Lee County

A gym in Bonita Springs holdsfree fitness classes for ages 11 to 17. It turns out the students are learning a whole lot more than just proper exercise technique.

Over the past few weeks, subpoenas have been issued for witnesses to appear before the grand jury during the week of Oct. 13, according to news reports.

A farmer lost a contract with the Lee County school district after calling COVID-19 a "hoax" on social media. He then filed a lawsuit against the district.

An advocacy group is teaching basic American Sign Language to cut down on misunderstandings between deaf people and emergency personnel.

Under the new ordinance, first-time offenders will be fined $100. There's a $200 fine for a second offense and a $300 fine for additional violations.

Some longtime Cape Coral residents fear for the future of the once laid-back community. Development, they say, is ruining the old charm of the cape.

Big companies are snapping up land along the I-75 corridor, bringing a type of boomtown to Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties. Local leaders believe higher-paying jobs are coming to the area, easing the past dependence on tourism to drive the economy.

Sheriff Chad Chronister received $50,000 from a political committee tied to his counterpart in Lee County, Carmine Marceno, the subject of a investigation into alleged money laundering.

The FEMA decision will impact a majority of federal flood insurance policy holders in Lee County.

The health system has been contemplating the move for months to remain competitive in Southwest Florida. The next step is finalizing a mission agreement with the Lee County Commission.

As agriculture gives way to planned developments, many worry the Florida panther is on a path to doom. Environmentalists say planned communities — Kingston in eastern Lee and Bellmar in eastern Collier and both the size of small cities — could hurtle the Florida panther from the Endangered Species List to extinction.

Lee County originally received a 30-day extension to provide documents to FEMA by May 9. A new extension the county received Friday puts June 10 as the new deadline for document submittal.