Lee County Sheriff’s Deputies investigating North Fort Myers shootingBishop of the Diocese of Venice releases statement following sexual abuse allegations by SWFL priest
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County Sheriff’s Deputies investigating North Fort Myers shooting A shooting investigation is underway in North Fort Myers.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Bishop of the Diocese of Venice releases statement following sexual abuse allegations by SWFL priest The Bishop of the Diocese of Venice is speaking out after Charlotte County Reverend Leo Riley was arrested on five counts of sexual battery stemming from his past work as a priest in Iowa.
NEW YORK (AP) Biden officials indefinitely postpone ban on menthol cigarettes amid election-year pushback President Joe Biden’s administration is indefinitely delaying a long-awaited menthol cigarette ban, a decision that infuriated anti-smoking advocates but could avoid a political backlash from Black voters in November.
FORT MYERS Gone but not forgotten: Traveling Vietnam Memorial pays tribute to veterans A powerful symbol of honor and remembrance is standing proudly here in Southwest Florida. The Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall is open to the public, a reminder of those we lost who served our country.
LEE COUNTY Two arrested for street racing in Lee County Two people have been arrested for street racing in Lee County according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
CAPE CORAL Boaters with rifles seen in Cape Coral canal On an average day, it’s pretty common to see people fishing or swimming in a canal. One neighbor in Cape Coral saw something unusual in his backyard Friday afternoon.
FORT MYERS Car flips, one sent to hospital after two car crash in Fort Myers A crash involving at least two vehicles sent one person to the hospital.
The Weather Authority: Clouds, sunshine, wind, and the possibility of a brief shower for your Sunday Clouds and occasional sunshine this Sunday. A few brief showers are possible late in the afternoon and this evening.
TALLAHASSEE (CBS) Governor DeSantis signs AI and vape bills Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed 28 bills, including a measure requiring disclaimers on certain political ads created using artificial intelligence and a bill about regulation of vape products.
ESTERO Gold Star Golf Tournament honors fallen veteran Behind each putt and swing of a golf club at the Gold Star Golf Tournament is someone who knew John Wirka Junior.
NEW YORK (AP) How TikTok grew from a fun app for teens into a potential national security threat If it feels like TikTok has been around forever, that’s probably because it has, at least if you’re measuring via internet time. What’s now in question is whether it will be around much longer and, if so, in what form?
FORT MYERS Man wanted for armed robbery at Fort Myers convenience store Crime Stoppers is asking the public for help identifying an armed robber who held up a convenience store Saturday morning.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINK Neighborhood Watch: Rifles, inappropriate texts and Donut shop debacle This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a scary mall trip, an inappropriate coach, and a Dunkin Donuts assault.
The Weather Authority: Sunny Saturday with a nice breeze; fire danger increases Warm temperatures for your Saturday with a nice breeze into the afternoon.
NORTH NAPLES Senior Airman surprises cousin on Aubrey Rogers softball senior night Aubrey Rogers senior pitcher and infielder McKenzie Vargas was surprised by her Air Force cousin for Senior Night.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County Sheriff’s Deputies investigating North Fort Myers shooting A shooting investigation is underway in North Fort Myers.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Bishop of the Diocese of Venice releases statement following sexual abuse allegations by SWFL priest The Bishop of the Diocese of Venice is speaking out after Charlotte County Reverend Leo Riley was arrested on five counts of sexual battery stemming from his past work as a priest in Iowa.
NEW YORK (AP) Biden officials indefinitely postpone ban on menthol cigarettes amid election-year pushback President Joe Biden’s administration is indefinitely delaying a long-awaited menthol cigarette ban, a decision that infuriated anti-smoking advocates but could avoid a political backlash from Black voters in November.
FORT MYERS Gone but not forgotten: Traveling Vietnam Memorial pays tribute to veterans A powerful symbol of honor and remembrance is standing proudly here in Southwest Florida. The Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall is open to the public, a reminder of those we lost who served our country.
LEE COUNTY Two arrested for street racing in Lee County Two people have been arrested for street racing in Lee County according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
CAPE CORAL Boaters with rifles seen in Cape Coral canal On an average day, it’s pretty common to see people fishing or swimming in a canal. One neighbor in Cape Coral saw something unusual in his backyard Friday afternoon.
FORT MYERS Car flips, one sent to hospital after two car crash in Fort Myers A crash involving at least two vehicles sent one person to the hospital.
The Weather Authority: Clouds, sunshine, wind, and the possibility of a brief shower for your Sunday Clouds and occasional sunshine this Sunday. A few brief showers are possible late in the afternoon and this evening.
TALLAHASSEE (CBS) Governor DeSantis signs AI and vape bills Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed 28 bills, including a measure requiring disclaimers on certain political ads created using artificial intelligence and a bill about regulation of vape products.
ESTERO Gold Star Golf Tournament honors fallen veteran Behind each putt and swing of a golf club at the Gold Star Golf Tournament is someone who knew John Wirka Junior.
