Florida Panther caught on camera mimicking house cat behaviorFort Myers councilman proposes cameras for McGregor Blvd school zones
Florida Panther caught on camera mimicking house cat behavior A new video of a Florida Panther shows that these wild animals have more in common with house cats than you might think.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers councilman proposes cameras for McGregor Blvd school zones Fort Myers may soon see new traffic cameras installed in school zones along McGregor Boulevard.
AI in Florida insurance: New bill demands human review Lawmakers have proposed a bill to ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) cannot be the sole factor in denying insurance claims. This includes claims for home, auto, or health insurance.
ESTERO Estero teen to play in third Augusta National Women’s Amateur Estero 17-year-old Gianna Clemente is making her third appearance in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach timeshare owners await answers on delayed repairs Two and a half years after Hurricane Ian, timeshare owners at Mariners Boathouse and Windward Passage Resort on Fort Myers Beach are still unable to access their properties.
Lake Okeechobee water ruling favors clean water advocates in Florida Water quality advocates celebrated a victory after a lawsuit from three Florida sugar companies was rejected in court.
NAPLES Naples actors help Collier deputies train for high-stakes crisis scenarios The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is taking innovative steps to prepare its deputies for unpredictable situations.
FORT MYERS BEACH New traffic plan seeks to improve Fort Myers Beach fire response A new traffic plan on the Matanzas Pass Bridge seeks to get first responders to Fort Myers Beach faster.
SANIBEL SCCF weather stations destroyed by Hurricane Ian, operational again The powerful storm had swept away all three weather stations of the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation. After nearly two and a half years, the RECON Weather System is back online, bringing vital information to the community.
CAPE CORAL Mariner’s Maximus Brady achieves historic fourth state wrestling title Mariner High School wrestler Maximus Brady won his fourth straight state championship, becoming just the second in Lee County to do so.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs teacher’s wedding centerpiece goes viral on TikTok Julia Merz, a beloved kindergarten teacher in Bonita Springs, added a unique touch to her wedding, making her students the stars of the day.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte Beach Park faces delays, residents seek faster reopening Port Charlotte Beach Park is making strides to fully reopen after the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.
WINK NEWS Dietitian advises on healthy eating with weight loss meds Weight loss drugs are changing the game for those looking to shed pounds. However, they come with an important consideration: while they help curb appetite, maintaining proper nutrition is crucial.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers metal plant fire cleanup underway, business resumes A large fire erupted at Mome Metals Recycling on Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard in Fort Myers, leaving significant damage but not halting operations for long.
Evacuations underway due to brush fire near mm 110 off I-75 According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a brush fire is present at mile marker 110 on I-75 southbound in Collier County.
Florida Panther caught on camera mimicking house cat behavior A new video of a Florida Panther shows that these wild animals have more in common with house cats than you might think.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers councilman proposes cameras for McGregor Blvd school zones Fort Myers may soon see new traffic cameras installed in school zones along McGregor Boulevard.
AI in Florida insurance: New bill demands human review Lawmakers have proposed a bill to ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) cannot be the sole factor in denying insurance claims. This includes claims for home, auto, or health insurance.
ESTERO Estero teen to play in third Augusta National Women’s Amateur Estero 17-year-old Gianna Clemente is making her third appearance in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach timeshare owners await answers on delayed repairs Two and a half years after Hurricane Ian, timeshare owners at Mariners Boathouse and Windward Passage Resort on Fort Myers Beach are still unable to access their properties.
Lake Okeechobee water ruling favors clean water advocates in Florida Water quality advocates celebrated a victory after a lawsuit from three Florida sugar companies was rejected in court.
NAPLES Naples actors help Collier deputies train for high-stakes crisis scenarios The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is taking innovative steps to prepare its deputies for unpredictable situations.
FORT MYERS BEACH New traffic plan seeks to improve Fort Myers Beach fire response A new traffic plan on the Matanzas Pass Bridge seeks to get first responders to Fort Myers Beach faster.
