Punta Gorda to repair old city hall buildingSWFL teen injured in New Orleans terror attack released from hospital
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda to repair old city hall building The City of Punta Gorda is scrapping plans to build a new city hall.
SWFL teen injured in New Orleans terror attack released from hospital According to the mom of one of the teens injured in the New Orleans Terror attack on New Year’s Day, she has been released from the hospital.
NAPLES Jay Leno comedy show coming to Southwest Florida One of the most famous comedians in the world is coming to Southwest Florida.
SOUTH NAPLES Collier neighbors anticipating second Costco location Members of a community are waiting for one of the most popular wholesale stores, but there is something standing in the way.
AVE MARIA Caught on camera: Massive gator seen in front of Ave Maria home A massive alligator was seen using a walking path in front of an Ave Maria home, and it was all caught on camera.
NCAA approves plan to pay women’s basketball tournament teams In a historic unanimous vote, the NCAA approves of a plan to pay women’s basketball teams that compete in March Madness.
FORT MYERS City of Fort Myers announces Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival The City of Fort Myers invites the public to the 21st anniversary of the Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival in downtown Fort Myers.
MATLACHA Neighbors to protest delay in repairs to Matlacha Pass Bridge People are set to take the streets and protest the delay in repairs to the Matlacha Pass Bridge.
Port Authority postpones talk of RSW’s $346M, four-year delayed terminal expansion Lee County and Port Authority Commissioner Brian Hamman finally had a public forum to get some answers on why a construction project went more than $346 million over budget and will be more than four years behind schedule to complete.
DeSantis responds to question on possible Sheriff Marceno suspension Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis addressed calls for the suspension of Lee County’s sheriff amid an FBI investigation into his office.
Annette’s Beach Book Nook celebrates grand reopening on Fort Myers Beach From 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 18, Annette Stillson finally will be celebrating the grand reopening of the new-look Annette’s Beach Book Nook.
Punta Gorda renowned media artist finds safe haven for work Former businessman and artist David Sussman, known for his photography on canvas and coffee-table photography books, has found a safe, flood-proof homestead after he lost several homes and studios to hurricanes.
Mugshot released of man accused of injuring deputy then leading multi-county chase The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has released the mugshot of Fritzson Paul, the man accused of leading deputies on a multi-county chase stemming from a carjacking.
FORT MYERS FDOT hosts ribbon-cutting ceremony for Caloosahatchee River Bridge sidewalk project The Florida Department of Transportation held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Caloosahatchee River Bridge and the New Sidewalk Project.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda to repair old city hall building The City of Punta Gorda is scrapping plans to build a new city hall.
SWFL teen injured in New Orleans terror attack released from hospital According to the mom of one of the teens injured in the New Orleans Terror attack on New Year’s Day, she has been released from the hospital.
NAPLES Jay Leno comedy show coming to Southwest Florida One of the most famous comedians in the world is coming to Southwest Florida.
SOUTH NAPLES Collier neighbors anticipating second Costco location Members of a community are waiting for one of the most popular wholesale stores, but there is something standing in the way.
AVE MARIA Caught on camera: Massive gator seen in front of Ave Maria home A massive alligator was seen using a walking path in front of an Ave Maria home, and it was all caught on camera.
NCAA approves plan to pay women’s basketball tournament teams In a historic unanimous vote, the NCAA approves of a plan to pay women’s basketball teams that compete in March Madness.
FORT MYERS City of Fort Myers announces Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival The City of Fort Myers invites the public to the 21st anniversary of the Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival in downtown Fort Myers.
MATLACHA Neighbors to protest delay in repairs to Matlacha Pass Bridge People are set to take the streets and protest the delay in repairs to the Matlacha Pass Bridge.
Port Authority postpones talk of RSW’s $346M, four-year delayed terminal expansion Lee County and Port Authority Commissioner Brian Hamman finally had a public forum to get some answers on why a construction project went more than $346 million over budget and will be more than four years behind schedule to complete.
DeSantis responds to question on possible Sheriff Marceno suspension Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis addressed calls for the suspension of Lee County’s sheriff amid an FBI investigation into his office.
Annette’s Beach Book Nook celebrates grand reopening on Fort Myers Beach From 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 18, Annette Stillson finally will be celebrating the grand reopening of the new-look Annette’s Beach Book Nook.
Punta Gorda renowned media artist finds safe haven for work Former businessman and artist David Sussman, known for his photography on canvas and coffee-table photography books, has found a safe, flood-proof homestead after he lost several homes and studios to hurricanes.
Mugshot released of man accused of injuring deputy then leading multi-county chase The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has released the mugshot of Fritzson Paul, the man accused of leading deputies on a multi-county chase stemming from a carjacking.
FORT MYERS FDOT hosts ribbon-cutting ceremony for Caloosahatchee River Bridge sidewalk project The Florida Department of Transportation held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Caloosahatchee River Bridge and the New Sidewalk Project.
FGCU men’s basketball team celebrates after winning the Atlantic Sun conference tournament on Sunday, March 5. (Stan Chambers Jr./WINK News) FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) Brandon Goodwin scored 19 points and Florida Gulf Coast earned its third NCAA Tournament trip in the last five seasons with a 77-61 win over North Florida in the Atlantic Sun Conference championship game on Sunday. Demetris Morant and Marc-Eddy Norelia each scored 14 for the Eagles (26-7), who trailed by six at the half before pulling away. Zach Johnson and Christian Terrell added 10 apiece for FGCU, which tied the program’s Division I-era record for victories in a season. The school best known for its “Dunk City” run to the Sweet Sixteen in 2013 also went to the NCAAs last season, winning a First Four game before falling to eventual national finalist North Carolina. Dallas Moore, the leading active scorer in Division I, had 19 points for North Florida (15-19). Wajid Aminu scored 11 and Garrett Sams added 10 for the Ospreys. FGCU outscored North Florida 44-22 in the second half. Goodwin started the second half with a three-point play and it didn’t take long for the Eagles to grab control. His free throws with 16:36 left put FGCU on top for good, and started what became a 17-7 run that set the tone for what became a championship celebration. FGCU went 9 for 21 at the rim in the first half and went into the break down 39-33, after North Florida went on a bit of a long-range barrage. The Ospreys made three straight shots from beyond the arc late in the half – two from reserve Osborn Blount, another from Sams, and had Moore tack on three free throws not long afterward after he got fouled on a 3-point try. But the second half was all Eagles, who knocked North Florida out of the A-Sun tournament for the second straight season. Big picture North Florida: The Ospreys were bidding to be the 26th team to get into the NCAA Tournament with a losing record. … UNF fell to 4-13 on the road. … The Ospreys made five of their last seven shots of the first half – then went 5 for 27 in the second half. Florida Gulf Coast: Morant’s first dunk of the game was FGCU’s 149th of the season – one more than the original team with the “Dunk City” moniker had in their 2012-13 season that ended in the Sweet 16. … FGCU is 12-1 in its last 13 games. … Goodwin (now with 601) broke the FGCU single-season scoring record, established last year when Norelia scored 597 points. One-sided The rivalry between the schools has very distinct ebbs and flows. FGCU won the first six meetings, UNF won the next seven, FGCU then won five straight, UNF took the next three – and now, each of the last five have been won by FGCU. Up next Florida Gulf Coast awaits its NCAA Tournament matchup, to be announced March 12. WINK News went live via Facebook as fans rushed the court: WINK News was also live from a postgame press conference where coach Joe Dooley and players spoke about the victory: