Dead manatee found on Big Hickory Island; FWC conducts autopsyJunior Achievement of SWFL inducts 4 into Hall of Fame
BONITA SPRINGS Dead manatee found on Big Hickory Island; FWC conducts autopsy The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is conducting an autopsy on a manatee that washed ashore on Big Hickory Island.
Junior Achievement of SWFL inducts 4 into Hall of Fame A who’s who of the local business community celebrated four regional leaders March 25 at Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida’s annual banquet honoring this year’s Business Hall of Fame inductees.
fort myers beach Fort Myers Beach to implement temporary emergency traffic measure to assist EMS response The Town of Fort Myers Beach and the FMB Fire District have implemented a temporary emergency measure due to response time concerns with first responders and traffic.
PORT CHARLOTTE Charlotte County woman out on bond arrested again for drug trafficking, possession The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman who allegedly violated her bond as she was caught trafficking and possessing several forms of drugs.
FORT MYERS Florida Southwestern State College to hold free Spring Concert series Florida Southwestern State College is set to hold a series of free concerts throughout April.
the weather authority Mostly sunny, warmer for your Wednesday afternoon plans The Weather Authority is tracking mostly sunny conditions, bringing warmer temperatures throughout this Wednesday.
Collier County teen injured in violent parking lot incident A teenager is fighting for his life after a violent confrontation in Collier County.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers recycling facilty catches fire; smoke visible for miles Thick smoke erupted from a Fort Myers recycling facility on Tuesday evening as flames tore through the building.
ROTONDA Rotonda residents worry as legal battle over bridge closure heats up Charlotte County is gearing up for a legal battle over the Rotonda Bridge, which has been closed since Hurricane Ian.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers’ Howard Sapp seeks to break GOP hold in district 19 race Howard Sapp has announced his candidacy to represent Southwest Florida in Washington, D.C. Sapp, a Democrat, aims to succeed Republican Congressman Byron Donalds, who is running for governor of Florida.
FORT MYERS Laser lockup: Teen arrested for pointing laser at LCSO aviation unit A Lee County teenager has been arrested for pointing a laser at an aircraft, a dangerous act that poses significant risks to aviation safety.
Southwest Florida Collier clinic lease fight leaves families fearing healthcare loss A legal battle is unfolding in Collier County as Lee Health Systems takes on Nicklaus Children’s Hospital over a lease dispute
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach FEMA probation could end sooner than expected Fort Myers Beach may soon see relief from high flood insurance bills. The town lost its FEMA flood insurance discount last fall and was placed on probation, putting homeowners at risk of higher costs.
ESTERO FGCU and UMASS working on environmental projects A new partnership between Florida Gulf Coast University and the University of Massachusetts Lowell is set to drive long-term improvements in Southwest Florida.
SANIBEL Sanibel Island’s Lighthouse Beach shines after restoration, visitors thrilled Lighthouse Beach Park on Sanibel Island has completed the final phase of its beach renourishment project.
BONITA SPRINGS Dead manatee found on Big Hickory Island; FWC conducts autopsy The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is conducting an autopsy on a manatee that washed ashore on Big Hickory Island.
Junior Achievement of SWFL inducts 4 into Hall of Fame A who’s who of the local business community celebrated four regional leaders March 25 at Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida’s annual banquet honoring this year’s Business Hall of Fame inductees.
fort myers beach Fort Myers Beach to implement temporary emergency traffic measure to assist EMS response The Town of Fort Myers Beach and the FMB Fire District have implemented a temporary emergency measure due to response time concerns with first responders and traffic.
PORT CHARLOTTE Charlotte County woman out on bond arrested again for drug trafficking, possession The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman who allegedly violated her bond as she was caught trafficking and possessing several forms of drugs.
FORT MYERS Florida Southwestern State College to hold free Spring Concert series Florida Southwestern State College is set to hold a series of free concerts throughout April.
the weather authority Mostly sunny, warmer for your Wednesday afternoon plans The Weather Authority is tracking mostly sunny conditions, bringing warmer temperatures throughout this Wednesday.
Collier County teen injured in violent parking lot incident A teenager is fighting for his life after a violent confrontation in Collier County.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers recycling facilty catches fire; smoke visible for miles Thick smoke erupted from a Fort Myers recycling facility on Tuesday evening as flames tore through the building.
