Family of eagles: FGCU volleyball star graduates with Master’s DegreeLCSO: Man shot by car owner protecting property
Family of eagles: FGCU volleyball star graduates with Master’s Degree Saturday marked a special day for Florida Gulf Coast University as more than 1,800 students graduated. For one student-athlete, graduating from FGCU runs in the family.
lehigh acres LCSO: Man shot by car owner protecting property The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
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.
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.
Family of eagles: FGCU volleyball star graduates with Master’s Degree Saturday marked a special day for Florida Gulf Coast University as more than 1,800 students graduated. For one student-athlete, graduating from FGCU runs in the family.
lehigh acres LCSO: Man shot by car owner protecting property The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
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.
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.
The fire broke out in a home on Levsky Avenue before 3 a.m. (Credit: WINK News) A 12-year-old girl and five dogs died in an Arcadia house fire early Tuesday. The fire broke out in a home on Levsky Avenue before 3 a.m. A mother and her two children lived there, along with some other family members. Everyone escaped the fire, but the girl, Laiellah, ran back into the burning home to save the dogs. Her brother tried to run in to recover her, but both the girl and the dogs died. Laiellah (Photo courtesy of family) DeSoto County’s fire chief said crews found the remains of two dogs and Laiellah, and they believe the other three dogs died as well. The call for the fire came in just before 3 a.m., with the first fire truck arriving within six minutes. The flames were already so big that crews attempted to enter the house several times with no luck. Deputies weren’t sure if anyone was still inside. They asked neighbors if anyone had seen Laiellah as the flames continued to grow. “There was no unburned part of the house when we arrived. It was essentially all on fire,” said Chief Chad Jorgensen with DeSoto County Fire Rescue. Laiellah’s mom and older brother suffered burns and smoke inhalation. Her mom is currently in the ICU with burns over 40% of her body, a family member says. Her brother was treated at the hospital and released. Neighbors who saw it all unfold say they’re heartbroken. They feel the sting of losing a girl they watched play outside with her dogs all the time. Laiellah was on the autism spectrum, according to a family member, and loved lions, “The Lion King” and “My Little Pony.” And she loved her dogs, a strong bond that could be seen by neighbors. “I did see her out here a few times. When her dogs were out here, she’d be hugging on them and stuff,” said Paul Mee. Laiellah originally escaped the fire, but she ran back inside to save her precious pups. “So often people that wind up dying from a fire actually have gotten out. They choose to go back in for various reasons,” Jorgensen said. “I didn’t know anything happened until the police came over here and said they were looking for her,” Mee said. Jorgensen says Laiellah’s older brother tried to run back inside to save his sister, but he couldn’t reach her. “I just couldn’t imagine. She’s still a baby. That’s what they said, she just went back in,” Mee said. It’s a loss Rosa Stainbrook can’t fathom. “It’s heartbreaking because I have two sons, 12 and 14, and it just breaks my heart for the family.” Her organization, “Bulldog Strong,” is collecting donations for the family. “We will take anything. Beds, sheets, towels, food. If anyone just wants to donate money, we will do that also.” It’s the small gestures that will make a big difference after the family’s massive loss. “I’m just hoping that we can really come together and do something to help this family.” There were other family members in the home and they managed to escape to a nearby relative’s home. The state fire marshal is working to figure out how the fire started. Trust WINK News for updates.