Judge halts law requiring more extensive financial disclosures from local officialsDowntown Fort Myers businesses see foot traffic decline since bridge closure
Judge halts law requiring more extensive financial disclosures from local officials A federal judge ruled that a 2023 state law requiring municipal elected officials and candidates to disclose detailed financial information violates their rights, siding with municipal officials who sued.
downtown fort Myers Downtown Fort Myers businesses see foot traffic decline since bridge closure Since the Caloosahatchee Bridge closure, some businesses in downtown Fort Myers have noticed a decline in foot traffic due to the closure.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee Civic Center brings dinosaurs to Southwest Florida Fathers and their children filled the Lee Civic Center to celebrate the big day with a Jurassic experience.
the weather authority Hotter day ahead with isolated rain this afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a hot but breezy Monday with isolated rain showers expected in the afternoon.
FORT MYERS Truck slams into Fort Myers home, 1 injured The Florida Highway Patrol and the Fort Myers Police Department are investigating a truck crashing into a home on Superior Street.
Rare tropical system could form off Florida’s Atlantic coast It’s unusual for a June storm to develop in the Atlantic and make landfall from the east.
MATLACHA Construction on Little Pine Island Bridge continues If you’re taking a trip to Matlacha this week, you might begin to see some traffic back ups.
LEHIGH ACRES LCSO deputies investigating attempted carjacking The Lee County Sheriffs office is investigating a scene they say was an attempted carjacking.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINK Neighborhood Watch: Road rage and drug trafficking This weeks segment of WINK neighborhood watch features road rage, drones, and drugs.
NORTH FORT MYERS Tommy Bohanon Foundation Youth Football Camp kicks kids off to good start School’s out for summer, but on Saturday morning, more than 300 kids learned what it takes to be a football player at the annual Tommy Bohanon Foundation Youth Football Camp.
NORTH NAPLES Water contaminating some Southwest Florida gas tanks With the record amount of rain we received, some people in Southwest Florida have struggled with an issue that isn’t visible to the eye, like street flooding.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: A bit drier today; not a bad day to head out on the boat A great day to celebrate dad. Drier weather with temps topping out in the low 90s under mostly cloudy skies.
NAPLES FC Naples debuts club name, crest and colors FC Naples, the USL League One soccer club, debuted its name, crest and colors Saturday morning.
NAPLES Fire rescue exhibit gives children firefighter experience Children learned how to put out fires from real-life firefighters and got tips on how to stay under the flames with the help of Tank the K9.
PORT CHARLOTTE New video: Search continues for Metro Diner tip jar thief Someone stole a tip jar meant to help a mom with her baby in the NICU. Now, the restaurant is asking for help finding the guy who did it.
Judge halts law requiring more extensive financial disclosures from local officials A federal judge ruled that a 2023 state law requiring municipal elected officials and candidates to disclose detailed financial information violates their rights, siding with municipal officials who sued.
downtown fort Myers Downtown Fort Myers businesses see foot traffic decline since bridge closure Since the Caloosahatchee Bridge closure, some businesses in downtown Fort Myers have noticed a decline in foot traffic due to the closure.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee Civic Center brings dinosaurs to Southwest Florida Fathers and their children filled the Lee Civic Center to celebrate the big day with a Jurassic experience.
the weather authority Hotter day ahead with isolated rain this afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a hot but breezy Monday with isolated rain showers expected in the afternoon.
FORT MYERS Truck slams into Fort Myers home, 1 injured The Florida Highway Patrol and the Fort Myers Police Department are investigating a truck crashing into a home on Superior Street.
Rare tropical system could form off Florida’s Atlantic coast It’s unusual for a June storm to develop in the Atlantic and make landfall from the east.
MATLACHA Construction on Little Pine Island Bridge continues If you’re taking a trip to Matlacha this week, you might begin to see some traffic back ups.
LEHIGH ACRES LCSO deputies investigating attempted carjacking The Lee County Sheriffs office is investigating a scene they say was an attempted carjacking.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINK Neighborhood Watch: Road rage and drug trafficking This weeks segment of WINK neighborhood watch features road rage, drones, and drugs.
NORTH FORT MYERS Tommy Bohanon Foundation Youth Football Camp kicks kids off to good start School’s out for summer, but on Saturday morning, more than 300 kids learned what it takes to be a football player at the annual Tommy Bohanon Foundation Youth Football Camp.
NORTH NAPLES Water contaminating some Southwest Florida gas tanks With the record amount of rain we received, some people in Southwest Florida have struggled with an issue that isn’t visible to the eye, like street flooding.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: A bit drier today; not a bad day to head out on the boat A great day to celebrate dad. Drier weather with temps topping out in the low 90s under mostly cloudy skies.
NAPLES FC Naples debuts club name, crest and colors FC Naples, the USL League One soccer club, debuted its name, crest and colors Saturday morning.
NAPLES Fire rescue exhibit gives children firefighter experience Children learned how to put out fires from real-life firefighters and got tips on how to stay under the flames with the help of Tank the K9.
PORT CHARLOTTE New video: Search continues for Metro Diner tip jar thief Someone stole a tip jar meant to help a mom with her baby in the NICU. Now, the restaurant is asking for help finding the guy who did it.
MGN WASHINGTON (AP) – Hundreds of hospitals will give back $257 million in Medicare payments because doctors implanted cardiac devices in violation of government rules, the Justice Department announced Friday. The settlements encompass nearly 500 hospitals in 43 states where cardioverter defibrillators were implanted in Medicare patients too soon after they suffered a heart attack, had heart bypass surgery or angioplasty. Medicare sets waiting periods of up to 90 days before implanting the $25,000 devices, which deliver mild electric shocks to restore a normal heart rhythm. Clinical trials have shown the heart often recovers its own rhythm during that time, making the pricey defibrillators unnecessary. “The settlements announced today demonstrate the Department of Justice’s commitment to protect Medicare dollars and federal health benefits,” said Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. “Guided by a panel of leading cardiologists and the review of thousands of patients’ charts, the extensive investigation behind the settlements was heavily influenced by evidence-based medicine.” A 2011 study led by researchers at Duke University of 111,707 patients that received cardioverter defibrillators found that nearly a quarter received no clinical benefit. Those patients were also shown to develop significantly more post-procedural complications, including death. The settlements, said to be among the largest of their kind, are the result of a federal whistleblower lawsuit filed in Florida 7 years ago by cardiac nurse Leatrice Ford Richards and Thomas Schuhmann, a health care reimbursement consultant. Under the False Claims Act, the whistleblowers will reap about $38 million from the settlements. A portion of that will go to Bryan Vroon, their Atlanta-based attorney. Among the large health-care providers involved, Hospital Corporation of America, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, agreed to pay $15.8 million. Ascension Health, of St. Louis, Missouri, settled for $14.9 million. The Justice Department says it continues to investigate additional hospitals. ___ Online: A list of the hospitals involved in the settlement can be found here: http://www.justice.gov/opa/file/789656/download