Immokalee

Education

From student to mentor, Immokalee assistant director earns recognition

Elizabeth Andarge

An Immokalee assistant director has been recognized statewide for helping first-generation students navigate the path to college.

Housing

New affordable rental housing project breaks ground for Immokalee workers

WGCU Staff

The Diocese of Venice in Florida and National Development of America have broken ground on Casa San Juan Diego, marking the first step in an effort to expand affordable housing opportunities in Immokalee. Casa San Juan Diego will add 80 brand-new rental units to the community, providing housing for qualified residents who earn up to 60% of the average median income and work in Immokalee.

Health

Immokalee company's president criminally charged for mishandling wildlife

Cary Barbor

The president of BC US in Immokalee was charged with a second-degree misdemeanor for the company's mishandling of a macaque monkey.

Meetings will, be held tonight in-person and March 24 virtually on projects to improve State Route 29 in Immokalee.

Transportation

In-person and virtual meetings planned for State Route 29 improvement projects

WGCU Staff

An in-person meeting tonight and a virtual meeting March 24 are planned by the Florida Department of Transportation, District One, to air detail on two State Road 29 design projects. The projects are part of a broader FDOT initiative to improve the S.R. 29 Immokalee corridor, which has been underway since 2007.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced funding earmarked for infrastructure repair in 37 Florida communities at a briefing at the Sebring Airport Thursday.

Government & Politics

Communities in Collier, DeSoto, Okeechobee, Peace River Watershed, other sites awarded $311M for infrastructure repair

WGCU Staff

A number of projects across Florida, including several in Southwest and South regions, will share in $311 million disbursed by the state Thursday.Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the funding, earmarked for infrastructure repair in 37 Florida communities at a briefing at the Sebring Airport Thursday.

Empty shelves greeted prospective customers of the Winn-Dixie store in Immokalee on Sunday. he store closed operations Saturday as part of the Aldis takeover. There is no timeline for operations to resume under the Aldis name.

Human Interest

Charitable bus offer for Immokalee residents after grocery closes is over after failing to gain traction

Eileen Kelley

Free bus rides to grocery store outside of Immokalee ends.

A family from Immokalee takes a photo in front of the now closed Winn-Dixie store, the last supermarket the community has available to them. The store closed late Saturday but a steady stream of customers drove up Sunday unaware that the store had closed earlier. The next nearest supermarket is a Publix about eight miles away in Ave Maria.

Immigration

Immokalee bus for groceries may get canceled after ridership proves non-existent; immigration raids could be reason for just one rider

Eileen Kelley

Free bus rides have been offered to out of town grocers after Immokalee lost its only full-service grocery store in October.

An agent from the U.S. Homeland Security, a federal law enforcement agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in Immokalee Wednesday morning. Workers on a tomato grower's bus were reportedly taken off the vehicle. An immigration support group, Unidos Immokalee, said several workers were in need of medical attention after they were removed from the bus.

Immigration

Field workers pulled from Pacific Tomato Growers' bus outside Immokalee Wednesday morning

Eileen Kelley

An immigration support group was warning people Wednesday morning to avoid Immokalee after a number of people were reported to have been taken off a work bus in the area. The Facebook warning from Unidos Immokalee urged people to not “Enter or leave Immokalee. Do not depart Immokalee.”

Human Interest

Bus to Publix waited and waited, no riders showed - six times - for inaugural supermarket runs in Immokalee

Eileen Kelley

The county and Collier Community Foundation stepped in for dedicated bus rides to a far-away grocer after one grocery in Immokalee closed.

Watch

Business/Economy

Winn Dixie closure leaves community with limited options

WGCU News

Folks in Immokalee who depended on the community's only supermarket, Winn Dixie, are frustrated and concerned. The store closed about a week ago as part of Aldi's acquisition of Southeastern Grocers.