New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashesNew leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes There could be new detectives on the block, located in your nearest auto shop. A new state bill aims at trying to stop hit-and-run drivers from getting away.
CAPE CORAL New leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans A drug now being studied in human trials to kill cancerous tumors, is already approved and helping animals.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral planning a new interchange with I-75 The city of Cape Coral is in the early stages of planning a new interchange with I-75, an idea that has been discussed for more than a decade.
Tracking invasive species after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton didn’t just bring wind and rain, they brought new threats to southwest Florida’s ecosystem.
PUNTA GORDA Woman in Punta Gorda shooting charged with 2nd degree murder A woman in a homicide investigation on Nasturtium Drive in Punta Gorda has been charged with 2nd-degree murder.
Lee County mother continuing fight to get children a bus stop The school district already told her she lives too close to the school to qualify for a bus route but she has not given up.
NORTH NAPLES Grant Thornton Invitational returns to Tiburon Golf Club Stars on the PGA and LPGA Tours are back in Southwest Florida for the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club.
FORT MYERS Black Flag brings classic punk energy to The Ranch in Fort Myers Legendary punk band Black Flag made their mark in Southwest Florida during the Fort Myers stop of their “First Four Years” tour.
Charlotte Technical College breaks ground on aviation facility The Charlotte County School District is flying high and keeping its “Space Academy” designation with a new aviation training facility for students.
CAPE CORAL Man arrested in connection with Cape Coral home invasion The Cape Coral Police Department has announced the arrest of one of three men suspected in a home invasion that took place earlier this month.
16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier County According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two airboats crashed south of U.S. 41 east between mile markers 74 and 75, leaving well over a dozen people injured.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral residents react to $100M North Cape land deal The city of Cape Coral is seeing two projects that will change the city. One is called one of the most lucrative deals in county history.
Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association breaks ground on new Fort Myers headquarters As Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association’s president pointed out, about 1,000 people are still moving to Florida every day, and many of them are finding their way to Southwest Florida.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte County drug trafficker sentenced to 10 years A Charlotte County man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking.
lehigh acres ‘How to sign away parental rights?’; Lehigh Acres woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes There could be new detectives on the block, located in your nearest auto shop. A new state bill aims at trying to stop hit-and-run drivers from getting away.
CAPE CORAL New leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans A drug now being studied in human trials to kill cancerous tumors, is already approved and helping animals.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral planning a new interchange with I-75 The city of Cape Coral is in the early stages of planning a new interchange with I-75, an idea that has been discussed for more than a decade.
Tracking invasive species after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton didn’t just bring wind and rain, they brought new threats to southwest Florida’s ecosystem.
PUNTA GORDA Woman in Punta Gorda shooting charged with 2nd degree murder A woman in a homicide investigation on Nasturtium Drive in Punta Gorda has been charged with 2nd-degree murder.
Lee County mother continuing fight to get children a bus stop The school district already told her she lives too close to the school to qualify for a bus route but she has not given up.
NORTH NAPLES Grant Thornton Invitational returns to Tiburon Golf Club Stars on the PGA and LPGA Tours are back in Southwest Florida for the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club.
FORT MYERS Black Flag brings classic punk energy to The Ranch in Fort Myers Legendary punk band Black Flag made their mark in Southwest Florida during the Fort Myers stop of their “First Four Years” tour.
Charlotte Technical College breaks ground on aviation facility The Charlotte County School District is flying high and keeping its “Space Academy” designation with a new aviation training facility for students.
CAPE CORAL Man arrested in connection with Cape Coral home invasion The Cape Coral Police Department has announced the arrest of one of three men suspected in a home invasion that took place earlier this month.
16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier County According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two airboats crashed south of U.S. 41 east between mile markers 74 and 75, leaving well over a dozen people injured.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral residents react to $100M North Cape land deal The city of Cape Coral is seeing two projects that will change the city. One is called one of the most lucrative deals in county history.
Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association breaks ground on new Fort Myers headquarters As Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association’s president pointed out, about 1,000 people are still moving to Florida every day, and many of them are finding their way to Southwest Florida.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte County drug trafficker sentenced to 10 years A Charlotte County man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking.
lehigh acres ‘How to sign away parental rights?’; Lehigh Acres woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby.
Image of seed packet from China received in the mail in the United States. This is not the package received by Mitch Wood in Golden Gate Estates. Credit: via Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Mysterious packages from China are popping up across the country. A man in Southwest Florida says he got one in the mail with a mysterious substance inside. The state recently warned Floridians no to open suspicious packages full of seeds, and it has more guidelines if this happens to you. Mitch Wood in Golden Gate Estates received an unexpected delivery from China in the mail recently. “It looks almost like a fish, a small fish. It’s like an inch long, brown, gooey-looking thing,” Wood said. “Luckily, it’s not leaking at all, and I can’t smell anything from it.” “It had my wife’s name on it, a weird phone number with an area code that wasn’t even the one with the extension on it, and then shippers information from Shenzhen,” Wood said. Sunday, Wood opened a package from China. “I mean, we do order a ton of stuff online,” Wood said. “so I wasn’t surprised to see something from China.” But, this time, it was a package he did not order. “The first thing I did was opened up the garbage and dropped it in a bag and washed my hands,” Wood said. “Put on some gloves and zipped it up and then put it in my shed because I didn’t want it in the house.” The shipping title said “wire connector” and had the numbers two out of 179. The state sent out a release, asking Floridians to report suspicious seed packets or mysterious packages like the one Wood received from China. “I’m not surprised that it was local, but I just happen to be the random one who got it,” Wood said. Wood reached out to the U.S. Postal service inspection and is sending it in to be investigated. The state warns anyone who gets one of these packages not to open it and report it. What To Do: Anyone receiving unsolicited packages from other countries should follow these directions: Do not open the seed packet and avoid opening outer packaging or mailing materials, if possible Place the seed packet AND mailing materials into a sealable plastic bag – this is important to determining the origin of the seeds. Do not plant the seeds or discard them in trash that will be landfilled UNOPENED PACKAGES and packages containing objects OTHER THAN SEEDS: report immediately to the USDA Anti-Smuggling hotline at 1-800-877-3835 or SITC.mail@aphis.usda.gov OPENED PACKAGES containing seeds: report to the FDACS Division of Plant Industry online at FDACS.gov/SeedByMail. Package recipients can either drop off the package at their local UF/IFAS Extension county office, or schedule a safe, contactless pickup of the seeds, packaging, and mailing materials by an FDACS Inspector Recipients with questions other than seed reporting can contact the Division of Plant Industry at 1-888-397-1517 or DPIhelpline@FDACS.gov When reporting the seed package to FDACS and USDA/APHIS, the state says to be prepared to complete a simple form and provide one’s name, physical address, phone number and email address for contact and seed collection purposes. MORE: USDA Investigates Packages of Unsolicited Seeds from China