Crews removing derelict boats from Gilchrist Park33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County
PUNTA GORDA Crews removing derelict boats from Gilchrist Park Crews are working to remove derelict boats from Gilchrist Park after several of them washed ashore during Hurricane Milton in October.
33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County Another Florida panther was killed by a vehicle, this time in Hardee County, increasing the death toll of the endangered species to 33 for 2024.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cold morning conditions before temperatures warm up to the low 70s this Thursday.
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Milton.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
PUNTA GORDA Crews removing derelict boats from Gilchrist Park Crews are working to remove derelict boats from Gilchrist Park after several of them washed ashore during Hurricane Milton in October.
33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County Another Florida panther was killed by a vehicle, this time in Hardee County, increasing the death toll of the endangered species to 33 for 2024.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cold morning conditions before temperatures warm up to the low 70s this Thursday.
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Milton.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
Ashlee Hutt, 24, and Mac Leroy McIver, 25, two parents in Tacoma, Washington could go to prison for decades after allegedly injecting their three young children with Heroin. They face a litany of charges including three felony counts each of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance to a minor, criminal mistreatment and assault of a child. Photo via Ashlee Hutt/Mac TACOMA, Wash. (CNN) — In the midst of America’s alarming heroin epidemic, the drug’s damage can best be seen in the faces of children who can be seen — like the Ohio boy buckled up in a car behind his two overdosed caretakers — and those who can’t. For the latter, look no further than a recent case involving two parents in Tacoma, Washington, who could go to prison for decades after allegedly injecting their three young children with heroin. At home, they called it “feel good medicine,” according to court records. Ashlee Hutt, 24, and Mac Leroy McIver, 25, face a litany of charges including three felony counts each of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance to a minor, criminal mistreatment and assault of a child. Court documents say the Tacoma parents admitted to state social workers that they used heroin, but blamed others when questioned about their children being injected with the drug, according to court documents. Hutt’s attorney, who represented her in court this week, did not respond to CNN’s requests for comment. Neither did McIver’s lawyer. Heroin in the household Over a six-month period starting in May 2015, Child Protective Services investigated Hutt and McIver’s alleged mistreatment of their 6-year-old boy and his two younger sisters, who are 2 and 4. On November 10, 2015, CPS workers found all three children in what they described as a hazardous household. Walking through the Tacoma residence, where other adults lived, CPS workers snapped photos of people using heroin, needles left around the home and aluminum foil rolls with heroin on the bedroom dresser. Rat droppings also littered the floor. CPS decided to remove the children from the “abuse and neglect.” After they left, CPS workers found marks, cuts and bruises on the children’s arms. The bruises, though, looked as if they were caused by injections, Pierce County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Erica Eggerstein said. ‘Feel good medicine’ On New Year’s Eve 2015, the 6-year-old boy told a CPS worker his parents had given him and his sisters a white powder mixed with water that he described as “feel good medicine.” To do so, his parents would take a needle, fill it with “feel good medicine,” and inject all three children, he said. “He and his sisters usually go to sleep after getting the medicine,” the boy told a CPS worker, according to court documents. Two months after CPS placed the children in protective custody, officials tested the children’s hair follicles, according to Eggerstein. The oldest child showed no traces of drugs in his system. The middle child had a trace amount of heroin in her system. And the youngest tested positive for heroin. When CPS interviewed the parents, they said other adults might be responsible for injecting the children. McIver later told authorities “he believed the babysitter may be responsible.” The following spring McIver wrote on his Facebook page that he had started rehab as he awaited what would happen next with his family. Authorities confirmed the page belonged to him. “Its just rough…,” McIver wrote in a Facebook post on April 24. “im in recovery and dealin with emotions is tuff… (sic)” Parents head to trial It would take 10 months for prosecutors to press charges. Police finally arrested McIver this past September. They also took Hutt into custody — but only after a judge issued a bench warrant for her arrest when she missed a court date. The judge set bond at $100,000 for Hutt and McIver, according to Pierce County Corrections booking records. They both remain in custody. Hutt’s jury trial is set for December 20. McIver has a court date scheduled for February 16, 2017. The judge, citing a “serious and imminent threat” to the children, also issued a restraining order that prohibited both parents from contacting their children or being within 1,000 feet of their residences, schools, or future places of employment. “They’re in foster homes,” Pierce County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Detective Ed Troyer told CNN affiliate KIRO. “And they’re doing well.”