Ella Rhoades

6 days ago | fox4now.com | Ella Rhoades

LEE COUNTY, Fla. — A bill sitting on the Florida governor's desk could make drivers think twice before pressing the pedal to the metal. House Bill 351 would create tougher penalties for excessive speeders, including potential jail time and hefty fines. The Lee County Sheriff's Office traffic unit says they encounter drivers going 50 miles per hour over the speed limit at least once a week.

1 week ago | fox4now.com | Ella Rhoades

LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. — People in Lehigh Acres are raising concerns about illegal dumping and unkempt lots in their community, with county data showing the area has the highest concentration of dumping violations. Heather Slate has watched piles of trash accumulate in her neighborhood for years, and she says she's had enough. "Sheer aggravation of seeing so much dumping," Slate said. According to Slate, the problem has only worsened over the past four years, a claim supported by Lee County data.

1 week ago | fox4now.com | Ella Rhoades

LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. — Some Lehigh residents have gone days or even weeks without water as wells run dry during what South Florida Water Management District calls an extreme drought in the area. Dawn, a 36-year resident of Lehigh, experienced her well running dry for the first time this year, leaving her without water for four days. "It's scary and you don't realize how much you use it until you don't have it," she said. Find previous reporting on the Lee County water study for Lehigh Acres here.

1 week ago | fox4now.com | Ella Rhoades

S.R. 82, Fla. — Florida Highway Patrol says drivers can no longer make left turns at several intersections along State Road 82, a change aimed at improving safety on what locals call a deadly road. The Florida Department of Transportation has installed one-way signs and marked right-turn only lanes at multiple intersections along S.R. 82, forcing drivers to make u-turns at designated safer locations. Fox 4 first reported on this project in April 2024. Find that story here. "Death valley.

1 week ago | fox4now.com | Ella Rhoades

LEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Teacher's Association of Lee County is negotiating with the Lee County School District for teacher salary increases, but many members say they're unhappy with the district's current offer. More than 3,400 people belong to the Teacher's Association of Lee County, which advocates for better teacher pay. TALC President Kevin Daly and his team met with district officials Wednesday for salary negotiations for the upcoming school year.