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What's happening in Southwest Florida

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

  1. Confirmed
    Beaches & Environment

    Cape Coral

    Cape Coral opens Yellow Fever Creek Preserve with campsites, trails and disc golf

    Cape Coral opened Yellow Fever Creek Preserve at 3115 Del Prado Blvd. N. with a ribbon-cutting and guided tours on Oct. 30. The preserve offers 23 campsites, nature trails, a fishing pond, the city's first disc golf course, an outdoor classroom, a welcome center and restrooms. It covers about 198 acres of city land, roughly 525 acres with adjoining county land, and the city plans bird walks and classes; an open house date hasn't been set.

    Source: WINK News and 3 more

  2. Single source
    Politics

    Cape Coral

    Emergency leaders end statewide tour in Cape Coral urging a no vote on Amendment 3

    Fire and law enforcement leaders wrapped up a statewide 'Vote No on Amendment 3' tour in Cape Coral, warning the property tax measure could lead to budget cuts or new fees for services. Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell said more than 90% of his agency's budget comes from property taxes and projected losses of about $26 million in fiscal 2028 and $47 million in 2029, while Bonita Springs Fire Chief Greg DeWitt said low-cost services such as CPR classes could cost more or be cut. Voters decide on Nov. 3, and the amendment needs 60% approval to pass.

    Source: WINK News

  4. Confirmed
    Crime & Safety

    Glades County

    Orlando man, 31, accused of threatening new Jewish community in Glades County

    State agents arrested Jerry Sneed, 31, of Orlando on Oct. 28 after investigating social media posts that threatened a planned Jewish community in Glades County, FDLE says. Investigators say the posts showed the community's location and a gun, which he had when he was arrested. He is charged with making written threats to kill or carry out a mass shooting or act of terrorism and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.

    Source: FDLE via WINK News and 3 more

  5. Single source
    Traffic & Roads

    Englewood

    Englewood drivers push back on SR 776 bike lane barriers as petition grows

    Drivers on State Road 776 in Englewood say new concrete bike lane separators keep damaging tires, and some vehicles have needed tows after hitting them. An online petition asking for changes has thousands of signatures, its organizer says. FDOT has said the barriers meet its standards and that new medians and turn lanes are meant to cut crashes, but it had not answered follow-up questions.

    Source: WINK News

  20. Single source
    Development

    Naples

    Naples beach stormwater project running about a month ahead of schedule

    The city of Naples expects its $86.2 million beach stormwater outfall project to wrap up by May 2027, roughly a month before the June 2027 contract deadline, WINK reports. The work adds two pump stations, underground drainage and offshore pipes so eight aging discharge pipes can come off the beach, raising protection from a 5-year to a 25-year storm for about 266 acres west of U.S. 41. Construction started in October 2024.

    Source: WINK News

  22. Single source
    Business

    Collier County

    Collier board revokes pool contractor's permit privileges over abandoned projects

    Collier County's Contractors' Licensing Board voted unanimously Oct. 21 to indefinitely revoke the permit-pulling privileges of Lexander Acosta, the state-certified qualifier for Modern Lux Pools, after finding willful building code violations. County investigators said 17 of the 18 permits pulled for the company under his license since early 2024 were abandoned or terminated. The county sent its evidence to the state DBPR, which has open cases on his license, and a state board hearing is set for next month.

    Source: WINK News

  23. Single source
    Development

    LaBelle

    Hendry commissioners OK land-use change for 200-site RV and manufactured home park

    Hendry County commissioners voted Tuesday to change 39 acres near the Caloosahatchee River in LaBelle from low- to high-density residential, clearing the way for KPH Communities' LaBelle Yacht Club Estates with about 200 RV and manufactured home sites. The low-lying land now holds storm runoff, and the county's Local Planning Agency had unanimously recommended denial over water and sewer capacity. One commissioner voted no; the needed utilities are expected in about two years.

    Source: WGCU

  25. Single source
    Beaches & Environment

    Fort Myers Beach

    Fort Myers Beach pier crews begin driving new piles; stay clear of the work zone

    Crews have pulled the last of the old Fort Myers Beach pier's piles and are now driving production piles for the replacement, which may bring extra noise and vibration over the coming week. People are asked not to swim, wade, fish or boat near the site and to stay outside the construction fence. Pedestrians are being detoured across Estero Boulevard to the opposite sidewalk because of nearby Lynn Hall Memorial Park work.

    Source: Fort Myers Beach Chamber (Lee County pier project update)

  33. Confirmed
    Crime & Safety

    Lee County

    Lee sheriff's raids on five arcades lead to 10 gambling arrests, $1.6M seized

    Lee County deputies and the Florida Gaming Control Commission served search warrants Oct. 27 at five arcades in Fort Myers, North Fort Myers and Bonita Springs and at a home in Pennsylvania. Ten people were arrested on charges that include racketeering conspiracy, keeping a gambling house and money laundering, and officials seized 239 illegal slot machines and about $1.59 million in cash, gold and frozen bank accounts.

    Source: Lee County Sheriff's Office via WINK News and 2 more

  35. Confirmed
    Crime & Safety

    Punta Gorda

    Punta Gorda man charged after road rage confrontation ends in gunfire

    Charlotte County deputies arrested Stephan M. Clark, 65, on an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge after a road rage confrontation near Tribune Boulevard and U.S. 41 on Monday afternoon, Oct. 26. Deputies say Clark drew a handgun on a pickup driver, who then fired at the SUV's front tire to disable it. No one was hurt; the other driver was not charged, and the case went to the State Attorney's Office for review.

    Source: Charlotte County Sheriff's Office and 2 more

  36. 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

  38. 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

  39. Confirmed
    Community

    Collier County

    Collier Clerk offers free passport photos to veterans and military in November

    The Collier County Clerk's office will take free passport photos throughout November for veterans and active-duty service members who show a DD-214, military ID or a driver's license with the veteran designation. Photos are available at the main and Immokalee courthouses and several branch offices, and veterans can also record their DD-214 for free at the Collier County Courthouse.

    Source: WINK News and 1 more

  40. 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

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