SWFLA To Do List: Events in Bonita, Estero, Naples and Marco Island
Top events of the week: 3 To Do: Big Cypress Celebration; Key Marco Cat; Burrowing Owl Fest. A Brother's Revival featuring Former Allman Brothers Bassist David “Rook” Goldflies “legendary songs played live once again, and to perfection.” A Brother's Revival is a dynamic Southern rock ensemble that delivers authentic...
Smoke Concerns Now, Rain Chances Friday
The biggest concern right now isn’t rain — it’s smoke. Dense smoke from the National Fire has reduced visibility along Alligator Alley, and portions of I-75 have been closed overnight due to dangerous driving conditions. Winds are shifting this morning and could continue to push smoke across inland Southwest Florida...
Harry Chapin Food Bank receives $30,000 to support children in Immokalee
Harry Chapin Food Bank has received a $30,000 grant from Jingled Elves, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and children in Collier County. The grant will support Harry’s Helpings, a child-focused feeding program that provides supplemental food kits to families at child care,...
Florida’s best idea at risk from low funding | Opinion
On January 28 2026, I stood with all the partners of the Picayune Strand Restoration Project gathered at the Miller Pump Station just southwest of Interstate-75 to celebrate an Everglades restoration project 20 years in the making. The goal? To remove 260 miles of roads and plug 48 miles of canals of a failed swamp...
Endangered Florida Panther Left Dead On Collier’s State Road 82
A rare Florida panther was found dead Tuesday morning along a heavily traveled stretch of State Road 82 in Collier County after what wildlife officials say was likely a vehicle strike. The female cat, identified by researchers as UCFP500, was estimated to be between five and six years old. Her...
Naples man faces charges for gun threat in road rage case
The sheriff's office said Gomez was driving a truck, pulled the rifle out, and threatened a driver in a Tesla.
Woman sentenced to federal prison for $2.8 million ID theft scheme in Naples
NAPLES, Fla. — A Texas woman who pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including theft of government money and aggravated identity theft, will spend more than five years in federal prison. Kristin Kunstler, 43, deposited a U.S. Treasury check belonging to the victim on Jan. 2, 2025, and opened a...
FHP will honor fallen Florida trooper with full honors in livestreamed memorial
The Florida Highway Patrol is honoring Trooper Michael Diego with "full line-of-duty death honors" after his life was cut short by a medical emergency during training in Gadsden County. Alongside the honors, FHP will be livestreaming a special memorial service scheduled for 12 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28 as he is...
Food for Thought with Dr. Bill McDowell
It was truly our pleasure to welcome Dr. Bill McDowell, Dean of Entrepreneurship at Florida Gulf Coast University, as the featured presenter at our Greater Estero Chamber of Commerce Food for Thought Luncheon. FGCU is widely recognized as home to one of the leading entrepreneurship programs in Florida and across...
Bonita Springs Utilities wins multiple 2025 awards
Bonita Springs Utilities (BSU) celebrated an award-winning year in 2025, earning several honors for excellence in water service and sustainability. The utility was named Utility of the Future Today for its innovation and leadership in the water industry.
