WGCU Staff

Big Cypress National Preserve has issued a temporary closure to promote visitor safety during prescribed fire activity beginning Tuesday, Jan. 14. Closure incudes all areas and trails within the treatment perimeter, trails on the perimeter of the unit will remain open for use. During the closure all recreational use including off-road vehicles, hiking, camping, hunting and commercial activities are prohibited in the designated areas. Unlike the closure in the area last week, during this closure all parts of the Florida National Scenic Trail will remain open.Prescribed fire is a carefully planned fire that uses fire science and specific environmental conditions to meet management goals for the preserve. A prescribed fire is one of Big Cypress’s best tools to help create a mosaic of diverse habitats, manage for our endangered species, and reduce the threat of a destructive wildfire.

Rachael Loukonen and Trent Reichling of Fort Myers, have been appointed to serve as judges on the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court.The appointments were made late Wednesday by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Terminal roadway improvements that are part of the Terminal Expansion Project Phase 2 at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) will mean some changes in the location of ground transportation at the airport.Travelers will notice construction fencing on the lower level roadways involved with those changes now in effect.

A number of volunteer and advisory positions are open in Charlotte and Lee counties.

More cold temperatures expected for much of the Southwest Florida over the next few days has several counties setting up cold weather shelters.

In a social media conversation Tuesday afternoon, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno discussed the state of the agency, highlighting what he described as the agency's accomplishments. In the fifteen-minute exchange, he mentioned next to nothing about an ongoing FBI investigation.

The Glades County Post Office site in Palmdale will temporarily halt operations Wednesday due to an unspecified "safety concern" according to an official announcement from the USPS.No specific reason was provided for the stoppage at the Palmdale Post Office at 1134 Broadway Street NW, Palmdale.

To help serve northeast Sarasota County, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System on Monday opened a new emergency care center at 7250 University Parkway in Lakewood Ranch.The 21-room, 15,000-square-foot freestanding ER facility is about 3 miles east of I-75 near Lorraine Road.

A new, free and on-demand transportation service is now in operation to help veterans easily reach medical appointments.Provided by Manatee County’s Veterans Services and Transportation divisions ‘Manatee Moves’ will directly connect county veterans to health providers by utilizing a rideshare service. Accessible through a smartphone app, Manatee Moves is open to all pre-registered veterans who can walk on their own, or who use an assistance device like a folding walker.

Phase II of the City of Sanibel's beach renourishment project at Lighthouse Beach Park has resumed. Crews will continue to place the remaining 105,000 tons of sand on the bayside of Lighthouse Beach Park to strengthen the beach coastline and protect the Sanibel Lighthouse.