Lehigh Acres work trailer explosion injures one personTrump and DeSantis, once GOP rivals, meet in South Florida to talk about 2024 election
LEHIGH ACRES Lehigh Acres work trailer explosion injures one person The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District responded to a work trailer explosion that injured one person.
CBS News Trump and DeSantis, once GOP rivals, meet in South Florida to talk about 2024 election Florida Governor Ron DeSantis met privately with former President Donald Trump for several hours on Sunday morning to talk, in part, about fundraising ahead of the 2024 general election, several sources familiar with the meeting tell CBS News.
Jupiter Gov. DeSantis to hold news conference in Jupiter Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference in Jupiter.
WINK NEWS Florida Prepaid open enrollment deadline approaches All parents fear the expense of college for their children; however, the state offers a great option in the Florida Prepaid Plan.
The Weather Authority Few showers this Monday afternoon after a pleasant and dry morning The Weather Authority is tracking a cool and pleasant Monday morning start with the possibility of afternoon rain showers.
NORTH FORT MYERS 1 dead, 1 arrested after North Fort Myers shooting While details are limited, what is available is that Lee County Sheriff’s deputies are actively investigating a shooting that killed one man.
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.
LEHIGH ACRES Lehigh Acres work trailer explosion injures one person The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District responded to a work trailer explosion that injured one person.
CBS News Trump and DeSantis, once GOP rivals, meet in South Florida to talk about 2024 election Florida Governor Ron DeSantis met privately with former President Donald Trump for several hours on Sunday morning to talk, in part, about fundraising ahead of the 2024 general election, several sources familiar with the meeting tell CBS News.
Jupiter Gov. DeSantis to hold news conference in Jupiter Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference in Jupiter.
WINK NEWS Florida Prepaid open enrollment deadline approaches All parents fear the expense of college for their children; however, the state offers a great option in the Florida Prepaid Plan.
The Weather Authority Few showers this Monday afternoon after a pleasant and dry morning The Weather Authority is tracking a cool and pleasant Monday morning start with the possibility of afternoon rain showers.
NORTH FORT MYERS 1 dead, 1 arrested after North Fort Myers shooting While details are limited, what is available is that Lee County Sheriff’s deputies are actively investigating a shooting that killed one man.
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.
MGN ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Members of a Florida bond-financing board Wednesday night unanimously gave permission for a private company to issue $1.75 billion in tax-exempt bonds to build a passenger rail from Miami to Orlando. The Florida Development Finance Board granted All Aboard Florida permission to issue the bonds after listening to testimony and deliberating for almost eight hours during a meeting in Orlando. The approval was an important hurdle All Aboard Florida needed to clear to build the $2.25 billion project, but it faced vocal opposition from residents and elected leaders in the Treasure Coast counties of Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie. They complained it would create noise and safety problems and hurt the marine industry because railroad bridges would be down and the movement of boats from lagoons to the ocean would be restricted. Opponents promised to fight All Aboard Florida as it seeks environmental permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Florida water regulators, said Dylan Reingold, Indian River County’s attorney. “Today was no surprise,” Reingold said. “The real fight is environmental permits. We’re going to continue this fight.” Board members said they believed there was a positive economic impact from building the passenger rail. Chairman Frank White urged All Aboard Florida to take act “in good faith” with Treasure Coast residents who fear the effects of the project. “It’s controversial, and I do not take that lightly,” board member Daniel Davis said. “I’m convinced there is an economic impact and it’s positive for the state of Florida.” Hours before the vote, All Aboard Florida President Michael Reininger told board members that the project would create $6.4 billion in economic activity over eight years and remove millions of car trips from Florida’s roads. A little under half of the projected passengers would travel just in South Florida, from Miami to West Palm Beach. More than half of the projected passengers would travel from Miami to Orlando, Reininger said. He also said more than 40 percent of passengers would be leisure travelers and less than a third would be business travelers. “No state or county entity will have any exposure as a result,” Reininger said of the bond issuance. “Characterizing this as a subsidy is misleading.” Local officials from Treasure Coast counties disagreed. Treasure Coast counties would be on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to maintain and improve rail crossings, Reingold said. “Please do not rely on the self-serving statements by All Aboard Florida,” Reingold said. “It will have a significant impact on the taxpayers of this state.” Opponents asked board members to postpone a vote and accused them of already making up their minds since they had communicated privately with company officials. “The only financially responsible decision is to deny All Aboard Florida the right to issue these bonds,” said opponent Robert Crandall, a former CEO of American Airlines. The bonds would be unrated and primarily marketed to institutional investors and accredited buyers, according to All Aboard Florida. Ben Watkins, director of the state’s Division of Bond Finance, said that if All Aboard Florida defaulted on its bonds he would not be surprised if someone tried to get the state to cover the debts. But Watkins said that Florida will not be required to pay off the bonds. “The state is insulated,” Watkins said. Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who has made it a top priority to scale back the amount of state-backed debt, would not say whether or not he believed the state-created authority should issue the bonds for All Aboard Florida. But he insisted it would not affect taxpayers. “The state’s not on the hook for that debt, it’s a private company,” Scott said. Two members of Congress, U.S. Reps. Corrine Brown and Alan Grayson, spoke in favor of the rail project. Several state lawmakers from Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie counties spoke against the project. Hundreds of supporters and opponents packed an Orlando hotel ballroom for the meeting. Melissa Ross said she was on one of two buses All Aboard Florida chartered to bring supporters from the Miami neighborhood, Overtown, to the meeting. Separately, the Federal Railroad Administration on Tuesday issued a report stating the rail project wouldn’t have any noticeable environmental impact and would even improve air quality and transportation in the area.