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Editorials

Vote ‘no’ on Amendment 1

In terms of the Nov. 5 General Election ballot, the Florida Legislature has been busy. Four of the six constitutional amendments to be decided by voters were placed there by those we send to Tallahassee. Their ballot initiatives represent a diverse range of proposed changes to our state’s ...

Another hit

Hurricane Milton may not have been as bad as feared, but the storm, hard on the heels of Helene, while our communities continue to recover from Ian, was bad enough. Making landfall at Siesta Key in Sarasota County as a Category 3 hurricane, Milton brought record-breaking rain — what ...

Art is essential

Twenty Lee County organizations are among entities statewide that have been affected by a surprise veto by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who axed the entire $32 million legislative appropriation for the arts a few weeks ago. The local arts community took a collective hit of more than $1.8 ...

Don’t blame local animal services

We have come to dread the spring. Yes, we love the perfect temperatures — not too hot, not too cold. We enjoy the breeze on the lanai. But every year, just when the weather in Southwest Florida turns perfect — warm sunny days, cool breezy nights, we get the perennial notification: ...

Best wishes to the Class of ’24

The Class of '24 does not need to hear the classic gird-up-for-the-next-step-on-your-journey trope — these graduating seniors know very well that life not only is not “fair,” but it can dump literal piles of debris in one’s everyday path. In an interview with our sister publication the ...

FEMA muddies recovery waters across county

The aftermath of Hurricane Ian keeps coming in waves throughout Lee County. FEMA has now opened the floodgates to much higher insurance premiums for property owners hoping to protect their homes and businesses through what is predicted to be another active storm season. Citing … “the ...

Help ‘end the stigma’ with public survey

Unless you are one of the very lucky ones, addiction has touched your life or that of someone you know. A neighbor. A co-worker. A family member or someone else you love. Addicts — those with what is now called substance abuse disorder — are not limited to that “druggie,” ...

Ways to go but headed in right direction

Workforce Now has released its 11th annual Southwest Florida regional educational and workforce outcomes study. This year’s 121-page report compiled by researchers from Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida SouthWestern State College and the FutureMakers Coalition is another deep dive into ...

This is what America stands for

Today in Florida flags fly at a half-staff in honor of the victims of the terrorist strike against Israel. Today until sunset, our state Capitol remains lit with lights of blue and white. And today, tomorrow and through the fight that has followed the heinous holiday attack by Hamas ...

One year since Hurricane Ian hit

Hurricane Ian, a near Category 5 monster of wind, waves and catastrophic storm surge, roared ashore at Cayo Costa a year ago on Sept. 28, 2022, destroying much of Fort Myers Beach and heavily damaging Sanibel, Captiva, Matlacha and parts of Cape Coral, North Fort Myers and Fort Myers. Winds ...