SANIBEL SCCF weather stations destroyed by Hurricane Ian, operational again The powerful storm had swept away all three weather stations of the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation. After nearly two and a half years, the RECON Weather System is back online, bringing vital information to the community.
CAPE CORAL Mariner’s Maximus Brady achieves historic fourth state wrestling title Mariner High School wrestler Maximus Brady won his fourth straight state championship, becoming just the second in Lee County to do so.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs teacher’s wedding centerpiece goes viral on TikTok Julia Merz, a beloved kindergarten teacher in Bonita Springs, added a unique touch to her wedding, making her students the stars of the day.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte Beach Park faces delays, residents seek faster reopening Port Charlotte Beach Park is making strides to fully reopen after the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.
WINK NEWS Dietitian advises on healthy eating with weight loss meds Weight loss drugs are changing the game for those looking to shed pounds. However, they come with an important consideration: while they help curb appetite, maintaining proper nutrition is crucial.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers metal plant fire cleanup underway, business resumes A large fire erupted at Mome Metals Recycling on Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard in Fort Myers, leaving significant damage but not halting operations for long.
Evacuations underway due to brush fire near mm 110 off I-75 According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a brush fire is present at mile marker 110 on I-75 southbound in Collier County.
Coronavirus, COVID-19. CREDIT: Cropped Photo: Governor Tom Wolf / CC BY 2.0 As of 11 a.m. Thursday, there have been 709,144 positive cases of the coronavirus recorded in the state. The case count includes 700,602 Florida residents and 8,542 non-Florida residents. There are 14,444 Florida resident deaths reported, 175 non-resident deaths, and 44,320 hospitalizations at some point during illness, according to the Florida Department of Health. *Numbers are released by the DOH daily at approximately 11 a.m. but are occasionally delayed. STATEWIDE NUMBERS Total number of recorded cases: 709,144 (up from 706,516) Florida resident deaths: 14,444 (up from 14,315) Non-resident deaths: 175 (up from 171) Total deaths in state (FL/non-FL residents combined): 14,619 (up from 14,486) 2,628 total new cases reported Thursday 129 total new resident deaths reported Thursday 4 new non-resident deaths reported Thursday Percent positive for new cases in FL residents: 4.65% This percent is the number of people who test PCR- or antigen-positive for the first time divided by all the people tested that day, excluding people who have previously tested positive. SOUTHWEST FLORIDA NUMBERS Total recorded cases in SWFL: 40,667 (up from 40,538) Deaths: 902 (up from 896) 129 total new cases reported Thursday 12 new deaths reported Thursday Lee County: 20,586 (up from 20,516) – 477 deaths (9 new) Collier County: 12,789 (up from 12,751) – 224 deaths (3 new) Charlotte County: 3,097 (up from 3,082) – 136 deaths DeSoto County: 1,573 (up from 1,571) – 25 deaths Glades County: 545 (up from 542) – 4 deaths Hendry County: 2,077 (up from 2,076) – 42 deaths TESTING NUMBERS Total tested (residents): 5,311,806 Total tested (non-residents): 21,211 Total positive (residents): 700,602 Total positive (non-residents): 8,542 Total negative (residents): 4,604,067 Total negative (non-residents): 12,624 The remainder of the tests is still pending or inconclusive, according to the FDOH website. Click HERE for a SWFL case-by-case breakdown – updated daily. RESOURCES NOW HIRING: SWFL companies adding jobs #GulfshoreStrong: Covering people making a difference in SWFL FOOD PANTRIES: Harry Chapin mobile food pantry schedule, week of Sept. 28 REPORT COVID-19 DIAGNOSIS/TEST: International self-reporting system IF YOU FEEL SICK: The Florida Department of Health has opened a 24-hour COVID-19 Call Center at 1-866-779-6121. Questions may also be emailed to covid-19@flhealth.gov. Email responses will be sent during call center hours. LINK: Florida Department of Health COVID-19 updates <span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span></span> *The map is best viewed on a desktop computer. If you don’t see the map above tap HERE for a fullscreen version.