Eileen Kelley

Florida

Investigative Reporter at WGCU Public Media

Investigative reporter @WGCU- NPR for SW Fla. Former bylines @SunSentinel; @jaxdotcom; @enquirer; @denverpost; @heraldtribune; @newspress... Jeep girl/Dog mom.

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Articles

Brace yourself -- forecaster predicts busy hurricane season, again

3 weeks ago | wgcu.org | Eileen Kelley

Brace yourself Florida, renowned research scientist from the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University Phil Klotzbach is predicting a busier than normal hurricane season. The Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season is from June 1 through Nov. 30. Speaking on the final day of the 39th annual Florida Governor's Hurricane Conference in West Palm Beach, Klotzbach predicted there will be 17 named storms, nine of them, he said will become hurricanes.
One-quarter of hurricane training sessions cancelled after new rules on travel force feds into a no show

3 weeks ago | wgcu.org | Eileen Kelley

WEST PALM BEACH — Hurricane Season kicks off in a little more than two weeks. And in preparation for it, thousands of emergency management operations leaders from around the state, the country and Caribbean flock to the annual Florida Governors Hurricane Conference to get needed certifications and learn new tricks of the trade including the latest meteorology advancements.
DeSantis continues public salvo: 'It's all a charade; It's really a pathetic agenda' of the Florida House

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

Ron DeSantis’s latest salvo with the Florida House of Representatives unfolded in Southwest Florida Wednesday with the governor accusing the House of trying to defund the police. While the House is far from calling for the defunding of law enforcement agencies, millions of dollars separate it from the its counterpart in the Senate as the two sides hammer out the upcoming state budget.
Nationwide "Hands Off" anti-Trump policies demonstrations Saturday; Expected to be single biggest day of protest to date

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

Hands Off local counties events:CHAROLOTTE —10 to 11:30 a.m.Intersection is U.S. 41 and Murdock CircleCOLLIER — 2 to 5 p.m. Court House, 3315 Tamiami Trail (meet and park). Walk to nearby Airport Rd and U.S. 41 intersectionsLEE (Two events) Fort Meyers — 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Eastside of U.S. 41 and Cypress Lake/Daniels Parkway. Park near Lonestar or in Bell Tower. Cape Coral — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Outside U.S. Rep Bryon Daniels office, 1039 SE 9th Ave.
Got fine? No problem(ish). Operation Green Light encourages people to take care of fines, court costs and overdue parking tickets

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

Operation Green Light is underway the following days across Southwest Florida: CHARLOTTE: 3/31-4/4COLLIER: 4/2-4/3DESOTO: 3/29 & 3/31-4/4GLADES: 4/7HARDEE: 3/31 - 4/4HIGHLANDS : 4/3- 4/4 & 4/7HENDRY: 3/31-4/4LEE: 4/2 - 4/4 & 4/7-4/11OKEECHOBEE: 3/31-4/1SARASOTA: 4/3-4/4 Suspended license or over-due traffic ticket got you down? You may be able to catch a break. This time each year, counties across the state participate in what's called Operation Green Light.
Festival meant to highlight vanishing country life in eastern Lee County

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

More than 1,000 people move to Florida each day. And, make no doubt about it, from those newcomers to hurricane-battered coastal residents development is moving inland. In Southwest Florida, the remaining pockets of land for cattle and horse are threatened as segments of Old Florida, homesteaded for generations, are vanishing as new development replaces them. There's a large tract of undeveloped land not too far from the Lee County Civic Center.
Suit targets Trump, DHS over Temporary Protected Status for non-citizen Haitians in the U.S.

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

Arguing the termination of Temporary Protected Status for non-citizen Haitians in the United State was unlawful, harmful, out of its purview when proper steps are not taken, a group of attorneys, immigrant advocates and Haitians themselves are suing Donald Trump, the Department of Homeland Security and its secretary, former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem. This is Round 2 for many Haitians who originally faced deportations during the first Trump administration.
Demonstration Saturday targets protecting wetlands in Cape Coral

Feb 28, 2025 | 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.
Reaction to Trump decision on Haiti TPS: 'Bury them alive

Feb 24, 2025 | 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.
Lee County staff gives nod to planned resort expansion; public now weighing in on South Seas

Feb 20, 2025 | 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.