Collier County

Big companies are snapping up land along the I-75 corridor, bringing a type of boomtown to Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties. Local leaders believe higher-paying jobs are coming to the area, easing the past dependence on tourism to drive the economy.

The housing gap between communities in Collier County is striking. In Immokalee, almost 40% of homes are owner-occupied, while in nearby Naples, that number is over 80%.

As agriculture gives way to planned developments, many worry the Florida panther is on a path to doom. Environmentalists say planned communities — Kingston in eastern Lee and Bellmar in eastern Collier and both the size of small cities — could hurtle the Florida panther from the Endangered Species List to extinction.

Health experts testify on the importance of keeping the mineral in the water supply, but "health freedom" backers dominate the public discussion before the commission vote.

Federal authorities have launched an investigation to determine why a private jet tried to make an emergency landing on I-75 in Collier County, colliding with a vehicle and sparking a fiery crash that killed the pilot and co-pilot.

The Naples United Church of Christ hosted a youth mental health community forum for local health care players and mental health experts to show their progress toward a more well community.

Floridians are still picking up what was lost a year ago during Hurricane Ian, a deadly and destructive Category 4 storm. The Collier Community Foundation is one of the leading organizations providing support to Ian victims.

The Sandy Fire broke out Monday at 50 acres in the far eastern part of Collier County. By Sunday morning the fire had spread to 8,398 acres and containment remained at 0%.

The Florida Department of Transportation said it is trying to find money to widen part of I-75 and improve interchanges in a 42-mile stretch of the roadway.

The National Interagency Fire Center reported the Big Cypress National Preserve reported Thursday that the fire had grown by more than 50 percent.

Chokoloskee and Everglades City have seen more than their share of hurricane destruction. Hurricane Ian left the towns battered, and unsure of being ready to reopen for the height of tourism season. But if you rode a bike through the two villages today, two months later, it might seem like the storm never even showed up.

The assistance is available in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Lee, and Sarasota counties, those hardest hit by Hurricane Ian