Local news

'Tell Mel Minute' replay: Beware of the 'Granny Scam'

Tell Mel warns against the call from fake relatives trying to scam you.

• 7:57 PM

Today's top headlines on news-press.com

Here are the top headlines on news-press.com today.

• 6:34 PM

Cape Coral's Freida B. Smith Special Populations Center receives $50,000 donations

The Guardian Angels for Special Populations in Cape Coral accepted a $25,000 monetary donation from a private donor along with a matching in-kind donation by the Cape Coral Construction Industry Association.

• 2:12 PM

Scott unveils Florida deal in Paris

Gov. Rick Scott is using this week's trade mission to the Paris Air Show to highlight a number of new or expanded French connections to Florida.

• 1:24 PM

LCEC named one of AARP's "Best Employers"

The Lee County Electric Cooperative has been honored by the AARP and the Society for Human Resource Management as one of the 2013 Best Employers for Workers Over 50.

• 1:21 PM

Taxpayers pay millions for fed workers' student loans

The perk was designed to make government jobs more appealing to those who might earn more in the private sector. But a debate is brewing about whether it's due for the chopping block.

• 8:41 PM

Crash road blockage cleared on Immokalee Road in Collier County

Road blockage from a crash has been cleared on mmokalee Road at Rock Road in Collier County.

• 8:17 PM

Children hospitalized after near Pelican Bay drownings

Rescue workers pulled three children from Pelican Bay in Collier County today after they almost drowned.

• 5:40 PM

Silver Alert issued for missing Punta Gorda woman

A Florida Silver Alert has been issued for a 63 year-old woman who left her residence in Punta Gorda on Monday.

• 3:41 PM

Lee airports budget lands committee support

A $288.2 million draft budget that would lower airlines’cost per passenger at Southwest Florida International – and give Lee County Port Authority workers their first base pay raise in four years – got a key endorsement today.

• 2:40 PM

Geltner named executive director of Lee County PACE Center

Meg Geltner is the new executive director of the PACE Center for girls of Lee County.

• 1:15 PM

Job fair for renovation project

A job fair is planned for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, June 28, at the Dr. Carrie Robinson Center, 2990 Edison Ave., for construction positions for the renovation of the Palmetto Court affordable housing development, which will then be called East Pointe Place.

• 1:11 PM

FGCU president earns rave review, pay raise and bonus

FGCU President Wilson Bradshaw is performing at a very high level, according to the Board of Trustees.

• 12:46 PM

Boy finds loaded gun in Tampa theater bathroom

Police say a 9-year-old boy found a gun inside a bathroom stall at a movie theater in Tampa's Ybor City neighborhood.

• 12:45 PM

Smart Spending: Beach reading stock-up with these 4 tips

Summer is here, and it's time to stock up on all your summer beach reads. But with the expense that it takes to pay for the vacation itself, no one wants to spend a lot on beachy entertainment. Here's how to save some pennies that can go to other summer splurges:

• 12:11 PM

Report: Too many teachers, too little quality

The nation's teacher-training programs do not adequately prepare would-be educators for the classroom, even as they produce almost triple the number of graduates needed, according to a survey of more than 1,000 programs released Tuesday.

• 12:04 PM

Suncoast Schools FCU Foundation Awards $80,000 in Scholarships

TAMPA – Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union Foundation announces its higher education scholarship recipients. This year marks the largest amount of awarded scholarship money since 1992, when the foundation began providing need and merit-based scholarships to graduating high school seniors, a news release said.

• 11:50 AM

6 tips to get a good deal on an auto lease

Leasing has its perks, especially if you want to drive a new car every couple of years while keeping monthly payments low. But understanding whether leasing is right for you and how complex lease agreements work is essential to avoid ending up paying more than you bargained for.

• 11:49 AM

Sidewalk Project Set to Begin Along Bolado Parkway in Cape Coral

A $150,000 sidewalk project along Bolado Parkway officially started today. City work crews are installing 5,900 feet of sidewalks on both north and south sides of the roadway. The project will take at least three months to complete, weather permitting.

• 11:47 AM

The word 'retardation' outlawed in Florida

Friday, Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill that eliminates the word “retardation” from state statutes and replaces all forms of the word with “intellectual disability” and similar forms as of July 1.

• 11:38 AM

FGCU trustees avoid tuition increase

A little known state law requiring Florida universities to raise tuition to match the consumer price index has college leaders debating rates for 2013-14.

• 11:34 AM

Lee County looks to Roger Desjarlais, El Paso City Manager Joyce Wilson falls out of the running

Deputy Property Appraiser and former assistant county manager Roger Desjarlais will likely become Lee’s chief staffer. Commission Chair Cecil Pendergrass announced this morning Lee’s former top candidate, El Paso City Manager Joyce Wilson, wanted $60,000 more dollars than Lee was willing to pay.

• 10:44 AM

Poll: Scott shows improvement; still trails Crist

With the Democratic field remaining unsettled, Republican Gov. Rick Scott is seeing improvement in his poll numbers --- though he still trails former Gov. Charlie Crist by double digits in a potential 2014 election battle.

• 9:28 AM

Lee schools superintendent's deal gets vote today

Lee County School Board members will consider a contract today for interim Superintendent Nancy Graham.

• Jun. 17, 2013

Alico Road widening stirs debate: Is Lee County jumping the gun?

Is the Alico Road four-laning needed in 2015 or 2030? Will it carry 20,000 vehicles per day just east of Ben Hill Griffin Parkway, or will that number be closer to 70,000?

