Fort Myers

Restoring an iconic landmark in Fort Myers is taking a lot longer than expected after Hurricane Ian. And now a lawsuit is filed against the city over the restoration of Rachel at the Well.

A unanimous reversal vote Friday by the Fort Myers City Council on the city police department's participation in the ICE 287(g) program raises questions about the impact of public testimony and leaves many wondering what comes next for the City of Fort Myers?Despite overwhelming opposition expressed during public comment preceding the vote, the council agreed to approve Fort Myers Police Department participation. As the meeting opened, a line of residents and other interested parties waited in anticipation to enter council chambers Friday afternoon for the special meeting concerning proposal 287 (g).

Between 2004 and September of 2022, local historian Gerri Reaves wrote a weekly column for The River Weekly News. Most of her articles traced the occupancy of Fort Myers’ historic buildings. She shared some of those stories last week with members of the Southwest Florida Historical Society during a presentation she titled “Scenes from Downtown History.” Her pithy observations prompted several members to ask how to go about preserving her writings and research for posterity.

Lewis Black’s voice has become synonymous to comedy after 30 years in the business. Before he leaves the stage, shares what fans can expect from his final shows in Florida.

Fort Myers City Council voted 5 to 2 on February 18 to start over procuring bids for repairs to the columns and fencing that surround Rachel at the Well. Rachel, a 99-year old statue of a Grecian maiden that stands at the entrance to Edison Park at Llewellyn Drive and McGregor Boulevard, is fine, but her "surround" has still not been rebuilt more than two and a half years after Hurricane Ian.

The Women's March Fort Myers organized hundreds of demonstrators to gather for a nationwide movement championing social justice.

Entering 2025, the City of Fort Myers Public Art Committee has three vacancies to fill.

A company headquartered in Hong Kong has bought a piece of property at the Edison Mall in Fort Myers. That property includes the closed Sears store, which used to be a popular shopping spot. A Fort Myers council member said the Sears may be torn down to make way for multi-family housing.

As we commemorate Native American History Month, we turn our attention to a small city in Southwest Florida. From treaties and broken promises to surprising acts of cooperation, the story of Fort Myers offers a lens into the complex history of the Seminole Wars and their lasting impact.

Fort Myers hosted its first of four community workshops that will help update the city’s comprehensive plan.