Paying tribute to Deshia Arthur: Community unites in grief and hopeFinal day for Sanibel storm debris collection
Paying tribute to Deshia Arthur: Community unites in grief and hope Family and friends affectionately called her ‘DD,’ describing the 18-year-old Deshia Arthur as caring and sincere ahead of her funeral service on Sunday.
SANIBEL Final day for Sanibel storm debris collection Sunday is the last chance for Sanibel residents to sort and place any remaining storm debris for collection by the city’s contractor.
Seasonal Sunday in store with temps reaching the upper 70s The Weather Authority is forecasting blue skies, sunshine, and seasonal temperatures in the upper 70s on Sunday.
FORT MYERS BEACH Precautionary boil water notice lifted for Fort Myers Beach A precautionary boil water notice was in effect for all residents of Fort Myers Beach due to a water main break on Estero Boulevard that has been resolved.
Man injured after stabbing in Immokalee According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, one man is injured after being stabbed in the lower back on Saturday night.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach hosts 36th annual Christmas Boat Parade Christmas is right around the corner, and celebrations are underway. The Fort Myers Beach Boat Christmas Boat parade took place on Saturday.
ESTERO Elevate Kava Bar and Lounge hosts grand opening Elevate Kava Bar and Lounge held its grand opening in Estero on Friday Night. The kava bar held its soft opening on Black Friday.
FORT MYERS Man charged with homicide for fatal shooting in Fort Myers According to the Fort Myers Police Department, a man was charged with homicide on Friday for a fatal shooting in October.
FORT MYERS Golisano Children’s Hospital hosts Porsche & Friends Parade Sports cars lined up like Santa’s reindeer, delivering presents to Golisano Children’s Hospital on Saturday.
Man sought for attempted robbery at CVS in Lee County Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on a man for attempting to rob a CVS Store in Lee County.
immokalee Pedestrian dies after being hit by 2 vehicles in Immokalee A fatal hit-and-run on Friday night in Collier County left a pedestrian dead, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Beautiful Saturday in store with temps in the low to mid 70s The Weather Authority says it will be another beautiful weekend across Southwest Florida.
ORLANDO Naples falls to Jones in state semifinals One win stood in between the Golden Eagles and a trip to the state title as Naples competed in its 12th state semifinal.
ESTERO 1 dead after crashing into tree in Estero According to the Florida Highway Patrol, one person is dead after crashing into a tree in Estero on Friday night.
NAPLES Vigil held for teen shot and killed at Collier party Family, friends and loved ones gathered at a candlelight vigil to remember and honor the life of 18-year-old D’eisha Arthur.
Paying tribute to Deshia Arthur: Community unites in grief and hope Family and friends affectionately called her ‘DD,’ describing the 18-year-old Deshia Arthur as caring and sincere ahead of her funeral service on Sunday.
SANIBEL Final day for Sanibel storm debris collection Sunday is the last chance for Sanibel residents to sort and place any remaining storm debris for collection by the city’s contractor.
Seasonal Sunday in store with temps reaching the upper 70s The Weather Authority is forecasting blue skies, sunshine, and seasonal temperatures in the upper 70s on Sunday.
FORT MYERS BEACH Precautionary boil water notice lifted for Fort Myers Beach A precautionary boil water notice was in effect for all residents of Fort Myers Beach due to a water main break on Estero Boulevard that has been resolved.
Man injured after stabbing in Immokalee According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, one man is injured after being stabbed in the lower back on Saturday night.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach hosts 36th annual Christmas Boat Parade Christmas is right around the corner, and celebrations are underway. The Fort Myers Beach Boat Christmas Boat parade took place on Saturday.
ESTERO Elevate Kava Bar and Lounge hosts grand opening Elevate Kava Bar and Lounge held its grand opening in Estero on Friday Night. The kava bar held its soft opening on Black Friday.
FORT MYERS Man charged with homicide for fatal shooting in Fort Myers According to the Fort Myers Police Department, a man was charged with homicide on Friday for a fatal shooting in October.
FORT MYERS Golisano Children’s Hospital hosts Porsche & Friends Parade Sports cars lined up like Santa’s reindeer, delivering presents to Golisano Children’s Hospital on Saturday.
Man sought for attempted robbery at CVS in Lee County Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on a man for attempting to rob a CVS Store in Lee County.
immokalee Pedestrian dies after being hit by 2 vehicles in Immokalee A fatal hit-and-run on Friday night in Collier County left a pedestrian dead, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Beautiful Saturday in store with temps in the low to mid 70s The Weather Authority says it will be another beautiful weekend across Southwest Florida.
ORLANDO Naples falls to Jones in state semifinals One win stood in between the Golden Eagles and a trip to the state title as Naples competed in its 12th state semifinal.
ESTERO 1 dead after crashing into tree in Estero According to the Florida Highway Patrol, one person is dead after crashing into a tree in Estero on Friday night.
NAPLES Vigil held for teen shot and killed at Collier party Family, friends and loved ones gathered at a candlelight vigil to remember and honor the life of 18-year-old D’eisha Arthur.
MGN TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Six years after a group of parents and education advocacy groups first filed a lawsuit that charged the Florida Legislature with shortchanging schools they had their first major moment in court on Monday. During a day-long hearing, Circuit Judge George Reynolds rejected a request by those who filed suit to shut down two state-created programs that pay to send children to private schools. One of the programs provides private school tuition to children with disabilities while the other helps children from low-income families. More than 108,000 children are enrolled in the programs. Reynolds cited various procedural reasons for denying the request and contended that the parents and group did not have the legal standing to challenge the tax credit scholarship program that assists children from low-income families. He also found that the other program does not run afoul of a previous Supreme Court ruling that struck down the first voucher program started by then-Gov. Jeb Bush. The groups had maintained that legislators had created a unconstitutional parallel system where schools get money but they don’t have to follow the same rules regarding curriculum and teacher qualifications. They introduced testimony that vouchers were going to religious schools including one Islamic school that forbids students to discuss any other religion and a Christian school that declared the King James Bible the “perfect textbook.” Reynolds pointed out that both programs rely on the parent’s decision to send them to the schools, but attorney Jodi Siegel countered that “parents have many choices, but the state’s choice to use public funds for this program is what is the problem.” While Reynolds rejected the argument against the voucher programs the main lawsuit filed by Citizens for Strong Schools, Fund Education Now as well as parents from Duval and Pasco counties is moving forward. It contends the Legislature and state officials have not provided enough money to the state’s schools. The lawsuit cites the academic performance of minorities as proof that the state is failing its children and it criticizes Florida’s testing system. State officials have tried unsuccessfully to block the lawsuit first filed in 2009, but it is now scheduled for a five-week trial starting in March. Reynolds, who engaged in lengthy questioning with lawyers for both sides, said he wasn’t sure how he could evaluate whether the Legislature has followed the will of voters. Voters in 1998 passed an amendment that says it is the “paramount duty” of the state to provide a high quality education system. “I hear the defendants when they say this is an appropriation issue, you are not the 121st member of the House and you are not the 41st member of the Florida Senate, you don’t have the legal authority to be doing this,” Reynolds said at one point. Neil Chonin, one of the lawyers representing the group suing the state, maintained that the outcomes will show that Florida has left behind disadvantaged and minority children while white and wealthy children have been helped. He said that Reynolds just has to decide if legislators are following the law. “The political question here is the Legislature thinking they are the last word and anything they do is fine,” Chonin told Reynolds.