ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
Mark Fischer/ Flickr/ MGN MIAMI (AP) – Lesbian and gay couples were wed in Miami on Monday by the same judge who approved their marriage licenses, hours before Florida’s coming-out party as the nation’s 36th state where same-sex marriages are legal statewide. The addition of Florida’s 19.9 million people means 70 percent of Americans now live in states where gay marriage is legal. The cheers in the courthouse reflect how much the nation’s third-largest state has changed since the days of Anita Bryant, the former beauty pageant queen and orange juice spokeswoman who started her national campaign against gay rights in Miami in the 1970s. “It’s been a long time coming,” said Cathy Pareto, who wed Karla Arguello, her partner of 15 years. “Finally Florida recognizes us as a couple. It’s just, I don’t know, sweet justice.” But signs of opposition were evident farther north, where more conservative Floridians live. In Jacksonville, Duval County Court Clerk Ronnie Fussell shut down the courthouse chapel, saying no marriage ceremonies — either gay or straight — would be allowed there. At least two other counties in northeast Florida did the same. “Mr. Fussell said some of his people felt a little uncomfortable doing it,” said his spokesman, Charlie Broward. “It could cause discriminations down there (in the marriage license department) with those who are uncomfortable. We wanted to eliminate any unfairness.” Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Sarah Zabel cleared the way for the first same-sex weddings ahead of midnight, when U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle’s ruling was taking effect statewide. Then, she presided over a dual ceremony, marrying Todd and Jeff Delmay moments after the lesbian couple in chambers packed with supporters and news media. The women work in investment banking, and have an adopted 2-year-old son. The Delmays, together nearly 12 years, have a 4-year-old adopted son and operate an event-planning business. Todd and Jeff legally changed their last names to Delmay – an amalgamation of their prior surnames – and have worn wedding rings on their right hands for years. On Monday, they switched them to the left. “It’s such a journey we’ve been on. We’re just thrilled,” said Todd Delmay. “We’re thrilled for everybody. It’s such a transformative time.” More weddings were planned Tuesday in large-scale ceremonies in Orlando, Tampa, Key West and Broward County. Palm Beach was preparing for a flood of applications, and a courthouse in Delray Beach was opening Monday night to officiate at a mass wedding after midnight. “I think we’re going to have a huge turnout,” said Palm Beach County Clerk’s spokeswoman Kristina Ciuperger. And Florida’s northern counties may see an influx of license applications by couples from other Southern states where marriage bans remain in place. Sean Hudson, a spokesman for the state clerks’ association, said “the clerks are going to do what their duty is” and issue marriage licenses to any same-sex couples seeking them, even though some will no longer perform weddings, which is an optional part of their job. Florida’s constitution was amended with a 62-38 percent vote to ban same-sex marriages in 2008. But judges in Florida, as in many other states, found that such bans violate the U.S. Constitution’s guarantees of equal treatment and due process. Although same-sex marriage is now reality in Florida, Attorney General Pam Bondi is still pursuing appeals at both the federal and state levels. Her position – shared by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, now considering a run for president – is that marriage should be defined by each state. Tellingly, however, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and then the U.S. Supreme Court refused Bondi’s request to extend an order blocking same-sex marriages beyond Monday, essentially giving the green light to the weddings taking place now. And Bondi’s office didn’t even appear at Zabel’s hearing; One of her attorneys said by telephone that the state wouldn’t oppose the clerk issuing the first licenses. “This is a pivotal moment not just for Miami but for the entire country. Florida is a bellwether state, and I can think of no more encouraging sign as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to decide whether to resolve this issue for the entire country at its next conference on January 9,” said Shannon Minter, legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Still, opponents weren’t giving up without a fight. Liberty Counsel, a conservative legal group based, planned to keep trying to block clerks from issuing licenses, even though previous attempts were dismissed in court. “That some clerks may issue licenses against the law doesn’t obviate any of the appeals,” said the group’s lawyer, Horatio “Harry” Mihet. Thirty-eight years ago, Bryant successfully campaigned to overturn a Dade County ordinance banning discrimination against gays. Two decades passed before the county commission reinstated those protections. Meanwhile, Bryant’s career suffered – as did Florida orange juice sales. She blamed the “ultra-liberal press.” “They’re saying I’m a bigot and have hatred for the homosexuals,” she told The AP in 1977. “I don’t hate homosexuals. I love them enough to tell them the truth: that God puts them in the category with other sinners.”