Warm stretch continues throughout this weekendSanibel’s red tide raises health alerts and wildlife concerns
the weather authority Warm stretch continues throughout this weekend The Weather Authority says if you are a fan of the warmer weather, you are going to love this weekend.
SANIBEL Sanibel’s red tide raises health alerts and wildlife concerns With great weather in the forecast, it’s shaping up to be a perfect beach weekend. However, visitors to the barrier islands should exercise caution.
NAPLES Naples Automotive Experience raises funds for St. Matthew’s House The Naples Automotive Experience brought excitement and philanthropy to the community, raising money for St. Matthew’s House.
MATLACHA Little Pine Island bridge work causes delays, FDOT promises progress Construction on the Little Pine Island Bridge has narrowed traffic to one lane, causing significant delays for drivers.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Support women’s heart health on National Wear Red Day The first Friday in February marks National Wear Red Day!
Ongoing repairs following Naples plane crash A deadly plane crash that occurred one year ago in Naples, Florida continues to impact lives in Southwest Florida. The tragic event involved two pilots who lost their lives on Interstate 75.
Naples jet crash, one year later: new details on emergency response Sunday marks one year since a jet crashed after its pilots attempted an emergency landing on I-75 just outside of Naples. “Your mind goes back to everything that happened that day,” said Heather Mazurkiewicz, public information officer with the North Collier Fire Rescue. “I think about the fact that there weren’t more lives lost.” At […]
LCSO cutting down law enforcement response times The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is gearing up to implement “Prepared 9-1-1,” a new tool designed to enhance emergency response times.
How Harry Chapin Food Bank supports struggling families In the heart of Dunbar, a neighborhood in Fort Myers, the STARS Complex becomes a place of hope as the Harry Chapin Food Bank supports families in need.
MOORE HAVEN African American family breaking barriers in Moore Haven politics Breaking barriers is a family tradition for Rashondra Croskey and her godmother, Gloria Reese.
Charlotte County unlicensed contractor accused of fraud The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office said that a contractor has been arrested after he was hired to build a room in a home without a license.
Studies show that menopause is linked to heart risks Menopause is a natural part of life for middle-aged women, typically occurring between ages 45 and 55. However, it can bring serious health complications, including an increased risk of heart disease.
FORT MYERS Local band Shy Blossom to open up for ’90s rockers Sister Hazel at The Ranch A Southwest Florida-based band will be opening for the legendary ’90s rock fusion group Sister Hazel.
golden gate Bear Brawl: Black bears duke it out in Golden Gate backyard Two black bears were caught on camera tussling for garbage in the backyard of a Golden Gate home.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral man accused of possessing child pornography A Cape Coral man has been arrested after allegedly possessing several files of child pornography on devices.
the weather authority Warm stretch continues throughout this weekend The Weather Authority says if you are a fan of the warmer weather, you are going to love this weekend.
SANIBEL Sanibel’s red tide raises health alerts and wildlife concerns With great weather in the forecast, it’s shaping up to be a perfect beach weekend. However, visitors to the barrier islands should exercise caution.
NAPLES Naples Automotive Experience raises funds for St. Matthew’s House The Naples Automotive Experience brought excitement and philanthropy to the community, raising money for St. Matthew’s House.
MATLACHA Little Pine Island bridge work causes delays, FDOT promises progress Construction on the Little Pine Island Bridge has narrowed traffic to one lane, causing significant delays for drivers.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Support women’s heart health on National Wear Red Day The first Friday in February marks National Wear Red Day!
Ongoing repairs following Naples plane crash A deadly plane crash that occurred one year ago in Naples, Florida continues to impact lives in Southwest Florida. The tragic event involved two pilots who lost their lives on Interstate 75.
Naples jet crash, one year later: new details on emergency response Sunday marks one year since a jet crashed after its pilots attempted an emergency landing on I-75 just outside of Naples. “Your mind goes back to everything that happened that day,” said Heather Mazurkiewicz, public information officer with the North Collier Fire Rescue. “I think about the fact that there weren’t more lives lost.” At […]
LCSO cutting down law enforcement response times The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is gearing up to implement “Prepared 9-1-1,” a new tool designed to enhance emergency response times.
