ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
A group of faith leaders is coming together to fight the state of Florida’s proposal to eliminate African American studies and diversity programs. An advanced placement (AP) course currently in development offers high school students an evidence-based introduction to African American studies, and the Florida Department of Education rejected it. “For me and other pastors, this is not about politics; it’s about heritage,” said Rev. R.B. Holmes Jr. “This is about history.” History is one of three words at the center of a clear divide between faith leaders and the Florida Department of Education. Leaders want the state to overturn its decision to ban a new AP African American studies course in all public schools. Governor Ron DeSantis did not make the decision, but he supports it because it followed state law. “We want education, not indoctrination,” DeSantis said. “If you fall on the side of indoctrination, we’re going to decline… If it’s education, then we will do. We believe in teaching kids facts and how to think, but we don’t believe they should have an agenda imposed on them.” The governor is referencing topic 4.19 for the course titled ‘Black Queer Stories,’ topic 4.29 ‘Movements for Black Lives,’ and topic 4.15 ‘Intersectionality and Activism.’ A Jan. 20 tweet from Manny Diaz, Florida’s commissioner of education, also referenced that theory. The department’s specific concerns involved reading included in the AP course. “When you try to use Black history to shoehorn in queer theory, you are clearly trying to use that for political purposes,” DeSantis said. Faith leaders said they just want African American history to be taught; nothing more and nothing less. “This is personal for us, our children, our grandchildren, and future generations of African Americans in this country,” said Commissioner Curtis Richardson. According to the College Board website, this course is focused on exploring the vital contributions and experiences of African Americans across all subjects, including authors like the one who wrote that included reading. AP African American Studies course concerns. (Credit: Florida Department of Education) Faith leaders are prepared to take it as far as they need to. “We’re here today to tell the governor that we are not going to stand by and just let these things happen to African Americans in our state,” said Tallahassee Commissioner Curtis Richardson. “African American history is American history.” This coalition of African American leaders promises that if the Department of Education and the governor fail to realize that, they’ll work as hard and as long as they need to to ensure the nation does. “Black history ought to be taught consistently and persistently without the government overreaching,” said Holmes. Overreaching is what these religious leaders say the government is doing. “If we believe in parental rights, you know what, why is the government making a decision for parents? If you believe in parental rights, then let the parent make that decision,” Holmes said. Holmes said if the state does nothing to reverse its decision by February 16, the Reverand Al Sharpton and others will go to Tallahassee. “On February 16, we’ll be bringing Reverend Sharpton and other civil rights leaders and faith-based leaders to Tallahassee to continue to beat the drum about why African American history is important.” According to the Department of Education, state lawmakers would have to change the law for it to change its ruling.