Elyse Chengery

1 month ago | gulfcoastnewsnow.com | Elyse Chengery

Punta Gorda Police Chief Pamela Smith announced that officers will receive training from ICE agents, a decision that has sparked mixed reactions within the community. "The police chief said people should not expect officers to go around the city and round up people who may be here illegally," Smith said. "The training will be an extra tool for officers in immigration cases."Kathleen Davis, a Punta Gorda resident who immigrated from Barbados and Venezuela, expressed her support for the training.

1 month ago | gulfcoastnewsnow.com | Congressman Byron Donalds |Elyse Chengery

TOMLINSON, GULF COAST NEWS. >> I KNOW THIS ISN'T ABOUT ME, PARTICULARLY. HAVE BEEN IN A POSITION. >> AND THAT CAN I. THIS HAS. I CAN'T EVEN EXPRESS HOW HEAVY THIS IS. MY HEART.

1 month ago | gulfcoastnewsnow.com | Elyse Chengery

Fort Myers police are issuing numerous tickets to drivers speeding through the new diverging diamond exchange at Colonial Boulevard, which is still a construction zone. Gulf Coast News reporter Elyse Chengery rode along with Fort Myers Police Department (FMPD) to show how to navigate the diamond safely.

1 month ago | gulfcoastnewsnow.com | Elyse Chengery

The Fort Myers Beach town council delved into the details of e-bike regulations during a lengthy meeting Monday. "I mean, I'll be honest, the sidewalk feels a lot safer than the road because at this part, there's not, you know, like a space for us to ride. So I kind of stay on the sidewalk," said Justin, who rented an e-bike. While people think e-bikes are great for getting around, there are safety concerns. The town council spent time talking about the speed limit for e-bikes on the sidewalk.

2 months ago | gulfcoastnewsnow.com | Elyse Chengery

Fort Myers Beach pier reconstruction is set to begin next year with a new expected completion date. "The good news is we've been trying to promote staff to work on the permitting acceleration because we have a lot of not happy residents, including myself, that would like the pier back sooner," said Commissioner David Mulicka of the 3rd District of Lee County. With Tuesday's announcement, we're now expecting a completion date of August 2027.