Popular Southwest Florida Realtor dies

Shockwaves and sadness rippled through the Bonita Springs-Estero Association of Realtors this week.

Florida lifts ban after Allstate turns over documents

Allstate is back in business in Florida and has turned over all documents state regulators sought in an ongoing investigation of the company.

Man chips tooth on bolt in restaurant soup; Outback plans to pay for dental work

When James Fetters began eating a cup of potato soup at an Outback Steakhouse three weeks ago, he expected to taste bits of bacon, chopped chives and melted cheese. Instead, the Estero resident said he bit into a 2-inch industrial bolt, leaving him with more than a bad taste in his mouth.

Collier leaders won’t charge new fee for ‘convenience’ traffic lights

Those pesky traffic signals slow drivers trying to get from here to there, granting entry and exit at gated communities and shopping centers located off major roadways. They may cause minor frustration for drivers in a hurry, but they are a major source of concern for Collier traffic officials, who say ...

Clearing begins for new Catholic school in north Collier

After a blessing of the grounds, the crowd watched as workers cut down the first tree at the site of what will become the new campus for a Catholic school in northern Collier County. Students, staff, parents and friends gathered off of Livingston Road to celebrate Royal Palm Academy’s tree-cutting ...

Some tax rebates run into obstacles

To help boost the economy, the Bush administration has tried to put tax rebates in consumers' hands as fast as possible. Yet, ...

Some IRS tax rebate checks going to wrong accounts

About 1,500 tax rebate checks sent out by the IRS this month were wired to the bank accounts of people who already received their ...

Investor group purchases Tuscany Reserve from WCI

AB Naples LLC, a well-financed, international investor group, has purchased from WCI Communities Inc., the high-end, golf course community of Tuscany Reserve in North Naples.

Home sales are declining, or are they?

While a new report reveals a still-slumping housing market, many Lee County real estate agents argue otherwise. They say they’ve experienced growth over the past few months, and are exploring alternative routes to stabilize their sales. This increase in sales runs contrary to the Florida Association ...

2 major businesses break ground at Ave Maria

Two major businesses, Publix and DaVita, have broken ground in the town of Ave Maria. The new Publix, one block east of the Town Center, is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2009.

Algae found at 4 Collier beaches; more expected this weekend

Collier County pollution monitors are bracing for a potential new onslaught of marine algae at local beaches this weekend, monitors reported this afternoon.

Vanderbilt Beach pier a no-go but a snack bar isn’t out of the question

There will be no pier on Vanderbilt Beach. But Collier County commissioners have not given up the idea of a beach makeover. Collier County commissioners Wednesday voted 4-1 against building a pier.

Foreclosures surge 65% to record

U.S. foreclosure filings reached a record high in April, rising almost 65% over the previous year and putting municipalities at risk by putting into the value of taxed property, according to a study released Wednesday.

Miss. Democrat wins House seat in special election

Mississippi Democrat Travis Childers won a special election to Congress on Tuesday, helping his party to a third victory in recent ...

Car chase ends with search in North Naples

A suspected drunken driver led Collier County Sheriff's deputies on a nearly six-mile chase through North Naples early Tuesday morning before crashing his small white sports car through a pedestrian guardrail and in to a wooded area at Pine Ridge Road and Goodlette-Frank Road.

Driver Cellphone Bans Questioned

A study predicts that California's hands-free cellphone requirement will reduce traffic deaths in the state by 300 a year. But the study found a decrease only when people drove in adverse conditions, such as in rain, or on wet or icy roads.

McCain Breaks From Bush on Climate Change, Calls for Mandatory Caps

Sen. John McCain throws his support behind the idea of placing mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions. He calls for the United States to lower its emissions to "at least 60 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2050."

Southwest passenger cited for cell phone chatter

DALLAS (AP) -- A Southwest Airlines passenger who refused to get off his cell phone during a flight found Dallas police waiting for him Monday....

Man, woman indicted in sale of child for sex acts

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment Monday accusing a man and woman of training the woman's child to be a dominatrix, selling her sexual services and photographing some of the acts....

Obama looks ahead to Michigan, Florida

Barack Obama is looking ahead to two states crucial to Democratic hopes for recapturing the White House in November as he shrugs ...