South Central Florida Life

Featured

New election law under fire

Governor Ron DeSantis has just signed into law that some say will make it more difficult for some Floridians to vote.

Guadalupe Center welcomes three new members to board of trustees

A trio of new board members has joined Guadalupe Center’s Board of Trustees...

Children’s Museum of Naples announces 2024 night at the museum

The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (C’MON) announces its 2024 Night at the Museum to be held...

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Hurricane News

Some tree 'defects' don’t predict whether a tree will fall in a hurricane

Just because a tree looks a bit odd or damaged, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to topple during a tropical storm or hurricane...

Repainting: An essential post-hurricane repair

Homeowners and property managers often overlook one piece of post-storm maintenance – paint.

Hurricane Ian assistance exceeds $4.5 billion

More than $4.5 billion in federal grants, disaster loans and flood insurance payments has been provided...

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Wildlife & Environment

Lt. Governor Nuñez promotes water safety ahead of Memorial Day

Drowning is preventable, and the State of Florida works to educate Floridians and visitors on safe recreation...

Wildfire spread risk increases where trees, shrubs replace grasses

Across the United States over the past decade, an average of over 61,000 wildfires have burned...

Nearly every living manatee bears scars from encounters with boat propellers, and high-speed collisions with fast-moving watercraft is a top cause of manatee deaths.

Boaters asked to be responsible and mindful of manatee safety

National Safe Boating Week, an annual campaign encouraging boaters to be responsible on the water...

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Agriculture

UF/IFAS Extension entrepreneurship program grows new Florida farmers

This summer and fall, UF/IFAS Extension will host the Ag Entrepreneurship Series, a program...

Ranches are important part of wildlife habitat

Ranches may contain more wildlife than live on the wildlife preserves ...

Online exclusive

Build a Better World March continues

Another day, another 12 miles of progress as marchers neared the halfway mark ...

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Current conditions

Observed from: Fort Myers, Southwest Florida International Airport

Fair, 76 °F

Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Northeast wind around 6 mph. Get the full forecast

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Coronavirus

- Most of Florida at high risk for COVID-19
  
  Most of Florida is now considered at “high” risk for COVID-19 according to the Centers for Disease Control.
- Palm Beach County at high risk from COVID-19
  
  The COVID-19 virus is spreading again in Florida, according to data shared June 3 by the Florida Department of Health.
- New covid positivity in Florida at 3.8%
  
  TALLAHASSEE – For the week of April 1-7, Florida’s new COVID-19 positivity rate was 3.8%.

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Police/Fire

Two killed in three vehicle on SR 29

IMMOKALEE – Two people were killed in a three-vehicle crash on State Road 29 early Saturday morning, May 27.

CNN, NPR investigations into disappearance of two Immokalee men

IMMOKALEE -- Around twenty years ago, two beloved sons and fathers — Felipe Santos and Terrance Williams — went missing in Southwest Florida ...

FLHSMV educating how to safely ‘Share The Road’

Whether you’re walking, riding a motorcycle or bicycle, or driving a vehicle with any number of wheels...

FHP offers tips for driving in fog

Wildfires, smoke, fog and heavy rain can all lower visibility on the roads. It is important for motorist to …

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Sports

Immokalee wrestler will compete at state

Naomie Sylvestre is a junior here at Immokalee High School and one of the top wrestlers on our Indians’ girls wrestling team.

Immokalee Foundation’s Charity Classic Pro-Am Golf Tournament Raises over $365,000

For the 15th year, Southwest Florida golf enthusiasts hit the links as part of The Immokalee Foundation’s 2023 Charity Classic Pro-Am Golf …

KeyBank Foundation Awards $30,000 Grant to The Immokalee Foundation

KeyBank Foundation has committed a charitable grant of $30,000 to support The Immokalee Foundation’s Career Pathways Program, an innovative …

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Schools

Suncoast Credit Union awards $20,000 grant to Guadalupe Center

Guadalupe Center has received a $20,000 grant from Suncoast Credit Union Foundation to enhance learning...

The Immokalee Foundation earns honors

For the seventh consecutive year, The Immokalee Foundation has earned the Candid 2023 Platinum Seal of Transparency...

FSW Dental Hygiene program celebrates 100 percent pass rate

Even with the COVID pandemic and Hurricane Ian bookending their educational experience, all 17 of...

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Human Interest

The Isabella Eghrari Memorial Scholarship awards Immokalee Foundation postsecondary Students with Fun Money

For the 12th consecutive year, The Isabella Eghrari Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to 16 of Immokalee’s best and brightest. The lucky …

Farmworkers plan Build a New World March

A five-day march to draw attention to the plight of farmworkers is planned March 14-18, traveling 40 miles from Pahokee to Palm Beach.

