ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
University of Central Florida President Dale Whittaker. (Wikipedia Commons photo) University of Central Florida President Dale Whittaker offered his resignation on Tuesday amid a scandal over the university’s misuse of tens of millions of state dollars and a backlash from lawmakers. “My reason for doing this is so the relationship between UCF and the Legislature can be renewed,” Whittaker said in a public letter. “A healthy relationship is necessary for the university to serve our more than 68,000 students in one of the fastest-growing, most diverse regions in the United States.” House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, applauded Whittaker’s decision, which he called a “major step” toward repairing the university’s standing with the Legislature. In March, lawmakers will start the annual two-month legislative session, which will include making policy and financial decisions affecting UCF and other state universities. “While there are several who shoulder more of the blame for the improper spending that occurred at UCF, President Whittaker knows, ultimate responsibility rests with the executive,” Oliva said in a statement. Whittaker’s letter came just days after state Rep. Randy Fine, who oversees the higher-education budget in the House, suggested slashing the school’s state-funded building projects because of the financial scandal and even raised the possibility of shutting down the university. Fine declined to comment Tuesday, adding that he would let Oliva’s comments stand on their own. Robert Garvy, chairman of the UCF Board of Trustees, sent a letter Tuesday to other trustees saying he would call a special board meeting “to address this matter and the steps we need to take as the governing authority over the university.” “In his offer to resign, Dr. Whittaker is putting the interests of our students and the university above his own,” Garvy wrote. “I am grateful for his willingness to subordinate those interests to the needs of our students, our two hundred and eighty thousand graduates, and tens of thousands of businesses, organizations, and entities that rely on UCF’s talent and significant economic impact.” Whittaker’s decision followed a move by the Florida House Public Integrity & Ethics Committee’s to summon 14 university officials, including Whittaker, to testify before the committee about the misuse of state funds. The committee’s investigation has focused, in part, on $38 million in operating money that was used to construct UCF’s Trevor Colbourn Hall. Those dollars were supposed to be used for activities such as instruction, research or student services. Rep. Tom Leek, the chairman of the House Public Integrity and Ethics Committee, on Tuesday reaffirmed his commitment to “leave no stone unturned in seeking the facts and holding the right people accountable.” “I believe President Whittaker was placed in his position at an inopportune time and much of what occurred was already underway,” Leek, R-Ormond Beach, said in a statement. Whittaker, a former UCF provost and executive vice president, became president last year after the retirement of longtime President John Hitt. In a letter Tuesday to the UCF Board of Trustees, Whittaker said that upon learning state dollars had been misspent, his first goal was to support an investigation into the matter. “To accomplish the first goal I directed all our university personnel to fully support the investigation initiated by the Board of Trustees, as well as the investigation being conducted by the Florida Board of Governors and the Florida Legislature, to ensure that a full, accurate, and complete inquiry and record is made of all the circumstances surrounding TCH (Trevor Colbourn Hall) and other projects,” Whittaker wrote. Whittaker mentioned two other goals in his letter: implementing reforms to ensure no such incident happens again and restoring the public’s trust in UCF. “We have made great process and UCF is pointed in the right direction,” Whittaker wrote. “However, to fully implement my goal of restoring confidence in UCF by state government leaders, it has been made clear to me that one additional step is needed.” That additional step, he said, is offering his resignation. State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, an Orlando Democrat who represents a district that includes UCF, said he views Whittaker’s decision as a way to protect students and faculty from an “overzealous Republican Legislature looking for excuses to punish public universities.” “I hope (Whittaker’s) decision ends the Legislature’s obsession with UCF so we can move on and work together to make Florida’ state university system our nation’s best,” Smith tweeted on Tuesday.