North Collier firefighter beats cancer, educates others on safetyMan arrested in connection to brother’s death in Cape Coral
North Collier firefighter beats cancer, educates others on safety He’s a father, son, friend and mentor, but for the last four years, he’s been in a battle for his life.
CAPE CORAL Man arrested in connection to brother’s death in Cape Coral A man wanted for questioning in the death of his brother at his Cape Coral home has been arrested in Pennsylvania.
Candidates challenge Punta Gorda incumbents over land, building regulations A growing grassroots movement has united residents seeking to stem high density and restrict building heights, and three are challenging Punta Gorda City Council members who are up for reelection this year.
Hurricane season is one month away The outlook for the 2024 Hurricane Season is for it be active, potentially even hyperactive.
NORTH FORT MYERS 1 dead after crash on SR 31 and Busbee Rd. in North Fort Myers At around noon Wednesday, the Florida Highway Patrol said a PT Cruiser and a car hauler collided on State Road 31 and Busbee Road, near the Lee/Charlotte County line.
Man sentenced to 25 years in prison for molesting Lee County child A Florida man will spend the next 25 years in prison for molesting a child in Lee County.
LEHIGH ACRES Man accused of using stolen credit card from car burglary at Lehigh Acres CVS Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on a man who allegedly used a stolen credit card at the CVS in Lehigh Acres.
ARCADIA Family of flea market murder victim struggles to find closure The family of a woman who was murdered at an Arcadia flea market continues to seek justice as the accused killer awaits trial.
NAPLES Naples man accused of possessing child porn After an investigation, a Naples man has been arrested after allegedly having child pornography in his home.
CAPE CORAL Arrest report for volunteer softball coach accused of inappropriate behavior released New details have been released about the arrest of a Cape Coral volunteer softball coach accused of sending nude photos and touching a 17-year-old student.
The Weather Authority Isolated storms pop up this afternoon and evening Afternoon of isolated storms in Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach to test hurricane emergency messaging alert The Town of Fort Myers Beach is set to test its CodeRED alert system as hurricane season begins in 31 days.
FORT MYERS Students make goodie bags for kids fighting Cancer A special delivery, straight from the heart, to Galisano’s Children’s Hospital. Three 8th graders from Lexington Middle School delivered 100 goodie bags to bring smiles to kids fighting cancer.
TICE Deputies respond to shots fired at park in Tice Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies and K-9s were seen investigating at Schindler Hall Community Park on Palm Beach Boulevard in Tice.
CAPE CORAL Lee County superintendent candidates face off in debate These three people, Denise Carlin, Morgan Wright and Sheridan Chester, are making it clear that they want the job.
North Collier firefighter beats cancer, educates others on safety He’s a father, son, friend and mentor, but for the last four years, he’s been in a battle for his life.
CAPE CORAL Man arrested in connection to brother’s death in Cape Coral A man wanted for questioning in the death of his brother at his Cape Coral home has been arrested in Pennsylvania.
Candidates challenge Punta Gorda incumbents over land, building regulations A growing grassroots movement has united residents seeking to stem high density and restrict building heights, and three are challenging Punta Gorda City Council members who are up for reelection this year.
Hurricane season is one month away The outlook for the 2024 Hurricane Season is for it be active, potentially even hyperactive.
NORTH FORT MYERS 1 dead after crash on SR 31 and Busbee Rd. in North Fort Myers At around noon Wednesday, the Florida Highway Patrol said a PT Cruiser and a car hauler collided on State Road 31 and Busbee Road, near the Lee/Charlotte County line.
Man sentenced to 25 years in prison for molesting Lee County child A Florida man will spend the next 25 years in prison for molesting a child in Lee County.
LEHIGH ACRES Man accused of using stolen credit card from car burglary at Lehigh Acres CVS Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on a man who allegedly used a stolen credit card at the CVS in Lehigh Acres.
ARCADIA Family of flea market murder victim struggles to find closure The family of a woman who was murdered at an Arcadia flea market continues to seek justice as the accused killer awaits trial.
NAPLES Naples man accused of possessing child porn After an investigation, a Naples man has been arrested after allegedly having child pornography in his home.
CAPE CORAL Arrest report for volunteer softball coach accused of inappropriate behavior released New details have been released about the arrest of a Cape Coral volunteer softball coach accused of sending nude photos and touching a 17-year-old student.
The Weather Authority Isolated storms pop up this afternoon and evening Afternoon of isolated storms in Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach to test hurricane emergency messaging alert The Town of Fort Myers Beach is set to test its CodeRED alert system as hurricane season begins in 31 days.
