Lee County

Doing less for your lawn in the summertime can play a part in preserving Florida waters. June 1 through September 30, three areas of Southwest Florida are asking residents to give their fertilizer routines a summer vacation for the sake of water quality.

Lee County Public Schools has a new Superintendent in Christopher Bernier, who took the oath of office on Monday to serve the district.

Lee County recently held a dedication ceremony of the justice center in memory of the late Judge Isaac Anderson Jr., the first African American judge in the county.

LeeTran is using technology to serve riders better. The public transit agency is trying out an Uber-style service in Bonita Springs, while also working on a new park-and-ride location near the Bell Tower Shops.

Winter storms continue to blow furiously in the north and more snowbirds are flocking to warmer climates. While beaches in Florida are popular getaways for northerners, it’s important for all beachgoers to properly know how to use local beaches. Whether in ignorance or a blatant disregard for the rules, beach patrons may leave a significantly negative effect on the environment in Southwest Florida.

The Lee County Board of Commissioners met this week to talk about cost increases of their current and future road projects due to inflation. Currently the costs of non-residential construction are going up about 8% a year, according to county transportation planners.

A Republican-sponsored bill that passed the Florida House of Representatives could make the Lee County Superintendent of Schools a partisan, elected position. One Democratic Party official believes it's an attack on educators, while a co-sponsor of the bill calls it a way to increase accountability in district leadership.

There are 1.5 million veterans in the state of Florida, with veterans in Lee County making up 10% of the county’s population.“One veteran's experience in homelessness is one too many,” Michael Raposa, CEO of St. Vincent DePaul CARES, said.

Lee County officials estimate about $1.1 million dollars in damages with more than one hundred mobile homes damaged and some 30 mobile homes destroyed. This was just one of a number of tornadoes that touched down across Southwest Florida on Sunday as a massive cold front moved across the state.

Lee Health is looking for blood donors to replenish its blood supply.