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.
Destiny Padilla (Credit: Mullin’s Memorial) Family members of a girl who accidentally shot herself in the face with a ghost gun are telling their story. Destiny Padilla’s mother and grandmother are heartbroken but also angry after the accident. Destiny’s family says she was playing with the gun in a home that wasn’t supposed to have firearms. Andrew Byrd admitted to building the gun. Andrew Byrd, 18. (Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office) No guns were supposed to be in the home that Andrew Byrd lived in because his mom is a convicted felon and his younger brother is the subject of an active risk protection order. Byrd’s younger brother, 14-year-old Phillip Byrd, is facing charges of plotting a Columbine-like school shooting at Harns Marsh Middle School. Worst of all, the 17-year-old girl didn’t die at a stranger’s house. Andrew Byrd is her cousin. “She was so proud of that robot she built,” said Ashley Pironti, Destiny Padilla’s mother. Pironti can’t look at pictures of her daughter without tears filling her eyes. “I just felt like it wasn’t her time to go.” Destiny was only 17 years old when deputies say she accidentally shot herself in the face with a ghost gun that was made by her second cousin Andrew Byrd. “When she was going to Pathways, he was in there,” said Destiny’s grandmother Margaret Osen. Pathways is a program for kids on probation. That is how Destiny and Andrew started hanging out. “They weren’t even supposed to be hanging together. They were both on probation,” said Pironti. Destiny’s family saw her turn a corner in this program. They said she was happy and she was a light in her friend’s life. “She always had a smile on her face. Always giggling, always dancing,” said Pironti. That doesn’t make the family’s loss any easier. “Very hurt, hurt or heartbroken. I cry every morning. I cry throughout the day, and I cry myself to sleep,” Pironti said. Ashley believes her pain and her loss could have been prevented if the probation officer checked up on her more. “She said her PO officer allowed her to be over there, which her PO officer was here July 19 or July 20. Telling her that she didn’t get a phone call from Destiny. She didn’t talk to Destiny. Well, how are you not doing your job?” said Pironti. The only thing that can ease this mother’s pain is remembering the person her daughter was. “Just know Destiny it was a loving, caring, very lovable, wore her heart on her sleeve,” said Pironti. Destiny’s family is hosting a celebration of life this Sunday at Veteran’s Parks from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The only charge Andrew Byrd is facing is a violation of his probation. Despite the fact that he wasn’t allowed to be around guns and definitely wasn’t allowed to build them.