Alcohol leads the list of causes behind recreational boating deaths. It clouds judgment, slows reflexes, messes with balance, and blurs vision, all skills you need when you’re piloting a boat or just a passenger. Through Operation Dry Water, the Cape Haze Flotilla’s goal is simple: show boaters that mixing alcohol or drugs with water, even in familiar spots, only increases risk.

Boating safety relies on everyone making smart choices. Operation Dry Water drives home a key point: impairment anywhere, at the wheel or in the back, puts everyone at risk. Stay sober, protect yourself, and watch out for others. It’s that direct.

This year, Flotilla 99 is out in full force during the campaign weekend, sharing information about boating sober, the importance of life jackets, and the reality that conditions on the water can shift quickly. Their focus? Prevent risky mistakes before someone ends up hurt.

Don’t forget, it’s not just the captain who needs to stay sober. Passengers who drink put themselves and others in danger: falls, accidents, and distractions happen in the blink of an eye . Operation Dry Water calls on everyone to step up; boating safety isn’t one person’s responsibility, it’s everyone’s.

Heading into July 4th, Flotilla 99 urges boaters to remember that alcohol and drugs don’t belong on board: sober boating saves lives, plain and simple. You can find more details on Operation Dry Water and Flotilla 99’s Safe Boating classes by clicking here.

Operation Dry Water gets support nationwide from the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the U.S. Coast Guard, and law enforcement agencies across Florida. Together, they’re making sure everyone knows: safety on the water starts with being sober.

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The numbers from Sunset Stakes speak for themselves: authorities shut down 479 illegal gaming machines, seized nearly $300,000 in illegal profits, and arrested 11 suspects. 

Uthmeier, flanked by Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno, Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk, and Florida Gaming Control Commission Chair Julie Brown, called the operation a solid win.

The operation came together under the leadership of both sheriff’s offices, the Florida Gaming Control Commission, and the Office of Statewide Prosecution. 

Looking at the breakdown, Lee County seized more than $107,000, arrested six suspects, and cleared out 226 machines. Collier County pulled in over $185,000, made five arrests, and removed upwards of 250 machines.

But gambling wasn’t the only concern on the table. Uthmeier warned that operations like these often serve as a cover for even darker crimes: human trafficking, significant drug activity, and other criminal enterprises. 

The officials also voiced frustration over the state’s current penalties for illegal gambling. After a bill to toughen the laws stalled in Tallahassee, legislation that would’ve bumped the crime up to a third-degree felony with five years in prison, they say the stakes are just too low for offenders.

Because Sunset Stakes worked so well, Julie Brown announced that the Florida Gaming Control Commission will set up a new law enforcement squad in Southwest Florida next year. The goal? Step up the fight against illegal gambling and better shield local communities from those looking to cash in at their expense.

This isn’t a one-off effort. Since January, Uthmeier and the commission have led a “statewide crackdown” on illegal gambling, taking down over 3,100 unlawful machines, grabbing at least $1.7 million in cash, and arresting over 80 suspects linked to illegal gaming.

For the legal details, you can find the rules and regulations in the Florida Statutes.

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Let’s talk about something serious: hot cars and the real danger they pose to kids and pets. The rise in temperature inside a parked car is surprisingly fast. In just ten minutes, the interior heats by 20 degrees. Give it an hour, and you’re looking at a temperature jump of 50 degrees or more.

Along the Southwest coast, the coming week is shaping up to be dangerously hot. The Climate Prediction Center already flagged parts of Florida for extreme heat between June 17 and June 20. And when that heat index pushes into the triple digits, it doesn’t matter how used to Florida summers you are; this kind of heat demands caution.

You can’t risk it, not even for a moment. Leaving a child or pet in a locked car, even for a few minutes, can turn deadly. Say it’s 90 degrees outside. In half an hour, the temperature inside a car shoots up to 130 degrees. Rolling down the windows a crack? It barely helps. Heat pours in far faster than it can escape.

And that’s just the air temperature. The surfaces inside a car get even hotter. Arizona State University research found that after an hour in the sun, a dashboard can hit 157 degrees, and a steering wheel can reach 127 degrees.

Basically, your car becomes a greenhouse: sunlight streams in, heat gets trapped, and the temperature inside rockets up. Parking in the shade might slow this down a little, but it doesn’t prevent it. The risk remains.

