Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society concernsStudents benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars
Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society concerns An large amount of pets are being surrendered by their owners. About half of the dogs at the Gulf Coast Humane Society are surrender dogs.
Students benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars So far, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax has brought in $507 million for the Lee County School District.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘Shady’: One woman feels misled after federal student loan consolidation It takes some people decades to pay off their student loans. One woman’s last payment was in sight until she took a gamble she said she was told to take.
FORT MYERS Homeless encampments inch closer to neighborhoods Law enforcement has swept multiple encampments, cleaning the trails of mess and muck left behind, and some of these encampments are right in our backyards.
BIG CYPRESS PRESERVE What changes if Big Cypress National Preserve becomes a Wilderness Area? America’s first nationally designated preserve is in Southwest Florida’s backyard, and it is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Method to treat IBD being used for other health issues Trying to get treatments for the brain when fighting neurological diseases like epilepsy and ALS is a challenge.
FORT MYERS NTSB report reveals new details in helicopter crash after Hurricane Ian The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on a helicopter crash that occurred in Iona, Florida, shortly after Hurricane Ian.
NAPLES Memorial celebrates the life of John Passidomo Hundreds of friends and family gathered for a memorial at Baker Park in Naples.
‘Latinos in Action’ empowers all students to succeed WINK News talked with teachers who are a part of the program, helping kids reach their full potential.
Immokalee ‘The eyes always draw me in’; Immokalee portrait artist turns dark times into color One of Southwest Florida best portrait artist, Martha Maria Cantu, almost gave up art. Now she’s on the forefront of the city of Immokalee, to make her community filled with color.
GOLDEN GATE Collier commissioners approve agreement for golf complex in Golden Gate Collier commissioners unanimously approved a long term lease and operating agreement to reopen the Golden Gate golf course Tuesday.
PUNTA GORDA Motorcyclists ride in SWFL to help veterans battle suicide A group of veterans from the American Legion are grabbing their helmets and boots for a motorcycle ride to bring awareness to the staggering rates of suicide among veterans.
SARASOTA Alleged sexual abuse victims of Port Charlotte priest comes forward Father Riley worked at three churches in Charlotte County and another in Naples. On Friday, new allegations emerged from a news conference in Sarasota.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte priest accused of sexual abuse appears in court A priest accused of sexually abusing four altar boys in Iowa nearly 40 years ago returned to Charlotte County court.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema prepares for opening at Mercato The newest movie theater in Southwest Florida opens April 29, and it does so with an array of entertainment offerings that go beyond the usual options across the region.
Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society concerns An large amount of pets are being surrendered by their owners. About half of the dogs at the Gulf Coast Humane Society are surrender dogs.
Students benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars So far, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax has brought in $507 million for the Lee County School District.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘Shady’: One woman feels misled after federal student loan consolidation It takes some people decades to pay off their student loans. One woman’s last payment was in sight until she took a gamble she said she was told to take.
FORT MYERS Homeless encampments inch closer to neighborhoods Law enforcement has swept multiple encampments, cleaning the trails of mess and muck left behind, and some of these encampments are right in our backyards.
BIG CYPRESS PRESERVE What changes if Big Cypress National Preserve becomes a Wilderness Area? America’s first nationally designated preserve is in Southwest Florida’s backyard, and it is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Method to treat IBD being used for other health issues Trying to get treatments for the brain when fighting neurological diseases like epilepsy and ALS is a challenge.
FORT MYERS NTSB report reveals new details in helicopter crash after Hurricane Ian The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on a helicopter crash that occurred in Iona, Florida, shortly after Hurricane Ian.
NAPLES Memorial celebrates the life of John Passidomo Hundreds of friends and family gathered for a memorial at Baker Park in Naples.
‘Latinos in Action’ empowers all students to succeed WINK News talked with teachers who are a part of the program, helping kids reach their full potential.
