Eileen Kelley

1 month ago | news.wgcu.org | Eileen Kelley

They’ve held forums, gathered petitions, packed City Hall chambers and met individually with members of the city council all in the name of trying to stop the city of Cape Coral from allowing future development in an area they say is critical to the environment. Long time owners of this 350-acres in southwestern Cape Coral are hoping to convince the city to re-designate about a third of the property from its current status as a nature preserve to mixed use development.

1 month ago | wusf.org | Eileen Kelley

The Trump administration ended Temporary Protected Status for some 500,000 Haitians Thursday, meaning that as of early August, Haitians here with that status will no longer will be allowed to live and work in the U.S.The vast majority of Haitians under TPS status live and work in Florida. About 30,000 Haitians under TPS, humanitarian parole or asylum are in Southwest Florida. They are working in health care, hospitality and the housing market.

2 months ago | news.wgcu.org | Eileen Kelley

Staff within Lee County’s government told a hearing officer Thursday it recommended approving a long-fought zoning plan that could substantially increase to scope and size of the South Seas Island Resort at the far end of Captiva Island. County employee Adam Mendez said the additional units would have negligible bearing on infrastructure. Critics of the zoning request vehemently disagree. South Seas is among some 300 acres of land on the northern one-third of the island of Captiva.

2 months ago | news.wgcu.org | Eileen Kelley

The South Seas Group has been battling residents and civic groups on Sanibel and Captiva as it tries to persuade the Lee County Board of County Commissioners to sign off on a deal that would significantly expand the number of people at the resort. South Seas encompasses the northern third of Captiva Island. To get to Captiva by car, you have to drive through Sanibel Island. The populations of both islands swell significantly during the winter tourist season.

2 months ago | news.wgcu.org | Eileen Kelley

Across the country each year, homeless advocates and outreach workers fan out, searching bus stops, parking lots and bridge culverts for the unhoused. Bus passes, backpacks and brochures about various homeless services available in the area are typically passed out. This isn’t just a goodwill mission. It’s a chance to make connections and have discussions about life on the streets.