Good morning, Fort Myers.

Lee County will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Fort Myers Beach pier tomorrow at Crescent Beach Family Park.

The $14.4 million project will create a longer, wider pier with reinforced concrete, shade structures & aluminum railings and is expected to be complete in late summer 2027.

Gulf Coast Humane Society will host its free Back-to-School Community Fair on Saturday, Aug.

29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its Veterinary Clinic (2025 Arcadia St.) with food trucks, crafts, games and free family portraits to kick off the school year.

A garage fire on Scenic Street in Lehigh Acres damaged the garage and caused heavy smoke damage to the house, but no one was injured.

Fire crews arrived shortly after 6:40 a.m., suppressed the blaze before 7:50 a.m., and an investigator is reviewing the cause.

State Farm is issuing a $5 billion dividend refund to eligible auto policyholders, having mailed checks to 7.2 million customers + set to send another 3.8 million this week.

Customers receive payment digitally or by mail based on contact details provided in 2025 policies.

Costco is constructing a new 55-acre location off Colonial Boulevard between Metro & Plantation roads to ease crowded parking.

The site work and blueprint review followed a preconstruction meeting on Aug. 12, and a move from the Cypress Lake Drive site is planned pending an official opening date.

Whataburger will open its first Southwest Florida restaurant early September at 12916 S.

Cleveland Ave. in south Fort Myers, and a second location will open in fall at Coconut Point in Estero — the chain is hiring staff to prepare for its launch.

Stevens Construction completed two 1,598 sqft Aroma Joe’s coffee shops; one at 16400 Franklin Ave. in Port Charlotte and the other at 18961 Del Tura Plaza Lane in North Fort Myers, both offering indoor/outdoor seating, an order counter, and drive-through service daily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.

A new report by The Action Network ranked Sanibel Island as the third safest U.S. beach for property theft — listing three other Florida beaches among those with the lowest crime rates and advising visitors to secure belongings to minimize non-violent theft incidents.

A $15,000 U.S. Forest Service grant has funded the planting of 47 native trees at John Yarbrough Linear Park (south of Danley Drive) to help intercept runoff and improve water quality.

Publix launched four NFL-themed Pub subs inspired by the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Atlanta Falcons for football season.

The limited-edition sandwiches are available at Publix stores across Florida for a short time.