Hi there, Fort Myers! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: GMF Online Auction and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Fort Myers Breaks Ground on $147.2 Million Police Headquarters (correctionalnews.com) — Fort Myers has broken ground on a $147.2 million police headquarters that will consolidate scattered divisions, add a 911 center, and bring advanced forensic and training facilities under one roof by 2028. City officials say the three-story complex will improve efficiency, keep firearms training in town, and create new community spaces for public programs and emergency preparedness.
2. SWFL renters gain upper hand as Fort Myers vacancy rate nears 20% (winknews.com) — Fort Myers renters are finally seeing relief as apartment vacancies approach 20% and average asking rents hover around $1,700, with many complexes offering months of free rent. Experts say an oversupply of new units after Hurricane Ian has flipped the market, giving tenants more leverage for deals across Fort Myers and Cape Coral, though they warn this renter-friendly window may not last long.
3. Breeze launching 6 new Florida flights starting at $74 (news-press.com) — New Breeze Airways routes will soon make it easier to fly directly into and out of Fort Myers, with a nonstop Trenton–Fort Myers flight starting January 8, 2027 and additional Atlantic City–Fort Myers service coming in October. While the latest launches are from Vero Beach, these added connections could give Fort Myers travelers more low-cost options to reach New Jersey and beyond.
4. Naples soldier reunites with daughter at RSW after 388-day deployment (winknews.com) — Travelers at Fort Myers' RSW airport witnessed a touching homecoming as Naples Army Reservist Sgt. First Class Louis DeVito reunited with his 2-year-old daughter after a 388-day deployment across the Middle East. After months of spotty video calls and a deployment extended by conflict, he says he's most excited simply to be a dad again and hopes this was his final tour.
5. Florida SouthWestern State College reaches highest enrollment in over a decade (winknews.com) — Florida SouthWestern State College, based in Fort Myers, has surpassed 17,000 students for the first time since 2011, reaching its third-highest enrollment ever. Leaders say the growth reflects rising confidence in FSW's degrees and workforce programs, which collectively generate hundreds of millions in annual economic impact and support thousands of jobs across Southwest Florida.
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Ok Fort Myers! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
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