Celebration of life set for former state attorney Joseph P. D’Alessandro

February 26, 2026

Services have been scheduled for Joseph P. D’Alessandro, the first state attorney for Florida’s 20th Judicial Circuit. A Fort Myers native who went on to serve in the office for more than three decades, D’Alessandro, 86, died on Feb. 16 following a brief illness. A celebration of life will be held on Friday, March 6, at 11 a.m. at the Church of the Resurrection in Fort Myers. When the Florida Legislature created the 20th Judicial Circuit in 1969, Gov. Claude Kirk appointed D’Alessandro to serve as its first lead prosecutor. In a post on social media, State Attorney Amira ...

State House votes to eliminate homestead non-school property taxes

February 24, 2026

The Republican-dominated Florida State House voted 80-30 to approve a bill which would seek to amend the state Constitution and exempt homesteaded properties in the state from paying non-school property taxes to municipalities, counties and other local government taxation authorities. The ...

Lee County Legal Aid Society to host Bacchus Bash fundraiser in March

February 24, 2026

Lee County Legal Aid Society will host a Bacchus Bash fundraiser on Friday, March 20, at Collaboratory, inviting supporters to step into an evening inspired by Roman antiquity and dedicated to expanding access to justice for local residents. “Equal justice shouldn’t depend on your bank ...

Florida Conservation Group celebrates historic Hardee County ranch conservation

February 24, 2026

Tallahassee, FL. — The Florida Conservation Group (FCG) is celebrating the approval by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet of a conservation easement that will provide permanent protection to the family-owned Buckhorn Ranch in Hardee County. The historic 1,327-acre cow-calf and ...

FDOT: Wilson Pigott Bridge to close to all traffic March 19 for deck replacement

February 24, 2026

Motorists who travel across the Wilson Pigott Bridge should prepare for a temporary full closure beginning March 19, weather permitting and contingent upon timely delivery of construction materials. The Florida Department of Transportation will close the bridge to all traffic to allow crews ...

Southwest Florida Ag Expo to offer favorite fair fare and a whole lot more

February 23, 2026

Food vendors at the Southwest Florida Ag Expo will once again compete for the Blue Ribbon Bites award during this year’s event to be held from Thursday, Feb. 26, through Sunday, March 8, at Mike Greenwell Regional Park. The two categories last year were for Best of Sweet and Best of ...