Lake Park Diner expands with Founders Square locationWoman discovered in Bayside Inlet, condition unknown
Lake Park Diner expands with Founders Square location Not only will the new Founders Square location of Lake Park Diner serve the growing population in North Naples and Golden Gate Estates, the second helping of the local dining spot will serve as the prototype for future iterations of the casual restaurant concept.
IONA Woman discovered in Bayside Inlet, condition unknown According to the fire district, reports of a woman in a canal were issued at around 7:50 a.m. at Junonia Court in Iona.
NAPLES Gov. DeSantis waives entrance fees for Florida State Parks for Memorial Day Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the suspension of all entry fees in Florida state parks during Memorial Day weekend.
FORT MYERS Annual SWFL Wellness Fair in Fort Myers to promote well-being The Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium is partnering with the SWFL Wellness Fair to offer a day of fun and inspiration in Fort Myers.
Tampa Gov. DeSantis to hold a news conference in Tampa Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference in Tampa.
NEW YORK (AP) Protesters take over Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall in escalation of anti-war demonstrations Dozens of protesters took over a building at Columbia University in New York early Tuesday, barricading the entrances and unfurling a Palestinian flag out of a window in the latest escalation of demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war that have spread to college campuses nationwide.
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Dry Tuesday morning before isolated storms develop this afternoon and evening The Weather Authority is tracking a dry Tuesday morning with the possibility of isolated rainstorms throughout the afternoon and into the evening
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral red tag hearings soon to begin Residents of Cape Coral have experienced confusion, frustration, and possibly fines due to red tags popping up on buildings under construction.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs residents alarmed after car break-ins A Bonita Springs homeowner is sleeping with one eye open after her social security card was stolen from her car, an incident caught on video.
LEE COUNTY Lee Deputies work to track down transient sex offenders who fail to register WINK News Anchor Corey Lazar goes on patrol with Lee County Deputies in search of transient sex offenders who don’t register.
FORT MYERS Exclusive: Florida Warriors president talks misunderstanding with city On Friday, the president of Florida Warriors Hockey got a letter saying that starting July 1, his program’s rink access at the Fort Myers Skatium would be cut from 48 hours a month to only eight hours a month.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) 3 law officers killed, 5 others wounded trying to serve warrant in North Carolina, authorities say Three law enforcement officers serving a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm were killed and five other officers were wounded Monday in a shootout at a Charlotte, North Carolina, home, police said.
CAPE CORAL Massive fire leaves Cape Coral businesses in shambles Several fire rescue trucks are responding to a structure fire at a commercial building in Cape Coral.
NORTH FORT MYERS North Fort Myers residents concerned over abandoned boat A day out in the water turned into an alarming discovery for one North Fort Myers family.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers first responders stress safety after rollover crash Fort Myers fire department officials are pointing to safety and awareness following a recent rollover crash on Palm Beach Blvd. and Oasis Way.
Lake Park Diner expands with Founders Square location Not only will the new Founders Square location of Lake Park Diner serve the growing population in North Naples and Golden Gate Estates, the second helping of the local dining spot will serve as the prototype for future iterations of the casual restaurant concept.
IONA Woman discovered in Bayside Inlet, condition unknown According to the fire district, reports of a woman in a canal were issued at around 7:50 a.m. at Junonia Court in Iona.
NAPLES Gov. DeSantis waives entrance fees for Florida State Parks for Memorial Day Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the suspension of all entry fees in Florida state parks during Memorial Day weekend.
FORT MYERS Annual SWFL Wellness Fair in Fort Myers to promote well-being The Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium is partnering with the SWFL Wellness Fair to offer a day of fun and inspiration in Fort Myers.
Tampa Gov. DeSantis to hold a news conference in Tampa Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference in Tampa.
NEW YORK (AP) Protesters take over Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall in escalation of anti-war demonstrations Dozens of protesters took over a building at Columbia University in New York early Tuesday, barricading the entrances and unfurling a Palestinian flag out of a window in the latest escalation of demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war that have spread to college campuses nationwide.
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Dry Tuesday morning before isolated storms develop this afternoon and evening The Weather Authority is tracking a dry Tuesday morning with the possibility of isolated rainstorms throughout the afternoon and into the evening
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral red tag hearings soon to begin Residents of Cape Coral have experienced confusion, frustration, and possibly fines due to red tags popping up on buildings under construction.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs residents alarmed after car break-ins A Bonita Springs homeowner is sleeping with one eye open after her social security card was stolen from her car, an incident caught on video.