• Jun. 17, 2013

Sheriff Scott wants bigger budget; commissioners talk property tax increase

Lee County commissioners John Manning and Tammy Hall voiced support Monday for raising property tax rates to help fund a bigger sheriff's budget at a hearing that was held in preparation for passing a budget Sept. 18.

• Jun. 17, 2013

Don't let retirement stress marriage: Plan to be busy

It's a huge adjustment to shift from spending two or three hours a night to spending all day together, says author and psychologist Robert Bornstein. "It happens all at once. It would be nice to go from full-time to half-time to quarter-time, but that's not how it works."

• Jun. 17, 2013

Study: Restless legs linked to earlier deaths

Insomnia is no longer the only cause for concern in restless leg syndrome victims.

• Jun. 17, 2013

Cape Coral mayoral candidates hold debate in the library

A debate Monday afternoon introduced three of the four Cape Coral mayoral candidates to the public in a two-hour discussion at Northwest Regional Library.

• Jun. 17, 2013

Burke plans low-key last day as Lee schools superintendent

On Wednesday, retiring Lee Superintendent Joseph Burke will sign off on a number of documents. He'll make some phone calls to people in the community to thank them for their support.

• Jun. 17, 2013

Parking-problem pantry gets council's sympathy

Authorities gave Lee County's largest food pantry more time Monday to work out its parking woes after the pantry received an order to close within 30 days.

• Jun. 17, 2013

Lee sergeant's bar behavior leads to demotion

Three Lee County deputies have been reprimanded following internal investigations of three separate incidents that the sheriff's office said revealed the deputies broke agency policy.

• Jun. 17, 2013

Contact us: has your car insurance increased steadily during the past 20 years?

Have you noticed steady increases in car insurance premiums during the last 20 years? If so, please contact Andrea Rumbaugh at 344-4780

• Jun. 17, 2013

Airports proposed budget airs today

A draft 2013-2014 budget for Lee County’s airports will get its first public review today.

• Jun. 17, 2013

New Lee School District interim Superintendent Nancy Graham's contract details

Lee County school board will consider a contract proposal tomorrow that offers the new superintendent $169,000. The negotiated contract, which has been signed by interim Superintendent Nancy Graham, would give her an annual salary of $169,000 once she’s sworn-in Wednesday evening.

• Jun. 17, 2013

Lee County Sheriff makes his budget pitch to commissioners

Lee County commissioners this afternoon will consider increasing the sheriff’s budget by $4.8 million along with raising taxes for libraries and road project expenses.

• Jun. 17, 2013

St. Vincent de Paul gets help: Fort Myers council buys some time for food pantry to work out issue

Fort Myers Councilman Thomas Leonardo wants to bring up at tonight’s council meeting the city’s decision to force St. Vincent de Paul to close in 30 days because of the traffic congestion it is causing.

• Jun. 17, 2013

Justices: Arizona voter registration rules go too far

Supreme Court ruling could block other states from imposing new restrictions on citizens seeking to register to vote. The court ruled handily Monday that Arizona cannot add to federal voter registration requirements by demanding proof of citizenship.

• Jun. 17, 2013

The News-Press Instagram weekly feature

Do you want to share your Instagram photos with a bigger audience? We’re now on Instagram as @thenewspress, and we want to see the best photos from your adventures in southwest Florida and beyond. All you have to do is add the hashtag “#NPinsta” to your photos, and we’ll run our favorites in an online feature every Saturday. Your Instagram handle will get the photo credit.

• Jun. 17, 2013

Fort Myers man connected to five robberies, police say

A Fort Myers man has been arrested in connection with five robberies. Police on Sunday arrested Gilberto Sanchez-Mojica, 27, for robbery with a firearm, firing a weapon in public and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.

• Jun. 17, 2013

Retiring from the Lee School District Wednesday, Burke feeling nostalgic

In his last few days as Superintendent of Lee Schools, Joseph Burke said he's feeling "nostalgic, even a little sad about leaving." Burke is retiring from the district Wednesday. The same day that interim Superintendent Nancy Graham is sworn-in to the position.

• Jun. 17, 2013

Cape Coral mayoral candidates debate this afternoon at library

The Campaign Committee to Elect April Freeman, a candidate for United States House of Representatives in Florida's 19th District, will be hosting a debate for candidates in the race for Cape Coral mayor on Monday, June 17 at the Northwest Regional Library

• Jun. 17, 2013

Lee County deputies reprimanded for conduct unbecoming of an officer

Three Lee County deputies have been reprimanded following internal investigations. Sgt. Nicholas Loughren has been demoted to deputy first-class and received a 5 percent pay deduction after an investigation found he showed conduct unbecoming of an officer during a March 18 incident at City Tavern in downtown Fort Myers, according to sheriff’s reports.

• Jun. 17, 2013

Live coverage of the Zimmerman Trial

Watch live video of George Zimmerman's trial in the death of Trayvon Martin and view reaction across Twitter. Trial proceedings begin at 9 a.m.

• Jun. 17, 2013

FGCU's merchandise royalties no slam dunk

• Jun. 17, 2013

Southwest Florida bridges pass the test

• Jun. 17, 2013

Southwest Florida College graduation

• Jun. 17, 2013

Video: Father's Day-Juneteenth celebration

• Jun. 17, 2013

Video: Sanibel celebrates long life of an island legend

• Jun. 17, 2013