Featured

Voters asked to verify addresses

Postcards requesting address confirmation went out to all registered voters in Okeechobee County in late March or early April.

Brahmans win baseball district championship

The Okeechobee High School varsity Brahman baseball team secured a district championship with a dominating 13-3 win over the Sebastian River Sharks on April 17.

Lake releases to Caloosahatchee cut to 650 cfs

JACKSONVILLE -- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Jacksonville District will reduce flow from Lake Okeechobee to the Caloosahatchee River on April 19.

Lake O level hits 12 feet

The Big O lake level hit 12 feet above sea level on April 16. Anglers and ecologists hope the lake will stay low enough, low enough for SAV to regrow ...

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Community

Girl Scouts host 2025 Summer Camp at Camp Welaka

The countdown to summer fun is on! Registration is now open for the Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida’s 2025 summer camp...

Quarters for a Cause to benefit Dawn Helfinstine is May 20

The Quarters for a Cause to benefit Dawn Helfinstine will be held on Tuesday, May 20 at the American Legion...

'Share the Shelf' encourages seasonal residents to donate canned goods, boxed foods

Harry Chapin Food Bank has launched Share the Shelf, an end-of-spring food collection encouraging seasonal residents...

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Lake Okeechobee

Lake O level hits 12 feet

Several Lake Okeechobee Boat Locks are temporarily closed April 15

Navigating through Central & Southern Florida’s interconnected waterways

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Current conditions

Observed from: Okeechobee County Airport

Fair, NA °F

Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Light east wind becoming east southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Get the full forecast

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April LORE 2025

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Lake levels

11.72 feet

Last year: 14.64 feet

Depth given in feet above sea level.

Water Flow Chart

Sports

Lewis and Fairtrace win Roland Martin Marine Series Qualifier

The Roland Martin Marine Center Series presented by HUK kicked off the 2025 season on April 5th and 6th...

Okeechobee girl wins individual honors at state archery contest

GAINESVILLE – Kiara Diaz, an Okeechobee home school student, won first place in the Elementary School Female division...

OHS track team holds first home meet in 20 years

The Okeechobee High School track team held their first home meet in over 20 years on April 9.

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Human Interest

Mom of autistic child tells their story

April is National Autism Awareness Month, and who better to discuss autism than the parents of an autistic child?

Community helps find dog that was lost after car crash

After a serious car accident in front of Popeye’s last week, little Lucy disappeared.

Scottsdale man works to create children’s hospices across country

When Ryan Cottor was eight months old, his parents learned he wasn’t just a late bloomer when it comes to motor skills.

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Schools

Students have fun with test prep

Who says test prep can’t be fun? Miss Radomski’s third grade class did an egg hunt full of math review!

LES students create a book

Miss Robert’s students created a class book with their own illustrations and writings about what their lives...

YMS students compete in Math Bowl

On Wednesday, April 16, sixth through eighth grade Yearling Middle School students participated in Math Bowl...

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Wildlife & Environment

Culvert repairs underway

OKEECHOBEE -- Residents in the Lazy 7 area have noticed dry conditions in the L-62 canal. SFWMD Okeechobee Field Station crews are using the dry weather conditions …

Citizen scientists help researchers protect keystone species

Range maps for diamondback terrapins – a type of vulnerable aquatic turtle species...

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Government

USPS to celebrate 250th anniversaries of Army, Navy, and Marine Corps with commemorative stamps

The U.S. Postal Service to proudly unveil three individual commemorative stamps honoring the 250th anniversaries

Food trucks back on the agenda again

Food trucks were back on the Okeechobee City Council’s agenda this week.

City council reviews budget

Because Finance Director India Riedel was unable to attend the April 15 Okeechobee City Council meeting...

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Police/Fire

Criminal Justice Academy graduates 10 new corrections officers

During a ceremony on Thursday, April 17, South Florida State College’s (SFSC) Basic Corrections Academy Class 113 graduated...

Boy saves cousin from drowning

A 4-year-old boy was brought to Raulerson Hospital after nearly drowning in a swimming pool.

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Opinion

When should woman claim Social Security?

AMAC Certified Social Security Advisor Russell Gloor answers questions about Social Security.

Being tough on crime includes addressing child abuse

News outlets obsess over shocking, high-profile crimes -- from murders to violent carjackings.

FWC seeks feedback about bear hunting rules

The FWC is seeking feedback from the public on proposed changes to bear hunting regulations in Florida. To help, please complete a short comment tool to share your thoughts on this topic.

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Hurricane News

BBB & SBA raise awareness about business recovery resources in West Florida

The SBA’s disaster loans offer immediate financial relief, allowing individuals and businesses...

$1.5 million grant to fund generator for LaBelle Middle School

Thanks to a $1.5 million federal grant, LaBelle Middle School will be a more comfortable hurricane shelter in the future.

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Adopt A Pet

Caloosa Humane Society presents Pets of the Week

Yesterday at 1:47 PM

This week’s Pets of the Week are beautiful fur babies in need of loving families!

Caloosa Humane Society presents Pets of the Week

Friday, March 28

This week’s Pets of the Week are beautiful fur babies in need of loving families!

