Florida DOGE wants to know what the city of Fort Myers is up to The newly created Florida State Department of Government Efficiency dropped a letter on city officials April 11 asking for reems of information The letter said DOGE wants this information: ∎ Budget and spending reports on a line-item level of detail for each department ∎ Position descriptions and salaries (or salary ranges) for each employee (names and other personally identifiable information can be withheld) More: Fort Myers City council, in a reversal, approves ICE memorandum with police department and whether the contract was awarded competitively or non-competitively ∎ Service delivery metrics and performance for all departments told the council the information was requested by May 2 Fort Myers one of cities asked for informationThe letter arrived as city workers were preparing for a 2-day City Council budget retreat that took place May 1 and 2 “Not all cities and counties were asked,” Tenney said “We are always open to ideas for efficiency.” Tenney said she had thought the request was made of all Florida cities and counties “We don’t know how we were selected,” she said The city made national and international news when Bonk and two other councilwomen briefly blocked an agreement between city police and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Council deadlocked 3-3 on March 17 when offered an agreement under which some city police officers would be trained to act as ICE officers The move brought swift condemnation and even threats of removal from office from Gov Ron DeSantis and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier as well as criticism from then newly minted Trump-backed gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds Uthmeier sent the city a letter saying that the ‘agreement’ was mandatory At a special emergency meeting four days later the ‘agreement’ passed unanimously also asks the city to designate a person to be the single point of contact with DOGE DeSantis created the state version of DOGE the hugely controversial billionaire Elon Musk has driven through federal agencies fired large groups of federal employees (many of whom have been hired back) and struck down or de-funded entire agencies The governor claimed Florida has the lowest number of employees per-capita in the country but that it provides better services at a lower price than other like-sized states The announcement said the state will abolish 70 boards and commissions this year It is reviewing records of colleges and universities a move that has already sparked the resignation of Pasco-Hernando State College President Jesse Pisors when a review pegged the college’s student retention rate as last among the state’s 28 public colleges State DOGE plans to use artificial intelligence to dive into state agency operations as well with an eye toward returning to Washington any unused or surplus federal allocations City staff was working to respond to the DOGE request after the May 2 budget retreat session ended (CBS12) — In a Fort Myers crackdown on child exploitation three men have been arrested and accused of crimes related to child sexual abuse material prompting officials to label them as predators who must be held accountable "These guys are not just criminals; they're predators They deserve to be known for what they are." He further recognized the work of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and praised the investigators announced the arrests of Kevin Rand Sheffield Lawson said that the investigation into Sheffield began on March 21 when agents identified a device that was downloading child sexual abuse material The investigation led agents to an IP address at Sheffield's home in Naples It was stated that less than two weeks later and discovered hundreds of files of child sexual abuse material on his devices Sheffield was arrested on Wednesday and was transported to the Collier County Jail where he faces 10 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material during an online probe into peer-to-peer file sharing of exploitative material He was identified as a user downloading such content and was arrested in Jacksonville after a search of his home revealed several files depicting child sexual abuse Harrison is charged with three counts of possession of child sexual abuse material has been charged with six counts of third-degree felony possession of child sexual abuse material one count of second-degree felony solicitation of an image from a parent or guardian involving sexual conduct with a child and one count of first-degree felony food tampering See also: Palm Beach Co. school district worker arrested for child sex crimes Montgomery's case began on March 13 when agents were alerted by the Bellingham Police Department in Washington State They received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children which identified an online user sharing child sexual abuse material on the Kik messaging app The investigation traced the activity to Montgomery's IP address Communication between Montgomery and a parent led to the exchange of digital files that depicted Montgomery performing sexual acts inside the restaurant where he was employed at the time These acts intentionally contaminated food he is no longer employed at that restaurant "Our agents are so dedicated to holding these people accountable and I can't be more thankful for that As the swift actions or agents prevented these men the statewide prosecutor in the Fort Myers office for the Statewide Prosecution Attorney General's Office and Sheffield is facing 150 years in prison FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass highlighted the department’s efforts against child exploitation noting significant progress in 2023 with 21 arrests and nearly 11,000 investigative hours logged in just the first four months of the year Find more ways to stay up to date with your latest local news. Sign up for our newsletter to get the day's top headlines delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the biggest stories and can't miss video The 2025 PBA50 Tour is set to get underway with the PBA50 Fort Myers Classic in Fort Myers The season includes 13 title events with five majors culminating with the prestigious PBA50 Tournament of Champions Several PBA Hall of Famers are expected to compete in a near-full-time capacity this season looks to make the same sophomore leap as Janawicz did in 2024 All PBA50 Tour players will face stiff competition from the latest member of the PBA50 Tour: Tom Daugherty Daugherty, a four-time PBA Tour champion who finished 17th in 2025 PBA Tour points He said he plans to compete in the first few PBA50 Tour events of the season but his full-time status is to be determined The Florida native’s PBA50 Tour debut will take place at Lightning Strikes Bowl located just two hours south of his Tampa-area home Qualifying for the PBA50 Fort Myers Classic begins on Monday with A-squad competing at 9 a.m. Eastern time followed by B-squad at 3 p.m. More information is available here The championship round is scheduled for 6 p.m The entirety of the PBA50 Tour will be livestreamed on BowlTV PBA50 majors are boldedPBA60 events are italicized PBA50 Fort Myers ClassicMay 4-7Lightning Strikes LanesFort Myers PBA50 The Villages ClassicMay 9-13Spanish Springs LanesThe Villages Bud Moore PBA50 Players