🌱 Why a Cape Coral burglary call ended with a K-9 choking charge

Hi Cape Coral! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Why a Cape Coral burglary call ended with a K-9 choking charge
• Could a 2026 hemp ban wipe out this Cape Coral CBD shop?
• How Cape Coral’s Jewish community is responding after the Bondi Beach tragedy

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Cape Coral? Post it to Cape Coral photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Mostly sunny and nice, with a high of 78 and low of 58 degrees.
• Wednesday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 80, low: 61.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 82 and low of 68 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Man accused of choking Florida sheriff's K-9 during arrest (wfla.com) — Cape Coral residents should know that deputies arrested a man after a reported apartment burglary in the Whiskey Creek area, where he allegedly choked a Lee County Sheriff’s K-9 during the arrest. The suspect was tracked from the complex to nearby streets and now faces trespassing, resisting an officer without violence, and animal cruelty charges.
   

2. Federal hemp product ban set for 2026 sparks concern for Cape business owner (fox4now.com) — A Cape Coral CBD shop owner is bracing for a sweeping federal hemp crackdown that could make many of his current products illegal by November 2026. The new rules would sharply limit THC content per container, threatening his business model even as Florida leaders back the ban, and leaving local customers uncertain about access to favored hemp remedies.
   

3. Southwest Florida Jewish faith leaders spread message of hope after Bondi Beach shooting (gulfcoastnewsnow.com) — Cape Coral’s Jewish community is leaning on faith and public menorah lightings to respond to a deadly Hanukkah shooting in Australia, while also confronting recent local antisemitic incidents. Chabad of Cape Coral and neighboring congregations are continuing nightly celebrations, with extra security from Cape Coral police and regional sheriff’s offices as leaders emphasize resilience, hope, and visibility over fear.
   

4. 'Smiles of joy:' Kappa Alpha Psi alumni chapter distributes gift cards to families in need (fox4now.com) — A longtime Lee County educator who once led Cape Coral High School helped organize a Fort Myers fraternity effort that handed out $10,000 in Walmart gift cards to local families in need. Partnering with the Lee County School District, the group selected students from area schools so their families could buy holiday gifts and groceries during a tough season.
   

📸 Around Cape Coral

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

📣 Cape Coral Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 16

• Englewood Little Explorers - Life at Night
  Cedar Point Environmental Park , 2300 Placida Rd , Englewood
  9:00 am
• Soccer, Boys JV @ Gateway (Fort Myers)
  Ida S. Baker High School North Fort Myers, FL 33903
  6:00 pm
• Zentangle for the Seasons (Ages 13+)
  Alliance for the Arts , 10091 McGregor Blvd. , Fort Myers
  6:00 pm
• Soccer, Girls VR vs Gateway (Fort Myers)
  Ida S. Baker High School , 3500 Agualinda Blvd. , Cape Coral
  7:30 pm
• Soccer, Boys VR @ Gateway (Fort Myers)
  Ida S. Baker High School North Fort Myers, FL 33903
  7:30 pm

Wednesday December 17

• Free Guided Nature Walk
  Amberjack Environmental Park , 6450 Gasparilla Pines Blvd , Cape Haze
  9:00 am
• Fine Art Acrylics with Marilyn (18+ All Levels)
  Alliance for the Arts , 10091 McGregor Blvd. , Fort Myers
  9:30 am
• Instructed Life Drawing â Gestural & Structural Approach to the Figure (18+, Beginner to Advanced Level)
  Alliance for the Arts , 10091 McGregor Blvd. , Fort Myers
  9:30 am
• Fishermen's Village - Marine Mammals
  Fishermen's Village , 1200 W Retta Esplanade , Punta Gorda
  11:00 am
• Hula with Marliss (Ages 3-9 and 10+)
  Alliance for the Arts , 10091 McGregor Blvd. , Fort Myers
  4:30 pm
• Marketing for Artists: Share Your Work with Confidence
  Alliance for the Arts , 10091 McGregor Blvd. , Fort Myers
  6:00 pm
• Freshman Basketball @ Dunbar HS
  Lehigh Senior High School North Fort Myers, FL 33903
  6:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Cape Coral PatchAM possible:

• Excellence Companion & Homemaker, LLC — (239) 427-4586
  Providing Care with Excellence!!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Good night everyone I lost my dog today and I’m asking you all to help me to find my dog Simba he is very friendly doesn’t bite he is a yorkiepoo and he’s only 1 year old please I ask everyone to help me find him
  Isabela(mom):239-297-8672 Jaiden(dad):239-233-0590 (Nextdoor NW Embers Pkwy)
• Please share & repost to help reunite this stray dog!
  FOUND on December 14, 2025 in Fort Myers, FL 33916 near Fowler st Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to contact the finder, view… (Nextdoor Santa barbara)

• Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. posted a job opening for Grocery Clerk in Cape Coral. Apply here.
• MyJobsCorner posted a job opening for Custodian Jobs: Hiring Immediately! Full Time / Part Time - $18-$47/Hr in Cape Coral. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Cape Coral here.

Ok Cape Coral! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook