Taiwan scrambles jets, puts forces on alert as China calls new war games “powerful punishment” for the islandCountry House Restaurant expands into Golden Gate
TAIPEI, TAIWAN Taiwan scrambles jets, puts forces on alert as China calls new war games “powerful punishment” for the island Taiwan scrambled jets and put missile, naval and land units on alert Thursday over Chinese military exercises being conducted around the self-governing island democracy where a new president took office this week. China’s military said its two-day exercises around Taiwan were punishment for separatist forces seeking independence.
Country House Restaurant expands into Golden Gate Country House Restaurant launched a new location May 23 at 11985 Collier Blvd. on the eastern edge of Golden Gate.
WINK NEWS Thomas Stein appears in court in Kayla Rincon-Miller murder case; waives right to speedy trial One of the teenagers allegedly involved in the deadly shooting of a 15-year-old girl appeared before a judge this morning.
Punta Gorda Waterfront Hotel owner applies for demolition permit In addition to the five-story hotel at 300 W. Retta Esplanade, there is a two-story addition, which shares a common wall with the now-closed Hurricane Charley’s Sushi, Raw Bar & Grill.
FORT MYERS Osprey statue stolen from Lakes Regional Park in Fort Myers Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on an Osprey statute stolen from Lakes Regional Park in Fort Myers.
The Weather Authority Tropical Disturbance reported in the Greater Antilles The Weather Authority has been tracking an area of showers and thunderstorms in the Caribbean, and now the National Hurricane Center is also monitoring it.
LABELLE 1 dead after Hendry County crash involving dump truck; eastbound lanes on State Road 80 closed A crash in Hendry County closed the State Road 80 eastbound lanes near Birchwood Parkway early this morning.
CAPE CORAL 2 evacuated from Cape Coral house fire The Cape Coral Fire Department responded to a house fire that forced two people out on Thursday morning.
Nokomis Arrest made in Sarasota shooting that killed a Port Charlotte man The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man for the Sunday shooting that killed a man from Port Charlotte.
the weather authority Feeling hotter this Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a hot Thursday with more humid conditions attributed to “feels like” temperatures nearing 100°.
BONITA SPRINGS Food truck catches fire in Bonita Springs The Bonita Springs Fire Control & Rescue District has been working to extinguish a food truck fire that occurred on Thursday.
WINK NEWS Keeping your kids safe online over summer break As students enter the summer break, the use of tablets and phones will increase, which stresses the importance of online protection.
Annual Fort Myers Film Festival officially underway The Fort Myers Film Festival opened their 14th annual edition in Downtown Fort Myers on Wednesday night, featuring 92 films within the next four days.
Baby survives fentanyl overdose, Collier couple arrested Somewhere between the infant’s mother getting into the shower and getting out, it got its hands on a piece of tin foil.
FORT MYERS How dangerous is the five-point intersection in Fort Myers? Fort Myers City councilman Liston Bochette claimed that the closure of the Caloosahatchee Bridge will make the “5 points” intersection in Fort Myers more dangerous.
TAIPEI, TAIWAN Taiwan scrambles jets, puts forces on alert as China calls new war games “powerful punishment” for the island Taiwan scrambled jets and put missile, naval and land units on alert Thursday over Chinese military exercises being conducted around the self-governing island democracy where a new president took office this week. China’s military said its two-day exercises around Taiwan were punishment for separatist forces seeking independence.
Country House Restaurant expands into Golden Gate Country House Restaurant launched a new location May 23 at 11985 Collier Blvd. on the eastern edge of Golden Gate.
WINK NEWS Thomas Stein appears in court in Kayla Rincon-Miller murder case; waives right to speedy trial One of the teenagers allegedly involved in the deadly shooting of a 15-year-old girl appeared before a judge this morning.
Punta Gorda Waterfront Hotel owner applies for demolition permit In addition to the five-story hotel at 300 W. Retta Esplanade, there is a two-story addition, which shares a common wall with the now-closed Hurricane Charley’s Sushi, Raw Bar & Grill.
FORT MYERS Osprey statue stolen from Lakes Regional Park in Fort Myers Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on an Osprey statute stolen from Lakes Regional Park in Fort Myers.
The Weather Authority Tropical Disturbance reported in the Greater Antilles The Weather Authority has been tracking an area of showers and thunderstorms in the Caribbean, and now the National Hurricane Center is also monitoring it.
LABELLE 1 dead after Hendry County crash involving dump truck; eastbound lanes on State Road 80 closed A crash in Hendry County closed the State Road 80 eastbound lanes near Birchwood Parkway early this morning.
CAPE CORAL 2 evacuated from Cape Coral house fire The Cape Coral Fire Department responded to a house fire that forced two people out on Thursday morning.