ChampionshipMay 16-21Bowl America WoodbridgeWoodbridge USBC Super Senior ClassicMay 28-June 1Sam’s Town Bowling CenterLas Vegas USBC Senior MastersJune 2-8Sam’s Town Bowling CenterLas Vegas PBA50 South Shore ClassicJune 23-26Olympia LanesHammond Wayne Webb's PBA60 World Series of BowlingJuly 1-7Wayne Webb's Columbus BowlColumbus PBA60 WSOB Legend Pattern 1 ChampionshipJuly 2-3Wayne Webb’s Columbus BowlColumbus PBA60 WSOB Legend Pattern 2 ChampionshipJuly 4-5Wayne Webb’s Columbus BowlColumbus PBA60 WSOB World ChampionshipJuly 6-7Wayne Webb’s Columbus BowlColumbus PBA50 World Series of Bowling IIIJuly 9-19David Small’s JAX 60Jackson PBA50 Ballard ChampionshipJuly 10-11David Small’s JAX 60Jackson PBA50 Monacelli ChampionshipJuly 12-13David Small’s JAX 60Jackson PBA50 Petraglia ChampionshipJuly 14-15David Small’s JAX 60Jackson PBA50 Holman ChampionshipJuly 16-17David Small’s JAX 60Jackson PBA50 WSOB III World ChampionshipJuly 9-19David Small’s JAX 60Jackson PBA50 Hamtramck Singles ClassicJuly 21-24Vision LanesWestland Johnny Petraglia BVL PBA50 Tournament of Champions pres © 2023 PBA. All Rights Reserved  We recently switched our login system from requiring display names to email addresses in order to log in You must use your email address instead of your display name in order to log in Interested in learning more about the Minnesota Twins' top prospects Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats You need to be a member in order to leave a comment Sign up for a new account in our community Each week during the school year, The News-Press selects athletes that stood out the week before based on a combination of coach reports and school nominations sent to sports@news-press.com and our coverage Those athletes are put in a poll each Monday on news-press.com and you The winners of The News-Press Athlete of the Week poll receive a T-shirt provided by BSN Sports and a tote bag provided by USA Today High School Sports Awards. Voting ends at 10 a.m. Thursday each week. The winner will be announced on the @newspresssports Instagram page and on Twitter at @nphssports The winner of last week's poll was Canterbury track and field athlete Joslyne De La Nuez Previously: VOTE: The News-Press Athlete of the Week for April 21-26 TO VOTE IN THIS WEEK'S POLL SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OR CLICK HERE Anderson captured the Class 4A-Region 3 title in the triple jump Peterson came in first place in the discus at the Class 2A-Region 3 meet on May 2 Forbes was the winner in the 1600 and 3200 meter races at the Class 2A-Region 3 meet on May 2 Lemmon captured regional titles in the shot put and discus at the Class 3A-Region 3 meet on May 2 Tucker recorded four hits in the Green Wave's series sweep of Charlotte including a triple in the team's 4-3 win against the Tarpons on May 1 contributing to Fort Myers' regional championship 4x100 team to help close out Northside Christian in a 6-4 win on May 1 a triple and a double in the Vikings' series sweep of McKeel Academy in the Class 3A regional semifinals giving up just one hit and one run while striking out eight batters to help the Vikings capture the Class 2A-12 title in a 16-1 win against Oasis on May 1 driving in three runs in the Sentinels' 9-1 win against SFCA to win the Class 1A-11 title on May 1 helping the Wildcats defeat Port Charlotte 3-1 to win the Class 4A-District 12 title on May 1 She also recorded a three-inning no-hitter with five strikeouts and no walks in the team's win against Dunbar including three home runs in the Green Wave's wins against Ida Baker and North Fort Myers helping the team secure the district championship on May 1 Florida Gulf Coast University's Graduation 2025 is in the history books More than 2,000 degrees were awarded at the Fort Myers-based university on May 3 Graduation ceremonies were held on campus inside Alico Arena Here's are some key numbers and data tied to FGCU's 2025 graduates: FGCU students who are eligible for graduation: 2,484 FGCU students who registered to participate in commencement: 2,081 The South Florida Water Management District issued a Modified Phase IV Water Shortage Order on Friday immediately banning lawn irrigation for homes and businesses using private wells in northeast Cape Coral The restrictions the agency called “stringent” are due to critically low water levels in the aquifer from which residents in the affected area draw their drinking water The order does not apply to homes and businesses on city water “This action is being taken to protect the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer and ensure water conservation for essential needs,” city officials said in a release announcing the order “Code Compliance will enforce these temporary restrictions to help preserve water for critical needs.” Phase IV water restrictions which went into effective immediately include: • Residents and businesses are no longer allowed to use their lawn irrigation systems if they use water from the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer Hand watering using a self-cancelling nozzle and drip irrigation is allowed three times per week on Wednesdays Saturdays and Sundays for users withdrawing groundwater from the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer • Landscape irrigation for public recreation areas (sport fields) is restricted to one day per week from 4-7 a.m for all types of irrigation and from 5-7 p.m non-vegetated public recreational/sporting surfaces is restricted to 10 minutes of application prior to each recreational/sporting event Other restrictions for nurseries and aesthetic uses such as fountains also went into effect if they utilize groundwater from the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer the construction of new Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer wells within the water shortage area is now limited to just potable use New users will be required to seek a different water source other than the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer for irrigation “These restrictions are put into place to protect the aquifer and drinking water supply,” SFWMFD officials said in a notice posted to the agency’s website “Continued water use at current levels could cause long-term damage to this vital resource District staff will continue to monitor water usage and groundwater levels More information about the restrictions may be found at SFWMD.gov/WaterShortage Copyright © North Fort Myers Neighbor | Contact | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy a proposed 263-room hotel and commercial center at the Moss marina site on Fort Myers Beach will have its first hearing in front of the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council on Monday The hearing will be the first of two public hearings required for the project which requires deviations from the town’s Land Development Code for its height of 81 feet a Comprehensive Plan amendment and a Commercial Planned Development rezoning The project requires a zoning change in order for a hotel to be built on the property which is surrounded by residential properties in the residential/conservation zone of the town The Town of Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency (LPA) voted unanimously to recommend approval of the plans last month The project requires eight deviations from the town’s local development code