JOHANNA SOMERS

If you want to know the racial breakdown of employees working for the city of Marco Island, don’t ask either the city or the federal agency that’s supposed to monitor it. Marco Island, which employed 225 as of June 19, ...

The back-to-school sales tax holiday starts at midnight on Friday morning and runs through Sunday. Consumers will be exempt from a 6 percent state sales tax and a local sales tax on clothes under $75 and school supplies under $15.

“I wouldn’t take a lot of money out of the bank and buy gold,” said Terry Rand, president of Rand Financial Advisors LLC in Naples. “All those things are bubbles that are likely to burst eventually and could go down ...

Now the jobless must find a computer to file for unemployment compensation. Starting Monday, Floridians are required to file new claims and continued claims over the Internet.

A northeast Ohio legend will soon look to scoop up Southwest Florida ice cream customers. Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt plans to open in Bonita Springs in September at 3440 Renaissance Blvd., off U.S. 41. It will be Handel’s ...

Accidents can happen, as the people of Portland, Ore., know all too well. But overall, Southwest Florida utilities officials are confident in the security of the local drinking water supply.

Not having a job is tough enough. But employment recruiters are saying being jobless makes finding another one even tougher.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. wants to become a bank player in Southwest Florida. It’s adding six branches in Collier and Lee counties this year, with plans for another two.

Many people are unaware of their rights and are afraid to fight, Hicks said. Without a fight, the home is headed for foreclosure and may be auctioned off. It is important to obtain legal counsel and pursue all options, Hicks ...

A foreclosure workshop is from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in Naples. The workshop at Springhill Suites 3798 White Lake Blvd., will teach residents ways to remain in their home, modify their loans or plan an exit strategy.

“I did not, I never did buy a modem. I frankly don’t even know what it is,” Lucille Freshman said. “I don’t have a computer; I’ve never had a computer.”

Anyone with a hankering for alligator, ostrich, elk, antelope or kangaroo meat is in luck. Those are just some of the exotic jerky available at the Beef Jerky Outlet in Naples, 2400 Vanderbilt Beach Road, No. 104.

Seacrest Country Day School is suing its manufacturer, distributor and general contractor, claiming each refused to repair or replace water damaged modular units free of charge.

Southwest Florida Comcast customers confused about the company’s switch to Xfinity probably aren’t alone.

Meg Judge, chairman of the board and CEO of the Estero Chamber of Commerce died Sunday, after a long fight with lung cancer.

Some people salute the American flag at every chance. Others proudly sing along to the national anthem when they attend a sporting event. But a few go much further when showing their patriotism and the love of their country. The ...

Diapers, feminine pads, flea collars and gummy bears are some of the top requests by male and female soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

On Thursday, 19 out of 24 participating regional planning council members gave Ken Heatherington a “vote of no confidence.”

Do you have a horrible boss story? Post your stories here or email them to Johanna Somers at jsomers@naplesnews.com.

Creative businesses and smartphone users are bringing the barcode back. Instead of a one-dimensional barcode that can be found on a can of beans at the grocery store, companies are using two-dimensional barcodes called Quick Response Codes or Microsoft Tags.

The next time you shop for a house you may be doing it with the click of a smart-phone camera. Have you seen the black-and-white checkerboard squares on real estate signs and billboards? John McGowan, owner of Simply Your Technology, ...

A Naples floral shop has replanted in a new location after 53 years. Naples Flowers Inc., 979 First Ave. N., recently uprooted from its site since 1958 at U.S. 41 and Fifth Avenue North after a rent disagreement.

We want to know how you show your patriotism. Do you fly the largest American flag possible? Work or volunteer at an organization to support America and Americans? Serve in the military or hold a public service position?

The Jefferson Awards for Public Service — co-founded by Jacquiline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Senator Robert Taft, Jr. and Sam Beard — recognizes people who give back to their community and is considered the “Nobel Prize” for public service.

Single-family homes are selling locally and their median price is rising.

Flying from Naples to Miami starts Independence Day. Exec Air Inc. of Naples will fly travelers once a day, four days out of the week, from Naples Municipal Airport to Miami International Airport on a one-pilot, three-passenger plane.

No Perkins restaurants in Collier and Lee counties will close because of the company’s financial problems.

The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce rallied around the expansion of Arthrex on Monday. Arthrex, medical product producer and trainer, is headquartered in Collier County and fits the county’s culture and immediate need for growth.

Hilliard Farms turkey meat, Jif peanut butter, Smucker’s jelly, Nature’s Own sliced bread and a gallon of milk were what James Munholand, 25, of Collier County, bought with his third week on food stamps.

There is more to fire than flames. Smoke inhalation causes 75 percent of all fire deaths and a Naples company is working to reduce that number.

Last week they got access to a new and improved internal Multiple Listing Service, which allows Realtors to share property information with one another. Realtors can use this service on Mac computers or iPads, whereas previously they had to use ...

Have you heard of Naples? Naples where? That is what Collier County Commissioner Georgia Hiller asked the Tourism Development Council during a Wednesday morning meeting. People think of Italy, she said, and that’s a problem.

Southwest Florida television and Internet users have another choice. CenturyLink, the third largest telecommunications company in the U.S., says it has signed up “thousands” of customers and is making cable inroads in Southwest Florida since it began offering its new ...