On the Trail with Katrina and Callie: The Great Florida Cattle Drive 2022

The week of Dec. 4-10, I lived in a land where the days brought open skies, vast prairies dotted with hammocks of live oaks draped with Spanish moss ....

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Government

League of Women Voters sues state

TALLAHASSEE – On May 24, the League of Women Voters of Florida,sued Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and Secretary of State Cord Byrd ...

Mailbox Improvement Week arrives in time for spring cleaning

The U.S. Postal Service is asking all South Florida homeowners to inspect and repair their mailboxes during Mailbox Improvement Week, May 21–27.

President Biden approves Major Disaster Declaration for Florida

WASHINGTON — FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Florida to supplement state and local recovery efforts …

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Traffic/Road Work

AAA activates ‘Tow to Go’ in Florida for Memorial Day weekend

As AAA prepares to rescue more than 483,000 drivers nationwide with car trouble...

FHP advises motorists of low visibility driving in Big Cypress area

Florida Highway Patrol Troopers continue to monitor the fire/smoke conditions in the Big Cypress area...

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Veterans

Home Base Florida welcomes three new team members

Home Base Florida, a local non-profit founded by the Red Sox Foundation...

Home Base Florida to offer free virtual grief talk in honor of Memorial Day

The grief talk is being held in recognition of Memorial Day celebrated annually in May.

Veterans Business Owner Outreach receives funding from SBA

On Oct. 14, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced a new funding opportunity for up to $400,000...

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Two killed in three vehicle on SR 29

IMMOKALEE – Two people were killed in a three-vehicle crash on State Road 29 early Saturday morning, May 27.

Guadalupe Center welcomes three new members to board of trustees

A trio of new board members has joined Guadalupe Center’s Board of Trustees...

CNN, NPR investigations into disappearance of two Immokalee men

IMMOKALEE -- Around twenty years ago, two beloved sons and fathers — Felipe Santos and Terrance Williams — went missing in Southwest Florida ...

Business

SpaceX launches rocket

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with the ViaSat 3 Americas broadband satellite launched from the Kennedy Space Center on April 30.

Two Immokalee High School students awarded grants

Two Immokalee High School students received a grant from the Benison Center to aid them in starting and expanding their small businesses.

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Entertainment

Everglades City celebrates 100 years

Everglades City is always first! It was the original Collier County seat 100 years ago when

Here Come the Mummies comes to Immokalee!

Gold Entertainment is pleased to announce the funky undead band of 5000 year old mummies...

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Weather

Evacuation orders issued for Gulf Coast at Hurricane Ian nears

Florida officials waived toll collections to facilitate evacuations as local officials issued mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders in anticipation of Hurricane Ian.

FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2018 photo provided by NASA, Hurricane Florence churns over the Atlantic Ocean heading for the U.S. east coast as seen from the International Space Station. Astronaut Alexander Gerst, who shot the photo, tweeted: "Ever stared down the gaping eye of a category 4 hurricane? It's chilling, even from space." (Alexander Gerst/ESA/NASA via AP)

FEMA advises Floridians to prepare for a hurricane

WASHINGTON -- President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. approved Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s request for an emergency declaration on Sept. 24, ahead of Tropical Storm Ian. The declaration authorizes …

DOH-Collier reminds residents and visitors to have a plan

No matter the path of a storm, it’s always important to be prepared and have a plan.

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State

Early prescription refills permitted under State of Emergency

Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 22-219, expanding the State of Emergency statewide....

$12 million in down payment assistance awarded to hometown heroes

On July 26, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that since the Hometown Heroes housing assistance program launched...

Boy dies in hot car parked outside Miami area Jewish center

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — A 3-year-old boy died after being left in a car outside a South Florida preschool where both his parents are staff members, police said. The child was one of several …

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Nation & World

Thousands gather to mark Srebrenica massacre, bury victims

SREBRENICA, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — Thousands of people converged on the eastern Bosnian town of Srebrenica Monday to mark the 27th anniversary of Europe’s only acknowledged genocide since the …

New coronavirus mutant raises concerns in India and beyond

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HURRICANE NEWS

- Less than two weeks to apply for an SBA Disaster Loan in Florida
  
  The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) encourages businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations...
- Less than 2 weeks to apply for an SBA Disaster Loan
  
  The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) encourages businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners...
- Cajun Navy Ground Force helping Pine Island recover 3 months Post Hurricane Ian
  
  At 81-years-old, Douglas Guy is still strong enough to roll a wheelbarrow down his driveway.

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