Caloosa Humane Society presents Pets of the Week

Monday, March 3

This week’s Pets of the Week are beautiful fur babies in need of loving families!

Caloosa Humane Society presents Pets of the Week

Tuesday, February 18

This week’s Pets of the Week are beautiful fur babies in need of loving families! You can come meet these babies...

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Veterans

Local veterans to take Honor Flight in May

Veterans from Okeechobee and Glades Counties will soon be taking off on an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C....

OCSO assists with benefit poker run

VFW Post 10539 would like to thank the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office deputies Officer Adrian Rogers...

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Agriculture

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a Florida avocado tree

With Cinco de Mayo approaching, now’s the time to dig into guacamole and even plant the tree...

UF/IFAS entomologist fights for Florida’s crops against costly pests

Behind every fresh head of lettuce and pepper on your plate, there’s a team of scientists working tirelessly...

Floridians are fertilizing lawns without guidance

A newly published UF/IFAS report reveals significant knowledge gaps about fertilizer among Floridians ...

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Health

Man claims government planted flesh-eating bug in him

When a deputy called to tell a man he was trespassed from HCA Raulerson Hospital...

FDOH reminds residents to vaccinate pets

The Florida Department of Health is warning residents to vaccinate their pets and avoid contact with wild and stray animals.

FDOH reminds residents to vaccinate pets

The Florida Department of Health is warning residents to vaccinate their pets and avoid contact with wild and stray animals.

The hidden threat to care for the Down syndrome community

When my son was born with Down syndrome, I learned quickly that the smallest details of medical care...

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Business

SFWMD to hold public meetings

Join the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) for upcoming public meetings in the next three weeks.

FWC to hold Gopher Tortoise Technical Assistance Group meeting on April 25

A meeting of the Gopher Tortoise Technical Assistance Group will be held virtually on Friday, April 25...

AAA: Florida gas prices declined 11 cents last week

Florida gas prices declined 11 cents last week. The state average was $3.00 per gallon on Sunday.

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Traffic & Road Work

Okeechobee County Road Watch for week beginning April 20

Road Watch report for Okeechobee County for the week of Sunday, April 20. Motorists are reminded...

Glades County Road Watch for week beginning April 20

Road Watch report for Glades County for the week of Sunday, April 20. Motorists are reminded...

Glades County Road Watch Report for week beginning April 13

Change the date) Road Watch report for Glades County for the week of Sunday, April 13. Motorists are reminded...

Hendry County Road Watch Report for week beginning April 13

Change the date) Road Watch report for Hendry County for the week of Sunday, April 13. Motorists are reminded...

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State

Students from 2 Florida shootings demand the governor reject a law to lower the gun purchasing age

Students who experienced a shooting at both Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018 and Florida State University days ago sent a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis, demanding he rejects a law that …

No injuries reported from fire on Delta plane at Florida airport

A Delta Air Lines airplane caught fire before it was supposed to take off at a central Florida airport, forcing the evacuation of passengers. There were no initial reports of any injuries during the …

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National & World

- FEMA offers help to farmers
  
  LABELLE -- FEMA will hold a farm recovery event on Dec. 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the UF/IFAS Hendry Co. Extension Building, 1085 Pratt …
- FEMA opens recovery centers
  
  FEMA has opened Disaster Recovery Centers in Glades, Okeechobee and Palm Beach counties …
- Operation Blue Roof helps hurricane victims
  
  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has placed tarps on more than 7,100 homes damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton...

More Hurricane News

Special Sections

Voters asked to verify addresses

Brahmans win baseball district championship

Lake releases to Caloosahatchee cut to 650 cfs

Lake O level hits 12 feet

Girl Scouts host 2025 Summer Camp at Camp Welaka

Quarters for a Cause to benefit Dawn Helfinstine is May 20

'Share the Shelf' encourages seasonal residents to donate canned goods, boxed foods

E-newspaper

April LORE 2025

Lewis and Fairtrace win Roland Martin Marine Series Qualifier

Okeechobee girl wins individual honors at state archery contest

OHS track team holds first home meet in 20 years

Caloosa Humane Society presents Pets of the Week

Caloosa Humane Society presents Pets of the Week

Caloosa Humane Society presents Pets of the Week

Caloosa Humane Society presents Pets of the Week

Local veterans to take Honor Flight in May

OCSO assists with benefit poker run

Man claims government planted flesh-eating bug in him

FDOH reminds residents to vaccinate pets

FDOH reminds residents to vaccinate pets

The hidden threat to care for the Down syndrome community

Okeechobee County Road Watch for week beginning April 20

Glades County Road Watch for week beginning April 20

Glades County Road Watch Report for week beginning April 13

Hendry County Road Watch Report for week beginning April 13

Students from 2 Florida shootings demand the governor reject a law to lower the gun purchasing age

No injuries reported from fire on Delta plane at Florida airport

AP PHOTOS: Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88

AP PHOTOS: The last images of Pope Francis, taken at Easter services the day before he died

Boy saves cousin from drowning

Torry Island BBQ Showdown draws thousands and raises over $60,000 for local causes

FEMA offers help to farmers

FEMA opens recovery centers

Operation Blue Roof helps hurricane victims