New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashesNew leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans
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.
FORT MYERS Black Flag brings classic punk energy to The Ranch in Fort Myers Legendary punk band Black Flag made their mark in Southwest Florida during the Fort Myers stop of their “First Four Years” tour.
Charlotte Technical College breaks ground on aviation facility The Charlotte County School District is flying high and keeping its “Space Academy” designation with a new aviation training facility for students.
CAPE CORAL Man arrested in connection with Cape Coral home invasion The Cape Coral Police Department has announced the arrest of one of three men suspected in a home invasion that took place earlier this month.
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.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral residents react to $100M North Cape land deal The city of Cape Coral is seeing two projects that will change the city. One is called one of the most lucrative deals in county history.
Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association breaks ground on new Fort Myers headquarters As Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association’s president pointed out, about 1,000 people are still moving to Florida every day, and many of them are finding their way to Southwest Florida.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte County drug trafficker sentenced to 10 years A Charlotte County man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking.
lehigh acres ‘How to sign away parental rights?’; Lehigh Acres woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby.
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.
FORT MYERS Black Flag brings classic punk energy to The Ranch in Fort Myers Legendary punk band Black Flag made their mark in Southwest Florida during the Fort Myers stop of their “First Four Years” tour.
Charlotte Technical College breaks ground on aviation facility The Charlotte County School District is flying high and keeping its “Space Academy” designation with a new aviation training facility for students.
CAPE CORAL Man arrested in connection with Cape Coral home invasion The Cape Coral Police Department has announced the arrest of one of three men suspected in a home invasion that took place earlier this month.
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.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral residents react to $100M North Cape land deal The city of Cape Coral is seeing two projects that will change the city. One is called one of the most lucrative deals in county history.
Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association breaks ground on new Fort Myers headquarters As Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association’s president pointed out, about 1,000 people are still moving to Florida every day, and many of them are finding their way to Southwest Florida.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte County drug trafficker sentenced to 10 years A Charlotte County man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking.
lehigh acres ‘How to sign away parental rights?’; Lehigh Acres woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby.
On Monday, Hector A. Cafferata Jr. Elementary School students and staff reunited in portable classrooms for the first time since Hurricane Ian. The Cape Coral school couldn’t be used after the hurricane because of the severe damage it sustained, but hundreds of children who went there finally came back together, just not in the same building. Dr. Jason Kurtz, the principal of Hector A. Cafferata Elementary, says it’s been taking a toll on the staff and students. Since Ian, students have been split between Hancock Creek Elementary and Pelican Elementary. The School District of Lee County is excited to offer these elementary school students the opportunity to be back together again. The district put 46 portables on the property of Cape Coral Technical College, right next to the damaged elementary school. The portable campus will be leased for two years by the school district so they can have time to determine what will happen to the original campus. For the last two weeks, teachers have been moving their supplies and restructuring their classrooms ahead of students’ Monday morning return. Hector A. Cafferata sustained extensive damage from Hurricane Ian, from water infiltration throughout both floors to a torn roof. Monday is the day everyone has been waiting for when their long separation finally ends. Hector A. Cafferata seen from above after being damaged by Hurricane Ian. Credit: WINK News “Obviously, a lot has happened at the building,” Kurtz said. “This is just the building; Hector Cafferata Elementary School is y’all and our students.” Long-term ideas for the school will be presented in January. But Superintendent Christopher Bernier says the state is not making changes to its testing schedule, and they have a responsibility to get these students back into a school building. When the teachers returned to their classrooms this month to set up for students returning, it was very difficult for them to take in what Ian did to their beloved building. “I don’t even know what to take,” said teacher Ingrid Mugica. “They said to take stuff, but I am so overwhelmed right now. You know, this is something that I’ve done for many years, and to see it destroyed like this is very painful. So, it’s not that it’s worse than what I thought; it’s just painful. Period.” For parents like Hadasa Palacios, it’s a relief. WINK News spoke with her right after she dropped her daughter off at school. Palacios says making the trek to Hancock Creek Elementary School for the last few months was hard, so she and her daughter eagerly awaited a return to Hector A. Cafferata Elementary, or somewhere closer to it. “We are through the roof, we are so excited; we brought her teacher an apple,” Palacios said. “She was with her teacher, but it’s not the same. You know, all of the students were separate and over there in the other school. While we were so excited to be there, of course, because they were hosting us, but they have different ways of doing things. Over there, they don’t have uniform; our kids have uniform. So, it’s nice for them to be reunited as a family.” Mujica’s students are just as grateful to be reunited. “We feel really happy because we get to start learning again and get together again,” said Anniston Tomanen, a student at Hector A. Cafferata Elementary. For Mujica, this is progress. “The first time I saw destruction,” Mujica said. “Right now, I see building, I see growing, I see stepping forward. I see moving on. I see lightning and that’s amazing.”