WGCU

City of Naples voters will have eight candidates to choose from in the February 3, 2026, election. Three city council seats are at stake in the election.

Our Mothers Home is celebrating 25 years in Southwest Florida. Its goal: to help pregnant teenagers and teen mothers and their children.

Lee County now has a new commissioner. Thirty-four-year-old Patricia 'Trish' Petrosky was sworn in Monday on the steps of the Old Lee Courthouse in Fort Myers.

Lee County is having to delay the in-person issuing of parking permits on Boca Grande. Lee had scheduled a number of days in December for people to get permits at a location in the community. But Lee said Friday that building construction is causing utility problems at the permit distribution site.

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.

Lee County is publicizing new rules for parking in Boca Grande. The rules set up a placard and decal system for residents and hotel guests. They also limit visitor parking to three hours between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

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.

College student Ava Williams united the community forces of Moorings Presbyterian Church and Gulf Coast High School to craft stuffed animals for Youth Haven, a children’s shelter in Naples. Williams taught both young and old to crochet and eventually donated over fifteen stuffed animals to the foster home.

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.