Breaking News

Breaking News

School district announces hurricane makeup days

The School District of Lee County has announced hurricane makeup days. To maintain instructional continuity, students are now required to attend school for a full day on: • Monday, Oct. 28 • Monday, Feb. 24 • Friday, March 14 • Monday, April 28 • Thursday, May 29 • Friday, May 30 The school year will also be extended by two days with early dismissal on: • Monday, June 2 • Tuesday, June 3 Due to Hurricane Helene, Monday, Jan. 6, has already been added to the school calendar as a full day for students. For school staff, ...

United Way, Collaboratory, relaunch SWFL Emergency Relief Fund

In the wake of Hurricane Milton, a pair of local non-profits have teamed up to provide relief for those impacted by the storm that blew through Southwest Florida nearly two weeks ago. As the clean-up and recovery from Hurricane Milton moves forward in earnest over the next several days and weeks, United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades is working to ensure all those in need of assistance are supported. Financial donations and volunteers are needed to support the region’s recovery. United Way’s 211 helpline is still operating 24 hours a day, providing free information and ...

City approves $38 million land buy for reservoir

City Council approved the purchase of 1,202 acres, which is located east of U.S. 41 in Charlotte County for $38 million for the development of a water supply reservoir for Cape Coral’s irrigation water system. Utilities Director Jeff Pearson said currently the city receives all of their irrigation water from the freshwater canal system. He said they are permitted for 66.7 million gallons per day on a maximum basis. “The system that we have, the reliability for the system depends on the canal levels remaining static, especially during the dry season,” Pearson said, adding that ...

Vote expected on proposed car wash & self-storage facility regulations

The second and final hearing to determine land use regulations car wash and self-storage facilities is scheduled for Wednesday. The proposed revisions for car wash facilities include definition,s conditional uses permissible in select districts and the creation of conditional use requirements. Cape Coral City Council's consideration comes as a result of imposed moratorium ordinances passed by the elected board in April. The moratoriums expire in January. The self-storage facilities ordinance would create a new section specific to conditional uses. The conditional use section includes ...

Find open business listings at Business Emergency Coordination Center

The Business Emergency Coordination Center allows businesses to submit real-time status reports post-storm or disaster. These reports will help the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral and the city's Economic & Business Development staff assess the needs of our businesses so they can help get them up and running post storm. "The public-facing side of the BECC provides the community with updated information about what businesses are operational, what services they offer, and their availability," the Chamber said in a release issued Friday. As grocery stores, gas stations, convenience ...

AccuWeather sets preliminary estimates for total  damage, economic loss from Milton between $160 and $180 billion

AccuWeather preliminarily estimates the total damage and economic loss from historic Hurricane Milton will be between $160 billion and $180 billion.   "After making landfall as a Category 3 hurricane, a major hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale, Milton will go down as one of the most damaging and impactful storms in Florida history, along with Hurricane Helene’s estimated total damage and economic loss of $225-250 billion just two weeks ago, which resulted in significant damage from the Gulf Coast of Florida to the southern Appalachians, where a catastrophic ...