How Harry Chapin Food Bank supports struggling families In the heart of Dunbar, a neighborhood in Fort Myers, the STARS Complex becomes a place of hope as the Harry Chapin Food Bank supports families in need.
MOORE HAVEN African American family breaking barriers in Moore Haven politics Breaking barriers is a family tradition for Rashondra Croskey and her godmother, Gloria Reese.
Charlotte County unlicensed contractor accused of fraud The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office said that a contractor has been arrested after he was hired to build a room in a home without a license.
Studies show that menopause is linked to heart risks Menopause is a natural part of life for middle-aged women, typically occurring between ages 45 and 55. However, it can bring serious health complications, including an increased risk of heart disease.
FORT MYERS Local band Shy Blossom to open up for ’90s rockers Sister Hazel at The Ranch A Southwest Florida-based band will be opening for the legendary ’90s rock fusion group Sister Hazel.
golden gate Bear Brawl: Black bears duke it out in Golden Gate backyard Two black bears were caught on camera tussling for garbage in the backyard of a Golden Gate home.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral man accused of possessing child pornography A Cape Coral man has been arrested after allegedly possessing several files of child pornography on devices.
Sen. Anitere Flores. (The News Service of Florida) Florida’s plastic surgery centers could undergo a regulatory makeover to improve patient safety if state Sen. Anitere Flores is successful during the upcoming legislative session. Flores, R-Miami, filed a 42-page bill (SB 732)Tuesday after news reports that highlighted a rash of patient deaths at two Southeast Florida plastic surgery centers. One key proposal would mandate that surgical centers be owned by Florida-licensed physicians in good standing and be registered with the state Department of Health. The bill also would bar physicians affiliated with shuttered clinics from opening new surgery centers for a five-year period and would ban the transfer of center registrations when clinics are sold. Flores told The News Service of Florida that the bill addresses a regulatory void that allowed the two Southeast Florida plastic surgery centers to thrive, despite a mounting death toll. “I just want to make sure people are safe,” she said. USA Today and the Naples Daily News reported last week that two Miami-area clinics overseen by physician Ismael Labrador have lost eight patients over the past six years and combined to account for about 20 percent of the plastic-surgery deaths in the state. Labrador, 56, changed the names of the centers three times as the deaths mounted, the report said. The name changes made it more difficult for patients to connect the deaths to the clinics, now known as Jolie Plastic Surgery. Flores’ bill identifies types of procedures that are performed in surgical centers and would require physicians to register as surgical centers if they perform any of those procedures. Level 1 procedures involve minimum sedation and include excising of skin lesions, stitching of lacerations, drainage of cysts and casting simple breaks. Level II procedures are more complex and require moderate sedation and include procedures such as hernia repair, large joint dislocations, colonoscopies and liposuction procedures involving the removal of up to 1,000 cubic centimeters of supernatant fat. Level III procedures are the most medically complex, requiring deep sedation with general anesthesia or spinal, regional or epidural anesthesia. The bill would ban level III procedures from being performed at the centers unless physicians have hospital admitting privileges or the centers have emergency transportation agreements with nearby facilities. Additionally, level III procedures could not be performed on older patients without complete medical workups. The bill also would mandate that anesthesiologists be on site and available for high-risk procedures and that physicians who perform those procedures meet certain requirements. Chris Nuland, a lobbyist for the Florida Society of Plastic Surgeons, told the News Service that “there’s a lot of good” in Flores’ legislation. However, Nuland said that requiring doctors who perform level 1 procedures to certify as surgical centers “is a bit extreme.” Flores, who will be forced to leave office after the 2020 elections because of term limits, said the bill is a priority for her this session and said she wants to “work with everyone” on crafting legislation that will increase patient safety. The 60-day legislative session starts March 5. A legislative veteran of 14 years, Flores acknowledged, though, that it may not be easy to pass the bill considering House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, is interested in reducing health care regulations, not increasing them. But as the state touts itself as medical tourism mecca, Flores said it’s incumbent on the Legislature to ensure that people who flock to the state, as well as residents, are safe. “I have two years left (in the Senate),” she said, adding, “This is a big problem. “