RSW braces for Thanksgiving travelers Thanksgiving is one day away, and as many prepare to take to the skies to be reunited with family, travelers are expected to encounter large lines at the airport.
Tice Shooting in Tice neighborhood injures 1 man The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting that injured one in a neighborhood in Tice.
Plenty of sunshine for your Wednesday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a sunny Wednesday along with mild afternoon conditions.
port charlotte Port Charlotte to host electronic recycling event Residents of Port Charlotte can free up space in their homes as the city has announced an electronic recycling event.
CAPE CORAL Local non-profit, Family Initiative, has big plans after receiving $5 million from Golisano A multi-million dollar donation is helping people with autism have priceless experiences.
PORT CHARLOTTE Charlotte County deputies bust park drug deal after community tip One man’s drug deal in Charlotte County wasn’t exactly a walk in the park.
Dog alerts Lee County woman to home intruder The Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 22-year-old man for burglary and loitering after he broke into a woman’s home and stood inches away from her bed as she slept.
NAPLES Naples business owner accused of rape In 2023, 14,021 domestic violence 911 calls came into Collier County.
manasota key Charlotte County Commissioners vote ‘Yes’ to changes and redevelopment on Manasota Key The Charlotte County Commissioners voted to pass charges that residents on Manasota Key have been dreading.
The debate over fluoride in Florida’s water The water you drink and use to brush your teeth is fueling a community, state and national conversation.
SANIBEL Phase 2 of Sanibel Beach renourishment project set to begin Eric Jackson, Sanibel’s Public Information Officer, is encouraging residents and visitors to still come to the beach.
NAPLES Riding toward a brighter future for kids: The story of Bikes for Tykes For nearly four decades, Bikes for Tykes has been on a mission to give children and adults in need in Southwest Florida a chance to ride refurbished bicycles.
ENGLEWOOD SWFL agencies bring chaplains on staff to offer support to first responders First responders across the country face the devastating impact of suicide nationwide those numbers are rising.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County deputies arrest man for ATV and UTV thefts, fence destruction A North Fort Myers man has been arrested after allegedly stealing a four-wheeler, crashing it into a property fence, and later trying to flee on a second stolen vehicle.
‘I saw God twice:’ Boating accident survivor thanks Lee Health After surviving an unthinkable accident in Matlacha, one woman wants to thank the medical team that saved her.
RSW braces for Thanksgiving travelers Thanksgiving is one day away, and as many prepare to take to the skies to be reunited with family, travelers are expected to encounter large lines at the airport.
Tice Shooting in Tice neighborhood injures 1 man The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting that injured one in a neighborhood in Tice.
Plenty of sunshine for your Wednesday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a sunny Wednesday along with mild afternoon conditions.
port charlotte Port Charlotte to host electronic recycling event Residents of Port Charlotte can free up space in their homes as the city has announced an electronic recycling event.
CAPE CORAL Local non-profit, Family Initiative, has big plans after receiving $5 million from Golisano A multi-million dollar donation is helping people with autism have priceless experiences.
PORT CHARLOTTE Charlotte County deputies bust park drug deal after community tip One man’s drug deal in Charlotte County wasn’t exactly a walk in the park.
Dog alerts Lee County woman to home intruder The Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 22-year-old man for burglary and loitering after he broke into a woman’s home and stood inches away from her bed as she slept.
NAPLES Naples business owner accused of rape In 2023, 14,021 domestic violence 911 calls came into Collier County.
manasota key Charlotte County Commissioners vote ‘Yes’ to changes and redevelopment on Manasota Key The Charlotte County Commissioners voted to pass charges that residents on Manasota Key have been dreading.
The debate over fluoride in Florida’s water The water you drink and use to brush your teeth is fueling a community, state and national conversation.
SANIBEL Phase 2 of Sanibel Beach renourishment project set to begin Eric Jackson, Sanibel’s Public Information Officer, is encouraging residents and visitors to still come to the beach.
NAPLES Riding toward a brighter future for kids: The story of Bikes for Tykes For nearly four decades, Bikes for Tykes has been on a mission to give children and adults in need in Southwest Florida a chance to ride refurbished bicycles.
ENGLEWOOD SWFL agencies bring chaplains on staff to offer support to first responders First responders across the country face the devastating impact of suicide nationwide those numbers are rising.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County deputies arrest man for ATV and UTV thefts, fence destruction A North Fort Myers man has been arrested after allegedly stealing a four-wheeler, crashing it into a property fence, and later trying to flee on a second stolen vehicle.
‘I saw God twice:’ Boating accident survivor thanks Lee Health After surviving an unthinkable accident in Matlacha, one woman wants to thank the medical team that saved her.
Gov. Ron DeSantis (Credit: WINK News) Gov. Ron DeSantis held a roundtable Thursday in Fort Myers regarding long-term care facilities. He announced the state will ease restrictions even more on visitations to long-term care facilities throughout the state, including allowing children to visit their loved ones. Florida last month began allowing visitors to return to long-term care facilities, but there were restrictions. Speaking at Amavida Living on Gladiolus Drive, DeSantis said he wants families to have the freedom to be together. “We need to be able to have family connections. This is very, very important.” The governor also said outdoor visitation will be allowed, even if a resident or staff member at a facility has recently tested positive for COVID-19. These facilities will also no longer require social distancing for “compassionate caregivers.” Until Thursday, to visit someone in a nursing home or assisted living facility, you had to be on a list restricted to five people. That’s gone now, so people longing to see their loved ones can do so – in most situations. “That first hug that I got with my dad was just priceless,” said Christina Griswold, whose father is in a long-term care facility. Now, thousands of others may soon experience that closeness again, including children. “It’s not just absences of disease that makes someone healthy. It is the social connection, it’s the physical fitness, it’s mental health, it’s all of these things that go into what we should really consider health,” DeSantis said Thursday. For Brenda Tate’s family, it’s precious time that can’t be bought back. Her husband has Alzheimer’s and is at Amavida Living. “My concern has been to miss critical time with him, that he could be remembering me, remembering our children, our grandchildren,” Tate said. Lifting the restriction is welcome news to Amavida nurse practitioner Jaritza Smith. “It’s going to be even better for them; their cognition is going to continue to improve or stabilize,” she said. “The first order did a lot of good for the residents and their families, and I’m really looking forward to the next step and being able to celebrate the holidays,” Griswold said. DeSantis said one of the reasons he wanted to issue the executive order Thursday is because of the holidays and how important it is for families who want to be together. Some facilities may have other restrictions in place because of the virus, so you should check with them before you go. Watch the roundtable in full below or click here.