Local WGCU News

After years of hiatus, Jennifer Rena Bennett, owner of Matlacha's Island Flair, has partnered with the Matlacha Civic Association to resurrect Matlacha's Art Walk. Its resurgence returned to the small island on June 13, 2025. Since then, the event has gained increased attention with an intrinsic goal of rejuvenating and reinvigorating the quaint business community, home to the historic fishing village, during the times of stability prior to the cavalcade of hurricanes Ian, Helene and Milton—all of which impacted the low-lying island in different ways.

At least three Matlacha businesses continue to reel following a shoplifting incident on Saturday, Nov. 8. One store owner says the suspect stole nearly $500 in local artwork from her store alone — artwork she and the community say local business owners depend on for a stable income and quality of life. Now, nearly two weeks later, with businesses still waiting for updates, the greater community, home to the historic fishing village, remains dumbfounded by what they call an extraordinary event, feeling for the businesses and artists picking up the pieces.

In light of the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history, local nonprofit organizations are feeling the brunt of the impacts as a lapse in SNAP benefits persist causing individuals as well as families to function without food for extended periods of time. Find out how one organization in particular is taking extra steps to help not only its clients, but also other local organizations weathering the storm of SNAP uncertainty.

Florida is the land of sunshine and good vibes, but when the sun goes down on Downtown Fort Myers, something ghastly takes over. The waterside community is home to spiritual abnormalities that have caused spine-tingling reactions for decades.WGCU’s Samuel Brucker took part in a Historic Downtown Tour to learn the horrific stories that have turned into urban legend and have given a taste of the macabre to Southwest Florida.

Ecological Laboratories Inc. in Cape Coral, went from microscopic status to statewide success, making Florida’s Top 10 Manufacturing Employers list for 2025. FloridaMakes, a statewide partnership, selects 10 manufacturing employers that create thriving workplaces with connected cultures and abundant growth opportunities.

After nine years and three developers failed to draw up plans for the site, the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency decided to take the lead on the McCollum Hall historic preservation and redevelopment project in early August. Since then, the agency has worked to engage the community, aiming to hear what people want for the building’s future and to deliver on those desires once and for all, precisely what the Sept. 30 community engagement session tried to accomplish.

The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning from noon to 7 p.m. today for Southwest Florida areas including Lee, DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte counties.A combination of warm temperatures this afternoon, low relative humidity values, and sustained winds greater than 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph will create Red Flag conditions across much of west central and Southwest Florida this afternoon.At the same time a number of brush fires were being fought.

The US Census Bureau is hiring hundreds of thousands of temporary workers across the country to help with the 2020 count, and southwest Florida is no…