2 southwest Floridians involved in January 6 attack pardoned and commuted by President TrumpLocal teen golfer to play at Augusta National
2 southwest Floridians involved in January 6 attack pardoned and commuted by President Trump Two men involved in the January 6th attack are now back in southwest Florida, thanks to a series of pardons from President Trump.
ESTERO Local teen golfer to play at Augusta National One drive at a time, 14-year-old Jesus Bethencourt is doing something most only dream of: playing at Augusta National.
AI traffic cameras helping Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office solve crimes Artificial intelligence has been helping the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office solve crimes.
ESTERO SWFL siblings start official Pickleball World Cup Hercilio and Miranda Cabieses love pickleball so much they make it their mission to share it with the world.
MARCO ISLAND Proposal to bring in police cameras to Marco Island Marco Island city leaders are considering a proposal for police officers to wear body cameras. The idea aims to modernize the department and increase trust with citizens.
FORT MYERS Increasing deportation raises concerns for migrant workers in SWFL With the fear of mass deportations and raids many are wondering whether any will happen here. Any mass deportations could adversely affect construction and agriculture.
Lee County schools survey parents on classroom phone restrictions Lee County Schools is considering changes to its student code of conduct regarding the use of wireless communication devices during the school day.
NAPLES New NCH technology to destroy tumors NCH is upping its cancer-fighting game by becoming the first in Florida to acquire a new technology designed to destroy tumors.
FORT MYERS Alliance for the Arts to host 39th annual All Florida Juried Exhibition The Alliance for the Arts will be hosting the 39th Annual All Florida Juried Exhibit.
ESTERO FGCU softball coach David Deiros to retire after 2025 season FGCU softball head coach David Deiros will retire from coaching at the end of the 2025 season.
Tim Aten Knows: SWFL to see expansion of Oar & Iron, Kelly’s Roast Beef The restaurant franchise group for the Boston-based Kelly’s Roast Beef and Oar & Iron Raw Bar & Grill recently burst out of the gate in Collier and Lee counties with aggressive expansion plans for both dining concepts.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers man gets life in prison for fatal fentanyl distribution A Fort Myers man will spend the rest of his life in jail for distributing a lethal dose of fentanyl.
Fort Myers council to discuss $11.5M bid for News-Press site redevelopment The Fort Myers News-Press building, a site with a long history and untapped potential, may soon undergo a transformation.
Collier mental health center building contract approved Collier County approved the construction contract for the roughly $50 million, 87-bed Collier County Behavioral Health Center, just two weeks before the contract was set to expire, and costs would rise by millions.
City of Fort Myers receives competing bids on former News-Press site The City of Fort Myers plans to vote Jan. 21 on whether to meet March 3 to consider Catalyst Community Development LLC as the buyer for almost 10 acres at 2442 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., former site of The News-Press newspaper.
2 southwest Floridians involved in January 6 attack pardoned and commuted by President Trump Two men involved in the January 6th attack are now back in southwest Florida, thanks to a series of pardons from President Trump.
ESTERO Local teen golfer to play at Augusta National One drive at a time, 14-year-old Jesus Bethencourt is doing something most only dream of: playing at Augusta National.
AI traffic cameras helping Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office solve crimes Artificial intelligence has been helping the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office solve crimes.
ESTERO SWFL siblings start official Pickleball World Cup Hercilio and Miranda Cabieses love pickleball so much they make it their mission to share it with the world.
MARCO ISLAND Proposal to bring in police cameras to Marco Island Marco Island city leaders are considering a proposal for police officers to wear body cameras. The idea aims to modernize the department and increase trust with citizens.
FORT MYERS Increasing deportation raises concerns for migrant workers in SWFL With the fear of mass deportations and raids many are wondering whether any will happen here. Any mass deportations could adversely affect construction and agriculture.
Lee County schools survey parents on classroom phone restrictions Lee County Schools is considering changes to its student code of conduct regarding the use of wireless communication devices during the school day.
NAPLES New NCH technology to destroy tumors NCH is upping its cancer-fighting game by becoming the first in Florida to acquire a new technology designed to destroy tumors.
FORT MYERS Alliance for the Arts to host 39th annual All Florida Juried Exhibition The Alliance for the Arts will be hosting the 39th Annual All Florida Juried Exhibit.
ESTERO FGCU softball coach David Deiros to retire after 2025 season FGCU softball head coach David Deiros will retire from coaching at the end of the 2025 season.
Tim Aten Knows: SWFL to see expansion of Oar & Iron, Kelly’s Roast Beef The restaurant franchise group for the Boston-based Kelly’s Roast Beef and Oar & Iron Raw Bar & Grill recently burst out of the gate in Collier and Lee counties with aggressive expansion plans for both dining concepts.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers man gets life in prison for fatal fentanyl distribution A Fort Myers man will spend the rest of his life in jail for distributing a lethal dose of fentanyl.
Fort Myers council to discuss $11.5M bid for News-Press site redevelopment The Fort Myers News-Press building, a site with a long history and untapped potential, may soon undergo a transformation.
Collier mental health center building contract approved Collier County approved the construction contract for the roughly $50 million, 87-bed Collier County Behavioral Health Center, just two weeks before the contract was set to expire, and costs would rise by millions.
City of Fort Myers receives competing bids on former News-Press site The City of Fort Myers plans to vote Jan. 21 on whether to meet March 3 to consider Catalyst Community Development LLC as the buyer for almost 10 acres at 2442 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., former site of The News-Press newspaper.
Osceola County Commissioner Fred Hawkins Jr. (Credit: Osceola County) A county commissioner in Florida was arrested on Monday for impersonating a sheriff’s deputy, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said. Osceola County Commissioner Fred Hawkins Jr., 53, was arrested Monday evening for impersonating a member of the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, according to a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Hawkins tried to enter an election of the Turnberry Reserve Homeowners Association in Winter Park on Nov. 7 even though he didn’t belong to the association, FDLE spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger told the Orlando Sentinel. A security guard attempted to stop Hawkins, who showed a sheriff’s office credential and claimed he was with the agency. He then threatened to arrest the security guard, officials said. Hawkins holds the honorary title of special deputy with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, but is not a certified law enforcement officer and has no arrest powers, Plessinger said. She said the agency issued a warrant for Hawkins’ arrest on Monday, and he turned himself in at the Osceola County Jail in the evening after attending a County Commissioners meeting. Hawkins was booked into jail and posted a $1,000 bond shortly afterward, according to jail records. Hawkins is currently serving his third term on the Osceola County Commission and is running to represent District 42 in the Florida House of Representatives. His campaign said in a statement released Monday night that Hawkins “was merely trying to gain access inside a meeting room” where an association meeting was getting heated and people were getting unruly. “Hawkins was attempting to reach a deputy in hopes of deescalating the situation when he was blocked by a private security guard. … Commissioner Hawkins has routinely cooperated with investigators in an open and honest fashion and will continue to do so,” spokeswoman Christina Johnson said in the statement.