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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
    Housing

    Southwest Florida

    Amendment 3 passes, raising homestead exemption for SWFL homeowners in 2027

    Florida voters approved Amendment 3 with about 62% of the vote, above the 60% it needed, so Southwest Florida homeowners will get a larger exemption from non-school property taxes: $150,000 of assessed value in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. The yearly cap on assessment increases for non-homestead property, such as rentals and businesses, drops from 10% to 5%, and school taxes are not affected. A state analysis projects billions in lost local revenue statewide, so Lee, Collier and other local budgets will feel the change.

    Source: WUSF and 3 more

  2. Single source
    Politics

    Southwest Florida

    Election results: winners in Lee, Collier and Charlotte local races

    Unofficial Nov. 3 results show Cecil Pendergrass and Brian Hamman winning Lee County Commission Districts 2 and 4, Jenna Persons-Mulicka winning Lee supervisor of elections, Debbie Jordan and Crystal Johnson winning Lee School Board seats and Chris Hall winning Collier County Commission District 2. In city races, Terolyn Watson won Fort Myers Ward 3, Ruth Condit and James Anderst won Bonita Springs council seats, Anita Cereceda won on Fort Myers Beach, Jeannine Polk and Gary Butler won in Punta Gorda, and Dennis Bartolucci, Teri Sommerfeld and Rick Woodworth won Marco Island council seats. Results become final once certified.

    Source: WINK News and 1 more

  3. Confirmed
    Politics

    Southwest Florida

    Election Day: polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. across Southwest Florida

    Tuesday, November 3

    Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, for the general election, with federal, state and county offices and state constitutional amendments on the ballot. In Lee County, voters also decide city council races in Bonita Springs, Cape Coral and Fort Myers and the Fort Myers Beach Town Council. Mail ballots must arrive by 7 p.m.; Lee County voters can still drop theirs off at an elections office branch until then.

    Source: Lee County Supervisor of Elections and 1 more

  4. Confirmed
    Weather

    Southwest Florida

    Flood Watch for inland Southwest Florida runs into Monday evening

    A Flood Watch covers inland areas from Glades and Hendry counties south through Collier County as heavy rain keeps falling Monday, with flooding possible until about 7 p.m., WINK reported. The National Weather Service in Miami said storms could bring 1 to 3 inches, 3 to 5 inches in scattered spots and more in isolated areas, mainly causing street flooding and road closures. Rain is expected to linger Tuesday and Wednesday before a cold front brings drier air Thursday.

    Source: WINK News and 1 more

  5. Single source
    Beaches & Environment

    Southwest Florida

    Proposed federal rule could cut wetland protections across Florida, advocates warn

    The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers have proposed narrowing which waters the Clean Water Act covers, following a 2023 Supreme Court ruling. Suncoast Waterkeeper estimates as much as 86% of Florida's wetlands could lose federal protection, including isolated wetlands in the Peace and Myakka river watersheds that drain to Charlotte Harbor. Comments closed Oct. 9; the rule isn't final, and state and local permits would still apply.

    Source: WGCU and 1 more

  6. Confirmed
    Traffic & Roads

    Southwest Florida

    FDOT takes comments through Nov. 10 on I-75 widening from Golden Gate Pkwy to Alico Road

    FDOT held public hearings Oct. 27 in Naples and Oct. 28 online on proposed I-75 improvements between Golden Gate Parkway in Collier County and Alico Road in Lee County. Comments can still be sent through swflroads.com/project/452544-1, by email or by mail, and must be received or postmarked by Nov. 10 to enter the formal hearing record.

    Source: FDOT District One and 2 more

  8. Single source
    Weather

    Southwest Florida

    Windy start to the week in SWFL, gusts to 40 mph; showers rise toward Halloween

    Northeast winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts of 30 to 40 mph, are expected across Southwest Florida on Monday, staying breezy Tuesday before easing midweek. A Small Craft Advisory covers coastal waters through 8 p.m. Wednesday. Showers become more likely Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and again late in the week into Halloween weekend, with highs in the mid to upper 80s.

    Source: WINK News and 1 more

  9. Single source
    Weather

    Southwest Florida

    Gusty northeast winds and a few showers for Southwest Florida on Sunday

    Northeast winds of 15 to 25 mph are forecast across Southwest Florida on Sunday, with gusts topping 35 mph possible, strongest near the coast, WINK News meteorologists say. Highs reach the mid-80s, with a few showers but little rain for most areas. Strong gusts are expected again Monday before winds ease midweek, and a small craft advisory remains in effect for coastal waters.

    Source: Gulf Coast News and 1 more

  10. Confirmed
    Weather

    Southwest Florida

    Small craft advisory for Gulf waters off Lee and Charlotte extended to Wednesday

    The National Weather Service in Tampa Bay has extended its small craft advisory for Gulf waters from Bonita Beach northward through Wednesday evening, Oct. 28. Northeast winds of 20 to 30 knots with stronger gusts are forecast, peaking Sunday, with seas of 4 to 8 feet near shore and higher offshore. Forecasters say a gale watch may be needed for some waters on Sunday.

    Source: National Weather Service and 1 more

  11. Confirmed
    Weather

    Southwest Florida

    Small craft advisory for Collier and Lee Gulf waters through Sunday evening

    The National Weather Service has a small craft advisory from Friday afternoon through Sunday evening for Gulf waters from East Cape Sable to Bonita Beach. Northeast winds of 20 to 25 knots with gusts near 30 are forecast tonight, rising to 25 to 30 knots by Sunday afternoon. Seas build from 3 to 5 feet to as high as 5 to 7 feet Sunday night.

    Source: National Weather Service and 2 more

  13. Confirmed
    Traffic & Roads

    Southwest Florida

    FDOT hearings Oct. 27 and 28 on adding lanes to I-75 from Golden Gate to Alico

    Tuesday, October 27

    The Florida Department of Transportation will hold an in-person public hearing Oct. 27 at Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church, 1225 Piper Blvd., Naples, with an open house at 4 p.m. and a presentation at 4:30 p.m., followed by a virtual hearing Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. The project would add capacity, including auxiliary lanes, on I-75 from north of Golden Gate Parkway to south of Alico Road. Comments for the hearing record are due Nov. 10; noise wall details will come later.

    Source: Collier MPO and 3 more

  16. Confirmed
    Local Government

    Southwest Florida

    Early voting opens in Lee, Charlotte and Hendry; Collier and Glades start later

    Early voting for the Nov. 3 general election runs Oct. 19 through Oct. 31 in Lee (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), Charlotte (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and Hendry (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) counties. Collier opens Oct. 22 and Glades on Oct. 24, both through Oct. 31, and voters must bring a valid photo ID. Collier's elections supervisor says redrawn congressional districts moved more than 173,000 voters there into new districts.

    Source: WINK News and 1 more