Tim Aten Knows: 2 new eateries coming to East Naples After operating La Rosa Pizzeria for more than 15 years, owners Bill and Alda Rosa decided to sell their local business and restaurant space.
the weather authority Warmer with sun and clouds for your Friday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a warmer day ahead, with a mixture of sun and clouds expected this Friday afternoon.
FDOT to open all lanes of Caloosahatchee Bridge year ahead of construction schedule The Florida Department of Transportation announced it will open all lanes of the Caloosahatchee Bridge a year ahead of its pedestrian sidewalk project.
NAPLES 12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidays A 12-year-old Naples boy isn’t worried about what he’s getting for Christmas. Instead, he’s working on his 6th annual “Holiday Sock Drive.”
Fort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays A 75-year-old man is on the brink of homelessness despite working over 80 hours a week.
NAPLES Adoptee uses non-profit to provide suitcases for foster children This holiday season, a Naples woman is on a mission to bring foster children something many take for granted: a suitcase filled with dignity.
MARCO ISLAND City of Marco Island discusses lead awareness during city council meeting The city of Marco Island sent out 4900 letters to residents warning them that their pipes could contain plastic or lead.
NAPLES The future of electric planes in Southwest Florida Features of living near an airport include persistent headache-inducing engine rumbles and foul-smelling jet fuel, but electric planes could play a part in the solution.
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors awaiting answers on Port Charlotte Beach Park repairs Neighbors said a contractor hired by the Florida Division of Emergency Management mishandled the boats at Port Charlotte Beach Park.
FGCU introduces new technology for cognitive health screenings Ten minutes. That’s all it takes for doctors to assess how well you remember, how quickly you learn things, and how your brain is working overall.
WINK Investigates: Disgraced contractor faces new lawsuits and allegations Paul Beattie, a disgraced home builder is back doing business but legal challenges continue as another one of his businesses gets sued. Former employees of Beattie speak out, only to WINK.
SWFL reacts to UNC hiring Bill Belichick Southwest Florida reacts to North Carolina hiring Bill Belichick as its new head football coach and how that could impact the decisions of local recruits.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Some Floridians want more alone time during the holidays The holidays are all about spending time with family and friends, but nearly half of Americans say they really want more alone time during the holiday.
LABELLE Hendry County rolls out cameras for school speed zones The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new way of enforcing school zone speed limits by using cameras that will target drivers traveling over a certain speed in a school zone.
Aggressive driving concerns on the rise in Southwest Florida The arrest of a man who, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said, killed a motorcyclist after crashing into him on purpose is raising concerns over aggressive driving in Southwest Florida.
Tim Aten Knows: 2 new eateries coming to East Naples After operating La Rosa Pizzeria for more than 15 years, owners Bill and Alda Rosa decided to sell their local business and restaurant space.
the weather authority Warmer with sun and clouds for your Friday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a warmer day ahead, with a mixture of sun and clouds expected this Friday afternoon.
FDOT to open all lanes of Caloosahatchee Bridge year ahead of construction schedule The Florida Department of Transportation announced it will open all lanes of the Caloosahatchee Bridge a year ahead of its pedestrian sidewalk project.
NAPLES 12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidays A 12-year-old Naples boy isn’t worried about what he’s getting for Christmas. Instead, he’s working on his 6th annual “Holiday Sock Drive.”
Fort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays A 75-year-old man is on the brink of homelessness despite working over 80 hours a week.
NAPLES Adoptee uses non-profit to provide suitcases for foster children This holiday season, a Naples woman is on a mission to bring foster children something many take for granted: a suitcase filled with dignity.
MARCO ISLAND City of Marco Island discusses lead awareness during city council meeting The city of Marco Island sent out 4900 letters to residents warning them that their pipes could contain plastic or lead.
NAPLES The future of electric planes in Southwest Florida Features of living near an airport include persistent headache-inducing engine rumbles and foul-smelling jet fuel, but electric planes could play a part in the solution.
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors awaiting answers on Port Charlotte Beach Park repairs Neighbors said a contractor hired by the Florida Division of Emergency Management mishandled the boats at Port Charlotte Beach Park.
