SWFL High School Football Scoreboard Week 12 The regular season finale of high school football in SWFL brings district champions crowned and playoff spots fortified. .
Trash pile on San Carlos Island continues to grow Residents of San Carlos Island have grown tired as garbage and debris from hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton piles up.
Law enforcement presence at Alfie Oakes’ North Naples home and Immokalee packing house Several federal and state law enforcement agencies were at Alfie Oakes’ home and packing house for an investigation that remains undisclosed.
MATLACHA Matlacha restaurant Miceli’s reopens after six weeks Popular Matlacha restaurant Miceli’s has reopened just six weeks after enduring damage from back-to-back storms.
NORTH FORT MYERS Caught on Camera: Accused Dollar General thief arrested A man accused of robbing a Dollar General store is behind bars.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Ward 4 candidate seeks vote recount In the race for Fort Myers city council, Cindy Banyai lost the Ward 4 race to incumbent Liston Bochette by just 77 votes or 1.58% of the vote.
FORT MYERS Lee County considers adding second fixed-base operator to RSW The Lee County Port Authority is officially moving forward with negotiations for a new fixed-base operator at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW).
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral roofing business owes $2M to IRS after guilty plea The owner of a Cape Coral roofing business owes the Internal Revenue Service over $2 million after pleading guilty to fraud charges.
FDA approves new shoulder implant From high school seniors to senior citizens, more than 100,000 people will need a shoulder replacement each year.
Private Sky sues future competitor at RSW Private Sky Aviation Services will be getting future competition from a company with trillions of dollars in assets.
Taberna Burntwood opens rebranded tavern at Mercato in North Naples The Mercato restaurant’s difference in decor is clearly striking. Taberna is less rustic and more modern.
IONA Iona home catches fire, at least 2 vehicles also ruined A person lost their home and at least two vehicles after a fire engulfed their property.
FORT MYERS LeeTran scheduled to resume trolley system this month LeeTran brings back the popular seasonal River District trolleys and Fort Myers Beach tram later this month.
MBA Transportation no longer sole transporter at RSW After serving Southwest Florida locals and travelers for nearly 20 years, MBA Transportation is being forced to leave its booth at Southwest Florida International Airport.
WINK NEWS Veterans Day events across Southwest Florida Veterans Day is a time to honor and celebrate the sacrifices and bravery of those who have served in the military.
SWFL High School Football Scoreboard Week 12 The regular season finale of high school football in SWFL brings district champions crowned and playoff spots fortified. .
Trash pile on San Carlos Island continues to grow Residents of San Carlos Island have grown tired as garbage and debris from hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton piles up.
Law enforcement presence at Alfie Oakes’ North Naples home and Immokalee packing house Several federal and state law enforcement agencies were at Alfie Oakes’ home and packing house for an investigation that remains undisclosed.
MATLACHA Matlacha restaurant Miceli’s reopens after six weeks Popular Matlacha restaurant Miceli’s has reopened just six weeks after enduring damage from back-to-back storms.
NORTH FORT MYERS Caught on Camera: Accused Dollar General thief arrested A man accused of robbing a Dollar General store is behind bars.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Ward 4 candidate seeks vote recount In the race for Fort Myers city council, Cindy Banyai lost the Ward 4 race to incumbent Liston Bochette by just 77 votes or 1.58% of the vote.
FORT MYERS Lee County considers adding second fixed-base operator to RSW The Lee County Port Authority is officially moving forward with negotiations for a new fixed-base operator at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW).
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral roofing business owes $2M to IRS after guilty plea The owner of a Cape Coral roofing business owes the Internal Revenue Service over $2 million after pleading guilty to fraud charges.
FDA approves new shoulder implant From high school seniors to senior citizens, more than 100,000 people will need a shoulder replacement each year.
Private Sky sues future competitor at RSW Private Sky Aviation Services will be getting future competition from a company with trillions of dollars in assets.
Taberna Burntwood opens rebranded tavern at Mercato in North Naples The Mercato restaurant’s difference in decor is clearly striking. Taberna is less rustic and more modern.
IONA Iona home catches fire, at least 2 vehicles also ruined A person lost their home and at least two vehicles after a fire engulfed their property.
FORT MYERS LeeTran scheduled to resume trolley system this month LeeTran brings back the popular seasonal River District trolleys and Fort Myers Beach tram later this month.
MBA Transportation no longer sole transporter at RSW After serving Southwest Florida locals and travelers for nearly 20 years, MBA Transportation is being forced to leave its booth at Southwest Florida International Airport.
WINK NEWS Veterans Day events across Southwest Florida Veterans Day is a time to honor and celebrate the sacrifices and bravery of those who have served in the military.
Collier County Clerk Crystal Kinzel of Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller. Credit: Collier County Clerk’s website. Former employees are suing a Southwest Florida clerk of court and claim they were fired over their political support, which they claim infringes upon their First Amendment rights. Five former employees of the office of Collier County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller say they were fired by Clerk Crystal Kinzel out of political vengeance and retaliation, so they are suing her. The Collier County Clerk’s office did not tell us if the department underwent staffing issues at the time of the firings. The lawsuit claims none of the former employees exercised their political beliefs while on the clock and shouldn’t have been let go. MORE: Lawsuit against Collier County Clerk Kinzel “There had been no write ups; there had been no discipline; this came completely out of left field,” said Benjamin Yormak, a labor and employment attorney. Yormak represents the five former employees of the Collier County Clerk, who have filed a lawsuit against Kinzel in both her official and individual capacities. Two former employees were fired after nearly 20-year careers. “Really heartbroken to have their careers ripped out from underneath them, simply by virtue of them supporting a different candidate,” Yormak said. Jim Molenaar was the first employee Yormak represents who was fired by the clerk’s office. He was terminated from his position as senior legal counsel after filing to run for office against Kinzel. ”The message seemed to be pretty clear; ‘If you’re not with me, you’re against me, and you can’t work here,’” Yorkmak described the claims of his clients. The four other employees — Mark Pasek, Meredith Carr, Patricia Morgan and Steven Morgan — were fired Sept. 1, 2020. Yormak says it was done after Kinzel found out each of them had supported Molenaar’s campaign. “We have heard it was a reduction in force,” Yormak said. “We have also heard we don’t have to give you a reason.” Some who voted for Kinzel, including Steven Williams, believe there was more going on behind closed doors. “You have to have done something wrong,” Williams said. According to the lawsuit, Kinzel fired the five former employees because, “She was no longer confident in their abilities to carry out the duties and functions of their positions.” Clerk Kinzel denied an interview with us. A spokesperson with her office says they can’t comment pending litigation, but they did say they’re confident in their defense. “They were public servants who had worked for the taxpayers in Collier County and who, because they did not support Ms. Kinzel, lost their jobs,” Yormak said. “That’s wrong, and we’re going to do everything in our power to make sure justice is served here.”