Good morning, Fort Myers.

Sizzle Dining 2026 kicked off on Sept.

1 with deals supporting local kids at C Level Bar and Restaurant in Bonita Springs, where the executive chef previewed the planned menu & community focus for the event.

Florida Power and Light has launched its new Assistance Center (an online resource offering tips for energy saving and connections to bill extensions, federal help and local services) and it features FPL Saving Steps that may let eligible households earn a $200 bill credit.

Avelo Airlines has extended its Florida flight schedule through April 2027, letting travelers book one-way fares from $42 at nine airports including Fort Myers' Southwest Florida International Airport.

The carrier will launch flights to Key West in November.

Florida's minimum wage for non-tipped employees will rise from $14 to $15 an hour on Sept.

30 following a constitutional amendment passed in 2020, while tipped workers will see rates increase from $10.98 to $11.98 an hour.

Keep Lee County Beautiful added new cleanup sites for the annual International Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, Sept.

19 at Bay Oaks & Santini Plaza on Fort Myers Beach, offering residents, schools, businesses, & community groups a chance to sign up before spots fill up. Registration is open now.

In Fort Myers, meteorologists say the season is quiet with five tropical storms and no hurricane yet, even though one usually forms by Aug.

11; El Niño is adding wind shear + there is a chance the season may end without a hurricane, unprecedented in modern records.

The old control tower at Southwest Florida International Airport was demolished Thursday after sitting unused for nearly five years (it had served for 32 years) as crews dismantled it piece by piece while the new tower built in 2021 stood nearby.

Florida has now recorded 500 cyclosporiasis cases since May, with fresh produce contributing to a longer local season.

The health department advises residents to wash fruits and vegetables carefully (to prevent infection).

A surge in new apartment construction has shifted Fort Myers’ rental market by offering tenants more choices and better deals after years of limited options.