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Debris left by Hurricane Ian is seen behind Jimmy and Shirley Driggers' house on Pine Island, Fla., on Oct. 28, 2022.

Pine Island residents frustrated over lack of services, help

Head of state Emergency Management and FEMA officials surprise Hurricane Ian victims on Pine Island

Working farms featuring hay barns and horse stalls can be found along the Florida Wildlife Corridor

Panthers and bats and bears: Florida's endangered species have even more room to roam

Florida residents own rights to decide if 5,000 acres of farmland in Charlotte, Hardee, and Highlands counties will ever be developed now part of Rural and Family Lands

Members of the Mississippi 'Goon Squad' get stiff sentences in torture of 2 Black men

6 white ex-lawmen sentenced to a total of 132 years in federal prison for the 2023 racially-motivated torture of Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Parker during a no-warrant house raid.

Conception drawing of how the new Fort Myers Beach pier might look. Lee County Commissioners approved a $17 million plan that would build the pier back as nearly twice as long as its former 585-foot-length and four-feet-wider than it's former 8-foot width.

Fort Myers Beach pier will be built back better - wider, longer, costlier

Destroyed by Hurricane Ian almost two years ago, the popular Fort Myers Beach pier will be rebuilt, but this time as a wider, longer, costlier — and more sturdy — attraction.The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to direct staff to rebuild the pier to 1,000-feet-long and 12-feet-wide — nearly twice the original 585-foot length longer and 50% wider than the 8-foot-wide pier destroyed by Hurricane Ian.

Photos: Thousands in Los Angeles evacuate as wind-fueled wildfires quickly worsen

More than 30,000 people in Los Angeles County have been ordered to evacuate as the Palisades Fire blazed through the Pacific Palisades community, fueled by intense Santa Ana winds.

Progress is made on a huge fire north of LA as new fires erupt in Southern California

Evacuation orders were lifted Thursday for tens of thousands as firefighters slowed the spread of a huge wildfire in mountains north of Los Angeles, but new blazes erupted in San Diego County.

People wait for food at a mobile food pantry in Fort Myers. The line stretched about a city block. Local non-profit groups said they are seeing more needy people than ever.

Southwest Floridians struggle with what some call outrageous cost of living

People who've never struggled before now are having to pick between buying food, or medicine, or paying rent and utilities. Is there enough private and government aid to help Southwest Floridians in need?

Three SWFL projects share $11M in program to boost defenses against hurricanes and flooding

More than $11 million in grants has been awarded to the Naples Airport, Lee County Utilities and the city of Fort Myers as part of $150 million distributed as part of the Resilient Florida Program to strengthen coastal and inland communities against the impacts of flooding and hurricanes.“The Resilient Florida Program is turning planning into action,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “These grants will equip Florida’s communities to better withstand impacts from flooding, storm surge and hurricanes, advancing on-the-ground efforts to safeguard Florida’s natural resources and infrastructure.”

Trump vows to use local police to deport migrants. Could he do it?

Donald Trump says he would use local law enforcement to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. But this tactic is unpopular with many sheriffs in border counties.

Needle Exchange Program Gets Senate Backing

A Senate panel Wednesday unanimously approved a bill that would create a pilot needle-exchange program in Miami-Dade County to try to stem the spread of...

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