FGCU introduces new technology for cognitive health screenings Ten minutes. That’s all it takes for doctors to assess how well you remember, how quickly you learn things, and how your brain is working overall.
WINK Investigates: Disgraced contractor faces new lawsuits and allegations Paul Beattie, a disgraced home builder is back doing business but legal challenges continue as another one of his businesses gets sued. Former employees of Beattie speak out, only to WINK.
SWFL reacts to UNC hiring Bill Belichick Southwest Florida reacts to North Carolina hiring Bill Belichick as its new head football coach and how that could impact the decisions of local recruits.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Some Floridians want more alone time during the holidays The holidays are all about spending time with family and friends, but nearly half of Americans say they really want more alone time during the holiday.
LABELLE Hendry County rolls out cameras for school speed zones The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new way of enforcing school zone speed limits by using cameras that will target drivers traveling over a certain speed in a school zone.
Aggressive driving concerns on the rise in Southwest Florida The arrest of a man who, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said, killed a motorcyclist after crashing into him on purpose is raising concerns over aggressive driving in Southwest Florida.
(Right) LCSO K9 Sgt. James Thorpe. (Photo: Michael Braun/The News-Press) Lee County Sheriff’s Office conducted an internal investigation of Lee County K9 Sgt. James Thorpe for multiple incidents he was involved in. In late September, Thorpe is accused of neglecting to have his LCSO Ford Explorer mechanically serviced after he was told during a scheduled maintenance there was a mechanical issue. Then in early October, Thorpe is accused of leaving his K9 partner, Jager, inside the same LCSO vehicle with windows partially down to meet other K9 trainers at the LCSO gun range. Investigators say Thorpe went inside the gun range for approximately two hours and then came outside to relieve Jager before returning him to the vehicle and going back inside the gun range. Less than an hour later, Thorpe returned and found Jager had vomited inside the vehicle. He let Jager out, who was breathing rapidly and wobbly on his feet, disoriented and heavily panting. Then, Thorpe smelled fumes coming from inside the LCSO vehicle he did not smell previously. Thorpe took Jager to be treated at an emergency veterinary hospital for possible carbon monoxide poisoning. The doctor told Thorpe Jager appeared to be in a mild state of hypovolemic shock. Jager was released after being treated for potential carbon monoxide toxicity. According to LCSO policy, it is the responsibility of the “Fleet Management Division” to ensure all LCSO vehicles are ready at all times, but it is not the division’s responsibility to order Thorpe to take the vehicle out of service and get it repaired. Internal investigators found Thorpe responsible for putting off maintenance repair of his vehicle after being told it had a mechanical issue. And they find that his neglect of LCSO policies caused Jager’s medical emergency. According to LCSO, Thorpe faces substantiated charges for Neglect of Duty (Willful Violation of Official Procedures and/or Direction). Vague Arrest Report In late October, LCSO internal investigators looked into an arrest report Thorpe submitted that did not match the report submitted by another responding LCSO deputy and the “Response to Resistance” report (RTR) submitted by an LCSO sergeant. In October, Thorpe followed a vehicle that failed to stop at an intersection in Lehigh Acres. After losing sight of the vehicle, Thorpe, with K9 with partner Jager in his LCSO vehicle, eventually located the suspect vehicle crashed in a wooded area. The vehicle did not have a driver inside, but there was a female passenger. Thorpe heard movement as he was responding to the vehicle in the woods and called for backup. The responding deputy, whose report did not match Thorpe’s, accompanied him and Jager, and they found the male suspect, handcuffed him and took him to an LCSO substation. Both Thorpe and the other responding deputy submitted their arrest reports, and the sergeant submitted the RTR going off of Thorpe’s verbal account. An LCSO Lieutenant reviewed all three reports and found Thorpe’s report didn’t match the deputy report or the RTR report. Thorpe was interviewed and admitted his report was vague and took responsibility for submitting the report that was not a complete and accurate account. Investigators say Thorpe faces a substantiated charge for Neglect of Duty (Loafing, Inattention to Duties/Procedures).