Immokalee ‘The eyes always draw me in’; Immokalee portrait artist turns dark times into color One of Southwest Florida best portrait artist, Martha Maria Cantu, almost gave up art. Now she’s on the forefront of the city of Immokalee, to make her community filled with color.
GOLDEN GATE Collier commissioners approve agreement for golf complex in Golden Gate Collier commissioners unanimously approved a long term lease and operating agreement to reopen the Golden Gate golf course Tuesday.
PUNTA GORDA Motorcyclists ride in SWFL to help veterans battle suicide A group of veterans from the American Legion are grabbing their helmets and boots for a motorcycle ride to bring awareness to the staggering rates of suicide among veterans.
SARASOTA Alleged sexual abuse victims of Port Charlotte priest comes forward Father Riley worked at three churches in Charlotte County and another in Naples. On Friday, new allegations emerged from a news conference in Sarasota.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte priest accused of sexual abuse appears in court A priest accused of sexually abusing four altar boys in Iowa nearly 40 years ago returned to Charlotte County court.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema prepares for opening at Mercato The newest movie theater in Southwest Florida opens April 29, and it does so with an array of entertainment offerings that go beyond the usual options across the region.
Police arrest 22-year-old Seth Potter after a chase along I-95 that aired live on radio. Credit: CBS A radio show featuring a call with a Florida sheriff took an unexpected turn this week when the on-air interview was interrupted by a hectic police chase involving the sheriff. The unexpected segment unfolded as the co-hosts of “Drew Garabo Live,” a radio series covering news and current events that appears on the local station 102.5 FM in Tampa, attempted to begin what was a planned interview with Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood on Tuesday afternoon. Chitwood was meant to discuss his public condemnation and pushback against antisemitic hate groups that recently circulated in the Volusia County area. However, when the co-hosts’ phone line connected to start their chat with Chitwood, a chaotic scene played out through the speakers in their recording studio. Sirens blared in the background while officers exchanged commands over a radio signal. The discord was taking place as Chitwood called in for his appearance on the radio show from behind the wheel of his police car. Eventually, it was revealed that the sheriff became suddenly involved in an active police pursuit while driving near the location of a stolen vehicle, which at the time was driving along Interstate 95. “I’m not even thinking twice that I’m live for the air and they’re listening to me calling out the pursuit,” Chitwood said over the speaker. Later, the sheriff explained that “FHP [Florida Highway Patrol] was chasing a car, and I just happened to be at the next exit” where the suspect appeared to be traveling. A video recording of the radio interview, which is available to watch online, cuts to police body camera footage taken during the police pursuit. It shows an officer exiting a police vehicle and assisting in the arrest of a driver whose car was stopped along the side of a major roadway. Police on Wednesday identified the suspect in the chase as 22-year-old Seth Potter, who now faces multiple charges related to traffic violations and theft, according to the arrest report filed by Florida Highway Patrol and obtained by CBS News. Potter was initially flagged to the patrol on Tuesday afternoon, and troopers received instructions to look out for a white pickup truck without a license plate that was fleeing a patrol captain on I-95, according to the report. When highway patrol attempted to perform a traffic stop, the suspect allegedly increased the vehicle’s speed, eventually reaching 117 mph while swerving across southbound lanes on the interstate. At one point, the suspect allegedly drove toward an Edgewater police officer who dove out of the way to avoid being hit, the arrest report says. Potter was arrested and booked into the Volusia County Jail, where he is being held without bond and facing multiple charges, including reckless driving, failure to obey lawful orders, grand theft of a motor vehicle, grand theft of a firearm, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and fleeing/eluding law enforcement with sirens active, at high speeds, with disregard to the safety of other persons or property. Less than two hours after Potter’s arrest, authorities say a delayed hit revealed that the pickup truck Potter was driving had been reported as a stolen vehicle by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. A stolen firearm was recovered from the vehicle, according to the arrest report. Florida Highway Patrol also noted in the report that while attempting to flee authorities, which is a felony, Potter also violated a Florida state statute by wearing a mask that covered his face.