Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast UniversityMissing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres
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 mother’s 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 Ian.
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 Bowman’s 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.
ESTERO FGCU student wins ice dancing national championship FGCU sophomore Lucas Appel wins his second US Senior Solo Dance National Championship in three years.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office: Parent brings weapon to Lehigh Acres school According to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office report, there is probable cause to believe a woman unintentionally brought a firearm to school.
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 mother’s 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 Ian.
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 Bowman’s 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.
ESTERO FGCU student wins ice dancing national championship FGCU sophomore Lucas Appel wins his second US Senior Solo Dance National Championship in three years.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office: Parent brings weapon to Lehigh Acres school According to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office report, there is probable cause to believe a woman unintentionally brought a firearm to school.
Gabby Petito, 22. A lawsuit filed by Gabby Petito’s parents against the Laundrie family will move forward. Circuit Judge Hunter W. Carroll issued the ruling Thursday morning. At issue is whether Brian Laundrie’s parents knew that their son killed Gabby before he fled back to Florida. The Petito family filed the lawsuit in March claiming the Laundries knew Gabby, 22, was dead and kept the information from them. The couple set out on a trip together last summer to visit national parks across the country, but in September Brian, 23, returned to North Port in their shared camper van without Gabby. Gabby Petito (Credit:Joseph Petito) Brian went missing after going camping in Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park where his remains were later found. An autopsy stated he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Gabby’s remains were found in Wyoming. Last week, The Laundries’ attorney released 8-pages of a notebookk that Brian left behind, confessing to killing Gabby. He wrote that she got hurt and he killed her ‘mercifully’. After the public release of the notebook, Gabby’s mother Nicole Schmidt, posted on Twitter that she was fed up. She included a photo that said, “narcissists rewrite history to escape accountability.” MORE: Complete Gabby Petito coverge In the judge’s 8-page ruling, Judge Carroll said, “today’s ruling does not determine what happened to Gabby Petito.” Instead, “it determines only whether Gabby Petito’s parents (the Plaintiffs) stated a valid claim against Brian Laundrie’s parents (the Defendants).” The ruling also states: “On August 28, 2021, Brian told his parents that he murdered Gabby,” adding, “The Court must assume this to be true for this motion.” Brian Laundrie speaks to police during an investigation into an altercation between him and Gabby Petito in Moab, Utah. Credit: Moab Police Department. Department. That same day, according to the ruling, Brian’s parents Christopher and Roberta, spoke with an attorney. Brian arrived in North Port on September 1, and he and “his parents then vacationed together at Fort DeSoto Park on September 6-7, 2021. They took this vacation each knowing that Gabby was dead and that her parents were frantically looking for her.” The judge ruled the case could move forward in part to a statement released by their attorney as Gabby’s parents were mounting a search for her in Grand Teton National Park. The statement in part reads: “On behalf of the Laundrie family, it is our hope that the search for Miss Petito is successful and that Miss Petito is reunited with her family.” The statement itself is not outrageous, but “when juxtaposed with the other conduct in the case, though, the outrageous threshold is surpassed,” according to the ruling. If the Laundries made their statement while they knew Gabby was dead and where she was found, then it was “particularly callous and cruel, and it is sufficiently outrageous to state claims for international infliction of emotional distress,” according to the ruling. Matt Luka, the attorney representing the Laundries in court, in a statement, said he and his clients are “disappointed with Judge Carroll’s decision to deny the motion and allow this lawsuit to proceed.” “Judge Carroll points out that the September 14, 2021 statement, standing alone, does not suggest outrage, but within the context of the other allegations in the case, the plaintiffs’ have met the threshold to go forward to the next phase. The Laundries will continue to use all available legal means to preserve their rights,” Lukka said. The Petito attorney, Patrick Reilly, in a statement said the family is “appreciative f the thorough and well-reasoned decision” by Carroll. “This gives them an opportunity to proceed with their claim for the emotional distress caused by the conduct of the Laundries. Joe and Nichole look forward to discovering the information the Laundries knew about Gabby’s death and her whereabouts, and in particular getting a copy of any correspondence, emails and texts exchanged during the difficult period when Gabby’s whereabouts were unknown. They look forward to going to trial and are confident that ultimately the Laundries will be held accountable,” Reilly said, adding that Gabby’s parents do not wish to discuss the matter publicly. The tentative trial date is August 14, 2023.