Southwest Florida Online News

Saturday, June 20, 2026

Wildfire Closes US41 At SR29

Naples, Fla- Eastbound US 41will be closed at State Road 29 in Collier County on Friday, June 19, 2026, at 5:00 PM due to a wildfire on US 41 in Dade County, between mile markers 21-23. Westbound US 41 will be closed on US 27 in Dade County.

Interstate 75 lanes remain OPEN, westbound US 41 from State Road 29 remains OPEN.

Motorists traveling near the area are urged to use caution, reduce speed, and remain alert for any changing conditions. Updates will be provided as needed. Travel Safe!

85 Year Old Woman Dies In SR29 Crash - Driver Under Arrest

DATE: 6/19/26
TIME: 6:43 PM
LOCATION: State Road 29 / 1.5 Miles North of State Road 29 – Collier County

CASE #: FHP26ON0285296

INVESTIGATOR: Corporal J. Torres

VEHICLE 1: Ford Pickup Truck
DRIVER 1: Male / 29 years old / Lehigh Acres / Non-incapacitating Injury

VEHICLE 2: Gillig Bus
DRIVER 2: Male / 52 years old / Naples / Non-incapacitating Injury

VEHICLE 3: Nissan Sedan
DRIVER 3: Female / 63 years old / Lehigh Acres / Serious Injury
PASSENGER 1: Female / 85 years old / Miramar / FATAL

SYNOPSIS:

Vehicle 1 was traveling north on State Road 29.
Vehicle 2 was traveling south on State Road 29.
Vehicle 3 was traveling south on State Road 29, behind Vehicle 2.

Vehicle 1 veered left, entered the southbound lane and sideswiped Vehicle 2.
Vehicle 1 then collided with the front of Vehicle 3. Post collision, Vehicle 1 overturned.

Vehicle 3 Passenger 1 was pronounced deceased on scene.
Driver 3 sustained serious injuries and was transported to an area hospital.

Driver 1 sustained non incapacitating injuries and was transported to an area hospital. Upon release from the hospital, the Florida Highway Patrol Traffic Homicide Unit placed Driver 1 (Alejandro Salto DOB 12/27/96) under arrest for DUI Manslaughter and booked him into the Collier County Jail.

The crash remains under investigation.

Friday, June 19, 2026

Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Area Public Hearing July 8

Help plan the future of the Dinner Island Ranch WMA

LABELLE, FL. -- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will present the draft materials for the Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Management Area 10-year Land Management Plan at a public hearing in Hendry County on Wednesday, July 8.

The public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. at UF/IFAS Extension Hendry County, 1085 Pratt Blvd., in LaBelle. The public is encouraged to attend and will have the opportunity to comment and ask questions regarding the Land Management Plan for the FWC-managed WMA.

Less than 30 miles from the vast waters of Lake Okeechobee, the Dinner Island Ranch WMA conserves 38,965 acres of land within a corridor of conservation lands and projects that stretch from the Caloosahatchee River to the Big Cypress Swamp Preserve.

Set in the heart of Hendry County within a rural, remote landscape of conservation lands, ranches and agriculture, the Dinner Island Ranch WMA and other nearby conservation lands protect vital habitat for the Florida panther and other imperiled species, including the Everglade snail kite, crested caracara and Big Cypress fox squirrel.

The Dinner Island Ranch WMA also maintains the hydrological connection with other conservation lands to the south, including the Big Cypress Swamp Preserve.

For more information regarding this and other upcoming public hearings, visit MyFWC.com/Conservation then click “Terrestrial Conservation” and “Management.”

Hunting and fishing regulations are not included in this plan or public hearing; they are addressed through a separate public process.

To learn more about hunting and fishing visit MyFWC.com/Hunting and click on the Hunting Handbook under “Regulations” or MyFWC.com/Fishing and select either Saltwater Recreational Regulations or Freshwater Recreational Regulations.

For additional information about Land Management Plans, visit MyFWC.com/Conservation, click “Terrestrial Conservation,” then scroll to “Management Plans (WMA).”

To obtain a copy of the draft elements of the Management Plan for the Spirit-of-the-Wild 758587 WMA, contact FWCMgmtPlans@MyFWC.com.

