Hurricane season preparations at Lee County construction sitesBones found on Sanibel concern beachgoers
FORT MYERS BEACH Hurricane season preparations at Lee County construction sites Many already know the drill when hurricane season is around the corner.
SANIBEL Bones found on Sanibel concern beachgoers A husband and wife found what appeared to be bones. What type and where they came from is being investigated.
FGCU FGCU president reflects on first year with graduating class Alico Arena was packed this weekend as Florida Gulf Coast University graduated 1,900 students in four ceremonies.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Lee County teachers bargain for new raises Kevin Daly is the voice of the Lee County Teachers Union, and he says he knows firsthand the struggle teachers experience across the state.
FORT MYERS New Starbucks off Colonial expected to add to traffic headaches It’s a venti-sized traffic nightmare. That’s how Gina O’Donnell envisions the future of this plaza.
NAPLES Feeding families through Meals of Hope They’re a Naples-based non-profit organization whose mission is to alleviate hunger both locally and throughout the country.
Family dealing with two losses in quick succession A teenager will not get to celebrate turning 21 years old with friends, can’t put a smile on his family member’s faces and will never get to see his mother again.
JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli leaders have approved a military operation into the Gaza Strip city of Rafah Israeli leaders approved a military operation into the Gaza Strip city of Rafah, and Israeli forces were striking targets in the area, officials announced Monday, hours after Hamas announced it had accepted an Egyptian-Qatari cease-fire proposal.
FORT MYERS Middle school tech worker uses CPR skills to save pickleball player’s life It was the right place, at the right time, and that right place was near the pickleball court.
EVERGLADES Big Sugar’s lawsuit for control over Lake Okeechobee water A local non-profit is calling one lawsuit a battle for who controls the water in the State of Florida. Three major sugar companies filed a lawsuit in 2021 against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over the design and intended use of the Everglades Agriculture Area (EAA) Reservoir.
NAPLES Annual Holocaust Remembrance Day program returns to Jewish Federation of Greater Naples Sunday was a day to remember the six million men, women and children lost in the Holocaust.
COLLIER COUNTY 13th dead Florida panther of 2024 found Saturday; deaths now match 2023’s annual total Wildlife officials discovered the 13 dead endangered Florida panther of the year, matching 2023’s total reported mortalities less than halfway into the year.
NORTH PORT Entryway work temporarily closes North Port Library The North Port Library will be closed through Saturday while work is being done to the entryway. During the closure books and other borrowed items can be returned to nearby locations.
FORT MYERS More changes near Colonial Blvd. and Six Mile Cypress in Fort Myers An already jam-packed, headache-inducing area for traffic is expected to get worse on Monday.
National Hurricane Preparedness Week: Preseason preparations With less than a month until the official start of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has designated May 5th to May 11th National Hurricane Preparedness Week.
FORT MYERS BEACH Hurricane season preparations at Lee County construction sites Many already know the drill when hurricane season is around the corner.
SANIBEL Bones found on Sanibel concern beachgoers A husband and wife found what appeared to be bones. What type and where they came from is being investigated.
FGCU FGCU president reflects on first year with graduating class Alico Arena was packed this weekend as Florida Gulf Coast University graduated 1,900 students in four ceremonies.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Lee County teachers bargain for new raises Kevin Daly is the voice of the Lee County Teachers Union, and he says he knows firsthand the struggle teachers experience across the state.
FORT MYERS New Starbucks off Colonial expected to add to traffic headaches It’s a venti-sized traffic nightmare. That’s how Gina O’Donnell envisions the future of this plaza.
NAPLES Feeding families through Meals of Hope They’re a Naples-based non-profit organization whose mission is to alleviate hunger both locally and throughout the country.
Family dealing with two losses in quick succession A teenager will not get to celebrate turning 21 years old with friends, can’t put a smile on his family member’s faces and will never get to see his mother again.
JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli leaders have approved a military operation into the Gaza Strip city of Rafah Israeli leaders approved a military operation into the Gaza Strip city of Rafah, and Israeli forces were striking targets in the area, officials announced Monday, hours after Hamas announced it had accepted an Egyptian-Qatari cease-fire proposal.
FORT MYERS Middle school tech worker uses CPR skills to save pickleball player’s life It was the right place, at the right time, and that right place was near the pickleball court.
