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Tag: Local

Experts say it’s normal to feel uncomfortable about no masks

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – Feeling weird about taking the mask off after months of having to put one on? Experts said it’s normal. “It was hard for us to put our masks on, so of course it’s going to be more challenging for some of us to take them off,” said Florida Gulf Coast University Counseling Center Director Dr. Alise Bartley.  This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new guidance saying anyone who is fully vaccinated can opt not to wear a mask in most situations, indoors or out. Dr. Bartley said getting used to...

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Three men robbed a Naples jewelry store in the Greentree Plaza

NAPLES, Fla.– Collier County deputies responded to an armed robbery at a Naples jewelry store on Friday afternoon. Three men walked into Certified Jewelers in Greentree Plaza at 4:18 PM armed with handguns. They proceeded to rob the store. No one was injured during the robbery, according to authorities. If you have any information, you can call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 239-252-9300. To leave an anonymous tip, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-8477. No further information about the mens identities or what was stolen was available at this time. Count on NBC2 to...

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Cape Coral officials prepare for potential algae blooms

CAPE CORAL, Fla.– With blue-green algae beginning to appear in waterways across Southwest Florida, Cape Coral City officials said they are still working on their plan for this year in case algae blooms cover canals once again.  Mayor John Gunter said they should have a better idea of what the plan is next week. Even though the canals are clear at the moment, some residents said they are hoping this year isn’t a repeat of 2018. “The conditions seem to be there and it’s earlier in the summer than in 2018 that we are seeing these conditions,” said Cape Coral resident Jason Pim. In...

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Large algae bloom covers over half of Lake O as releases lower

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – The Army Corps of Engineers are reducing water releases from Lake Okeechobee.  Col. Andrew Kelly said they’re lowering from 2,000 cubic feet per second to 1,500 cfs. This comes after local conservancy groups and Governor Ron Desantis called the Army Corps to make changes. “We heard the governor’s remarks,” Col. Kelly said. Right now, a large algae bloom is covering more than half of Lake Okeechobee. Water experts said that water is heading down the Caloosahatchee.  The lake is two feet above where it should be for this time of the year....

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Rainy season begins on Saturday

FORT MYERS, Fla.– The start of South Florida’s rainy season begins on Saturday, May 15th and runs through October 15th. During this five-month stretch of time the vast majority of the rain our area sees each year falls, as sea breeze-driven thunderstorms pop up and drench various regions of the peninsula depending on the wind direction of the day. Having a fixed-date rainy season is a relatively new concept, but one that makes sense. A few years ago, instead of being a set date season, the rainy season’s start and end date was always declared retroactivity. (The season...

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FGCU expects sports venues at full capacity in Fall, masks optional

FORT MYERS, Fla.– Wings up and masks off.  “It’s certainly exciting to be able to get things back to a normal sense and feeling,” said Florida Gulf Coast University Assistant Athletic Director John Sinnett.  FGCU announced earlier this week, even before the CDC, that it would be changing its guidelines so that facemasks on campus were optional but recommended. The policy includes athletic venues.   “If they choose to wear a mask that would be their personal decision, but they will not be required,” said Sinnett.  The on campus...

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Blue-green algae patches pop up in Lovers Key State Park

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. — A local fisherman spotted patches of brown and green floating near Lovers Key State Park earlier this week.  At first Jeremy Robertson thought it was just floating grass. When he got a closer look, it was something much more complicated. “There were a number of these six-feet circles with the bright green stuff actively growing on it,” he said. “And it smelled, and there were bugs around. I’ve never seen them like that.” FGCU Water School professor, Dr. Barry Rosen, was able to determine what the mass was.   “It’s got at least two species of blue-green algae in...

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Use caution: High wildfire risk on Saturday

The Florida Forest Service is listing Lee County in the “very high” wildfire danger index level on Saturday, as a combination of stronger winds, generally dry soil, and lower humidity levels increases the risk of fires in the area.  Charlotte County is listed as having a high risk of wildfires on Saturday, while Collier, DeSoto, Hendry, and Glades counties remain under the moderate fire risk category.   Florida Forest Service highlights each Florida county with a fire threat index each day. The threat scale ranges from low to extreme and is issued as a heads-up for people in the...

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Can the world eradicate COVID-19?

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WBBH) — In 1980, after a massive global effort, the World Health Organization declared that Smallpox had been eradicated. The CDC says it’s often considered the biggest achievement in international public health. “Smallpox is the only (human) disease that the world has been able to completely eradicate,” Dr. Sharon Isern, a professor of Biological Sciences at FGCU, explained to NBC2. Can it be done again with COVID-19? Can the world eradicate — completely wipe out — this deadly disease?  VACCINES: A CRUCIAL TOOL IN FIGHTING DISEASES The rapid...

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Red tide alerts issued for most of Lee County’s coastline

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – Red tide blooms were reported along a majority of Lee County’s coastline Friday afternoon. The Florida Department of Health is Lee County said the red tide blooms were reported near Tarpon Bay Road Beach, Lighthouse Beach, Lynn Hall Beach Park, Lover’s Key State Park, and Bonita Springs Beach Park. Multiple health alerts have been issued for those areas. People may have mild and short-lived respiratory symptoms such as eye, nose, and throat irritation similar to cold symptoms, according to local health officials. Some with breathing problems such as asthma might...

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