and has received pushback from neighbors who have complained that the balconies from the building will hover over their backyards in the middle of a residential neighborhood where single-family homes and vacation rentals line up the street behind Moss Marina Moss Marina is located downtown in the middle of the busy Old San Carlos Boulevard business district and Third Street – a residential neighborhood where many of the homes are either listed as vacation rentals or are up for sale but also include several residences of year-round residents The Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency did recommend more buffers between Moss Marina and the residential properties in its conditional approval The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council must still hold two public hearings on the development with the first hearing scheduled for Monday The developers had previously proposed three hotel buildings with 400 rooms at the site before pulling back their plans last year The new plans call for the tallest building to reach seven stories and will include other commercial uses which could include a bar told the Local Planning Agency that he would be presenting new plants that would include more plantings for a buffer a neighbor of the proposed development who said he lives about two dozen feet from Moss Marina Mosteiro said storm drainage is a major problem in the area and expressed concerns about flooding issues Mosteiro said the buildings would tower over his home Mosteiro said the project would “drastically change our neighborhood.” Mosteiro said the project’s buildings were even taller than originally proposed and wasn’t responsible for a neighborhood with limited access “and little thoughtfulness to the neighbors.” Mosteiro said the new plans don’t address concerns residents had raised previously in the original plans about the size of the buildings access and concerns about “balconies facing our homes.” Mosteiro said an application by Moss Marina in the 1980’s to expand was denied by Lee County due to a lack of access “The roads have not gotten any bigger,” Mosteiro said “There is no good access for this size development today What they are calling a linear park is laughable It is a required buffer which is going to become a pedestrian highway in our backyards enclosed boat shed 25 feet from my house is going to be balconies and gathering places.” Mosteiro said the buffer should be at least 25 feet with a park with larger green space another neighbor in close proximity to Moss Marina expects a large increase in vehicular traffic which she said would interfere with the local Atwood complained of a lack of a buffer in the Arches Bayfront plans between her property and the site of the project Atwood also expressed concern about a proposed bar on site which she said would turn into an ongoing party near her home and people are vacationing there is a loud party,” she said Now it will be people looking back at us at our homes.” Atwood said the plans of Arches Bayfront has “balconies looking down on our homes.” Copyright © FORT MYERS - Beach Observer and Beach Bulletin | Contact | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy — A Fort Myers nonprofit donated more than $1 million worth of household furniture and appliances and more to veterans and their families last year emphasizing appreciation for veterans should be a year-round commitment Hearts and Homes for Veterans has assisted over 2,400 veterans in Fort Myers in the past year providing essential services and supplies to those who have served our country Watch Fort Myers Community Correspondent Miyoshi Price's report: "Vietnam [vets] wasn't treated right when they came back so we're trying to change that and treat them better," said Spain a veteran who served in the United States Marine Corps for 16 years before retiring in 2018 is the CEO of Hearts and Homes for Veterans He believes appreciating veterans must go beyond May They took care of us when we weren't around or when our parents were around," said Spain According to the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs there are approximately 1.4 million veterans in the state of Florida The organization offers a range of services to support veterans in need the barbers come in from the college and they'll cut veterans' hair for free," said Spain They also have Humana representatives visit to help veterans with Medicaid and Medicare The nonprofit maintains a warehouse stocked with a variety of items "We have a shower facility and a laundry facility continue their service alongside Spain at the organization "I've seen our representatives make people just relax and things going to be okay Shannon is no stranger to answering the call to help his community even after his military career ended "None of us had seen anything like this before and to save a life would have been a wonderful thing but there weren't too many saves on that one," said Shannon he provided over 1,200 rides to veterans to and from appointments Mayor Kevin Anderson hosted a reveal of a flag drop-off box FOX 4s Miyoshi Price attended the ceremony in Fort Myers for the drop box on the sidewalk at City Hall to honor veterans and remind people of the ultimate sacrifice Mayor Kevin Anderson said the American Legion Post 38 will pick up the flags when the box is full and conduct a proper ceremony to retire the flag He introduced people at the drop-off box reveal to a few members of Post 38 Kevin Boyd retired from the United States Navy and went on to serve as the Post 38 Commander for 15 years We're going to come and pick the flags up from here and he does a retirement ceremony where they burn the flags and all of that properly," said Boyd Mayor Anderson discusses military appreciation and the days set aside to honor the brave men and women who have served this country He says to educate yourself on how to celebrate we need to remember Armed Forces Day is to celebrate and honor those who are serving Veterans Day is to honor those who have served those most sacred soldiers who served and made the ultimate sacrifice," said Anderson "It's important that people understand there are over 65,000 veterans who live in Lee County," said Boyd "The flag represents the blood of our original patriots the stars for each of the states and the white for the honesty and the purity that we had of heart to get to this country," said Nerbak This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy Southwest Florida honored the National Day of Prayer with hope and fulfillment May 1 with events in Naples and Fort Myers actor Kirk Cameron delivered a testimony of faith and resolve during his keynote address for the 2025 Southwest Florida Community Prayer Breakfast at Hammond Stadium at Lee Health Sports Complex participants rounded out the day with an evening service at the Naples High School football field that included prayers from area church leaders and local elected officials along with musical entertainment The theme for the this year's Day of Prayer was “Pour Out to the God of Hope and Be Filled!” The theme is inspired by the Romans 15:13 verse: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope and by the power of the Holy Spirit.” optimism and courage that is blowing through our country right now,” Cameron said “As the ‘family of faith,’ we’ve got some air cover and we can make