Cape Coral man faces 16 charges after fleeing multiple traffic stopsSanibel residents brace for traffic surge with new advisory and app aid
NORTH FORT MYERS Cape Coral man faces 16 charges after fleeing multiple traffic stops Marcus Selby, 24, is facing multiple charges after a dramatic series of events involving Cape Coral police and Florida Highway Patrol troopers.
SANIBEL Sanibel residents brace for traffic surge with new advisory and app aid Sanibel residents are bracing for increased traffic as the city issued a “heavy traffic advisory” for the entire week.
FGCU FGCU’s Casey Santoro battles back from Achilles injury FGCU women’s basketball player Casey Santoro is back on the floor after suffering an Achilles injury a season ago.
BABCOCK RANCH Heaviest Florida panther ever recorded located in Babcock Ranch Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission biologists recently captured and collared the heaviest Florida panther ever recorded.
Lee County deputies using VR for safe high-risk training scenarios The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has taken a significant step forward in training by incorporating virtual reality technology.
NAPLES FC Naples signs local soccer star Joffre followed his dream across continents after graduating from Gulf Coast. Now he’s back on the professional soccer pitch in his hometown.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach businesses face floodplain compliance deadline Fort Myers Beach’s businesses face pressure to comply with floodplain regulations or leave the island by March 1.
NAPLES Persistent red tide bloom off Naples to Boca Grande raises concerns As the weather warms up, more people are heading to the beach. However, those with beach plans in Southwest Florida should be aware of the persistent red tide affecting the coastline.
FORT MYERS Community aids in search for missing pitbull after Lee County crash A crash on I-75 near Daniels Parkway in Lee County turned a routine drive into a heartbreaking search for a missing pet.
LEHIGH ACRES Community supporting Lehigh Acres church after destructive fire A massive fire recently burned the Christ at Crossroads Church in Lehigh Acres, and the community is rallying to support the church’s recovery.
FORT MYERS Kids battling cancer in Fort Myers receive cuddly companions from donor Children battling cancer in Fort Myers are finding comfort in a special friend thanks to a generous donor.
2 SWFL veterans find relief at Harry Chapin Food Bank Two veterans in Southwest Florida routinely receive vital support through local food distributions, highlighting a significant issue affecting many who have served our country.
Researchers found lasting effects from COVID-19 COVID-19 cases today are less severe than five years ago, but new research indicates severe infections may have lasting impacts on the heart.
PORT CHARLOTTE Connecting service dogs with veterans A 76-year-old veteran is transforming lives by connecting fellow veterans with support dogs, and the results have been life-changing.
Peace River Wildlife Center celebrates reopening Peace River Wildlife Center in Punta Gorda reopened at Ponce de Leon Park after being closed since hurricanes Helene and Milton flooded the center and its hospital that treats injured wildlife.
NORTH FORT MYERS Cape Coral man faces 16 charges after fleeing multiple traffic stops Marcus Selby, 24, is facing multiple charges after a dramatic series of events involving Cape Coral police and Florida Highway Patrol troopers.
SANIBEL Sanibel residents brace for traffic surge with new advisory and app aid Sanibel residents are bracing for increased traffic as the city issued a “heavy traffic advisory” for the entire week.
FGCU FGCU’s Casey Santoro battles back from Achilles injury FGCU women’s basketball player Casey Santoro is back on the floor after suffering an Achilles injury a season ago.
BABCOCK RANCH Heaviest Florida panther ever recorded located in Babcock Ranch Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission biologists recently captured and collared the heaviest Florida panther ever recorded.
Lee County deputies using VR for safe high-risk training scenarios The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has taken a significant step forward in training by incorporating virtual reality technology.
NAPLES FC Naples signs local soccer star Joffre followed his dream across continents after graduating from Gulf Coast. Now he’s back on the professional soccer pitch in his hometown.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach businesses face floodplain compliance deadline Fort Myers Beach’s businesses face pressure to comply with floodplain regulations or leave the island by March 1.