FORT MYERS Students make goodie bags for kids fighting Cancer A special delivery, straight from the heart, to Galisano’s Children’s Hospital. Three 8th graders from Lexington Middle School delivered 100 goodie bags to bring smiles to kids fighting cancer.
TICE Deputies respond to shots fired at park in Tice Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies and K-9s were seen investigating at Schindler Hall Community Park on Palm Beach Boulevard in Tice.
CAPE CORAL Lee County superintendent candidates face off in debate These three people, Denise Carlin, Morgan Wright and Sheridan Chester, are making it clear that they want the job.
ANTSIRABE, MADAGASCAR – MAY 30: Ramananahary Emilienne, who is trained to teach nutrition by the regional nutrition office, measures an expectant mother’s arm to keep track of her nutritional progress during her pregnancy, on May 30, 2017 in Antsirabe, Madagascar. Mothers and their malnourished children attend a nutrition class at a community nutrition center run by local nonprofit Asa Soa. The center has 160 mothers taking courses, which are held twice a week for a month. The women learn how to care for their babies – including nutrition, hygiene, and health. 92% of Madagascar’s population live below the poverty line on less than $2 a day. 47% of children in Madagascar are chronically malnourished – the percentages are higher here in the highlands despite a good variety of food being available. (Photo by Melanie Stetson Freeman/The Christian Science Monitor via Getty Images) Raholimalala Avotiana is rocking her newborn baby boy to sleep. It’s her fourth day at the Maternity Hospital of Befelatanana in Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital. “I am going to be discharged today,” she said. The 27-year-old mother will be dropped off at her home by a bus when paperwork permitting her to leave the hospital is complete. The bus is part of a free transport service organized by the United Nations Population Fund and Madagascar’s Ministry of Health. On March 23, President Andry Rajoelina ordered a four-week lockdown in two cities — Antananarivo and Taomasina — as Covid-19 spread in the East African country. As a result, public transport was not allowed. The bus service launched April 15 in both cities, picking up and dropping off pregnant women at their hospitals so that they can access effective medical care during the lockdown. Avotiana was eight months pregnant at the time, and before she found out about the bus service, she said she walked several kilometers to make it to her weekly antenatal classes. “I used to go to the hospital on foot. I’d walk one hour and a half from my house in Ambanidia and back too. I was very exhausted so I took breaks in between my walk to rest,” she told CNN. Free transport service After some distressing trips to the hospital on foot, Avotiana stumbled on a Facebook post from the UN agency about vehicles available for pregnant women. She said she immediately called the numbers provided on the post and booked a bust trip for her next antenatal class. “When I went into labor some weeks later, I also called the bus service. This time the driver came directly to my house and drove me to the hospital,” she said. Hajamamy Rakotoarisoa, the United Nations Population Fund program specialist for reproductive health in Madagascar, told CNN that the transport service was initiated in partnership with the country’s health ministry to ensure safe deliveries during the coronavirus pandemic. “There are six buses for the two cities, Antananarivo and Taomasina. Each bus is linked to different hospitals. We have a phone number for the different hospitals too, so the women are to call the numbers to book their trips,” she explained. The initial lockdown in Madagascar has been partially lifted, but the buses still run 24 hours every day and will continue to do so till the end of the pandemic, according to Rakotoarisoa. The buses have designated meeting points where mothers are picked up and taken to their various hospitals. However, during emergencies, like a pregnant woman going into labor, the bus goes directly to her house, she said. “So far, 453 women have made use of the transport service. There are still some plans to expand it to one additional city in June so those numbers will go even higher,” she said. Delivery kits Free transport is not the only service being provided to pregnant women. They are also given delivery kits containing essentials like soap, towels, and baby clothes. Madagascar has 353 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, according to the United States Agency for International Development. Rakotoarisoa said providing kits is one of the many ways the country and its partners are working to ensure maternal health. She said 54 of the kits have been distributed to 23 maternity wards in two regions in the country, Analamanga (where the capital city is located) and Antisiranana (in northern Madagascar). There are also separate delivery kits for use by trained health workers like midwives and medical doctors. These ones contain mainly medicines and delivery equipment such as trays, scissors, aprons, and surgical gloves. Bakoly Jeritiana Rasoamanontany, a midwife at the Itaosy district hospital in the country’s capital said the kits have provided additional support for health workers attending to pregnant women, especially at the point of delivery. Protective gear like gloves and facemasks are also in the kit so she does not have to worry about contracting Covid-19 while attending to her patients. “It has helped me work better because I can offer improved care and also avoid catching the virus at the same time,” she told CNN.