Never leave a child or pet alone in a car. Build habits that keep you from forgetting: place your bag, phone, or something you need in the back seat, right next to them. Make it second nature to look before you lock up.

Since 1998, over a thousand children in the US have died from heatstroke after being left in cars. Every single one is a tragedy. With summer heat, vigilance saves lives. Always check every time.

The post Florida’s Rapid Warm-Up: The Dangers of Hot Cars appeared first on Englewood Review.

Deputies from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office found the urn Saturday afternoon, June 13, 2026, and since then, they’ve been trying to track down its owner, or the family it belongs to.

The urn is being safely stored by the authorities while they search for answers. If you think you know who it belongs to, or if it’s yours, the Sheriff’s Office wants to hear from you. Just call 239-477-1000 and ask for the Evidence Division. Every lead helps, and with a little luck, they’ll bring this story, and the urn, back home.

The post Urning for Answers: Abandoned Cremation Urn Sparks Beachfront Mystery appeared first on Englewood Review.

It happened just after 9 a.m. on June 9, 2026. Fort Myers Beach Fire District received a call about someone injured and stuck inside a confined space on a barge off San Carlos Island, at 2020 Main Street. When firefighters arrived, they found the man in a lower part of a secondary barge, about 10 feet down, off the shore, with what looked like some traumatic injuries, including a possible broken arm.

Getting to him wasn’t easy. Fire officials said the worker’s position deep inside the barge meant crews had to squeeze through tight spaces and deal with deteriorating conditions. They relied heavily on their technical rescue training, working out a plan as they went.

The rescue wasn’t a solo effort. Teams from the Fort Myers Beach Fire District, Iona-McGregor Fire District, and South Trail Fire Protection & Rescue Service District worked together. Using technical rescue gear, they lifted the worker out of the vessel’s lower section; from start to finish, it took about 45 minutes. To help coordinate, Fort Myers Beach Fire launched a drone, which provided live aerial footage to crews and Lee Control within minutes.

Paramedics took the worker straight to a local trauma center. Officials haven’t detailed the full extent of his injuries yet, though the broken arm seemed clear.

Rescues like this don’t happen often, and firefighters say that’s exactly why they practice for these situations: tight spaces, tricky access, unexpected challenges. In this emergency, those life-saving drills paid off.

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Last week, the Englewood REVIEW put a spotlight on Kelly Bauman, who’s basically stepped into the “David vs. Goliath” role, except her Goliath isn’t just one guy. She’s up against the Economic Stimulus Working Group, developer Pat Neal of Neal Communities, Sarasota County’s approval, and $15 million backing of the project. 

You can read the story at this link.

This week, the group isn’t sitting back. They’re showing up in force at three major meetings:

June 16, 9:00 a.m.
Sarasota County Budget Meeting
Robert L. Anderson Administration Center, Venice

June 17, 9:00 a.m.
Public Hearing
Rally/Protest: 10:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m.

June 18, 5:00 p.m.
Planning Meeting
Robert L. Anderson Administration Center, Venice

They want concerned citizens to show up, make noise, and support their cause. You can contact them on Facebook or join them at the meetings to take action.

Last August 2025, The County Commission approved the road project, handing Pat Neal the contract for a half-mile extension. It looked easy at first: big money, a unanimous vote, everything neat on paper. But residents pushed back hard. Protests, meetings, yard signs, people showing up, refusing to just watch it happen.

Kelly Bauman decided protesting wasn’t enough. She filed for an administrative hearing, taking on both Sarasota County Transportation and the Southwest Florida Water Management District to demand accountability under Florida law. She’s determined to dig into every detail and won’t let questionable moves slide by.

If you ask Kelly how to help, her answer is simple: show up. Speak out. Do not be afraid. 

Remember the words of Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

For information, call 941-500-9356 or on Facebook.

The post Extension Tension: The $15 Million Roadblock Group Details This Week’s Must-Attend Meetings appeared first on Englewood Review.

The park will come alive with energy: you can catch live World Cup games on enormous screens set up under a big, shaded tent with stunning bay views. There’s a free 3v3 soccer tournament open to anyone, a packed fan zone full of soccer drills, lawn games, face painting, and giveaways. Sarasota Paradise players and coaches will be there, hanging out and signing autographs. The special guest for the day? Trevor Sinclair, former England star and World Cup veteran.

