Independent contractors replace two departed Marco building inspectors

In wake of state agency findings....

11:36 PM, Jun. 17, 2013

Costly malicious pranks disturb neighbors on quiet street in Capri

String of events occurred in one block of Dolphin Circle on the Isles of Capri over the past several weeks....

11:04 AM, Jun. 17, 2013

Ambulance fee increase in Lee County plan

A proposal to increase ambulance fees by as much as 30 percent would make some of Lee County's charges pricier than those in three other Southwest Florida counties and outpace Hendry's most basic ambulance trip by about 40 percent....

11:49 PM, Jun. 15, 2013

South Lee County hospital proposal not dead just yet

Despite denial of 80-bed plan, judges occasionally reverse ruling on appeal, experts say. Lawyers specializing in these kinds of cases note that two recent cases show that administrative law judges are sometimes willing to reverse initial state rulings...

6:24 AM, Jun. 17, 2013

Straight talk by Steve Stefanides: City in search of leadership

A new column addressing issues of the day that face Marco Islanders....

11:00 AM, Jun. 18, 2013

Marco single-family home, condo sales continue to climb

$79 million in real estate closed during May....

4:51 PM, Jun. 17, 2013

Music as medicine: 12-year-old piano prodigy wows at Lee County hospital

As his fingers float across the keys, smiles widen and jaws drop in HealthPark Medical Center's atrium.

Fort Myers resident Noah Waddell is just 12, but his talent for playing piano reaches far beyond his age, and one he shares with the hospital’s...

6:20 PM, Jun. 17, 2013

Murder-suicide stuns family, friends

Maple Avenue South in Lehigh Acres and the surrounding neighborhood were quiet Tuesday. It was a far different scene Monday night and into the early morning when dozens of distraught people took to the streets after learning of an incident that left a...

5:24 AM, Jun. 12, 2013

Port Charlotte woman escapes house fire, suspect on the loose

The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office is searching for Donald Hierspiel. They say he is the man who shot his way into a house on the 700 block of Riviera Lane in Port Charlotte, then set the home on fire. ...

6:18 AM, Jun. 18, 2013

Police blotter

Information furnished by Marco Island Police Department ...

11:24 AM, Jun. 10, 2013

Oil fight hits home at Golden Gate Estates

Looking for peace, area residents surprised by companies looking for a little crude. Until two months ago, there was nothing but nature around the last house on 24th Avenue Southeast — only the sounds of wind and wildlife. That was fine for her and her...

12:26 AM, Jun. 17, 2013

Watch: Man rides whale shark in Gulf of Mexico

Riding any wild animal is generally not a good idea, but, according to a YouTube video, a man did just that to a giant whale shark off Florida’s west coast. ...

1:02 PM, Jun. 13, 2013

Cape Coral Hospital Auxiliary: Expenditures discussed at meeting

The Cape Coral Hospital Auxiliary General Membership Meeting held June 6 had a number of significant items on the agenda....

12:29 PM, Jun. 15, 2013

Seasonal specials to tempt locals

Capt. Brien’s chef highlights his choice for the hot months ...

6:16 PM, Jun. 14, 2013

Petition to stop plans for oil drilling near Golden Gate Estates gains support

A petition opposing proposed oil drilling near Golden Gate Estates and the Florida Panther Wildlife Refuge is gaining ground on Change.org, with signatures jumping from 250 to nearly 2,500 in one week....

12:13 AM, Jun. 13, 2013

Comedian Christopher Titus turns his painful past into comedy

Comedy Central star at Off the Hook Thursday-Sunday....

9:14 AM, Jun. 17, 2013

Plane wreckage located in Everglades

The wreckage of a plane that crashed this morning in the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in suburban Boynton Beach has been located and rescue officials are trying to reach the area....

2:34 PM, Jun. 8, 2013

Former priest at Bonita church officially defrocked

The former head priest at St. Leo Catholic Church in Bonita Springs has been removed from the priesthood in the wake of two-year-old charges he mismanaged his duties at the parish, fathered a child and disobeyed the bishop....

10:42 PM, Oct. 24, 2012

Local Getaways: Off the beaten path

When you live in Southwest Florida, there is simply no reason to spend big bucks on airfare and other costly travel expenses considering all the great escapes that are just footsteps away. Oh, what’s that you say? You think you’ve seen all there is to...

12:11 PM, Jun. 10, 2013

Dining out: A taste of Tara's best, at half the price

Sometimes it pays off hanging around for Marco's steamy summers. ...

1:43 PM, Jun. 10, 2013