term on a platform of public safety, infrastructure, economic development and affordable housing. Challenger Amber Ware, a city employee since 2002, says her first act would be a complete audit of city finances, and she wants to restart neighborhood utility projects. The race is on the Nov. 3 ballot.

    Source: WGCU News and 1 more

Older stories