LEE COUNTY Lee Deputies work to track down transient sex offenders who fail to register WINK News Anchor Corey Lazar goes on patrol with Lee County Deputies in search of transient sex offenders who don’t register.
FORT MYERS Exclusive: Florida Warriors president talks misunderstanding with city On Friday, the president of Florida Warriors Hockey got a letter saying that starting July 1, his program’s rink access at the Fort Myers Skatium would be cut from 48 hours a month to only eight hours a month.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) 3 law officers killed, 5 others wounded trying to serve warrant in North Carolina, authorities say Three law enforcement officers serving a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm were killed and five other officers were wounded Monday in a shootout at a Charlotte, North Carolina, home, police said.
CAPE CORAL Massive fire leaves Cape Coral businesses in shambles Several fire rescue trucks are responding to a structure fire at a commercial building in Cape Coral.
NORTH FORT MYERS North Fort Myers residents concerned over abandoned boat A day out in the water turned into an alarming discovery for one North Fort Myers family.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers first responders stress safety after rollover crash Fort Myers fire department officials are pointing to safety and awareness following a recent rollover crash on Palm Beach Blvd. and Oasis Way.
MGN Online ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Some South Florida politicians say they’ve been ignored long enough by state leaders in North Florida. Now they want their own state. The South Miami City Commission is urging the creation of a new state of “South Florida.” It’s a symbolic resolution, aimed at showing leaders in Florida’s current capital of Tallahassee that they’re not doing enough to address concerns about rising sea levels at the southern end of the Florida peninsula. “Everybody who lives in Florida knows the northern part of Florida is really a southern state and the southern part of Florida is the economic and social capital of the Caribbean and Latin America,” said South Miami Mayor Philip Stoddard. “So it really feels like two different states.” Not everyone is sold on the idea. Commissioners in Indian River County, which would be part of this new South Florida state, passed their own tongue-in-cheek resolution opposing secession. Many Indian River residents think they’ve already escaped from the problems to the south, it said, and they “may well be traumatized by becoming part of a state of South Florida.” Secession is a highly unlikely scenario, since it would need approval by the U.S. Congress and Florida voters. But The Associated Press took a look at the idea anyway, crunching some numbers to see what South and North would look like if Florida were to be carved in two along the proposed east-west border, running from just above Tampa Bay and Orlando to Cape Canaveral. If South Florida seceded, how would it compare to what’s left of the state? TWICE AS BIG With 13.1 million residents, South Florida would have twice as many people as north of the border, and still rank by itself as the fourth most populous state in the United States. A unified Florida currently is No. 3, behind California and Texas. STILL FAITHFUL North of the line, there would be twice as many churches per capita. South of the line, there would be seven times as many as synagogues. MORE DIVERSE North of the border, almost 3 of every 4 people would be non-Hispanic white, compared to around half in South Florida. Hispanics would make up almost 30 percent of South Florida’s population, more than three times their share up north. Both sides would have roughly the same share of black residents – about 15 to 16 percent – and Asians – 2.5 percent. OLDER North Floridians would have a median age about two years younger than South Florida’s median age of 43.3. WEALTHIER The money is in South Florida, where average household incomes are about 12 percent higher than north of the border – $63,352 versus $56,544. Twice as many South Floridians have household incomes over $200,000 – almost 5 percent versus 2.4 percent. Both south and north of the new state line, about 1 in 8 residents would be on food stamps. MORE DEMOCRATIC Democrats would make up a plurality of South Florida’s registered voters – around 40 percent, leaving Republicans to make up a plurality, also 40 percent, north of the border. In South Florida, Republicans would account for under a third of voters and the unaffiliated would make up a quarter of voters. Up north, Democrats would be more than a third of voters and the unaffiliated would account for almost a fifth of registered voters. BUT THEY’D CANCEL EACH OTHER OUT President Barack Obama won Florida with 50 percent of the vote in 2012, even though Democrats make up 38 percent of Florida’s voters and Republicans 34 percent. If Florida’s 2012 presidential vote were split, Obama would have won 54 percent in South Florida, and Mitt Romney would have won 57 percent in the north. ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER DOLLAR South Florida would have more professionals in its workforce, and larger percentages working in trades and tourism jobs. With the University of Florida, Florida State University and the state Capital, the north would have a larger share of workers in education, health care and government. LAW & ORDER The counties that would make up South Florida collectively had higher rates for murder, vehicle theft and burglary in 2013. However, the counties up north had a significantly higher rate of sexual assaults. North Florida would have more prisons and veterans groups. STATE SYMBOL Northern Floridians would have to give up Florida’s state symbol, the orange, since more than 90 percent of Florida’s citrus groves would be south of the line.