Colonial Boulevard continuous flow intersection opens Sunday in Fort MyersSun and clouds with a stray shower possible
FORT MYERS Colonial Boulevard continuous flow intersection opens Sunday in Fort Myers Drivers along Interstate 75 near Colonial Boulevard can expect changes soon.
the weather authority Sun and clouds with a stray shower possible The Weather Authority says sun and clouds overhead will lead to another day with above-average temperatures.
FORT MYERS LCSO offering youth boxing program The Lee County Sheriff’s Office youth boxing program is your kid’s golden ticket to mastering the art of self-defense.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral man speaks on helping apprehend armed 13-year-old The man who helped apprehend an armed 13-year-old spoke on the incident.
NAPLES Naples Cars on Fifth event fuels $2M for local charity efforts For over two decades, car enthusiasts in Southwest Florida have gathered on Fifth Avenue in Naples.
MARCO ISLAND Caxambas Park boat ramp on Marco Island set to reopen Collier County announced the reopening of the Caxambas Park boat ramp on Marco Island.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Animal Shelter to host Puppy Bowl 3 ahead of big game Ahead of the big game on Sunday, Cape Coral Animal Shelter will be featuring its very own Puppy Bowl III.
FORT MYERS From the ballpark to the beach: the Minnesota Twins are back for Spring Training 1700 miles later the Twins truck is here and the team from Minnesota is ready to spend the next six weeks here in Fort Myers.
the weather authority Warm stretch continues throughout this weekend The Weather Authority says if you are a fan of the warmer weather, you are going to love this weekend.
SANIBEL Sanibel’s red tide raises health alerts and wildlife concerns With great weather in the forecast, it’s shaping up to be a perfect beach weekend. However, visitors to the barrier islands should exercise caution.
NAPLES Naples Automotive Experience raises funds for St. Matthew’s House The Naples Automotive Experience brought excitement and philanthropy to the community, raising money for St. Matthew’s House.
MATLACHA Little Pine Island bridge work causes delays, FDOT promises progress Construction on the Little Pine Island Bridge has narrowed traffic to one lane, causing significant delays for drivers.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Support women’s heart health on National Wear Red Day The first Friday in February marks National Wear Red Day!
Ongoing repairs following Naples plane crash A deadly plane crash that occurred one year ago in Naples, Florida continues to impact lives in Southwest Florida. The tragic event involved two pilots who lost their lives on Interstate 75.
FORT MYERS Colonial Boulevard continuous flow intersection opens Sunday in Fort Myers Drivers along Interstate 75 near Colonial Boulevard can expect changes soon.
the weather authority Sun and clouds with a stray shower possible The Weather Authority says sun and clouds overhead will lead to another day with above-average temperatures.
FORT MYERS LCSO offering youth boxing program The Lee County Sheriff’s Office youth boxing program is your kid’s golden ticket to mastering the art of self-defense.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral man speaks on helping apprehend armed 13-year-old The man who helped apprehend an armed 13-year-old spoke on the incident.
NAPLES Naples Cars on Fifth event fuels $2M for local charity efforts For over two decades, car enthusiasts in Southwest Florida have gathered on Fifth Avenue in Naples.
MARCO ISLAND Caxambas Park boat ramp on Marco Island set to reopen Collier County announced the reopening of the Caxambas Park boat ramp on Marco Island.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Animal Shelter to host Puppy Bowl 3 ahead of big game Ahead of the big game on Sunday, Cape Coral Animal Shelter will be featuring its very own Puppy Bowl III.
FORT MYERS From the ballpark to the beach: the Minnesota Twins are back for Spring Training 1700 miles later the Twins truck is here and the team from Minnesota is ready to spend the next six weeks here in Fort Myers.
the weather authority Warm stretch continues throughout this weekend The Weather Authority says if you are a fan of the warmer weather, you are going to love this weekend.
SANIBEL Sanibel’s red tide raises health alerts and wildlife concerns With great weather in the forecast, it’s shaping up to be a perfect beach weekend. However, visitors to the barrier islands should exercise caution.
NAPLES Naples Automotive Experience raises funds for St. Matthew’s House The Naples Automotive Experience brought excitement and philanthropy to the community, raising money for St. Matthew’s House.
MATLACHA Little Pine Island bridge work causes delays, FDOT promises progress Construction on the Little Pine Island Bridge has narrowed traffic to one lane, causing significant delays for drivers.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Support women’s heart health on National Wear Red Day The first Friday in February marks National Wear Red Day!
Ongoing repairs following Naples plane crash A deadly plane crash that occurred one year ago in Naples, Florida continues to impact lives in Southwest Florida. The tragic event involved two pilots who lost their lives on Interstate 75.
Former Punta Gorda Police Chief Tom Lewis. PUNTA GORDA, Fla. An organization funded by taxpayer money voted to spend some of it for the legal defense of Punta Gorda police chief Tom Lewis, state attorney Stephen Russell said. Lewis was charged in February with second-degree misdemeanor culpable negligence after the fatal shooting of retired librarian Mary Knowlton in an August 2016 citizens police academy. He was placed on paid administrative leave one day after the charge came down. Lewis is the president of the Southwest Florida Police Chief’s Association, which receives monies from law enforcement agencies across the region. Only Lewis and two other regular members of the association were present during the vote to fund his legal defense, Russell said. It’s unclear how much money they voted to spend. Russell, who brought the charges against Lewis, resigned from the association after the vote. The text of Russell’s resignation email is below: Members, It has come to our attention that, at the April 20, 2017 meeting of the Southwest Florida Police Chief’s Association, there was a vote to use funds of the Association to supplement the defense of criminal charges that have been brought by the Office of the State Attorney against one of your members, Tom Lewis. It is our understanding that only three of the regular members (highest full-time commanding officers) were present during the vote and one of those was the recipient of the monies, Tom Lewis. The ethical conflict presented by this award of Association funds, some of which are monies paid through the Office of the State Attorney membership dues, for the criminal defense of Tom Lewis and the Office of the State Attorney’s prosecution of criminal charges against Tom Lewis arising out of a tragic set of facts and circumstances cannot be overcome. In addition, the questionable award of 501(c)(3) corporate funds for the purpose of enhancing a private criminal defense fund has placed the Office of the State Attorney and our representative members in a position that continued membership in this Association is impossible. While this office and its members continue to support all law enforcement agencies and officers in their goals of keeping our community safer and protecting our citizens, we cannot support the use of Association funds in this matter. Please accept this communication as the immediate resignation of each of the members of the State Attorney’s Office from the Southwest Florida Police Chief’s Association. We wish all of the individual law enforcement agencies success as we work together in every effort to ensure the safety of everyone in our community. Stephen B. Russell State Attorney 20th Judicial Circuit Stephen Romine, an attorney for Lewis, called Russell’s email “misleading.” Lewis neither made nor seconded the motion and abstained from voting, Romine said. The number of people at the meeting constituted a quorum, according to Romine. Russell clarified in a statement Wednesday that while he supports the mission of the association, he views continued affiliation with it as a conflict of interest. The trigger man in the shooting, Lee Coel, was charged with first-degree felony manslaughter and fired from his job as a Punta Gorda police officer. He’s appealing his termination.