Rock for Equality: SWFL non-profit hosts benefit concert for PalestineWarm, breezy Saturday with a few showers possible
Rock for Equality: SWFL non-profit hosts benefit concert for Palestine A Southwest Florida non-profit hosted a benefit concert on Friday night to help with humanitarian aid in Palestine.
Warm, breezy Saturday with a few showers possible The Weather Authority is forecasting a breezy, warm weekend in store across Southwest Florida, with the chance of a few showers, particularly on Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Active investigation underway in South Cape Coral Police are investigating at a home on Southwest 49th Terrace in South Cape Coral.
16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier County According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two airboats crashed south of U.S. 41 east between mile markers 74 and 75, leaving well over a dozen people injured.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes There could be new detectives on the block, located in your nearest auto shop. A new state bill aims at trying to stop hit-and-run drivers from getting away.
CAPE CORAL New leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans A drug now being studied in human trials to kill cancerous tumors, is already approved and helping animals.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral planning a new interchange with I-75 The city of Cape Coral is in the early stages of planning a new interchange with I-75, an idea that has been discussed for more than a decade.
Tracking invasive species after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton didn’t just bring wind and rain, they brought new threats to southwest Florida’s ecosystem.
PUNTA GORDA Woman in Punta Gorda shooting charged with 2nd degree murder A woman in a homicide investigation on Nasturtium Drive in Punta Gorda has been charged with 2nd-degree murder.
Lee County mother continuing fight to get children a bus stop The school district already told her she lives too close to the school to qualify for a bus route but she has not given up.
NORTH NAPLES Grant Thornton Invitational returns to Tiburon Golf Club Stars on the PGA and LPGA Tours are back in Southwest Florida for the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club.
FORT MYERS Black Flag brings classic punk energy to The Ranch in Fort Myers Legendary punk band Black Flag made their mark in Southwest Florida during the Fort Myers stop of their “First Four Years” tour.
Charlotte Technical College breaks ground on aviation facility The Charlotte County School District is flying high and keeping its “Space Academy” designation with a new aviation training facility for students.
CAPE CORAL Man arrested in connection with Cape Coral home invasion The Cape Coral Police Department has announced the arrest of one of three men suspected in a home invasion that took place earlier this month.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral residents react to $100M North Cape land deal The city of Cape Coral is seeing two projects that will change the city. One is called one of the most lucrative deals in county history.
Rock for Equality: SWFL non-profit hosts benefit concert for Palestine A Southwest Florida non-profit hosted a benefit concert on Friday night to help with humanitarian aid in Palestine.
Warm, breezy Saturday with a few showers possible The Weather Authority is forecasting a breezy, warm weekend in store across Southwest Florida, with the chance of a few showers, particularly on Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Active investigation underway in South Cape Coral Police are investigating at a home on Southwest 49th Terrace in South Cape Coral.
16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier County According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two airboats crashed south of U.S. 41 east between mile markers 74 and 75, leaving well over a dozen people injured.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes There could be new detectives on the block, located in your nearest auto shop. A new state bill aims at trying to stop hit-and-run drivers from getting away.
CAPE CORAL New leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans A drug now being studied in human trials to kill cancerous tumors, is already approved and helping animals.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral planning a new interchange with I-75 The city of Cape Coral is in the early stages of planning a new interchange with I-75, an idea that has been discussed for more than a decade.
Tracking invasive species after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton didn’t just bring wind and rain, they brought new threats to southwest Florida’s ecosystem.
PUNTA GORDA Woman in Punta Gorda shooting charged with 2nd degree murder A woman in a homicide investigation on Nasturtium Drive in Punta Gorda has been charged with 2nd-degree murder.
Lee County mother continuing fight to get children a bus stop The school district already told her she lives too close to the school to qualify for a bus route but she has not given up.
NORTH NAPLES Grant Thornton Invitational returns to Tiburon Golf Club Stars on the PGA and LPGA Tours are back in Southwest Florida for the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club.
FORT MYERS Black Flag brings classic punk energy to The Ranch in Fort Myers Legendary punk band Black Flag made their mark in Southwest Florida during the Fort Myers stop of their “First Four Years” tour.
Charlotte Technical College breaks ground on aviation facility The Charlotte County School District is flying high and keeping its “Space Academy” designation with a new aviation training facility for students.
