Florida lawmakers to vote on revamped Governor backed immigration bill on ThursdayClewiston Animal Shelter improves but faces overcrowding challenges
Florida lawmakers to vote on revamped Governor backed immigration bill on Thursday The House and Senate are set to vote on a new immigration bill on Thursday. The bill aims to address illegal immigration and support federal mass deportation efforts.
CLEWISTON Clewiston Animal Shelter improves but faces overcrowding challenges The Clewiston Animal Shelter has made significant improvements, but there is still work to be done to bring conditions to a more humane level.
Collier County beachgoers react to Gulf of America name change The Gulf of Mexico has been officially renamed the “Gulf of America” following an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump.
ENGLEWOOD Englewood Beach’s closure impacts local economy; businesses seek answers Business owners on Englewood Beach are growing increasingly anxious as they await the reopening of the beach, which has been closed since hurricanes Helene and Milton.
FORT MYERS BEACH Food truck park proposal on Estero Blvd divides Fort Myers Beach locals The Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency recently voted on whether to transform a vacant lot on Estero Boulevard into a food truck park.
CCSO works with ICE to catch suspects in Southwest Florida State lawmakers are working on a new immigration bill. Here in Southwest Florida, one county has been following strict guidelines on illegal immigration for quite some time.
Burn ban in effect for Collier County The Board of County Commissioners has authorized a burn ban in Collier County.
FGCU FGCU’s Zavian McLean shares student athlete experience with podcast FGCU men’s basketball guard Zavian McLean shares what its like to be a Division I student athlete in his podcast “Truey Talks.”
Locals react to egg price increase Egg prices continue to soar. In fact, prices have gone up about 37% from where they were just one year ago, and the pricing and supply issues have started to impact Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS BEACH Trump’s executive order on straws stirs debate in Fort Myers Beach President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order to bring back plastic straws, reversing a previous plan to reduce plastic reliance in the federal government.
Charlotte County official’s usage of racial slur prompts calls for resignation Charlotte County Commissioner Stephen Deutsch is under scrutiny after a complaint surfaced last week alleging he used the N-word during a work meeting.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral woman finds hope with new ALS drug A breakthrough discovery of a drug offers new hope for patients with a genetic form of the disease.
Elevate Florida program to help homeowners strengthen properties against storms The Florida Dept. of Emergency Management announced the launch of its new “Elevate Florida” residential mitigation program.
Planning and Zoning Board approves proposed West County area development Homebuilder Maronda Homes received approval Feb. 10 from the Charlotte County Planning and Zoning Board to amend a previously approved development on 1,174 acres in the area of South Gulf Cove.
LEHIGH ACRES 3 charged for major theft organization targeting luxury vehicles Three men, one from Lehigh Acres, has been charged for their role in a major theft organization targeting luxury vehicles.
Florida lawmakers to vote on revamped Governor backed immigration bill on Thursday The House and Senate are set to vote on a new immigration bill on Thursday. The bill aims to address illegal immigration and support federal mass deportation efforts.
CLEWISTON Clewiston Animal Shelter improves but faces overcrowding challenges The Clewiston Animal Shelter has made significant improvements, but there is still work to be done to bring conditions to a more humane level.
Collier County beachgoers react to Gulf of America name change The Gulf of Mexico has been officially renamed the “Gulf of America” following an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump.
ENGLEWOOD Englewood Beach’s closure impacts local economy; businesses seek answers Business owners on Englewood Beach are growing increasingly anxious as they await the reopening of the beach, which has been closed since hurricanes Helene and Milton.
FORT MYERS BEACH Food truck park proposal on Estero Blvd divides Fort Myers Beach locals The Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency recently voted on whether to transform a vacant lot on Estero Boulevard into a food truck park.
CCSO works with ICE to catch suspects in Southwest Florida State lawmakers are working on a new immigration bill. Here in Southwest Florida, one county has been following strict guidelines on illegal immigration for quite some time.