If you’re hungry, grab something from the local food trucks and themed booths serving up food and drinks all day.

Here’s the game plan:

– See Germany vs. Curaçao at 1 p.m. and Netherlands vs. Japan at 4 p.m.
– A 3v3 round-robin soccer tournament kicks off at 12:30 p.m. and goes until 2:30 p.m.
– Fan zone activities, meet-and-greets, and fresh local eats run all afternoon.

Everything’s free, everyone’s welcome, just bring your energy and be ready to celebrate. 

Find out more and sign up at this link.

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HB 991 isn’t just about citizenship on IDs. It actually brings several big changes to Florida’s Election Code. Voter registration applicants now need to confirm they’re U.S. citizens, and if someone lies, they face criminal penalties. The legislation also tightens what counts as acceptable voter identification, so debit cards, student IDs, and several others are off the list.

The law forbids political parties and candidates from accepting contributions from foreign nationals, and it introduces new fines and penalties for violations. Another change: the state must share voter registration lists with federal courts to help choose juries, and courts will return information about voters who are ineligible, whether that’s from convictions, death, or non-U.S. citizenship. The bill also creates a five-year statute of limitations for prosecuting election-related felonies.

Candidates now have to affirm U.S. citizenship and disclose any dual citizenship, and those aiming for federal office must say if they plan to trade stocks while serving, unless through a blind trust or similar setup.

As for the citizenship status on driver’s licenses and state IDs, if someone becomes a U.S. citizen, they can get a new card for free; just let the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles know.

This update starts July 1, one among nearly 90 new laws. HB 991 goes into full force on January 1, 2027.

Click here to read more about the story, including a link to all of the new laws.

The post Show of State: Florida Driver’s Licenses to Reveal Citizenship Status in July appeared first on Englewood Review.

From 3 to 10 p.m., the celebration keeps things lively with live music, tributes to veterans, and over 60 vendors set up across the grounds. As night falls, look up as 100 drones take flight at 9 p.m. sharp, choreographed by Sky Elements, the nation’s top drone show company. The display promises a jaw-dropping tribute, both to the flag and to the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday.

This event is open to everyone, though there’s an admission fee. If you want more information or need tickets, check out the official website. Come out and celebrate America in a way you’ll remember.

Check here for more information on the official website.

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According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake hit about 104 kilometers west-northwest of Mantua, Cuba, just after 2 p.m. At first, they thought it measured 6.4, but later downgraded it to 6.1. The tremor stretched from South Florida to Tallahassee, as shown on USGS maps.

People in cities across Florida felt the shaking, with St. Petersburg and Tampa logging over 100 reports each. The tremor reached Orlando, South Florida, and even up near Jacksonville. 

In Havana, the Associated Press said buildings shook, but so far, nobody’s been hurt. The National Tsunami Warning Center gave the all-clear: no tsunami, no further danger.

Englewood REVIEW readers jumped onto social media to share their experiences. Some felt the quake, while others didn’t notice a thing. One reader was actually on a cruise ship right where the earthquake hit. When asked if she felt it, she said, “Yes, it was a rumble, vibration, followed by a slight roll.” She wasn’t scared, though; she just found it interesting.

Paul Earle, a seismologist at the USGS, pointed out just how unusual this was for the region. He explained that this quake erupted within a tectonic plate, not along the boundaries where most major earthquakes happen. Quakes inside plates tend to be scattered and rare. For context, Earle said nothing this strong had hit within 200 miles of Monday’s epicenter since 1880, when a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck near San Cristobal, Cuba.

So far, officials haven’t reported major damage or casualties. Still, the quake rattled Cuba, where decades of economic crisis left many buildings barely intact. There’s also been a string of widespread blackouts, making it tough to reach people or get a clear picture of the aftermath.

The USGS said people in Florida felt the shaking too. In Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, the quake reached major tourist spots like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum. People in Cancun, not used to anything like this, rushed out of office buildings and hotels.

Mexico’s Yucatan and Quintana Roo states activated emergency protocols, though both governors said they hadn’t seen any reports of damage yet. At least for now, the region seems to have avoided disaster, but the tremors were a shocking reminder that even the most unlikely places aren’t immune.

If you felt anything, the USGS wants to know. Please report it on their website.

Check back for more updates as this story develops. The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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