Collier County

SWFL parents won't have to worry about their kids being well fed at school this year.

We are all connected by the environment we share. The Earth is our home. This is the space where we share the environmental stories that caught our attention this week in Florida and beyond.

Scientists with the Collier County Mosquito Control District have found two new mosquito species in the region including the invasive and Aedes tortilis and the Aedes scapularis which can spread yellow fever and Venezuelan equine encephalitis.

The invasive Aedes scapularis and Aedes tortilis mosquitos brings the total number of known mosquito species in Collier to 48.

Last Friday, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that will severely limit the ability of local governments to raise impact fees, the primary tool local governments use to finance required infrastructure for new developments.

Tomorrow, Tuesday May 25th, the Collier County Board of Commissioners will cast the final vote on the proposed Longwater and Bellmar developments. The two communities in Eastern Collier County, along with Rivergrass, are planned to create a new town in the far Eastern part of Collier County, all within prime panther habitat.

Florida’s partnership with Publix grocery store chain to administer COVID-19 vaccine doses is expanding and will now include 16 Publix locations in Collier County.

State health officials reported 8,847 new COVID-19 cases, Wednesday for a total of 1,018,160 cases. On Tuesday, Florida became the third state in the U.S., along with Texas and California, to surpass one million total cases.The Florida Department of Health also reported 88 new coronavirus-related deaths, Dec. 2, for a total of 19,012 fatalities since the beginning of the pandemic.

State health officials reported 10,105 new COVID-19 cases Sunday, marking the largest single-day increase in reported infections since July 25. There have now been 885,201 reported cases of the virus in Florida since the start of the pandemic.The Florida Department of Health also reported 30 new coronavirus-related deaths, Nov. 15, increasing the statewide death toll to 17,734 fatalities.

Health officials in Collier County are advising residents to stay vigilant after the direct impacts of Eta subside.