Millions are without power in Florida after Irma—one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record—swept through the state this weekend before weakening to a tropical storm. It caused its fair share of damage, but Florida’s most ominous fears did not play out; extremely vulnerable eastern coastal areas, including Miami, were spared the worst.

Water is safe to drink once again from the Collier County water utility without boiling it. That includes ice in restaurants, coffee, all of it.
The city of Naples and Everglades City utilities still have boil water notices in effect.
The Collier County Public Utilities Department lifted its boil water notice Wednesday for all customers of the Collier County Water District, including Goodland and the Orange Tree.

More than 270 lift stations needed to pump liquid sewage through the pipes of Collier County were still without power as of Sunday afternoon.
County officials couldn't say Monday when the power will return, only that residents in the 13 affected areas will need to conserve water to keep raw sewage from overflowing into streets, homes and businesses.

Fort Myers, FL, Sept. 15, 2017–Lee County Solid Waste will work to clear hurricane debris starting with the hardest - hit areas. Regular household collections are underway –  please be sure to have spoiled food securely tied in plastic bags and at your curb on your regularly scheduled collection day.

Hurricane Irma mercifully weakened before it swept much of Florida with hurricane-force gusts. But the gridlocked madhouse caused by the largest evacuation in Florida’s history shows just how vulnerable runaway development has made one of the nation’s fastest-growing states, emergency planners say.

Collier County will try to salvage its beach shuttle after the service was virtually ignored by residents and visitors during its first season.

The suggestion that a parking garage be built toward the west end of the Fifth Avenue South business district in Naples shouldn’t take anyone by surprise.

The offer from Naples officials to buy a downtown parking lot is now at $4.6 million after the City Council agreed to new purchase terms Wednesday.

A 350-space parking garage for downtown Old Naples comes up for discussion Tuesday and Wednesday in the Naples City Council chambers.

A Naples City Councilwoman is calling for an outside audit of the Community Redevelopment Agency after city officials said they couldn’t satisfy her request for a years-long accounting of CRA spending.