NAPLES Persistent red tide bloom off Naples to Boca Grande raises concerns As the weather warms up, more people are heading to the beach. However, those with beach plans in Southwest Florida should be aware of the persistent red tide affecting the coastline.
FORT MYERS Community aids in search for missing pitbull after Lee County crash A crash on I-75 near Daniels Parkway in Lee County turned a routine drive into a heartbreaking search for a missing pet.
LEHIGH ACRES Community supporting Lehigh Acres church after destructive fire A massive fire recently burned the Christ at Crossroads Church in Lehigh Acres, and the community is rallying to support the church’s recovery.
FORT MYERS Kids battling cancer in Fort Myers receive cuddly companions from donor Children battling cancer in Fort Myers are finding comfort in a special friend thanks to a generous donor.
2 SWFL veterans find relief at Harry Chapin Food Bank Two veterans in Southwest Florida routinely receive vital support through local food distributions, highlighting a significant issue affecting many who have served our country.
Researchers found lasting effects from COVID-19 COVID-19 cases today are less severe than five years ago, but new research indicates severe infections may have lasting impacts on the heart.
PORT CHARLOTTE Connecting service dogs with veterans A 76-year-old veteran is transforming lives by connecting fellow veterans with support dogs, and the results have been life-changing.
Peace River Wildlife Center celebrates reopening Peace River Wildlife Center in Punta Gorda reopened at Ponce de Leon Park after being closed since hurricanes Helene and Milton flooded the center and its hospital that treats injured wildlife.
On Wednesday, Law enforcement filled up a neighborhood to get down an important task, which put a smile on a child’s face. Two-year-old Angad Palande has been battling leukemia for almost his entire life, and after some tough hospitalizations, his mom sent out a plea to the community for her son. “You receive this kind of news, you know, your world turns upside down,” said Maddie Palande, Angad’s mother. Maddie said she knew something was wrong when her baby was just 9 months old. He got sick over and over again. “Everybody kept saying, ‘Well, he’s in a daycare. It’s very normal, very common,’ including his pediatrician,” Maddie said. At 16 months old, Angad got so sick that he couldn’t sit up on his own. He wouldn’t eat and wouldn’t sleep. Maddie rushed her boy back to his pediatrician and demanded blood work. “Which is when we found out that he had leukemia,” Maddie said. He started chemotherapy and has been in and out of the hospital. A couple months ago, Maddie posted to her Facebook page called The Real Moms of Naples, telling Angad’s story and asking fellow mothers if they have any ideas how to surprise her son ahead of his October birthday, with none other than his favorite thing in the world: police cars. “I posted it, you know: Where can I take him to see a police car up close? You know? He’s gonna lose his mind if he can,” she said. Mom after mom began reaching out to Maddie, some saying that they had connections with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office. Then, Corporal Matt Vaill reached out. “He was like, ‘I want to make this event very special for him, and you know we can actually make it a lot bigger than you were imagining, expecting,'” Maddie said. On Wednesday, Collier County deputies showed up with some friends. Marco Island Police, even Florida Highway Patrol, showed up to the Palande’s front yard and driveway en masse with cars, motorcycles and even a boat. “He sat in every single vehicle, including the boat, including the motorcycle, and he played with the sirens. He played with the lights, and he hugged every single officer. You know, fist bumps and smiles, and it was just a very special day for us, extremely special,” Maddie said. All to give one special little boy the surprise of a lifetime, and surely he did enjoy it. “It’s a keepsake, you know? These are memories for a lifetime, everlasting for sure,” Maddie said. Angad is currently in the maintenance phase of chemo. He has another year to go. Plus, he has surgical procedures nearly every month to protect his spinal cord and brain. Maddie said that memories like this will outweigh the pain he is going through. After the surprise, FHP sent WINK a statement saying troopers were so happy to share their time, and they sent well wishes to their new special friend.