JAKE NORDBYE

ESTERO — At regional swimming meets, some athletes advance to the state finals based on times, not placing. But the regional champions automatically qualify for next week's finals in Orlando.

After going 37 straight games without a victory, Gateway Charter now owns its first winning streak in four years.

Lee County Superintendent Joseph Burke had a message for the state government on Tuesday: “Back off.” “One of the things we can do is we can tell the state of Florida to back off and stop giving us all these ...

The Lee County School District has been awarded a $17.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education for performance-based teacher and principal pay in high-needs schools.

Never one to shy away from bold statements or controversy, the Ragin' Cajun fired off plenty of criticism and advice for the Mitt Romney camp during his visit to Southwest Florida on Monday night.

Estero community leaders and developers believe the local economy is on the mend, and construction there is booming.

First-year Lely coach Stacey Stewart called it the biggest moment of his young kicker’s sporting life.

For the first time since its founding, the Estero Council of Community Leaders will have a chairman other than Don Eslick.

The case against a Naples military store owner and two employees will proceed to trial.

Citrus greening remains the most serious threat to Florida's orange groves, says a top federal agricultural official.

NORTH FORT MYERS – It was a year of conflicting returns for Florida citrus growers.

As part of a family that has been in the cattle business for four generations, Pat and Karen Howell have experienced the booms and the struggles of raising beef cows in Southwest Florida.

Construction at a Naples shopping plaza along U.S. 41 has left businesses there financially wrecked, some store owners say.

Florida's citrus growers and Gov. Rick Scott agree the industry's No. 1 challenge is fighting a disease called citrus greening that destroys crops.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott says he won't back down from the federal government in his effort to remove potentially ineligible voters from the state's rolls

My Shower Door, a Southwest Florida-based company specializing in the fabrication and installation of glass shower enclosures, had always operated under the moniker Mr. Shower Door. But last October, Daubmann received a notice that the family business could no longer ...

Sanibel Island executive chef John Wolff enjoys serving Hudson Valley foie gras presented over Grand Marnier and vanilla rum, finished with a sweet port wine reduction.

Dan Schmitt believes a revolution is coming.

With the belief the economy is on its way back from the abyss, Wolcott Marine has returned to the business of selling boats.

Everett Lucas strolled out of the Goodwill Industries boutique in Estero last week with a coffee pot, a few books, a pair of khakis and lamp shade.

For four years, Ernscie Augustin missed holidays with her family. She missed 80-degree winter days in Southwest Florida. And she missed her hometown of Immokalee.

Dana Lark said she's happy with construction work on her East Naples home.

Motorists awakened Monday to sticker shock at the pump — the good kind. Gas prices fell sharply over the weekend in Southwest Florida and, in some locations, the cost of regular unleaded fuel dropped to as low as $3.83 per ...

His reach is inescapable. Even if you somehow avoided watching television or listening to the radio for months, odds are an advertising flier printed with the slogan "It's huge" has make its way into your mailbox.

The migration of seasonal residents is under way, and there’s reason to believe the mild northern winter has enticed people to leave Southwest Florida earlier than planned this year. Some say that’s been the case, but others aren’t so sure.

Collier commissioners this past month approved construction of the community center at Eagle Lakes as part of the countywide parks and recreation master plan. But some maneuvering was needed to come up with the initial $2.1 million for the project.

The Naples Airport Authority had expressed some interest in Vision Air, and looked into the possibility of having 30-seat commercial prop planes flying in and out of Naples, but an agreement couldn't be reached.

Samuel Glazer, a Naples resident for 25 years and co-founder of the Mr. Coffee drip coffeemaker, has died at age 89. “He was great, not for what he accomplished, but for who he was,” said Glazer’s wife, Jeanne.

Built in 1962, the Publix at Naples Plaza will be demolished, likely in April, Naples city planner Adam Benigni said. Construction of a new 56,000-square-foot "hybrid" Publix will be completed nine to 10 months after the store is torn down.

It seems like an odd combination: America's pastime and Dutch delights. But these days at JetBlue Park, almost as many baseball fans are holding Stroopwafel's (caramel filled wafer cookies) as super nachos.

The media attention surrounding the November firing of Nicole Zivich reached national and international media outlets. The TV show "Inside Edition" and a British newspaper, The Daily Mail, reported on the firing of Zivich, a waitress at the Hooters in ...

The reconstruction of the Immokalee market is complete, final inspections are under way, and the newly fashioned market is expected to reopen at full capacity within 30 days.

The region's drought index has spiked to an abnormally high level for this time of year due to the lack of rain and above-average temperatures. Meanwhile, the vegetation has had ample opportunity to grow, creating fuel for severe wildfires.

“The request for the audit appears to be political tactic on the part of the county,” said Bonita Springs Fire Commissioner Steve Lohan. “They think if we have to spend more money, we’ll go away. But the peo