City of Cape Coral

From drones to body cameras, artificial intelligence is changing how police departments are investigating crimes and train officers. While law enforcement leaders call it efficient and lifesaving, questions remain about bias, transparency and how far the technology will go.That shift is already underway in Southwest Florida, where police departments are beginning to rely on artificial intelligence in daily operations.

Many Cape Coral business owners and employees are worried about how new Ordinance 44-25 will impact each business that depends on a commercial vehicle, claiming it would harm the business’s profitability and productivity. They say this will add an unnecessary hurdle increasing the difficulty behind already hefty tasks associated with the job while also placing the increased financial burden onto the customers.

Cape Coral residents got a chance this week to provide feedback for the city's new mobility plan, which will improve intersections, sidewalks, and promote walking and cycling. The 20 year plan involves road widening, lane repurposing, and additional paths pedestrians, funded by a mobility fee.The proposed fee will replace Cape Coral’s existing road impact fee, which has not been updated in nearly 20 years. It will be calculated based on location, square footage, and land use. Many attendees were concerned that the budget for this project will come from their pockets, but it will only be applied to new construction.

Marni Sawicki, mayor of Cape Coral from 2013 to 2017, moved back to her home state of Michigan and is running for governor.

Drivers in Cape Coral could be on camera, and getting a speeding ticket, in the near future.The city has OK'd the installation of cameras around school speed zones, and possibly other places, to spot speeders and send them citations.

A flood insurance issue that could end up costing millions for residents in unincorporated Lee County and several of the county's cities will be aired Tuesday at the Board of County Commissioners meeting.At stake is federal flood insurance community ratings in unincorporated Lee County and multiple municipalities in the county. FEMA confirmed Monday that unpermitted work, lack of documentation, and failure to properly monitor the rebuilding of properties in flood hazard areas in the post-Hurricane Ian world is why the federal government has chosen to significantly downgrade those ratings.That means federal flood insurance policy holders — there are more than 51,000 in unincorporated Lee County alone — will lose their 25 percent discounts on flood insurance premiums come Oct. 1. Some 64,000 policy holders in Bonita Springs, Estero and Cape Coral will no longer quality for the discounts until possibly spring 2026.The matter will be discussed in further detail when the Lee County Board of County Commissioners meet for their regular board meeting at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

As the City of Cape Coral develops its master plan, SWFL Biz Today publisher Karen Moore attended a roundtable on the future of the manufacturing industry in the city.

The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a water quality advisory for the Cape Coral Yacht Club due to enterococcus bacteria.

A Cape Coral councilmember who was arrested earlier in the week on several felony charges stemming from alleged false information and other activities related to her election was suspended by executive order of the governor.

An arrest warrant issued Monday for Cape Coral councilmember Patty L. Cummings charged her with three third degree felonies: Fraudulent Application for Driver License and two counts of False Swearing in Connection with or Arising Out of Voting or Elections.She surrendered at the Lee County Sheriff's Office Tuesday afternoon.