Daily editionTuesday, September 29th, 2026
Good morning, Cape Coral.
The 5AM Cape Coral Team
Here’s your local news at a glance for Tuesday, the 29th of September.
Economy
Florida's minimum wage will increase to $15 an hour starting Wednesday, Sept. 30, as approved by a 2020 amendment; tipped employees will earn $11.98 an hour.
Experts say the new rates fall short of a living wage for self-supporting adults (e.g., $16.09 for two-adult households).
News-PressRead more
Education
Franklin Park Elementary became the first school in Lee County to earn the Community Partnership School certification, with Fort Myers Middle and Colonial Elementary following.
The UCF-developed model enhances students’ learning, wellness, and community engagement by uniting United Way and local partners.
News-PressRead more
Lee County United Way has partnered with schools to connect families with essential community resources in Cape Coral.
The initiative will roll out in the coming weeks to offer support services to students and their parents.
News-PressRead more
Sports
In Monday's football game, Cape Coral Seahawks beat Cypress Lake 44-0 with standout plays from Caleb Cobb and Derek Hooker as backups stepped up amid injuries.
Bishop Verot also won its volleyball match 3-0 against Imagine School at North Port, showing strong team depth.
The News-PressRead more
Local readers can vote online for SWFL Girls Athlete of the Week as 10 high school nominees from Sept. 21-26 vie for a BSN Sports T-shirt and tote bag from The News-Press and Naples Daily News.
Voting closes at 10 a.m. Thursday and results will appear on social media.
The News-PressRead more