Savannah Bananas bring fun on the diamond at JetBlue ParkCaught on Camera: Cape Coral mailbox hit by drifting car
LEE COUNTY Savannah Bananas bring fun on the diamond at JetBlue Park The Savannah Bananas amazed and entertained a sold out JetBlue Park Friday night for the first time in Southwest Florida.
CAPE CORAL Caught on Camera: Cape Coral mailbox hit by drifting car A Cape Coral homeowner was left in shock after a car sent her mailbox flying through the air and left tire tracks next to her home.
ARCADIA DeSoto County man sentenced for deadly DUI crash Justice for a mother and son killed by a man driving under the influence.
NAPLES Oldest Black-owned business in SWFL continues to serve community Cleveland Bass Movers, founded in 1969, stands as the oldest Black-owned business in Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS BEACH Broken gate on Lovers Key Beach Resort frustrating residents Residents of Lover’s Key Beach Club in Fort Myers Beach are frustrated with a gate that remains wide open, despite “No Trespassing” signs, since Hurricane Ian struck two years ago.
St. James City Church plans $700k flood-proofing project for future safety Hurricanes have caused flood after flood, and one island church, The First Baptist Church of Saint James City, wants to build higher.
Romance scams rise in the US, AARP warns residents to beware Romance scams are on the rise, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting over 64,000 cases in the U.S. in 2023.
Fort Myers Savannah Bananas make their way to Fort Myers for first time The Savannah Bananas have made their way to JetBlue Park for Friday’s sold-out game in Fort Myers to watch “the greatest show in sports.”
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Yacht Club receives key permit Cape Coral received a key permit for a Yacht Club Community Park. This permit opens up the necessary steps for the park to be built.
PORT CHARLOTTE Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church holds 31st annual Greek Fest The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Port Charlotte kicked off its 31st annual Greek Fest on Friday.
Donations helping young kids get fed Food insecurity is a pressing issue in the community, and organizations like the Harry Chapin Food Bank, Meals of Hope and the Guadalupe Center are stepping up to help.
New risk factors contribute to heart disease February is American Heart Month, a perfect time to assess your heart health.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte High School student arrested for possession of BB gun According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, a student has been arrested after a BB gun was found in his backpack on Friday.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Regional Library to undergo multiple repairs due to Ian The Fort Myers Regional Library is preparing for essential repairs, nearly two years after Hurricane Ian made its impact.
Drug bust at Collier County home leads to triple arrest Three people are accused of running a drug house that held opioids, fentanyl and other illicit narcotics in Collier County.
LEE COUNTY Savannah Bananas bring fun on the diamond at JetBlue Park The Savannah Bananas amazed and entertained a sold out JetBlue Park Friday night for the first time in Southwest Florida.
CAPE CORAL Caught on Camera: Cape Coral mailbox hit by drifting car A Cape Coral homeowner was left in shock after a car sent her mailbox flying through the air and left tire tracks next to her home.
ARCADIA DeSoto County man sentenced for deadly DUI crash Justice for a mother and son killed by a man driving under the influence.
NAPLES Oldest Black-owned business in SWFL continues to serve community Cleveland Bass Movers, founded in 1969, stands as the oldest Black-owned business in Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS BEACH Broken gate on Lovers Key Beach Resort frustrating residents Residents of Lover’s Key Beach Club in Fort Myers Beach are frustrated with a gate that remains wide open, despite “No Trespassing” signs, since Hurricane Ian struck two years ago.
St. James City Church plans $700k flood-proofing project for future safety Hurricanes have caused flood after flood, and one island church, The First Baptist Church of Saint James City, wants to build higher.
Romance scams rise in the US, AARP warns residents to beware Romance scams are on the rise, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting over 64,000 cases in the U.S. in 2023.
Fort Myers Savannah Bananas make their way to Fort Myers for first time The Savannah Bananas have made their way to JetBlue Park for Friday’s sold-out game in Fort Myers to watch “the greatest show in sports.”
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Yacht Club receives key permit Cape Coral received a key permit for a Yacht Club Community Park. This permit opens up the necessary steps for the park to be built.
PORT CHARLOTTE Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church holds 31st annual Greek Fest The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Port Charlotte kicked off its 31st annual Greek Fest on Friday.
Donations helping young kids get fed Food insecurity is a pressing issue in the community, and organizations like the Harry Chapin Food Bank, Meals of Hope and the Guadalupe Center are stepping up to help.
New risk factors contribute to heart disease February is American Heart Month, a perfect time to assess your heart health.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte High School student arrested for possession of BB gun According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, a student has been arrested after a BB gun was found in his backpack on Friday.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Regional Library to undergo multiple repairs due to Ian The Fort Myers Regional Library is preparing for essential repairs, nearly two years after Hurricane Ian made its impact.
Drug bust at Collier County home leads to triple arrest Three people are accused of running a drug house that held opioids, fentanyl and other illicit narcotics in Collier County.
MGN HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Upstart and Itsaknockout have almost certainly done enough to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. By no means does that make the Florida Derby insignificant to either side. The last time these top 3-year-olds met was in the Fountain of Youth last month, when Upstart finished ahead of everyone else – only to be placed second behind Itsaknockout after a hotly debated ruling by stewards who decided Upstart impeded his opponent’s path. The rematch comes Saturday in the $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, where Upstart and Itsaknockout will lead an expected field of nine. Both are virtually guaranteed spots in the Kentucky Derby based on point totals from past races, but the $600,000 winners’ share on the line in this one isn’t a small matter either. Upstart was made the early favorite at 8-5, just ahead of Itsaknockout at 2-1. “He’s coming up to the race great,” said Rick Violette, Upstart’s trainer. “He actually recovered quite well from the Fountain of Youth. That was a pretty tiring racetrack and he bounced back pretty quickly and he hasn’t had a hair out of place sense. … Trainers are tempted to tweak things, but there’s nothing to tweak.” One issue for Upstart is that he’s starting on the outside of the field, meaning a good start will be crucial in the 1 1-8 mile race. The field will start entering the first of two turns about 11 seconds after the gate opens. “It’s certainly the last choice,” Violette said of starting in the 9 post. “It’s not ideal. It’s a little bit longer run to the first turn. He’s a good horse and we’ll let him handle it.” Upstart blazed his way to a romp at Gulfstream in the Holy Bull, then looked comfortable again in the Fountain of Youth over the same surface. It will be only the fourth start for Itsaknockout, all at Gulfstream, all with trainer Todd Pletcher adding a bit of distance to the workload every time. And in every start to date, Itsaknockout’s speed numbers have gotten better. “He’s trained really well,” Pletcher said. “He’s a very consistent colt, he’s very easy to train. He’s one of those horses that does whatever you ask. You’d never know he’s in the barn.” Pletcher, who is on pace to have at least three and possibly more starters in the Kentucky Derby, said he likes the way this race sets up for Itsaknockout. “It doesn’t look on paper like this race has a ton of front-runners,” Pletcher said. “I think he’s the type of colt that’s adaptable to kind of any running style, but we’d envision him probably not being too far off of it if the pace is soft.” Pletcher has a second entrant in the Florida Derby, with Materiality running out of the second post. “I think they’re both colts that should establish a forward position in the first turn and hopefully stay out of trouble,” Pletcher said. The field, from the rail out: Ami’s Flatter, Jack Tripp, Indianaughty, Itsaknockout, Quimet, My Point Exactly, Materiality, Dekabrist and Upstart.