Young bobcat injured by car; rehabilitated, released into NaplesFlorida house speaker appoints Charlotte County sheriff to state immigration enforcement council
NAPLES Young bobcat injured by car; rehabilitated, released into Naples A previously injured young bobcat has been released back into the wild through the collaborative efforts of several Florida environmental agencies.
Florida house speaker appoints Charlotte County sheriff to state immigration enforcement council Florida House Speaker has appointed Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell to the state immigration enforcement council.
Man sentenced to 15 years for drug trafficking in Southwest Florida A drug trafficker has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine in Southwest Florida.
Craft supplier Joann to shutter 3 SWFL stores, 500 nationwide The big box craft chain based in Hudson, Ohio, is closing its North Naples store at 6424 Naples Blvd., the Estero store at Coconut Point and the Fort Myers store in South Plaza on Cleveland Avenue.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda Police Department Chaplin Rev. Bill Klossner passes away The Punta Gorda Police Department announced the passing of their Chaplin, Reverend Bill Klossner.
Man dies after struck by car while attempting to pick up trash bag on SR-80 The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash involving a pickup truck and a car that hospitalized one man on State Road 80 in Hendry County.
the weather authority Partly cloudy and milder this Tuesday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking increased cloud coverage along with milder conditions this Tuesday afternoon.
WINK NEWS Shell Factory & Nature Park’s final auction begins The Shell Factory & Nature Park has launched its final auction, allowing fans of the now-closed Southwest Florida landmark to take home several valued items.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers to discuss fluoride in water during next city council meeting The debate over fluoride in drinking water has been reignited following an announcement by the Florida surgeon general urging cities to halt fluoride treatment.
ESTERO Gator stuck on Estero porch gives homeowner a wild surprise Sunday night Imagine glancing out your back door and seeing a gator sliding around on your deck. That’s exactly what happened to an Estero homeowner who found an unexpected visitor on their property.
NORTH FORT MYERS North Fort Myers crash leaves motorcyclist with life-threatening injuries A motorcyclist is in critical condition following a collision with a sedan at the intersection of North East Pine Island Road and Judd Creek Boulevard in North Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS BEACH Hurricane Ian recovery delays impact tourism and local businesses Fort Myers Beach is still grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, which struck over two years ago.
FORT MYERS Alliance for the Arts hosting Jazz on the Green, celebrating historic music genre Catch Grammy winners and jazz virtuosos at the Jazz on the Green event hosted by the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS Twins host fans for open house and first full squad workout The Minnesota Twins held their first full squad workout of Spring Training as well as hosted fans for an open house.
Potential changes to how shingle roofs are covered by insurance Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky recently made comments at the Florida Chamber Insurance Summit about the potential phasing out of shingle roofs in the state.
NAPLES Young bobcat injured by car; rehabilitated, released into Naples A previously injured young bobcat has been released back into the wild through the collaborative efforts of several Florida environmental agencies.
Florida house speaker appoints Charlotte County sheriff to state immigration enforcement council Florida House Speaker has appointed Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell to the state immigration enforcement council.
Man sentenced to 15 years for drug trafficking in Southwest Florida A drug trafficker has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine in Southwest Florida.
Craft supplier Joann to shutter 3 SWFL stores, 500 nationwide The big box craft chain based in Hudson, Ohio, is closing its North Naples store at 6424 Naples Blvd., the Estero store at Coconut Point and the Fort Myers store in South Plaza on Cleveland Avenue.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda Police Department Chaplin Rev. Bill Klossner passes away The Punta Gorda Police Department announced the passing of their Chaplin, Reverend Bill Klossner.
Man dies after struck by car while attempting to pick up trash bag on SR-80 The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash involving a pickup truck and a car that hospitalized one man on State Road 80 in Hendry County.
the weather authority Partly cloudy and milder this Tuesday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking increased cloud coverage along with milder conditions this Tuesday afternoon.
WINK NEWS Shell Factory & Nature Park’s final auction begins The Shell Factory & Nature Park has launched its final auction, allowing fans of the now-closed Southwest Florida landmark to take home several valued items.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers to discuss fluoride in water during next city council meeting The debate over fluoride in drinking water has been reignited following an announcement by the Florida surgeon general urging cities to halt fluoride treatment.
