NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County residents wait hours for D-SNAP assistance The supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) is at the Lee Civic Center all weekend, ready to help southwest Florida.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA First eaglet hatches in famous SWFL eagle nest Welcome E24! The third eaglet from the nest of M15 and F23 has hatched according to the Southwest Florida eagle camera.
lehigh acres LCSO: Lehigh Acres shooting investigation underway The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
Rock for Equality: SWFL non-profit hosts benefit concert for Palestine A Southwest Florida non-profit hosted a benefit concert on Friday night to help with humanitarian aid in Palestine.
Warm, breezy Saturday with a few showers possible The Weather Authority is forecasting a breezy, warm weekend in store across Southwest Florida, with the chance of a few showers, particularly on Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Active investigation underway in South Cape Coral Cape Coral police are investigating at a home on Southwest 49th Terrace in South Cape Coral early Saturday morning.
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.
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.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County residents wait hours for D-SNAP assistance The supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) is at the Lee Civic Center all weekend, ready to help southwest Florida.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA First eaglet hatches in famous SWFL eagle nest Welcome E24! The third eaglet from the nest of M15 and F23 has hatched according to the Southwest Florida eagle camera.
lehigh acres LCSO: Lehigh Acres shooting investigation underway The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
Rock for Equality: SWFL non-profit hosts benefit concert for Palestine A Southwest Florida non-profit hosted a benefit concert on Friday night to help with humanitarian aid in Palestine.
Warm, breezy Saturday with a few showers possible The Weather Authority is forecasting a breezy, warm weekend in store across Southwest Florida, with the chance of a few showers, particularly on Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Active investigation underway in South Cape Coral Cape Coral police are investigating at a home on Southwest 49th Terrace in South Cape Coral early Saturday morning.
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.
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.
Rev. Ken Burns of Friendship Baptist Church about to be vaccinated. Credit: Lee County There’s a new effort to get vaccines to underserved communities in Southwest Florida. A partnership between churches and a county government could give more community members an opportunity to get vaccinated for the coronavirus. Lee County is working with the pastors of churches, including Mount Hermon Ministries and Friendship Baptist Church in Fort Myers, to help get more people in underserved, minority communities vaccinated. DOH-Lee is considering setting up vaccination sites on church grounds to target some of the most vulnerable communities For Pastor James Bing of Friendship Baptist Church, making sure more people in the community he serves get the vaccine is a mission that’s close to his heart. Pastor James Bing being prepped for his COVID-19 vaccination. Credit: Lee County “I got involved because I am one of the high-risk people. I will be 83 years old my next birthday,” Pastor Bing explained. “I’ve had triple bypass surgery. I’ve had two strokes. I take 11 pills a day.” Bing says, like many people he knows, he tried to get the vaccine at the S.T.A.R.S. Complex site in late December but could not wait in line. “There were not 20 people of our community in line to get the vaccine,” Bing said. “We have people who come from more affluent communities into this community and displace the people who live here.” Since the County switched to appointments, he says it’s still hard to get scheduled for the vaccine, and many people in Bing’s community struggle with transportation. That’s why he is happy he was able to get vaccinated at Renaissance Preserve, where the County set up a vaccine event to target underserved communities. The County is working with local churches to provide more vaccines in minority communities and help dispel myths about the shot. Rev. Ken Burns of Friendship Baptist Church about to be vaccinated. Credit: Lee County “The last conversation, only about 7 percent of all vaccinations that have happened in the county have been African American or Hispanic,” explained Pastor William Glover of Mount Hermon Ministries. “The church is a community center, so it’s a safe place, a safe space with partners the community knows.” Glover says more vaccinations are crucial in minority communities hit especially hard by COVID-19. “Many people of color suffer from underlying conditions and chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol,” Glover said. “Population-wise, we have been disproportionally infected by the virus.” Lee County says it’s working with LeeTran to provide transportation to the RSW Airport vaccine site for those in need if they have an appointment. Pastors Bing and Glover told us they are willing and ready to open up their church doors to help get more people in their community vaccinated. Glover hopes his church and others like his can be a part of the effort to provide that lifesaving shot. “One of the leading factors in behavioral health decisions that people make, one of the leading influences is their belief systems and their clergy,” Glover said. “So anytime you can use those allies to help advance a positive public health message, I think that’s always a good partnership.”