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.
SANIBEL Sanibel School students prepare for community Christmas performance The school that has had to claw and fight its way back more than once to reopen is getting the chance to celebrate.
FORT MYERS Rock For Equality: SWFL music scene to hold benefit concert for Palestine A two-venue, eight-band benefit concert is coming to Southwest Florida.
NAPLES Naples man sentenced in deadly bar shooting A man has been sentenced for a deadly shooting that took place at a Naples bar in March 2021.
New ovarian cancer treatments Ovarian cancer is a problematic disease because of symptoms such as nausea, bloating and diarrhea.
Largest Lee County land deal closes, $100M for 1,745 acres in northwest Cape Coral The most lucrative land deal in Lee County history just closed at a price of $100 million for 1,745 acres in northwest Cape Coral, where building up to 3,500 homes and commercial property to support it has been in the planning stages for almost two years.
CHARLOTTE HARBOR Crash between RV and semi temporarily shuts down NB lanes of U.S. 41 in Charlotte A major collision near Sunseeker Resort in Charlotte County temporarily closed all northbound lanes of U.S. 41, according to the Charlotte County Sherriff’s Office.
FORT MYERS Apple AirPods lead LCSO to an arrest; over $100,000 worth of stolen items recovered Through the use of Apple Airpods, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office was able to locate nearly $100,000 worth of stolen items, leading to an arrest.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral officials approve replacement funding for hurricane-damaged stop signs The Cape Coral City Council has approved funding to replace stop signs damaged during Hurricane Milton, resulting in an emergency purchase.
Holiday events happening in Southwest Florida Southwest Florida is embracing the holiday spirit with a variety of festive events this Christmas season.
Collier man accused of supplying fentanyl-laced pills, enough to kill 531,500 people The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man accused of supplying more than 10,000 fentanyl-laced pills disguised as prescription painkillers.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral council supports construction of I-75 interchange into city The Cape Coral City Council has approved a resolution requesting support from Lee and Charlotte counties to prioritize state and federal funding for the Interstate 75 Interchange at Slater Road.
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.
SANIBEL Sanibel School students prepare for community Christmas performance The school that has had to claw and fight its way back more than once to reopen is getting the chance to celebrate.
FORT MYERS Rock For Equality: SWFL music scene to hold benefit concert for Palestine A two-venue, eight-band benefit concert is coming to Southwest Florida.
NAPLES Naples man sentenced in deadly bar shooting A man has been sentenced for a deadly shooting that took place at a Naples bar in March 2021.
New ovarian cancer treatments Ovarian cancer is a problematic disease because of symptoms such as nausea, bloating and diarrhea.
Largest Lee County land deal closes, $100M for 1,745 acres in northwest Cape Coral The most lucrative land deal in Lee County history just closed at a price of $100 million for 1,745 acres in northwest Cape Coral, where building up to 3,500 homes and commercial property to support it has been in the planning stages for almost two years.
CHARLOTTE HARBOR Crash between RV and semi temporarily shuts down NB lanes of U.S. 41 in Charlotte A major collision near Sunseeker Resort in Charlotte County temporarily closed all northbound lanes of U.S. 41, according to the Charlotte County Sherriff’s Office.
FORT MYERS Apple AirPods lead LCSO to an arrest; over $100,000 worth of stolen items recovered Through the use of Apple Airpods, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office was able to locate nearly $100,000 worth of stolen items, leading to an arrest.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral officials approve replacement funding for hurricane-damaged stop signs The Cape Coral City Council has approved funding to replace stop signs damaged during Hurricane Milton, resulting in an emergency purchase.
Holiday events happening in Southwest Florida Southwest Florida is embracing the holiday spirit with a variety of festive events this Christmas season.
Collier man accused of supplying fentanyl-laced pills, enough to kill 531,500 people The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man accused of supplying more than 10,000 fentanyl-laced pills disguised as prescription painkillers.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral council supports construction of I-75 interchange into city The Cape Coral City Council has approved a resolution requesting support from Lee and Charlotte counties to prioritize state and federal funding for the Interstate 75 Interchange at Slater Road.
14-year-old Allana Staiano of North Fort Myers. Credit: Shared with WINK News. Courtney Gainey, 23, could post 10 percent of her $100,000 bond and walk out of jail Thursday. This comes after she was recently arrested for the hit-and-run death of 14-year-old Allana Staiano in Suncoast Estates in North Fort Myers. Mugshot of Courtney Gainey, 23. (Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office) Allana’s mother, Christine Gray, doesn’t think it’s fair Gainey could be out of jail when her daughter’s life has ended. “[Gainey] really doesn’t deserve the opportunity to be out and comfortable waiting her punishment,” Gray said. Gainey was seen in tears during her first court appearance in Lee County, but Gray says she doesn’t buy the emotions Gainey was showing. “I would love for her to know that if I had been standing there in front of her when she got arrested with that look on her face she wouldn’t have one,” Gray said. “She was sorry because she was sitting there in a turtle suit for her own protection for something that she had no choice to face because she had no choice. She had no where to run anymore.” Gray has expressed her anger toward Gainey, angry the woman accused of causing her daughter’s death never stopped to see if she could help save her in any way. Meanwhile, Gainey’s lawyer says she was never on the run and says she and her counsel were immediately in contact with law enforcement after the crash. “We wanted to get our ducks in a row, get the information we needed,” attorney Joe Viacava said. But Gray doesn’t believe that information from Gainey or her attorney. “That’s a total fabrication,” Gray said. “Her home is just down there. It has been watched.” When Gainey posts bail, she will be fitted with a monitoring device before leaving. In Gainey’s arrest report, investigators say she turned herself in at a Cracker Barrel restaurant. “She went to restaurants,” Gray said. My baby girl never gets to do that again. She shouldn’t either.” Memorial services to be held for Allana There will be a visitation service held at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral home at 5 p.m. Friday, with a celebration of life at 6 p.m. Community support amid Allana’s death Before this latest hit-and-run death of a child, the community has been hard at work to make Lee County safer. “Unfortunately, this is happening way too much. We never thought, I never thought that another Allana, nevertheless another little girl in North Fort Myers, would have been taken this soon,” said Christy-Lee Iwanow with Benches for our Babes. The group already has a bench to place at the spot where Allana was killed. While the bench may not be at a bus stop, like many other benches scattered throughout the community, the group hopes it will serve as a reminder that there are kids in the neighborhood. “That is a mark to let people know to slow down, to be cautious of your surroundings, to also know to respect the area,” Iwanow said. Iwanow also says she expects the bench to be placed at Allana’s memorial sometime within the next month and told us she just hopes the family gets justice.