Unprecedented security measures in place for Madrid vs Barca

MADRID (AP) – Spanish officials are promising unprecedented security measures for Saturday’s soccer match between Real Madrid and Barcelona following the attacks in Paris. At a special security meeting prompted by last week’s events in France, officials declared the league match between the rivals a high-risk event and announced they will double the police presence […]

Obama vows to veto bill increasing screening for refugees

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama is vowing to veto a bill from House Republicans that would increase screening for Syrian and Iraqi refugees before they enter the United States. The White House says the legislation would introduce “unnecessary and impractical requirements” that would harm efforts to assist some of the world’s most vulnerable people. […]

Pearl Harbor survivor raises funds for trip thanks to SWFL generosity

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.- A Pearl Harbor survivor will be in Hawaii this December to mark the 74th anniversary of the attacks thanks to the help of the Southwest Florida community. “I’m feeling fantastic, this is quite a shock. I know coming over, Mike said it was a surprise and I had no idea at all what it was,” […]

Therapy animals

They have been part of our families for decades, but now animals are also helping to improve our health. Seniors in one community continue to flock to llamas brought in as therapy animals. “It’s pretty unusual when you say you have a therapy llama. I get some pretty weird reactions,” said therapy llama owner Niki […]

Flutie says parents died within an hour of each other

BOSTON (AP) – Former New England Patriots quarterback Doug Flutie says both of his parents died within an hour of each other. Flutie says in a statement posted on his Facebook page that his father, Dick, died of a heart attack in a hospital in Florida, where the family moved years ago. He said Wednesday […]

Russia sets up taskforce to wipe out doping ‘infection’

MOSCOW (AP) – Russia set up a taskforce Wednesday to wipe out the “infection” of doping in track and field as the country faces being banned from next year’s Olympic competition. The Russian athletics federation was suspended Friday by the IAAF after a report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency accused the country of operating […]

Proposed Orlando skyscraper roller coaster could be world’s tallest

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – A proposed roller coaster in the International Drive area of Orlando could break a world record. The Orlando Sentinel (http://bit.ly/1NDj7FL ) reports the roller coaster, which is planned to be built in the proposed Skyplex Orlando entertainment complex, could be the world’s tallest at 501 feet. In a statement Tuesday, the […]

Thomas Edison statue returns home to Edison Ford Winter Estates

FORT MYERS, Fla.- A 3,300 pound statue at the Edison Restaurant was wrapped up, dismounted, and taken down the street to an old home. “It looked like a giant Egyptian mummified figure,” said Chris Pendleton, president of the Edison Ford Winter Estates. The statue of Thomas Edison, carved out of a tree the inventor planted himself, was taken back home Wednesday morning to the […]

Study: To avoid higher health law premiums, switch plans

WASHINGTON (AP) – Maybe an amiable gecko could help the Obama administration sell its health insurance overhaul. In the long-running auto insurance commercials, the talkative little mascot promises you can save 15 percent if you switch insurers. Now a study says the most popular health law plans are raising premiums an average of 15 percent […]

Lee Co. driver’s ed teacher arrested, charged with DUI

ALVA, Fla.- A Riverdale High School teacher is now facing DUI charges after an overnight crash. The irony? He teaches drivers education. Richard Bull, 51, is currently out of jail on bond. Tuesday night, witnesses say Bull was driving next to the McDonald’s on State Road 80 in Alva, when he jumped a curb and drove his […]