EVERGLADES Big Sugar’s lawsuit for control over Lake Okeechobee water A local non-profit is calling one lawsuit a battle for who controls the water in the State of Florida. Three major sugar companies filed a lawsuit in 2021 against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over the design and intended use of the Everglades Agriculture Area (EAA) Reservoir.
NAPLES Annual Holocaust Remembrance Day program returns to Jewish Federation of Greater Naples Sunday was a day to remember the six million men, women and children lost in the Holocaust.
COLLIER COUNTY 13th dead Florida panther of 2024 found Saturday; deaths now match 2023’s annual total Wildlife officials discovered the 13 dead endangered Florida panther of the year, matching 2023’s total reported mortalities less than halfway into the year.
NORTH PORT Entryway work temporarily closes North Port Library The North Port Library will be closed through Saturday while work is being done to the entryway. During the closure books and other borrowed items can be returned to nearby locations.
FORT MYERS More changes near Colonial Blvd. and Six Mile Cypress in Fort Myers An already jam-packed, headache-inducing area for traffic is expected to get worse on Monday.
National Hurricane Preparedness Week: Preseason preparations With less than a month until the official start of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has designated May 5th to May 11th National Hurricane Preparedness Week.
Credit: FHP. Florida Highway Patrol arrested Courtney Adam Masterson, 42, of Lehigh Acres Saturday in connection to a deadly hit-and-run crash that happened along State Road 82 in Lehigh Friday. Masterson pleaded not guilty to charges two counts each of Hit-and-Run: Fail to Stop and Remain at a Crash Involving a death; Fail to Stop and Remain at a Crash Involving Damage to Property. FHP has impounded the vehicle – a red 2001 Dodge 3500 – believed to be involved in the deadly hit-and-run crash that killed mother and son, Katherine and Ronald Cujas. New details show how the truck was identified by FHP as the possible vehicle involved. Masterson is accused of driving a red pickup truck along SR-82 just west of Gregory Avenue and hitting both Katherine and Ronald as well as their parked trucks on the road’s shoulder and then leaving the scene of the crash. Ronald had blown a tire on his black truck, and Katherine met him along SR-82, parking her white truck on the side of the road to assist him when they were both hit by an oncoming vehicle. Credit: FHP. The report details that the truck was identified by evidence left at the scene, which included red paint transfer, two parts of the Dodge Ram front hub cap, right side mirror, and tire marks. A passing motorist called 911 to report the crash. FHP says between the time of the crash and the next day, they received several tips on vehicles that may have been involved in the crash. On, November 23, a tip led investigators to Masterson. That tip said he showed up late to work at Flagler Construction Equipment the morning of the crash, citing he had to go back home to change a blown tire. The truck was reportedly also missing a side mirror. The tipster also said, the next day, Masterson showed up late to work again, but in a different vehicle, stating he was going to sell his truck. FHP went to Masterson’s work Saturday where they spoke to him. In the interview, Masterson told investigators he was on his way to work in his red pickup Friday when he crashed into a white trailer towed by a black pickup. He said the trailer and pickup were blocking the roadway on Meadow Road and he was alone at the time of the crash. However, the hit-and-run that killed Katherine and Ronald Cujas happened on State Road 82, not Meadow Road. When asked why he didn’t report the crash or stay, he said his red dodge ram wasn’t registered. When asked why he didn’t see the vehicle before hitting it he said he believed it was too dark. Masterson went with investigators to his home where they found the red Dodge Ram. He then went to Meadow Road where he said the crash happened, but they didn’t find any evidence of a crash. Investigators arrested Masterson and impounded the suspected red truck. Courtney Adam Masterson, 42. Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Masterson also faces a charge for Failing to Register Motor Vehicle. FHP Lt. Greg Bueno says Masterson might face additional charges, and he said there is more work to be done in the ongoing investigation now that a suspect has been arrested and a suspected vehicle impounded. FHP is crediting an anonymous SWFL Crime Stoppers tipster for leading them to Masterson. Masterson has been booked in to Lee County Jail without set bond. BREAKING NEWS…Troopers have made an arrest in the hit & run fatal crash that occurred on SR 82 yesterday. Troopers have also impounded a 2001 Dodge 3500 as the suspected hit & run vehicle. The investigation is ongoing. pic.twitter.com/1AjrHl8SRC — FHP SWFL (@FHPSWFL) November 23, 2019