NEW YORK (AP) How TikTok grew from a fun app for teens into a potential national security threat If it feels like TikTok has been around forever, that’s probably because it has, at least if you’re measuring via internet time. What’s now in question is whether it will be around much longer and, if so, in what form?
FORT MYERS Man wanted for armed robbery at Fort Myers convenience store Crime Stoppers is asking the public for help identifying an armed robber who held up a convenience store Saturday morning.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINK Neighborhood Watch: Rifles, inappropriate texts and Donut shop debacle This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a scary mall trip, an inappropriate coach, and a Dunkin Donuts assault.
The Weather Authority: Sunny Saturday with a nice breeze; fire danger increases Warm temperatures for your Saturday with a nice breeze into the afternoon.
NORTH NAPLES Senior Airman surprises cousin on Aubrey Rogers softball senior night Aubrey Rogers senior pitcher and infielder McKenzie Vargas was surprised by her Air Force cousin for Senior Night.
MGN Online WASHINGTON (AP) – Amid appeals for bipartisanship, President Barack Obama in just three days has provoked Republicans on issues as disparate as immigration, Wall Street and the Keystone XL pipeline – a combative mix of defense and offense that underscores Washington’s political realignment. Sensing a Republican retreat, Obama was headlining a Miami town hall on Wednesday, enlisting his Latino base of support to increase pressure on GOP lawmakers who want to tie spending on the Homeland Security Department to repeal of his immigration executive actions. On Tuesday, he vetoed GOP legislation that would have forced construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. And on Monday he proposed tougher rules on financial brokers who help manage retirement accounts, over Wall Street objections. Three days, three hardball plays. Such aggressive activism delights his supporters but irritates the Republicans who now control both chambers of Congress. It’s not as if Republicans didn’t see it coming. But it unfolds as Obama insists he is willing to find common ground with GOP leaders on such issues as trade and fixes to the criminal justice system. Indeed, Obama on Tuesday summoned a bipartisan group of lawmakers to the White House for a private meeting on how to address modernizing juvenile justice, sentencing and incarceration policies. And on Thursday, Obama planned to draw attention to the economic benefits of trade and exports in a series of interviews at the White House. “Let’s try to focus on some of things that we have in common and deliver real results,” he told governors of both parties who attended a White House luncheon Monday. But can the confrontational Obama exist alongside Obama the accommodator? Among those attending the criminal justice session at the White House were Republicans who have been among the most vocal critics of Obama on other issues, such as Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, a potential presidential candidate, Sen. Mike Lee of Utah and Reps. Jason Chaffetz of Utah and Trey Gowdy of South Carolina. The White House said Obama consulted with the lawmakers on “ways to build public support for a comprehensive, smart reform package based on many of the ideas they are now championing in legislation.” On trade, Obama is seeking legislation that will give him the authority to negotiate international trade deals that Congress can only approve or reject but not amend, a step a majority of Democrats oppose. “I think we’re in synch with the administration,” said Republican House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, who is leading the pro-trade drive in the House. Such efforts at bipartisanship occur against a steady effort by Republicans to undo or roll back Obama actions on immigration, health care and financial regulation. Obama has promised to use his veto to reject those, as he did the Keystone bill. “If he vetoed this, he’s going to veto many others that are out there,” Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, a vocal opponent of Obama’s climate change agenda, said after the Keystone veto. So far, both sides have demonstrated an ability to place confrontation on one track and cooperation on another. “The bluster over the veto-bait bills that Republicans are trying to pass is mostly fake – everyone knows that he can’t sign them,” said Matt Bennett of the centrist Democratic group Third Way. “So when it comes time for the trade bills, on which most Republicans, many Democrats and the White House are all aligned, there won’t really be any hangover from these battles.” Of the current fights with Congress, the one over immigration is the most bitter. Conservative Republicans maintain that Obama exceeded his constitutional authority when he took steps to shield more than 4 million immigrants from deportation and make them eligible for work permits. But GOP attempts to tie repeal of those actions to legislation that funds the Homeland Security Department have stalled in the face of procedural obstacles from Democrats. Senate Republicans on Tuesday offered to allow a vote on Homeland Security funding legislation without the immigration provisions. But it was unclear whether conservatives in the House would allow such a stripped-down bill to proceed. Separately, a federal district court judge in Texas last week blocked implementation of Obama’s executive actions pending a review of the merits of a lawsuit against the administration. The Justice Department on Monday sought an emergency stay of that injunction. Seeking to maintain pressure on Republicans, Obama was participating in a Miami immigration town hall meeting sponsored by Telemundo, the Spanish-language network. Before leaving for Florida, Obama also was to meet at the White House with immigration advocates to discuss the status of his executive actions. “There is the power of the bully pulpit. That’s partially what he’s doing in Miami,” said Marielena Hincapie, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center. “It’s also clear that the Department of Justice and the Obama administration are taking a pretty assertive stance in using all the legal tools at their disposal to defend his policy, which is good not just for immigrants but I’m sure the administration sees it as part of the president’s legacy.”