so much progress as the ground troops in God’s loving army of compassion – the family of faith – to move forward with truth and with goodness and with beauty and we should all take advantage of that opportunity.” who portrayed Mike Seaver in the 1980s sitcom “Growing Pains,” has since worked on faith and family-focused films including “Left Behind,” “Monumental,” “The Way of the Master” and “Fireproof more than 35,000 National Day of Prayer gatherings organized by about 40,000 volunteers throughout the United States with several million people participating the law was amended and signed by President Ronald Reagan permanently setting the date as the first Thursday of every May this event brings our community closer in a time of celebration president of Southwest Florida Community Prayer Breakfast and we were reminded of the importance of faith BIG ARTS on Sanibel will once again take part in the annual Fort Myers Film Festival it will join venues around Southwest Florida to host and showcase some of the featured films in the festival BIG ARTS will present a total of four films — including “Sanibel” — on May 15-17 at 7 p.m “BIG ARTS is always trying to expand,” Gallery Director Wilson McCray We love being part of such a cultural event.” He noted that the festival is more than just a showing as there will be special guest appearances from those involved in the productions They will talk about the films and answer audience questions who can speak about the production and their personal experience with it it just elevates the experience for the audience,” McCray said It will kick off on May 15 with “Sanibel,” directed by Herbert James Winterstern grief and a community devastated by Florida’s largest storm “It is a beautifully made film about Sanibel and the shelling culture and the people who work that culture but it also touches on a few other characters — how they were impacted from Hurricane Ian and some of the tough stories that came with that.” “I was struck by the human element of the film,” McCray added “And they will bring other guests who were in the film,” he said an opening reception will take place at 5:45 p.m “The people at FISH (of Sanibel-Captiva) who were involved with the making of film were so excited that we were going to screen it They wanted to invite a lot of friends and create a reception ahead of time,” McCray said During the film’s theater run last month and through May in Florida 10% of the ticket proceeds — though not for the tickets for the festival — are benefitting FISH and the American Red Cross The second day of the festival on May 16 will showcase “Curveballs,” directed by John Biffar The film tells the inspiring story of America’s only amputee baseball team McCray reported that Biffar is an accomplished local director “We hosted one of his films a year ago for the Fort Myers festival,” he said “This film is about the amputee baseball league team,” McCray added “He did a fantastic job of capturing the inspiration behind that baseball team and the people on it.” “It’s possible that he will be bringing some of the guys in the film,” he said On May 17 — the final day of the festival — it will be a double feature with “Journey Back to Alcedo,” directed by Gianna Haro Vallazza then “Climbing into Life,” directed by Melissa J Both short films will be included on the ticket with a brief intermission between the showings In the film “Journey Back to Alcedo,” two 70-year-old friends return to the Galápagos Islands to continue their work in conservation highlighting the need for more women in science McCray reported that one woman’s parents were naturalists and she grew up on the islands “It’s a statement about the environment and how important it is to remain vigilant in our study and love of it,” McCray added The film “Climbing into Life” is the inspiring story of Dierdre Wolownick “It’s a great story and a great way to end the festival on a note of inspiration and accomplishment.” “Both of these are great coupled together,” McCray added Davey will speak after the showing; Vallazza may also be in attendance all three galleries will be open,” he said The BIG ARTS cash bar will also be available “The 15th annual Fort Myers Film Festival is one of the most important cultural events in Lee County of the year,” McCray said “Get your tickets — and revel in all of the great films.” visit https://bigarts.org/ or call box office at 239-395-0900 The News-Press and Naples Daily News are celebrating 2025 high school graduations throughout Southwest Florida by showcasing some of the photo galleries of ceremonies from the past Take a walk down Memory Lane with us the next couple of week ahead of this year's marking of this important milestone LEE COUNTY: 2025 Graduations Guide and future’s calling - more than 2,000 FGCU Eagles left the nest over the weekend Fox 4’s Austin Schargorodski stopped by FGCU’s 2025 commencement ceremony to ask students what it feels like to finally spread their wings.Watch what students said about their big day: Family members packed the stands - phones in hand ready to catch that once-in-a-lifetime moment Grads walked into Alico Arena smiling and waving to their families - soaking in their big day "Thank you all for participating in this celebration for these exceptional graduates," said the orator After years of late nights and endless deadlines "Finally made it here—so excited!" said one graduate The Class of 2025 now joins more than 40,000 FGCU alumni others to jobs across the country - but each one leaves with a story that started right there at FGCU The Causeway Islands Park along the Sanibel Causeway opened on May 1 with its first phase of amenities marking the first time that visitors can enjoy the beach park since Hurricane Ian in 2022 The park had been closed due to rebuilding activities by the Florida Department of Transportation which used the site during the process of rebuilding the causeway to make it more resilient With the FDOT’s restoration complete Lee County Parks & Recreation has resumed its redesign and improvement efforts Beach visitors will notice an increased presence of rangers and parks staff to assist with free parking in designated areas and other questions Park hours are dawn to dusk; rangers will patrol per usual to ensure park rules are followed Volunteers from partnering organizations will be on site to educate park patrons about nesting shorebirds Nesting areas will be well marked to protect the birds from visitors The county is in the design phase for the phase two improvements will focus on creating a more resilient park Improvements will include structured parking areas The design phase is expected to be complete this summer and will be presented to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners for approval with construction expected to begin in late 2025 and completion anticipated in 2026 The Causeway Islands Park improvements are being funded through a combination of resources including the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance Program state appropriations and Lee County Tourist Development Taxes on short-term lodging Progress on the project can be found on the Lee County Parks Project Information Tool at www.leegov.com/parks construction and completion of the project Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida has begun offering free and low-cost birth control