ESTERO Gator stuck on Estero porch gives homeowner a wild surprise Sunday night Imagine glancing out your back door and seeing a gator sliding around on your deck. That’s exactly what happened to an Estero homeowner who found an unexpected visitor on their property.
NORTH FORT MYERS North Fort Myers crash leaves motorcyclist with life-threatening injuries A motorcyclist is in critical condition following a collision with a sedan at the intersection of North East Pine Island Road and Judd Creek Boulevard in North Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS BEACH Hurricane Ian recovery delays impact tourism and local businesses Fort Myers Beach is still grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, which struck over two years ago.
FORT MYERS Alliance for the Arts hosting Jazz on the Green, celebrating historic music genre Catch Grammy winners and jazz virtuosos at the Jazz on the Green event hosted by the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS Twins host fans for open house and first full squad workout The Minnesota Twins held their first full squad workout of Spring Training as well as hosted fans for an open house.
Potential changes to how shingle roofs are covered by insurance Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky recently made comments at the Florida Chamber Insurance Summit about the potential phasing out of shingle roofs in the state.
FILE – This September 2020 photo provided by Johnson & Johnson shows a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine developed by the company. (Cheryl Gerber/Courtesy of Johnson & Johnson via AP, File) The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is raising moral concerns over the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine because it’s produced using a cell line derived from an aborted fetus. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is labeling the newest vaccine “morally compromised,” and recommends Catholics not choose the Johnson and Johnson vaccine if they have a choice. They say Catholics who have the ability to choose a vaccine should choose Pfizer or Moderna over Johnson and Johnson. But molecular medicine expert Dr. Michael Teng with USF Health says it isn’t that simple. “Derivatives of that cell line were also used in the trials for the Pfizer, Moderna vaccines in order to detect antibodies, things like that. So these cells are pretty widespread.” Teng says no abortions were performed to make the vaccine, so when it comes to valuing life, his advice? Consider the greater good. “That life, of course, extends to the elderly who are very susceptible to the virus. To people with underlying medical conditions who are very susceptible to death. There is a moral option to preserve life at all stages and not just the state of an unborn fetus 50 years ago.” Dr. Amesh Adalja called it “mindboggling.” “I don’t want to see Catholics die because they don’t take this vaccine because they’re listening to their priests or their bishops or the Pope. This is just as absurd as listening to a real estate developer to get medical advice,” said Adalja, an infectious disease specialist with the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security. “They run the risk of doing a lot of damage if they undermine people’s confidence or willingness to take the Johnson and Johnson vaccine,” Adalja said. While not disputing the church officials’ contention that an abortion-derived cell line is used in the production, Johnson and Johnson issued a statement Tuesday stressing that there is no fetal tissue in its vaccine. Adalja says the fetal cell line did originate from an aborted fetus. “And that cell line has been propagated or continued and it’s used for not just this COVID-19 vaccine by Johnson and Johnson, but also rubella vaccine, shingles vaccine, chickenpox vaccine, hepatitis A vaccines. They are an important part of our medical technology,” Adalja said. Johnson and Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine is made using a harmless cold virus, called an adenovirus, the same technology used to produce a successful Ebola vaccine. The adenovirus is grown using what’s called an immortalized cell line, and the virus then is pulled out and purified. Several types of cell lines created decades ago using fetal tissue exist and are widely used in medical manufacturing but the cells in them today are clones of the early cells, not the original tissue. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a January statement that “abortion-derived” cell lines were used to test the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines but not in their development or production. The Archdiocese statements renewed religious discussions about the vaccine and the use of abortion-derived cells. In December, the Vatican said that “it is morally acceptable to receive COVID-19 vaccines that have used cell lines from aborted fetuses” in the research and production process when “ethically irreproachable” vaccines aren’t available to the public. Pope Francis has frequently spoken about the need to ensure that vaccines are widely available, especially to the poor and marginalized. And, last month, a decree signed by the governor of the Vatican city-state said that Vatican employees who opt out of vaccination without a proven medical reason could be subject to sanctions, including being fired. “Given that the COVID-19 virus can involve serious health risks, it can be morally acceptable to receive a vaccine that uses abortion-derived cell lines if no other available vaccines comparable in safety and efficacy with no connection to abortion,” January guidance from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops said. The Vatican said Catholics who choose not to get vaccinated due to moral objections must keep the greater good in mind and do everything else possible to avoid getting the virus and putting others at risk.