CAPE CORAL Man arrested in connection with Cape Coral home invasion The Cape Coral Police Department has announced the arrest of one of three men suspected in a home invasion that took place earlier this month.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral residents react to $100M North Cape land deal The city of Cape Coral is seeing two projects that will change the city. One is called one of the most lucrative deals in county history.
Photo via the Fort Myers Police Department A large number of first responders attended a Homeland Security training event Thursday in Lee County, according to the Fort Myers Police Department. The event took place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. along Fowler Street from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Edison Avenue, police said. Morning commuters were advised to avoid the area and seek an alternate route. “This might be a little bit of an inconvenience, but in today’s day and age it’s something we have to do,” Fort Myers Police Department Lt. Jay Rodriguez said. SWAT teams and emergency vehicles responded to the area as volunteers portrayed victims of a suicide bomber, hostages were later held in a box car and terrorists blew up a tank car, police said. “I was a 24-year-old who had massive head injury. You could actually see my brain, I was dead on site,” volunteer Paige Bohana said. The training exercise gave local, state and federal agencies the chance to work hand-in-hand on a life-like scenario. “Our training scenario included three bombs, 15 injured, 36,000 gallons of ammonia release, three bad guys with hostages, simulated shelter for 50 evacuees, one biological lab producing weaponized avian influenza and 220 responders who restored safety in 4 hours,” said William Miller, deputy special operations coordinator for the Ft. Myers Fire Department. All of the agencies that participated in the exercise will meet Tuesday to evaluate their training. A training in 2017 took place in Charlotte County. The next training in 2019 is expected to take place in Naples. WINK News streamed a portion of the exercise on Facebook: The Fort Myers Police Department shared photos of the training exercise: Photo via the Fort Myers Police Department Photo via the Fort Myers Police Department Photo via the Fort Myers Police Department Photo via the Fort Myers Police Department WINK News reporter Chris Grisby tweeted from the scene: More than 200 emergency personnel have made their way here. Here’s a shot of the FBI’s mock command center setup outside near a mock terrrorist lab. pic.twitter.com/ZPQaJ02xt9 — Chris Grisby (@ChrisGrisbyNews) January 11, 2018 Here’s what was used in the training exercise: Participants: FMFD 10 FF, HM6A 15 HAZMAT Techs, HM6C 15 HAZMAT Techs, FBI HAZMAT 5 HAZMAT Techs, CST 21 HAZMAT Techs, LCEMS 8 medics 4 OMS, 2 supervisors, LCEM 6, FMEM 10, FL DOH 4, Red Cross 15 shelter, Salvation Army 5, FL DEP 2, School Board 1, SWFL EOD 15, FMPD 25, Charlotte County HAZMAT 7 Techs, 30 volunteer victims (202 Total) Agency Target Capabilities to be exercised: Initial Response/Technical Decontamination set up time and capacity (FMFD), Command and Communications (FMFD), Evidence Collection (FBI), Mass Causality (LCEMS/Lee Memorial), Hostage situation(FMPD), Site Control (FMPD), Evacuations(FMPD/LCEMS/LCEM), Chemical IED response (SWFL Regional Bomb Squad), EOC set up (FMEM, LCEOC), Communications (all), MSO (LCEMS), Bomb Suit Decon (FMFD), Supporting City EM (LCEM), Public Alert and warnings (LCEM), FEMA Mass Notification (LCEM), EOC Activation (FMEM), Mass Causality facility coordination (LMH), Joint Recon & Entry (CST), Bio lab (CST), PIO/ Media education (FMPD/LCEMS), Notifying State Watch office and requesting CST (FMFD/CST), , Decon run-off (FLDEP), Canteen for emergency rehab (Salvation Army), Evacuee Shelter set up (Red Cross), Shelter in Place (FL DOH) Props: Train (Seminole Gulf), Lab (FBI), IED (EOD), 1 Bus (School Board) Number of Vehicles: HM6A (3 Engines, 3 Trailers), HM6C (1 Engines, 2 Trailers, 3 SUV) Charlotte HAZMAT (1 Squad, 1 SUV, Rescue), CST (4 Trailers), FBI (1 Truck and 12’ trailer, 2 SUV), LCEMS (1 ambulance), 2 SUV, LCEM MRU, 2 SUV, Salvation Army food truck, DEP pickup truck, 3 SWAT/Hostage 3 Patrol FMPD, 2 EOD buses Map provided by FMPD Locations of training exercises.