methods to patients visiting their Naples and Fort Myers Health Centers The program began May 1 and patients can choose from a one-year supply of birth control pills This program is especially important as Lee County has some of the highest teen birth rates in the state “While all patients will be required to pay a $20 initial consultation fee they will be able to receive a year’s supply of contraceptive pills Patients who opt for long-acting reversible birth control (such as IUDs and implants) will also receive the method itself free of charge but will be responsible for a placement fee of $200 or under which includes the visit fee,” the release states The service pricing offered equates to an approximately 85-90% drop in patient out-of-pocket expenses for effective birth control The services are available thanks to grant support and donations “These services were made possible thanks to a $100,000 grant awarded by the Vincent J alongside over $500,000 in local donor support from the affiliate’s recent 50th Anniversary Celebration in Naples,” PPSWCF said in a release issued today “The timing of this launch is serendipitous as it fell on the one-year anniversary of Florida’s near-total six-week abortion ban A fact that was not lost on PPSWCF leadership.” “Last week’s somber anniversary underscores the importance of individuals being empowered to access health care and maintain control of our lives and bodies,” said PPSWCF Interim CEO Barbara A “We are incredibly grateful to the Vincent J Coates Foundation and our many generous local donors for making this program possible “We’ve faced unprecedented challenges in recent years including direct attacks from our lawmakers and it’s only thanks to our dedicated supporters that we have been able to keep providing the care our patients rely on While our government chips away at Floridians’ medical freedom PPSWCF remains more committed than ever to ensuring that patients have access to sexual and reproductive health care options.” “The ability to plan your own family and access reproductive services are some of the most impactful factors when it comes to building your future and achieving positive health outcomes,” Schickler said “This program allows us to provide even more care throughout southwest Florida for those who have previously been cut off from it — something that becomes more crucial every day as health care continues to be criminalized.” Program benefits are available for patients who do not have insurance or Medicaid and express financial need when they schedule their in-person appointment at the Naples or Fort Myers Health Centers; however patients may opt for telehealth or a different health center if they are able to show proof of residency in either Lee or Collier County Appointments may be made at (941) 567-3800 or schedule online at PPSWCF.org Patients must ask about the “Contraceptive Access Grant” when scheduling or checking in for their appointment About Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America began operations in 1966 and provides sexual and reproductive health care services and comprehensive sexuality education Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida provides expert and confidential health care to 45,000 patients through health centers in Fort Myers The mission of Planned Parenthood is to “ensure the right of all individuals to manage their sexual and reproductive health by providing medical services Planned Parenthood has been one of the nation’s leading providers of high-quality respectful sexual and reproductive health care and the nation’s largest provider of sex education.” Taking mom or the wonderful woman in your life out for Mother’s Day Whether she prefers waterfront or no-frills dining Here are 18 brunch options available on May 11 (unless otherwise noted) from Fort Myers and Cape Coral to Estero and Bonita Springs Bubba’s Roadhouse: In addition to a Mother’s Day special and daily specials, every mom dining on May 11 will receive a coupon equivalent to the value of her meal to use on the next visit. Valid until June 30. Call (239) 282-5520 or go to bubbasroadhouse.net to reserve a table or for more information. 2121 SW Pine Island Road, Cape Coral or find on Facebook French Press: The brunch buffet, for $50 per person, has bottomless mimosas, a cold cut & cheese station, a yogurt station with fruits & nuts, mini bread & pastries station and chaffers of breakfast items. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Reserve your table at (239) 452-0212.  5789 Cape Harbour Drive, Suite 101, Cape Coral, follow on Facebook Mangia Bene Ristorante: Chef's specials on mom’s special day include stuffed grouper suprema, lobster ravioli Sofia, osso buco Milanese, shrimp Fiorentino and frutta di mare. Call (239) 673-8290 to reserve. Open noon to 8 p.m. 2301 Del Prado Blvd., Suite 870, Cape Coral; follow on Facebook Stones Throw: The Mother’s Day brunch includes Irish crème French toast ($19), lox bagel with home fries ($17), red velvet Belgian waffle ($19), goat cheese & dill crusted salmon ($36) and frittata ($22). 139 Cape Coral Parkway E, Cape Coral; (239) 291-3900; follow on Facebook Fort MyersBeacon Social Drinkery: Celebrate mom at the top of the Luminary. $20 bottomless mimosas and brunch favorites. Reserve at OpenTable Bellini’s: Reservations are filling quickly thanks to an impressive and varied menu of appetizers, soups & salads, entrées and desserts. Think lobster & crab stuffed artichokes ($20), Greek salad ($14), ahi tuna tiradito ($22), fresh shucked oysters (market price), prime rib ($50), seafood wellington ($38) and much more. Call (239) 270-5005 to reserve. 13451 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers; follow on Facebook Bruno’s of Brooklyn: This downtown favorite will serve its dinner menu from noon to 6 p.m. and have a special gift for moms. Reservations are highly recommended through Resy.com. 2149 First St., Fort Myers; (239) 278-0211; follow on Facebook Cantina Laredo: French toast casserole, chorizo con huevos melt, smoked crab cakes, ranchero scramble and Cantina’s steak & egg skillet are on the brunch menu at this longtime Bell Tower staple. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 5200 Big Pine Way, Fort Myers; (239) 415-4424; find on Facebook The Capital Grille: This Bell Tower restaurant will have a two-course prix fixe menu. First course includes a choice of New England clam chowder, greens salad or salmon and avocado toast and main course of lobster frittata, filet mignon or pan-seared salmon. $60 for adults. There’s a children’s brunch too for $17. Reserve at thecapitalgrille.com/home Hooked Island Grill: In addition to its full menu, this Gulf Coast Town Center restaurant is bringing back its popular $50 all-you-can-eat snow crab special for the day. Reservations suggested by calling (239) 313-7142. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 9925 Gulf Coast Main St., Fort Myers; follow on Facebook Estero and Bonita SpringsComing soon: Iconic Captiva restaurant, closed since Hurricane Ian, is oh-so-close to reopening Fresh Catch Inland: Brunch at this new Coconut Point restaurant includes crab Benedict ($25), potato rosti with smoked salmon ($20), butchers blend omelet ($17), open prosciutto sandwich ($21) and more. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 7991 Plaza Del Lago Drive, Estero; (239) 319-5887; follow on Facebook Jimmy P’s Charred: This Bonita Springs favorite has a $95 Mother's Day special that includes a glass of bubbly, choice of salad, an 8-ounce Wagyu filet and bananas foster. 25301 S Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs; (239) 390-0301; find on Facebook Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyer.gannett.com while prioritizing heart wellness for everyone Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States Insights in research and technology gained from the annual conference will empower Lee Health Heart Institute physicians to remain leaders in innovative practices ultimately enhancing patient outcomes and reinforcing top-tier cardiovascular care throughout Southwest Florida and beyond “The Lee Health Heart Institute is honored to participate in this year’s ACC conference, contributing to the advancement of innovation, cardiac care, and improved patient outcomes worldwide,” said Dr. Iahn Gonsenhauser, chief medical officer of Lee Health “Our commitment extends beyond treating cardiovascular disease-we strive to develop advanced solutions that support heart health in our communities Staying at the forefront of cardiology research allows physicians to make informed decisions and implement prevention strategies that enhance patient outcomes and quality of life.” topics presented at the annual conference included: Chazal presented on quality improvement in echocardiography reporting and predicting performance highlighting the value of National Board of Echocardiography certification Chazal discussed the cost-effectiveness of coronary plaque analysis in a heart disease prevention program Lopez-Mattei presented on reducing inappropriate antihypertensive prescribing in a community hospital based on insights from a 2023-2024 educational initiative Defrain presented on transcatheter relief for lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum obstructing superior vena cava in an elderly patient Singh highlighted a case study on patent foramen ovale closure device endocarditis Lopez-Mattei discussed heart failure in the geriatric population and guideline-directed medical therapy use in septuagenarians and nonagenarians with reduced ejection fraction Gaztanaga reviewed coronary assessment in morbidly obese patients using a modified-CCTA protocol Gaztanaga explored the role of cardiac magnetic resonance in heart failure readmission rates in a pilot single-center retrospective analysis Lopez-Mattei discussed the overlooked culprit of patent foramen ovale and its role in respiratory failure Jivanov shared insights on early GDMT in alcohol-induced HFrEF and a case of rapid recovery Cao presented on mitral valve prolapse and mitral annulus disjunction as a silent risk and Saef shared important information on managing pregnancy in a patient with unrepaired congenital heart disease Sharing these insights at the ACC conference reinforces Lee Health’s commitment to excellence in heart care but also highlights the Lee Health Heart Institute’s dedication to advancing cardiovascular medicine both locally and globally The Lee Health Heart Institute is the largest heart program in Southwest Florida It specializes in everything from primary and specialty care To learn more about the Lee Health Heart Institute, please visit leehealth.org — The Lee County Sheriff's Office Facebook is investigating a crash from early Friday morning Two people were hospitalized with minor injuries Anyone who ever dined at LaMotta’s in south Fort Myers between 1979 and 2020 would have met Salvatore LaMotta One minute he’d be welcoming you with a smile and then “He treated everyone who came into the restaurant like family,” Carmelo LaMotta said about his father “It was like they were coming into his home pour you a glass of wine and break bread with you He’d take them in back and show them how to make pizza or give them pizza dough to play with He was very family-oriented and close with the community he loved.” “He was surrounded by family,” Carmelo said It’s impossible to say how many lives Sal touched throughout his 41 years at LaMotta’s “It could be over a million people who came and went between ’79 and 2020,” Carmelo said “We would do 2,000 or 3,000 pizzas a week in season We sat 200 in the restaurant and do 200 covers a night easily.” his wife Maria (known as Mama Maria to staff and customers) 4-year-old Carmelo and 3-year-old daughter Doriana immigrated from Palermo in 1976 After stops in Baltimore and Manhattan to learn the industry from his brother Frank the family — which now included daughter Gisella who was born in Baltimore — eventually settled in Fort Myers “The weather was better here,” Carmelo said A pioneer of Fort Myers foodie sceneThree years after coming to the U.S. LaMotta’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria — originally called Guiseppi’s — opened in Gulf Points Square off San Carlos Boulevard just south of McGregor Boulevard on the way to Fort Myers Beach there were just three Italian restaurants (Nino’s on 41 near downtown Mona Lisa on College Parkway and LaMotta’s) He introduced products here for the first time They had never heard of it and would try it People didn’t know what eggplant was until they had his.” “My dad was always trying to make everyone smile and laugh,” Carmelo added Talking about the restaurant and teaching people about Sicilian food He wanted everyone to know that he was Sicilian LaMotta’s was a family restaurant with Carmelo “My earliest memory was standing on a milk crate in front of the pizza station,” he said “Standing near my dad and learning how to make pizza how to hold the ladle and spread sauce evenly Farmers came to the back door with fresh tomatoes we boiled and peeled with a machine from Sicily The cheese came in 50-pound cases we had to cut and shred by hand I look back at it as a true labor of love for my dad Sal “always made sure his staff was taken care of.” “Sometimes he didn’t make a paycheck for himself,” Carmelo said “But his staff got paid and he made sure they always went home with food for their families some people would come by and know they had a meal waiting for them.” The Godfather of PizzaSal shared his food and his knowledge with the community “People reached out to him about dough all the time,” Carmelo said. “He loved to help, loved to educate. He really cared. They called him The Godfather of Pizza because he knew everything about it He wanted it to be the best so people would enjoy it.” After COVID hit LaMotta’s struggled to stay open like all area restaurants Sal and Maria went to the new spot off Pine Island Road every day “People would come to see them all the time,” Carmelo said They would come there and enjoy everything like they always did.” Parents who went to LaMotta’s as kids would come back with their children Then they came back with kids of their own For his smile and for teaching them and their kids people are reaching out to me and telling me stories my dad told them Sal was married to Mama Maria for 52 years In case you missed it: Iconic Captiva restaurant, closed since Hurricane Ian, is oh-so-close to reopening “They are from the same town,” Carmelo said It’s been difficult for her since Sal’s death “They’ve never been apart all these years,” Caremlo continued holding Dad’s hand and making sure he was comfortable Lawyers for Naples