ORLANDO Naples falls to Jones in state semifinals One win stood in between the Golden Eagles and a trip to the state title as Naples competed in its 12th state semifinal.
ESTERO 1 dead after crashing into tree in Estero According to the Florida Highway Patrol, one person is dead after crashing into a tree in Estero on Friday night.
IMMOKALEE 1 dead after hit-and-run crash in Immokalee Authorities are investigating a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred Friday night in Immokalee.
NAPLES Vigil held for teen shot and killed at Collier party Family, friends and loved ones gathered at a candlelight vigil to remember and honor the life of 18-year-old D’eisha Arthur.
FORT MYERS Florida Gulf Coast University holds “Night at the Nest” fundraiser FGCU is holding its “Night at the Nest” fundraiser and gala on Friday. The money raised will go toward university scholarships.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda Veterans Village helping veterans during the holidays Residents and businesses at the Punta Gorda Veterans Village are stepping up to make military transitions a little easier this holiday season.
NORTH PORT Family pushes for class action against Heritage Insurance A North Port family is battling against Heritage Insurance over the damage Hurricane Ian did to their home.
Trails End Drive suspected double murder hit man and organizers back in court There are new developments in the murder-for-hire case that made headlines for weeks at the start of the year. The defendants are back in court.
CAPE CORAL 4 arrested on drug-related charges after FBI investigation Some Cape Coral residents woke up in the early morning hours to their neighbors’ homes being raided by federal agents.
Hope Card program protects victims of domestic violence in Lee County Lee County has implemented the Hope Card Program, a new statewide initiative to help victims of domestic violence.
SANIBEL 36th annual Sanibel Luminary Festival begins The Luminary Festival kicked off on Sanibel Island on Friday. This community-wide holiday event puts residents and visitors in the holiday spirit.
FORT MYERS Future unsure for Rachel at the Well During Hurricane Ian, Rachel at the well was uprooted from its spot in front of the Edison Park neighborhood.
NAPLES Naples Yacht Club appoints first woman commodore After 78 years, the Naples Yacht Club has appointed its first woman commodore. Kathy Parks King is her name.
FORT MYERS Mano Santa Tattoos, a woman-owned tattoo shop, opens in Fort Myers Mano Santa Tattoos is the newest tattoo studio in Fort Myers, offering an immersive tattoo experience to clients. The shop is woman-owned and women-staffed.
ORLANDO Naples falls to Jones in state semifinals One win stood in between the Golden Eagles and a trip to the state title as Naples competed in its 12th state semifinal.
ESTERO 1 dead after crashing into tree in Estero According to the Florida Highway Patrol, one person is dead after crashing into a tree in Estero on Friday night.
IMMOKALEE 1 dead after hit-and-run crash in Immokalee Authorities are investigating a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred Friday night in Immokalee.
NAPLES Vigil held for teen shot and killed at Collier party Family, friends and loved ones gathered at a candlelight vigil to remember and honor the life of 18-year-old D’eisha Arthur.
FORT MYERS Florida Gulf Coast University holds “Night at the Nest” fundraiser FGCU is holding its “Night at the Nest” fundraiser and gala on Friday. The money raised will go toward university scholarships.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda Veterans Village helping veterans during the holidays Residents and businesses at the Punta Gorda Veterans Village are stepping up to make military transitions a little easier this holiday season.
NORTH PORT Family pushes for class action against Heritage Insurance A North Port family is battling against Heritage Insurance over the damage Hurricane Ian did to their home.
Trails End Drive suspected double murder hit man and organizers back in court There are new developments in the murder-for-hire case that made headlines for weeks at the start of the year. The defendants are back in court.
CAPE CORAL 4 arrested on drug-related charges after FBI investigation Some Cape Coral residents woke up in the early morning hours to their neighbors’ homes being raided by federal agents.
Hope Card program protects victims of domestic violence in Lee County Lee County has implemented the Hope Card Program, a new statewide initiative to help victims of domestic violence.
SANIBEL 36th annual Sanibel Luminary Festival begins The Luminary Festival kicked off on Sanibel Island on Friday. This community-wide holiday event puts residents and visitors in the holiday spirit.
FORT MYERS Future unsure for Rachel at the Well During Hurricane Ian, Rachel at the well was uprooted from its spot in front of the Edison Park neighborhood.
NAPLES Naples Yacht Club appoints first woman commodore After 78 years, the Naples Yacht Club has appointed its first woman commodore. Kathy Parks King is her name.
FORT MYERS Mano Santa Tattoos, a woman-owned tattoo shop, opens in Fort Myers Mano Santa Tattoos is the newest tattoo studio in Fort Myers, offering an immersive tattoo experience to clients. The shop is woman-owned and women-staffed.
FILE – In this Nov. 14, 2017 file photo, Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello, left, speaks during a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing on hurricane recovery, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Rossello has vetoed on Friday, Jan. 5, 2018, three highly criticized bills that would have imposed stricter measures on juvenile offenders in the U.S. territory. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rossello on Friday slammed the federal government’s response to Hurricane Maria, saying residents of the island, who are U.S. citizens, are being treated like “second-class citizens.” Rossello and other critics have complained that the federal aid given to Puerto Rico after its worst natural disaster has not been equal to that given to Florida, Texas and California after similar disasters. “One hundred years of U.S. citizenship, but not quite equal,” Rossello lamented during a news conference in Orlando on Friday. The Puerto Rican governor is pushing for a supplemental disaster-aid package and relief from the federal tax-reform bill. He urged federal lawmakers to grant the country supplemental Medicaid funding and to eliminate the cost-sharing requirements, which he said was done in Louisiana. He acknowledged that Puerto Rico is competing with Florida, Texas and California for the funds. “It is completely unacceptable, it is inhumane and you have to ask yourself if this would happen in any other state. The answer is no. The reality is this would only happen in Puerto Rico because we are treated as second-class citizens,” he said, denouncing Republicans who oppose additional emergency funding because they say it would increase the national debt. He warned that voters would remember this come midterm elections, “so that everyone in Congress knows that if you turn your back on the people of Puerto Rico … there will be consequences.” Rossello also condemned President Donald Trump’s incendiary comments about immigrants, saying they are unhelpful as the island struggles to find equality. “It is surreal that this was said by the president. The United States is the greatest nation in the world but we need to act like it. … That’s why we’re here today, addressing this,” because Puerto Ricans are being treated as second-class citizens, he said. Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who was also in attendance, announced $1 million to help Hurricane Maria refugees find employment. To date, he said the state’s career-services agencies have helped more than 7,600 Puerto Ricans find jobs. He said federal emergency officials also have agreed to his request to provide case-management services to displaced families. And he said he is asking local housing officials and community leaders to help the state and federal government house refugees. “Florida is the most welcoming state in the nation and we will continue to do everything possible to help the Puerto Rican families recovering from Hurricane Maria in our state,” Scott said. The number of Puerto Ricans who have come to Florida since Maria in September 2017 is in dispute. Gov. Rick Scott uses the figure of 300,000 based on the number of people who’ve flown into the major airports, while University of Florida economists estimate the number is closer to 50,000, based on school enrollments and requests for state aid. The Gainesville Sun reports Florida has received 11,207 students from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands as of late December. In a rare move, Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson praised the Republican governor for his efforts and urged federal lawmakers to do more. “Puerto Rico is out of funds. And how are people going to get the health care that they need? … We can’t just put dribs and drabs in. We’ve got to put a lot of money in.”