Hayley Lemery

The efforts to help Southwest Florida recover from Hurricane Ian damage extend far outside state lines.A company in Maryland has been selling T-shirts to help the Gulf Coast Humane Society with repair costs and to make up for lost revenue.

The Special Equestrians center in Buckingham is preparing to reopen November 1, after volunteers repaired damage and cleared debris from Hurricane Ian. The center allows children and adults with disabilities to ride horses.

The school district superintendent in Lee County has been an appointed position since 1974. In the November general election, voters will get to decide whether to make it an elected position.

Cape Coral voters will decide in November whether to grant property tax breaks to new businesses that meet certain guidelines. If approved, the exemption also would cover existing businesses that want to expand, if they meet certain guidelines on hiring and investment. The city said the goal is to attract large new businesses with high-paying jobs, and encourage existing ones to stay and grow.

Lee County is working with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s Office of Broadband to pinpoint areas where internet connection can be strengthened.Residents and businesses are encouraged to take a broadband survey and internet speed test so data can be collected to evaluate broadband capabilities and identify areas lacking service. The goal is to have high-speed internet accessible throughout all of Lee County.

Birds and sea turtles can be profoundly effected by fireworks, say wildlife advocates. They urge caution and consideration this holiday weekend.

Fourth of July fireworks add sparks of excitement to Independence Day festivities. With the holiday coming up next Monday, Southwest Florida residents should consider firework safety for their celebrations.

The largest Burmese python ever discovered in Florida was captured from the Everglades and brought to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida for research. The female python, weighing in at 215 pounds and 18 feet long, had 122 eggs inside of her, which is the largest egg count ever recorded for a python.

Florida House Institute and Sarasota Urban ReForesters are creating micro forests in the Sarasota region as an environmental strategy to combat climate change. When 4,000 trees and plants are planted on a small parcel of land, a micro forest is created. The goal of the project is to grow a 100-year forest in just 10 years

On June 11, over 400 people gathered in downtown Fort Myers as part of the nationwide March For Our Lives demonstration for gun reform. Speakers used personal experiences to call for stricter gun laws and regulations.