Pride and the city of Naples argued in federal court Friday over requirements for the organization's upcoming pride festival Naples Pride claims the rules imposed by the city are unconstitutional while city officials maintain their actions are based on safety concerns Supporters of Naples Pride rallied near the courthouse before the hearing began "We're asking the court to make sure our first amendment speech isn't violated on June 7 and we're not being asked to pay discriminatory security fees to host our pride festival on June 7," said Callhan Soldavini with Naples Pride Senior Reporter Kaitlin Knapp explains what both sides have to say about the federal lawsuit: The demonstrators occasionally encountered people challenging the festival's location "Nobody here is protesting their right to do what they want to do What we are protesting is their right to do that in a public venue," said John Meo chairman of the Collier County Republican Executive Committee Naples Pride filed a lawsuit against the city of Naples the police department and city leaders over its PrideFest permit While the city council approved the permit they mandated that drag shows must be held indoors with attendance restricted to those 18 and older rather than taking place on stage at Cambier Park "What we're fighting for today is for everyone's right to be heard," said Soldavini Naples Pride's attorneys argued the city's $44,000 security fee estimate is unconstitutional They also contended that prohibiting outdoor drag performances violates free speech protections The city's attorneys countered that police must create customized security plans based on risk factors for events like PrideFest They maintained that moving drag performances indoors addresses security concerns and potential threats our biggest concern is that on June 7 when we celebrate that it's our first amendment rights," said Soldavini Steele will decide whether to approve an injunction that would prevent the city from restricting outdoor drag performances it would force the city to go back and determine what portion of the fees are unconstitutional absolutely pride will be celebrated," said Soldavini The judge indicated he would potentially issue a ruling next week Protesters confronted each other and shouted in each others faces Friday morning in downtown Fort Myers just before a hearing in federal court over a lawsuit that Naples Pride filed against the city of Naples Naples Pride said it would ask a federal judge to make a decision today on whether its lawsuit can continue the organization says its Pridefest will happen on June 7 The lawsuit alleges unconstitutional restrictions on the annual Pridefest celebration including requirements that drag performances be held indoors and subject to security fees that have increased by more than 2,700% since 2017 The nonprofit organization filed the complaint on April 10 in federal court claiming the city's restrictions violate their First Amendment rights and unfairly target LGBTQ+ expression and healthcare services to the LGBTQ+ community says depends on the annual Pridefest for approximately 25% of its operating budget the city imposed three major restrictions: requiring drag performances be held indoors at the Norris Center prohibiting anyone under 18 from attending those performances even with parental supervision and imposing a $30,697.50 security fee for the indoor event option The lawsuit claims there was a dramatic escalation in security fees over the years from $1,125 in 2017 to the current $30,697.50 figure – an increase the organization calls "grossly disproportionate" compared to other city events a car show that closes multiple streets paid $16,276.25 in 2024 while the Fifth Avenue Tree Lighting and Christmas Walk – which attracts 10,000-15,000 people The lawsuit presents two main claims: that the restrictions specifically violate Naples Pride's First Amendment rights by burdening their protected speech and that Naples' entire permitting system is unconstitutional because it grants city officials "unfettered discretion" without "narrowly drawn Florida’s Attorney General paid a visit to Fort Myers Friday afternoon to announce charges being brought against three suspected child predators Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution is charging Travis Montgomery of Manatee County with possession of child sexual abuse material The charges result from a Florida Department of Law Enforcement statewide operation “These arrests reflect our ongoing commitment to child protection and we are coming for you,” said Uthmeier in the press conference these pedophiles now face our Statewide Prosecutors who will ensure they are held accountable for their crimes We will continue working hard to defend children and make our home safe Montgomery communicated with an individual from the state of Washington who sent images of the person’s young children to Montgomery Montgomery is being charged with six counts of possession of CSAM one count of solicitation of an image from a parent or legal guardian of sexual conduct involving a child and one count of consumer product tampering Officials said there will be additional counts of possession of or distribution of pornography containing bestiality added later Authorities state they uncovered Sheffield’s offenses while conducting an investigation on the BitTorrent network where offenders often share child pornography The investigation uncovered Sheffield downloaded several torrent streams that contained CSAM Sheffield is charged with 10 counts of possession of CSAM Sheffield had 10 or more images on his devices and downloaded hundreds of images since 2022 Investigators state they also uncovered Harrison downloading and then subsequently deleting multiple files depicting CSAM Harrison is charged with three counts of possession of CSAM “FDLE has long led the charge in investigating child sexual abuse material and exploitation cases,” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass “The individuals here are accused of preying on the most innocent and vulnerable among us-children who are too often victimized in horrific Let me be clear: if you exploit or harm a child in Florida FDLE will find you and we will hold you accountable.” Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Agnieszka Thomas will handle these cases A dream that started pre-COVID is starting to sprout along eastern reaches of Immokalee Road as Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary managers plan a $20 million renovation of the Audubon campus "This will help expand our capacity for education research and conservation," said Keith Laakkonen "We have a few cornerstone pieces and one of the pieces will be a brand-new laboratory We currently don’t have one and do ad hoc work but to have a lab to conduct research and scientists and to be able to offer that to graduate students and researchers from around the world." Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is home to some of the oldest cypress trees on the planet and it's one of the Naples' areas ecological gems Some trees at the swamp were alive when early Europeans explorers arrived 500 years ago Today they stand like ancient reminders of how south Florida was before manmade development changed the landscape Some of these massive trees can be seen from the sanctuary's 2.25-mile elevated boardwalk a staple for wildlife fans and tourists from all over the world "It’s literally America’s rainforest," Laakkonen said "It’s every bit as important to America as a national park because of the ecological component but also the community deciding to set it aside and to have that here in Southwest Florida is pretty amazing." Laakkonen said the sanctuary needs more space for research education and to host interns and researchers "We’re sort of capped out with space right now and we’re just not able to host larger classes," he said We have seasonal employees and interns and for them to come down for five or six months and find a place to live Laakkonen said the sanctuary needs more meeting space to collaborate with partners and overnight housing for burn crews "This will be key for staff who conduct prescribed fires and they typically stay here to overnight to make sure the fire doesn’t jump and right now they’re staying in trucks," Laakkonen said The sanctuary has more than 120 volunteers and the renovated campus will feature lunchrooms lockers and sleeping quarters for them as well "This is such a transformative time for Corkscrew Swamp," Laakkonen said "We have 70 years under our belt with wetland conservation and bird conservation and this will allow us to continue work for another 70 years." director of leadership and giving for the sanctuary said the non-profit has raised $15.5 million so far with donors coming from the Naples and Southwest Florida communities and from around the world honored and grateful we’ve been able to raise that money," Sauerland said "It’s really exciting that this big vision will come to life in less than a year And some donors haven't been here in a decade More than 80,000 people visit the sanctuary each year and now is the time of year to see the swamp come alive as the rainy season is coming within a matter of weeks "Everybody just missed the feeding frenzy and the drawdown but spring migration is still happening in periodic pulses," Laakkonen said when asked what visitors might see in May so it’s a great time to get out there and see the lichens." — The Lee County Sheriff's Office asks the public’s help to find a missing and endangered person; 23-year-old Brian “Becky” Tapanese and brown eyes and was last seen traveling on an E-bike within the Cleveland Ave If you have information on the whereabouts of Tapanese please contact LCSO at 239-477-1000 or SWFL Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS strategic and hardworking team than the pros at Priority Marketing a nonprofit dedicated to families and children is partnering with The Breeze Church to host a community job fair from 10 a.m Registration is now open for hiring employers and job seekers to participate in the May event The church-based job fair connects job seekers with local employers who are ready to hire while also providing resources to facilitate stronger connections and more hires Free one-on-one job coaching sessions are available to job seekers to review resumes and interviewing skills and additional services will be available onsite The community job fair is part of Better Together’s “Better Jobs” program which has helped 40,000 applicants connect with employment opportunities across 24 states two-thirds of attendees get a job interview and 1 in 4 receive a job offer on the spot The May 13 job fair will take place at The Breeze Church, located at 7101 Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers. Job seekers and employers can register at BetterTogetherUS.org/TheBreeze or by texting “JOBS” to 844-987-3949 Churches interested in hosting a Better Together job fair can visit BetterTogetherUS.org for more information Senior living center earns high performing status for both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care The Preserve is proud to announce that its skilled nursing care Cape Coral’s first food truck park is slated to open June 2025  Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina, a one-of-a-kind experience coming soon to Cape Better Together is partnering with New Springs Church to host a community job fair for Coral Springs-area residents on Saturday, May 17 from 11 a.m. Sign up for our monthly newsletter to keep up with what we’re doing for our clients and the community. We cover a variety of relevant marketing tips and topics to inspire and empower your brand! Florida | Georgia | North Carolina | South Carolina | Alabama | Colorado © 2025 BVM Sports. Best Version Media, LLC. completing a three-game sweep in Atlantic Sun Conference baseball action Tyler Herb delivered an RBI single in the eighth inning to clinch the win while Ashton Pocol struck out two in the ninth to secure the game moving into third place in the ASUN Graphite Division with six games left in the conference season FGCU aims to maintain its winning momentum in an upcoming nonconference matchup against Florida Atlantic on Tuesday FGCU is in a favorable position to control its destiny in the final stretch of the season emphasizing their potential for postseason play The summary of the linked article was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence technology from OpenAI We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it OK Privacy policy Game Recap: Baseball | 5/4/2025 5:53:00 PM | by Jason Hanes Thanks for visiting ! The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Tyler Gerteisen opened the scoring in the top of the second with a two-run home run that put the Ospreys ahead 2-0 the Eagles responded in the bottom half of the frame with a solo homer to cut its deficit to one run The Ospreys added to their lead in the fourth inning when Eric Fouraker belted UNF's second two-run homer of the game this time extending its advantage to 4-1 heading.. 14-10 ASUN) scored first with an Alexis Cowles two-RBI single in the first inning Allison Sparkman was in the circle for FGCU and only allowed one hit through the first two innings before the Ospreys (42-13 22-2 ASUN) broke through in the third to put up four runs The rest of the game was a pitching duel with Victoria Ash coming on.. Game Recap: Baseball | 5/3/2025 8:22:00 PM | by Jason Hanes Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Game Recap: Softball | 5/3/2025 4:00:00 PM | by Ryan Field Thanks for visiting ! The Eagles plated one run in each of the first two innings though the Ospreys were able to muster some momentum in the top of the third Ty Velardo and Nick Monile were both hit by a pitch to start the frame with Monile later advancing to second base on a fielder's choice Connor Moore reached safely on a fielding error scoring Monile to cut the Ospreys' deficit to 2-1 Typical ebbs and flows of the single-family home market do not have much of an impact on the ultra Four restaurant chains and a cake shop will join seven other businesses coming this year to the new Tree Farm.. the May 5 opening of the Hospital for Special Surgery at NCH takes the health care.. CM-CRE Office I LLLP purchased the 86,000-square-foot Renaissance Office Center at the northwest corner of Interstate 75 and Daniels Parkway in south Fort Myers from Brookwood Financial Partners for $9,675,000 of Mayhugh Commercial Advisors represented the buyer Mayhugh Commercial Advisors will manage leasing and property operations for the new owner The property was acquired from AIG Asset Management in 2017 for $8.63 million