ROTONDA Rotonda residents worry as legal battle over bridge closure heats up Charlotte County is gearing up for a legal battle over the Rotonda Bridge, which has been closed since Hurricane Ian.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers’ Howard Sapp seeks to break GOP hold in district 19 race Howard Sapp has announced his candidacy to represent Southwest Florida in Washington, D.C. Sapp, a Democrat, aims to succeed Republican Congressman Byron Donalds, who is running for governor of Florida.
FORT MYERS Laser lockup: Teen arrested for pointing laser at LCSO aviation unit A Lee County teenager has been arrested for pointing a laser at an aircraft, a dangerous act that poses significant risks to aviation safety.
Southwest Florida Collier clinic lease fight leaves families fearing healthcare loss A legal battle is unfolding in Collier County as Lee Health Systems takes on Nicklaus Children’s Hospital over a lease dispute
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach FEMA probation could end sooner than expected Fort Myers Beach may soon see relief from high flood insurance bills. The town lost its FEMA flood insurance discount last fall and was placed on probation, putting homeowners at risk of higher costs.
ESTERO FGCU and UMASS working on environmental projects A new partnership between Florida Gulf Coast University and the University of Massachusetts Lowell is set to drive long-term improvements in Southwest Florida.
SANIBEL Sanibel Island’s Lighthouse Beach shines after restoration, visitors thrilled Lighthouse Beach Park on Sanibel Island has completed the final phase of its beach renourishment project.
Republican candidate for Congress, Ralph Norman, second from right, and his wife Elaine, right, greet workers at a polling place in South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District in Rock Hill, S.C., Tuesday, June 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Republican Ralph Norman won a special election Tuesday to fill the South Carolina congressional seat vacated by Mick Mulvaney, battling to a victory closer than many expected to replace the new White House budget director. “It’s a good win, and we’re excited,” Norman, a real estate developer who aligned himself with President Donald Trump, told The Associated Press. “We’re looking forward to getting to work in Washington.” Norman, who celebrated his 64th birthday on election night, defeated Democrat Archie Parnell with 51 percent of the vote, with 99 percent of precincts reporting. Parnell had roughly 48 percent of the vote. Three third-party candidates also ran. Republicans hoped to extend their hold on the district, where Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in November by more than 18 percentage points. Surrogates like Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and former South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint campaigned with the former state lawmaker, who also received support during a seven-way primary and ultimate runoff from conservative groups like the Club for Growth. Democrats took interest in the race, too, with Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez campaigning with Parnell. But it was small in comparison to the party’s investment in a special election in Georgia’s 6th District, seen as an early test for the GOP and President Trump: the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee put only $275,000 into South Carolina’s race. That’s compared with a $5 million investment in the special election in Georgia’s 6th District. In a statement, DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Luján congratulated Parnell on a hard-fought campaign that “made huge gains compared to past Democrats who competed here.” Parnell’s campaign thanked supporters in a statement, saying the stood “against a rising tide of bitterness and division” and offered hope. Parnell also called Norman to congratulate him. The Democrat put on a strong campaign, outperforming Clinton in a handful of the 11 counties that make up the 5th District, which stretches north from Columbia to the suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina. In Chester County, which Trump won with 51 percent, Parnell edged out Norman by more than 7 percentage points. But Norman still performed strongly in the district’s population centers, including his vote-rich home territory of York County. “Elections are close,” Norman said Tuesday night. “We knew it was going to be close. Archie’s a good candidate.” Norman, a former state lawmaker, said support from the president resonated positively with voters. Trump recorded a robocall in support of Norman’s campaign and sent out Twitter messages encouraging voters to back him. “Everybody’s had their differences with President Trump,” Norman told the AP. “He’s a polarizing president, but I think a majority of the people like what he’s doing.” David L. O’Neal, a retired Army officer and paratrooper from Tega Cay, backed Norman in the primary and said the Republican earned his general election vote in part because of his stance on veterans’ issues. “As a retired military officer, I feel Ralph is strongest on military issues, wanting a strong defense,” O’Neal said Tuesday. “And I know he is 100 percent with the veterans on their issues.”