Burn ban in effect for Collier County The Board of County Commissioners has authorized a burn ban in Collier County.
FGCU FGCU’s Zavian McLean shares student athlete experience with podcast FGCU men’s basketball guard Zavian McLean shares what its like to be a Division I student athlete in his podcast “Truey Talks.”
Locals react to egg price increase Egg prices continue to soar. In fact, prices have gone up about 37% from where they were just one year ago, and the pricing and supply issues have started to impact Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS BEACH Trump’s executive order on straws stirs debate in Fort Myers Beach President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order to bring back plastic straws, reversing a previous plan to reduce plastic reliance in the federal government.
Charlotte County official’s usage of racial slur prompts calls for resignation Charlotte County Commissioner Stephen Deutsch is under scrutiny after a complaint surfaced last week alleging he used the N-word during a work meeting.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral woman finds hope with new ALS drug A breakthrough discovery of a drug offers new hope for patients with a genetic form of the disease.
Elevate Florida program to help homeowners strengthen properties against storms The Florida Dept. of Emergency Management announced the launch of its new “Elevate Florida” residential mitigation program.
Planning and Zoning Board approves proposed West County area development Homebuilder Maronda Homes received approval Feb. 10 from the Charlotte County Planning and Zoning Board to amend a previously approved development on 1,174 acres in the area of South Gulf Cove.
LEHIGH ACRES 3 charged for major theft organization targeting luxury vehicles Three men, one from Lehigh Acres, has been charged for their role in a major theft organization targeting luxury vehicles.
Photo via WKMG KISSIMMEE, Fla. (WKMG) A judge determined Friday that the man accused of killing two Kissimmee police officers last month is competent to stand trail. Everett Miller is charged with first-degree murder in the August slayings of Kissimmee police Sgt. Sam Howard and Officer Matthew Baxter. Howard and Baxter were responding to a call in the area of Palmway and Cypress streets that is known for drug activity when they were shot, police said. The state of Florida also announced Friday that it will seek the death penalty against Miller. Miller’s case is among 30 reassigned to State Attorney Brad King by Gov. Rick Scott after Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala announced earlier this year that she would not seek the death penalty in any case. After the Florida Supreme Court ruled against her, Ayala said she would form a seven-person panel consisting of assistant state attorneys from her office to determine if her office will seek the death penalty in future cases. Miller was in court Friday for a mental competency hearing in which Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge George Tyan heard from the state and Miller’s defense about whether he could stand trial. During the hearing, which lasted several minutes, it was stated that psychologist Robert Janner conducted a forensic interview with Miller on Aug. 29. After the interview and a review of law enforcement reports, jail records and jail phone recordings, Janner concluded that Miller was competent to proceed. “Mr. Miller was entirely appropriate during the evaluation. He had serial logical and global-oriented or direct-thought processes. He was at least average or possibly above average intelligence. He had no suicidal or homicidal ideations and no delusions, indicating he was responding to internal preoccupation or stimuli. He was fully oriented as to time and place,” the judge said. Tyan said that Janner ruled out a diagnosis of delirium, dementia, intellectual disabilities and psychosis. “Although Dr. Janner’s diagnostic impression in this case indicates Mr. Miller suffers from a mental illness, he stated, ‘This does not, however, render Mr. Miller incompetent to proceed,'” Tyan said. “Mr. Miller understands the adversarial nature of the legal process. He knows his lawyer is on his side, the state is on the other side, and the judge and the jury decide his guilt or innocence, and if guilty, what happens to him.” Baxter’s widow, Sadia Baxter — a former Kissimmee police officer who recently became an FDLE special agent — was in the courtroom during the hearing. FDLE spokeswoman Angela Starke said it was the first time Sadia Baxter had seen Miller. “She wants the community to know she senses their prayers,” Starke said. Miller has entered a plea of not guilty. His next hearing is scheduled for Dec 12. Miller’s trial is scheduled to begin in January.