16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier CountyNew bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes
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.
Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association breaks ground on new Fort Myers headquarters As Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association’s president pointed out, about 1,000 people are still moving to Florida every day, and many of them are finding their way to Southwest Florida.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte County drug trafficker sentenced to 10 years A Charlotte County man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking.
lehigh acres ‘How to sign away parental rights?’; Lehigh Acres woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby.
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.
Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association breaks ground on new Fort Myers headquarters As Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association’s president pointed out, about 1,000 people are still moving to Florida every day, and many of them are finding their way to Southwest Florida.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte County drug trafficker sentenced to 10 years A Charlotte County man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking.
lehigh acres ‘How to sign away parental rights?’; Lehigh Acres woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby.
MGN Lie and try… That’s what it’s called when someone who can’t legally own a gun lies on a firearms background check to try to get one anyway. Lying on a background check is not only a federal felony, but third-degree felony in Florida. WINK News found rarely are those people punished according to state and federal records. Domestic abuse survivor Lisa shared her concern. We’re not using her last name because she is a victim. While her former abuser did not threaten her with a firearm, she says it’s critical law enforcement investigates these offenses. Lisa said, “It can be the difference between becoming an ultimate tragic victim, or becoming a survivor who lives to tell the story.” Right now, if a person is convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor, or has a restraining order for domestic violence, he or she cannot purchase a firearm. What happens when an abuser, or anyone who legally can’t get a gun, tries to get one anyway? They can be arrested. To do that, all law enforcement has to do is ask the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for a list of people who fail the background check. While the list is available to any law enforcement agency, only two in Southwest Florida request it. Collier County Sheriff’s Office and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Capt. Rod Bishop with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office says for years, their investigators have gone after people lying on background checks. “We thought – what is a proactive, easy way to keep firearms out of people’s hands that shouldn’t have them. Pretty basic goal, and I think that it’s not too massive of a group of people that you would think, but we’re obviously making the right arrests,” Bishop said. Why isn’t every agency getting that list of possible offenders? FDLE sent an email saying: “State, County, and Municipal law enforcement agencies who request non-approval data are provided with a report at the beginning of the month for the previous month.” Meaning, if an agency doesn’t ask for the lists, they won’t know who is trying to break the law. Other law enforcement agencies told us they either leave it up to the feds, or did not have a comment. Capt. Bishop told us it could be a resource issue. Recently, state Senator Randolph Bracy and state Representative Bobby DuBose, both Democrats, tried to change that. Their bill [S.B. 334] would require FDLE to automatically notify law enforcement of those non-approvals, whether or not anyone asks. Both bills died in Criminal Justice Subcommittee, but they plan to present it again. In 2017—12,472 out of 990,314 or 1.26 percent of background checks were not-approved in Florida. Non-approvals do not always mean someone is lying. Whatever the percentage, Capt. Bishop says for his office, using resources is to catch the criminals, is worth it. “If we save one victim from a shooting, we win.” As for Lisa, she hopes more agencies will follow in Collier and Lee Counties’ footsteps. “I hope the rest will start doing it. We need to. Our lives depend on it.”