33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee CountyCool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon
33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County Another Florida panther was killed by a vehicle, this time in Hardee County, increasing the death toll of the endangered species to 33 for 2024.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cold morning conditions before temperatures warm up to the low 70s this Thursday.
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite motherâs measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Milton.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowmanâs Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
LABELLE City of LaBelle under precautionary boil water notice A water main break has the City of Labelle under a precautionary boil water notice.
33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County Another Florida panther was killed by a vehicle, this time in Hardee County, increasing the death toll of the endangered species to 33 for 2024.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cold morning conditions before temperatures warm up to the low 70s this Thursday.
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite motherâs measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Milton.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowmanâs Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
LABELLE City of LaBelle under precautionary boil water notice A water main break has the City of Labelle under a precautionary boil water notice.
A grand jury indicted Jessica Nicole Wright on a first-degree murder charge for the distribution of fentanyl that led to the death of a woman. It’s the first time in the 20th Judicial Circuit a person has been charged under this statute. The indictment charges that Wright, on or about Aug. 22, 2019, in Lee County, did unlawfully distribute a controlled substance, Fentanyl, which caused the death of a woman. âIn Florida, the First Degree Murder Statute allows a person to be charged if they distribute a controlled substance that causes a person to die. I want to make it clear, that if you distribute an illegal substance in the 20th Judicial Circuit that causes someoneâs death, and the facts and evidence are there to support the crime, you will be charged with First Degree Murder,â said State Attorney Amira Fox. Law enforcement hopes this sends a message to drug dealers and makes them think twice before selling or distributing drugs. According to the State Attorney’s Office, Wright gave fentanyl to Kimberly Foust near Tice Elementary School. A grand jury decided to indict her for the death of Foust, who died after receiving the drugs from Wright. But to charge someone under this law, law enforcement must make that connection. This statute is controversial, attorney Pamella Seay explained. âThe fact that a death resulted from it is horrible. It’s tragic. It’s the worst thing it could possibly do,â Seay said. âBut is this proportional to the act of selling the fentanyl to have a capital felony?” Law enforcement must prove directly a drug sale ended someone’s life. âA lot of people would say, âAbsolutely not, you sold it; they died; and so should you,â Seay said. This statute is part of a push, Seay told us, to be tough on drugs. Now that it has been successful, she said we might see the charge again in similar circumstances. Wright was previously arrested in Operation Block Party that concluded in September, led by the Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, known as NETFORCE. In late 2019, State Attorney Fox created NETFORCE to coordinate a circuit-wide approach to identifying, investigating, and dismantling long-term organized crime, narcotics, racketeering, and money-laundering criminal enterprises. âI want to thank the Grand Jury for their attention to the information presented in these two very serious cases, over the last two days. The facts and evidence in these cases were not easy to hear or see. I appreciate their time and professionalism in this matter,â said Fox. Lee County Grand Jury has indicted defendant Jessica Niccole Wright for: Count I: First Degree Murder -Unlawful Distribution of Fentanyl, F.S. 782.04 (1)(a)(3); 777.011, Capital Felony Count II: Sale or Delivery of a Controlled Substance, F.S. 893.13(1)(a); 777.011, Second Degree Felony Count III: Sale or Delivery of a Controlled Substance within 1,000 ft. of a School, F.S. 893.13(1)(c); 777.011, First Degree Felony Count IV: Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell or Deliver within 1,000 ft. of a School, F.S. 893.13(1)(c); 777.011, First Degree Felony Watch the full press conference below or click here.