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.
Firefighter battles the flames. (Credit: AP) More than 60 representatives from both sides of the aisle have co-sponsored a bill that would provide protection and financial coverage for firefighters who are diagnosed with certain types of cancer. Over 500 pairs of boots with photos attached lined the steps of the capitol building on March 7th, representing firefighters who are either fighting or have perished from cancer. The demonstration was in support of House Bill 587. Firefighter Mike Billek was in attendance that day for his father. “He ended up retiring a little early due to the fact that he had come down with cancer,” Mike said. Mike’s father, Captain Joseph Billek served as a firefighter for 28.5 years before his diagnosis. “He was diagnosed with melanoma at the age of 49, and ultimately about six months after he retired early, he passed away from melanoma at the age of 51.” Captain Joseph Billek is not unique. Southwest Floridan Tom âBullâ Hill is a retired Orange County firefighter and has been a longtime supporter of the bill. Last year, Hill walked over 800 miles as he trekked from Key West to Tallahassee. Firefighters have a higher chance of developing certain cancers. The CDC says firefighters have a 9 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14 percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general population. A bill going through the house would cover firefighters who develop 21 different types of cancer. Melanoma is included in that group. Representative Fentrice Driskell is one of the over 60 representatives co-sponsoring the bill. “I support House Bill 857 because I think it is a good and necessary bill,” Driskell said. “Firefighters are amongst our first responders, and I believe that we need to make sure they are well taken care of when it comes to their health and when it comes to their benefits.” But time could be running out. The bill has come to a standstill in the House. It currently sits in the Oversight, Transparency & Public Management Subcommittee which has no more meetings set at this point. We reached out to the Chairman of the subcommittee, Representative Scott Plakon, multiple times to ask if this will change, he has yet to get back to us. Representative Driskell already has her eyes on next year. “Unfortunately we are coming up on the time in session when the subcommittees are going to stop meeting and we’ll be focused solely on the legislative session,” Driskell said. “Time is running out on this bill for this session, although there is a possibility, as you just mentioned, that the subcommittees could continue to meet next week. “But if it is not heard within the next week or so, its probably going to have to be a bill we try to pursue again next session.” Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Anitere Flores from Florida’s 39th district also commented on the bill. DeSantis left the following statement: âI canât comment on the bill. I just donât memorize the bill numbers. When I was in Congress, I didnât even know my own bill numbers for the bills I had itâs just not, so I need to know a little bit more about the bill, we are, I know the CFO is spearheading different initiatives to support our firefighters and itâs something Iâve been supportive of but I donât know that particular legislation.â Senator Flores left the following statement: âThis would not be incredibly costly to local governments we’ve seen some have already stepped up on their own so it’s not very costly, it’s the right thing to do. This is a message we want to send to our first responders. they have our backs day in and day out and we have to have their back when they need us.â Firefighters are susceptible to cancer but lack proper insurance (Originally published Feb. 25, 2019) Every time a firefighter runs into a burning building, they become a magnet for contaminants and carcinogens, without insurance for their loved ones if they eventually develop cancer from the exposure. âItâs an epidemic that is horrible right now in the fire service,â said Tom âBullâ Hill, Carrying My Brothers Burden organizer and former Orange County firefighter. A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show firefighters are 14 percent more likely to die from cancer than an average person. It is a statistic that is not lost on Hill. âThe state deems that firemen donât need any kind of help or protection when they get cancer even though itâs an on-the-job illness,â Hill said. âWhen you die, your family is left with no insurance.â Several fire departments in SWFL are equipped with a decontamination kit to help prevent cancer immediately after firefighters respond to calls. But, Florida is one of eight states that does not provide cancer benefits for firefighters, which is why Hill, a retired firefighter from Central Florida, is on a mission to spark change. Last year, Hill walked over 800 miles as he trekked from Key West to Tallahassee. âThe inspiration was to fulfill a couple promises,â Hill said. âOne man before he died said âwould you please walk the State of Florida so something big will happen?’â This year, he is taking the journey up the west coast. âI walk for a Danielle D. Benidento who died at the age of 49 from colon cancer,â said Heather Mazurkiewicz of North Collier Fire. âShe was a firefighter with South Trail and really got the awareness started here in Lee County.â Dress in full gear, Mazurkiewicz said it is a small sacrifice for something more significant. âThereâs a bill in the Senate and I would like to see that the house side can get it to a committee,â Mazurkiewicz said, âto vote on it and pass it.â