Pursuant to Chapters 253 and 259, Florida Statutes, all lands purchased with public funds must have a Land Management Plan that ensures the property will be managed in a manner that is consistent with the intended purposes of the purchase.

U.S. - Germany's Monetary Support Of Israel Military Budget

Prior to the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, direct foreign military granta primarily from the United States accounted for approximately 15% to 20% of Israel’s annual defense budget. Since late 2023, massive influxes of emergency supplemental funding from the U.S. have temporarily increased this proportion during active military operations.

The exact breakdown of how this free foreign aid integrates into Israel’s military ecosystem by percentage reveals specific constraints and funding dynamics:

Total Contribution to Weapons Imports

80% from the United States: When looking strictly at where Israel sources its foreign-made weapons and hardware rather than its overall budget, the U.S. provides about 80% of Israel's total weapons imports.

Remainder from Germany and others: Historically, Germany supplied the majority of the remaining 20% of imported arms, though Germany announced restrictions on equipment used in active conflict zones like Gaza.

Standard Baseline (MOU Funding)

The 10-Year Pact: Under a legally non-binding 2016 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) spanning 2019 to 2028, the U.S. commits $3.8 billion annually in military aid.

Budgetary Weight: This baseload funding of $3.8 billion typically represented roughly 12% to 16% of Israel's overall defense spending during normal peacetime operations.

Composition: The annual $3.8 billion is split into $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grants and $500 million for joint missile defense research and development (such as Iron Dome and David's Sling).

Surges and Emergency Supplemental Funding

War Supplemental Boosts: Following the October 2023 escalation, the U.S. Congress authorized an additional $16.3+ billion in direct military aid.

Total Wartime Outlays: Between late 2023 and late 2025, U.S. total military spending on Israel's defense operations and regional support reached $21.7 billion, significantly expanding the percentage share of foreign financial backing for ongoing operations.

Crucial Mechanics of the Aid

Spent in the United States: Roughly 100% of current FMF aid must be spent directly on U.S. defense contractors for American-manufactured military equipment, services, and training.

No "Blank Checks": The funds do not arrive as unrestricted cash; instead, they function as credits used to procure advanced technology, like F-35 fighter jets, air defense interceptors, and precision munitions.

Sources:

[1] https://www.cfr.org
[2] https://usafacts.org
[3] https://www.congress.gov
[4] https://usafacts.org
[5] https://www.facebook.com
[6] https://spencerguard.substack.com
[7] https://www.youtube.com
[8] https://www.cfr.org
[9] https://costsofwar.watson.brown.edu
[10] https://en.wikipedia.org

Neighbors Say Overwhelming Offensive Odors Coming From Compost Site

VENUS, FL. -- CompostUSA’s facility at 80 Hicoria Road in Venus, FL is at the center of a code violation for violating Highlands County Ordinance 5.6-3 (Nuisance Abatement) due to overwhelming, offensive odors. A special magistrate ruled in the county's favor, leading to ongoing settlement negotiations. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Here are the specific details of the violations and ongoing regulatory actions:

The Code Violation The Issue: The plan which processes human wastewater biosolids and wood waste into a dark soil amendment emits a repugnant odor that has plagued nearby residents for years.

The Statute: Highlands County cited the company under Chapter 5, Section 5.6-3 (Nuisance Abatement), which prohibits residents or businesses from allowing foul odors and nuisances to exist on their property.

Enforcement Actions: Following complaints and an investigation where an officer smelled the foul odor up to 3,000 feet away, a Highlands County Special Magistrate ruled the operation to be a continuous violation of the nuisance ordinance. [1, 4, 6, 12]

Settlement & Ongoing Negotiations Rather than immediately closing or fining the company $100-a-day, the county and CompostUSA have been participating in ongoing legal negotiations to establish a binding Settlement Agreement.

While the county works on this agreement, local commissioners have asked frustrated Venus residents to allow the legal talks to play out before taking further punitive action.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is also managing the facility's operations manual, which the company claims it continues to follow. [15, 16]

Broader Community Impacts Expansion Push: The odor dispute has been heavily complicated by CompostUSA's pending requests to expand operations to 80 acres, which would drastically increase truck traffic (up to 150 trucks a day).

Community Pushback: Local homeowners strongly oppose the expansion until the company can definitively prove they can mitigate the existing stench, which prevents them from opening windows or enjoying their yards.