33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee CountyCool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon
33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County Another Florida panther was killed by a vehicle, this time in Hardee County, increasing the death toll of the endangered species to 33 for 2024.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cold morning conditions before temperatures warm up to the low 70s this Thursday.
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Milton.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
LABELLE City of LaBelle under precautionary boil water notice A water main break has the City of Labelle under a precautionary boil water notice.
33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County Another Florida panther was killed by a vehicle, this time in Hardee County, increasing the death toll of the endangered species to 33 for 2024.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cold morning conditions before temperatures warm up to the low 70s this Thursday.
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Milton.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
LABELLE City of LaBelle under precautionary boil water notice A water main break has the City of Labelle under a precautionary boil water notice.
Credit: WINK News. A woman was killed in a crash while she was riding her bike in Collier County over the weekend. She was hit by a car that didn’t stop at a stop sign. Now, fellow bicyclists are outraged the driver will not face criminal charges. Sunday, a driver hit and killed 62-year-old Cathleen P. Ragone while she was crossing an intersection on her bike in Collier County. Florida Highway Patrol confirms the driver will not face any charges and will instead be served a traffic citation for failing to stop at a stop sign. Ragone was heading north along Livingston Road and crossing the intersection with Marbella Lakes Drive when a driver in a Jeep was heading west on Marbella toward Livingston and hit Ragone on her bike as she was crossing the street. State troopers say the driver never stopped before proceeding through a stop sign, but the driver remained at the scene. Credit: WINK News. The FHP report says the driver hit Ragone and dragged her from the crosswalk over there to a median in the roadway. Still, investigators say the crash wasn’t criminal. “It’s just horrific,” bicyclist Linda Lynch said. “It’s right at the end of our street … We ran into it yesterday riding our bikes and saw it after the fact. They were there all night last night.” Other bicyclists like Lynch were riding by the scene over the weekend, and they expressed their equal sorrow and fear about the deadly crash. “We saw kind of the evidence of the incident, and it was really horrifying,” bicyclist Kenneth Abdo said. “It really stuck with us for the rest of the day to see something so brutal happen right here.” Abdo was riding his bike with his daughter when he saw the crash aftermath. He told us the crash is a scary reminder bicyclists face on the road. “I never cross this intersection specifically without getting eye contact with the person driving,” Abdo said. “Knowing that somebody could be not as aware environmentally and just blow through that stop sign makes you a little worried.” In Florida, driving through a stop sign is not automatically considered reckless. Instead it’s more subjective. Recklessness is considered willful disregard for safety. Every year, Florida leads the nation in bicyclist fatalities, with more than 110 annually. The driver doesn’t face criminal charges currently; however, the state attorney’s office has the power to elevate charges if it sees fit. Because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, there are no employees at the office to ask if that’s under consideration. Abdo expressed anger toward the current punishment the driver responsible will receive, feeling it’s at the minimum currently. “A lot of people’s lives were ruined,” Abdo said. “And, so in order for that to be a little more balanced, I feel like it should be a little more severe.”