Nokomis Arrest made in Sarasota shooting that killed a Port Charlotte man The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man for the Sunday shooting that killed a man from Port Charlotte.
the weather authority Feeling hotter this Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a hot Thursday with more humid conditions attributed to “feels like” temperatures nearing 100°.
BONITA SPRINGS Food truck catches fire in Bonita Springs The Bonita Springs Fire Control & Rescue District has been working to extinguish a food truck fire that occurred on Thursday.
WINK NEWS Keeping your kids safe online over summer break As students enter the summer break, the use of tablets and phones will increase, which stresses the importance of online protection.
Annual Fort Myers Film Festival officially underway The Fort Myers Film Festival opened their 14th annual edition in Downtown Fort Myers on Wednesday night, featuring 92 films within the next four days.
Baby survives fentanyl overdose, Collier couple arrested Somewhere between the infant’s mother getting into the shower and getting out, it got its hands on a piece of tin foil.
FORT MYERS How dangerous is the five-point intersection in Fort Myers? Fort Myers City councilman Liston Bochette claimed that the closure of the Caloosahatchee Bridge will make the “5 points” intersection in Fort Myers more dangerous.
MGN WASHINGTON (AP) – Florida’s unique system for sentencing people to death is unconstitutional because it gives too much power to judges – and not enough to juries – to decide capital sentences, the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. The 8-1 ruling said that the state’s sentencing procedure is flawed because juries play only an advisory role in recommending death while the judge can reach a different decision. The decision could trigger new sentencing appeals from some of the 390 inmates on the Florida’s death row, a number second only to California. But legal experts said it may apply only to those whose initial appeals are not yet exhausted. The court sided with Timothy Lee Hurst, who was convicted of the 1998 murder of his manager at a Popeye’s restaurant in Pensacola. A jury divided 7-5 in favor of death, but a judge imposed the sentence. Florida’s solicitor general argued that the system was acceptable because a jury first decides if the defendant is eligible for the death penalty. Writing for the court, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said a jury’s “mere recommendation is not enough.” She said the court was overruling previous decisions upholding the state’s sentencing process. “The Sixth Amendment requires a jury, not a judge, to find each fact necessary to impose a sentence of death,” Sotomayor said. The justices sent the case back to the Florida Supreme Court to determine whether the error in sentencing Hurst was harmless, or whether he should get a new sentencing hearing. Justice Samuel Alito dissented, saying that the trial judge in Florida simply performs a reviewing function that duplicates what the jury has done. Under Florida law, the state requires juries in capital sentencing hearings to weigh factors for and against imposing a death sentence. But the judge is not bound by those findings and can reach a different conclusion. The judge can also weigh other factors independently. So a jury could base its decision on one particular aggravating factor, but a judge could then rely on a different factor the jury never considered. In Hurst’s case, prosecutors asked the jury to consider two aggravating factors: the murder was committed during a robbery and it was “especially heinous, atrocious or cruel.” But Florida law did not require the jury to say how it voted on each factor. Hurst’s attorney argued that it was possible only four jurors agreed with one, while three agreed with the other. Sotomayor said Florida’s system is flawed because it allows a sentencing judge to find aggravating factors “independent of a jury’s fact-finding.” The Supreme Court ruled in 2002 that a defendant has the right to have a jury decide whether the circumstances of a crime warrant a sentence of death. Florida is one of only three states that do not require a unanimous jury verdict when sentencing someone to death. The others are Alabama and Delaware. Stephen Harper, a law professor who runs the Death Penalty Clinic at Florida International University, said it’s unlikely the Supreme Court ruling will open the door for most Florida death-row inmates to new sentencing hearings. He said the Florida decision is based on a previous Arizona ruling that was already found not to be retroactive. “In general, it will not be retroactively applied,” Harper said. But he added that Florida inmates whose initial appeals have not been exhausted may be able to argue that the latest decision applies to them. And, he said, any capital cases that are awaiting trial would likely be delayed while state legislators and the Florida Supreme Court sort out the next steps. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said her office is reviewing the ruling. News of the high court’s decision stunned Florida legislators. Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, who learned of the ruling while he was giving a speech to open the state’s annual legislative session, said the Supreme Court had “impeccable timing.” Crisafulli said House legal experts would begin to review the ruling. Rep. Matt Gaetz, an attorney who has dealt with capital punishment during his legislative career, predicted that Florida legislators would act swiftly to get the death penalty “right back on track.” Cassandra Stubbs, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Capital Punishment Project, said the ruling “restored the central role of the jury in imposing the death penalty.” She called it another step toward ending capital punishment since juries across the country have been increasingly reluctant to impose death sentences.