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The ghost orchid may become a protected species under the Endargered Species Act. There are fewer than 1,500 of the flowers left in the wild.

Legal victory speeds protection decision for rare ghost orchid

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has agreed to decide by June 1, 2025, whether to protect the imperiled ghost orchid. A news release from The Center for Biological Diversity said the USFWS agreement follows a lawsuit filed by the Center, The Institute for Regional Conservation, and the National Parks Conservation Association.

The Fort Myers postal facility may become a Local Processing Center.

USPS announces Fort Myers postal processing facility changes

The United States Postal Service (USPS) recently announced processing operations will remain at the Fort Myers postal facility.

A man walks away with a tent, a cot, a sleeping bag and a backpack. He is homeless and sleeping outside. The Point In Time count took place in Lee and Collier Counties. Volunteers walked the parking lots, woods, parks, and even set up a basecamp in areas they know the homeless will be at to get a count on the need in the area. The face of the homeless has changed over the past few years. The first time homeless made mostly up of elderly and single parents with kids are starting to outnumber the chronic homeless.

New Florida law bans people from sleeping in public places

Florida House Bill 1365 (HB 1365) just became law, and it prevents people from public camping or sleeping in public places. This includes public buildings and their grounds, public rights-of-way, sidewalks and streets.

New water meters being installed in Sarasota County are assembled, checked out and installed on a house-by-house basis. The replacement project, expected to continue for five years, is now focused on unincorporated Sarasota County. The Siesta Key area was completed in 2023..

Multi-year Sarasota County water meter replacement continuing

Sarasota County is continuing upgrading water meters throughout unincorporated Sarasota County to enhance the utilities system and improve response times during weather events and year-round. This project started in 2023 on Siesta Key and is expected to take five years to complete the remaining meter replacements throughout unincorporated Sarasota County.

Before There Was The Donald, There Was Arnold

Donald Trump's foray into politics has had some scratching their heads. But not in California, where celebrity candidates like former Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger are, like, so 12 years ago.

Red flag warning issued for much of Southwest Florida on Friday

The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning from noon to 7 p.m. today for Southwest Florida areas including Lee, DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte counties.A combination of warm temperatures this afternoon, low relative humidity values, and sustained winds greater than 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph will create Red Flag conditions across much of west central and Southwest Florida this afternoon.At the same time a number of brush fires were being fought.

Surveillance image from a robbery alleged committed by two Lee County residents in mid-September.

Lee County couple face charges after alleged armed robberies in areas along I-75

Two Lee County residents who were arrested after posting social media images of their alleged mid-September robberies are now facing charges of Hobbs Act robbery. The could receive up to 20- years in prison if convicted.A criminal complaint charging Taleah Williams, 21, North Fort Myers, and Javion Ward, 21, Fort Myers, with Hobbs Act robbery was filed Monday.

An agent from the U.S. Homeland Security, a federal law enforcement agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in Immokalee Wednesday morning. Workers on a tomato grower's bus were reportedly taken off the vehicle. An immigration support group, Unidos Immokalee, said several workers were in need of medical attention after they were removed from the bus.

Field workers pulled from Pacific Tomato Growers' bus outside Immokalee Wednesday morning

An immigration support group was warning people Wednesday morning to avoid Immokalee after a number of people were reported to have been taken off a work bus in the area. The Facebook warning from Unidos Immokalee urged people to not “Enter or leave Immokalee. Do not depart Immokalee.”

Pollen a problem for cars and people as Southwest Florida welcomes spring

Pollen is a problem for cars and people as Southwest Florida welcomes spring. A car wash manager and a doctor offer tips for dealing with it.

Alico's first foray into residential and commercial development includes Corkscrew Grove Villages near S.R. 82, where the former citrus powerhouse has donated $5 million to build a wildlife crossing beneath the roadway (similar to that shown above) to try and keep the Florida panther, bears, alligators and other species from being hit by vehicles

Alico abandons citrus after 125 years in favor of developer role; wildlife protection is one action

Alico Inc. announced its exit from citrus production in January. In March, Alico unveiled Corkscrew Grove Village with an eventual 9,000 residences

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