Mike Walcher

A volunteer group is committing another seven months to rebuilding homes in the Harlem Heights community, which was badly damaged by Hurricane Ian. Adventures in Missions, a Christian-based group in Georgia, helps the needy all over the world. It's sending more volunteers to the lower-income neighborhood in Lee County.

Some people in Lehigh Acres are starting an effort to become a city. Similar campaigns over the past 25 or so years have failed. A new group is trying once again.

Many people on Pine Island still are re-building from the damage of Hurricane Ian. And they're also dealing with concerns that the island could lose its natural beauty and small community charm.

Collier County is dropping its membership in the American Library Association because of political and other concerns. Concerns start with the political views of the new ALA president, and continue on to what critics call the promotion of gay and sexually explicit books that children could find.

The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency Wednesday approved up to $22.4 million dollars in increment tax rebates for two new developments. One is located downtown, the other in the Martin Luther King, Jr., Boulevard redevelopment area.

A growing number of Hurricane Ian victims are raising their homes to prevent catastrophic flood damage from another storm. That's raise, as in having the entire structures lifted up, and placed on supports.

Flooding in the Island Park community in South Fort Myers brought back bad memories for some people. Just 11 months ago, floodwaters from Hurricane Ian devastated many Island Park homes. Early Wednesday morning some people feared a repeat.

A months-long survey finds that most respondents want an amphitheater on the site of the Lee Civic Center. Lee County officials revealed survey results at a meeting Thursday night.

The Lee County School District is using a $1 million grant to keep track of students who take buses to school. The district is unveiling it card-scanning program, called Student Ridership. Most bus-riding students will get their cards this week, as classes begin on Thursday.

Imagine more than $1 billion. That's how much government money is expected to flow into Southwest Florida in coming months and years. The money is supposed to pay for long-term recovery from Hurricane Ian. The massive influx of money has the potential to transform the area, and the ability of the region to survive future storms. Right now Lee County alone is slated to receive $1.1 billion from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).