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.
lehigh acres LCSO: Lehigh Acres shooting investigation underway The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
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.
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.
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.
lehigh acres LCSO: Lehigh Acres shooting investigation underway The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
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.
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.
Florida panther CREDIT WINK News For the 13th time in 2023, an endangered Florida panther was struck and killed by a vehicle. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Panther Pulse, a 5-year-old male panther, identified as UCFP449, was struck by a vehicle on U.S. Highway 27, south of State Road 17 in Glades County on Sunday. Panthers out in wild. CREDIT: WINK News. November has been the deadliest month for the Florida panther in 2023. Dead panthers were discovered on Nov. 6 and 7. Then, two dead panthers were found on the same day on Nov. 12. This is the fifth dead panther discovered in November. No other month this year has had more than two deaths reported. Until Sept. 17, there were seven Florida panther deaths in 2023. Since then, six more dead panthers were discovered in a period of less than three months. Still image of a female Florida panther captured on FWC video surveillance in Charlotte County. Experts believe she likely lives in the are; although, it is uncommon for Florida panthers to be spotted north of the Caloosahatchee River. Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Vehicle collisions have been the reported cause of every Florida panther death recorded by FWC in 2023. This could be the first year since Panther Pulse records began in 2014 that every reported death has been unnatural: caused by vehicle collisions. RELATED: 2 dead endangered Florida panthers found on the same day, first time since 2021 RELATED: 3-month-old Florida panther dies from car crash in Collier County Florida Panther Deaths Below is the amount of dead Florida panthers that were found in specific counties in 2023. Glades County – 2 Hendry County – 3 Collier County – 8 Seven of the 13 dead pathers discovered were males. Despite the low total number of deaths reported, it’s unclear to experts if this is a concerning trend. Cimarron, the Florida Panther at the Shy Wolf Sanctuary. CREDIT: Paul Dolan At five years old, this latest panther death may be of the oldest dead Florida panther discovered this year. Interestingly, on Nov. 7, a dead female panther was found in Glades County between 3 and 5 years old, too. While most panther sightings are in Collier County, the two oldest dead panthers discovered in 2023 may have been in Glades County. Deadliest Florida Panther Months Below is a list of any month with five or more Florida panther deaths since 2014, with April 2016 marking the deadliest of all months. November 2023 – five deaths May 2022 – six deaths January 2022 – five deaths January 2020 – six deaths November 2019 – five deaths October 2018 – five deaths February 2018 – seven deaths October 2016 – five deaths April 2016 – nine deaths February 2016 – five deaths December 2015 – six deaths July 2015 – five deaths March 2015 – five deaths January 2015 – five deaths December 2014 – six deaths August 2014 – five deaths April 2014 – five deaths Helping Endangered Florida Panthers Panther Crossing is an organization efforting Florida panther safety on the roads. When you see a Panther Crossing sign on the road drivers should reduce their speed to 45 mph. Driving 45 mph should give motorists more time to react should they see a panther on the road. Panther Crossing sign as a reminder to drive 45 mph is designated zones. CREDIT: WINK News In a three-mile-long panther crossing zone, reducing your speed from 60 to 45 mph only adds a minute to your commute. Those 60 seconds added to your drive could mean a lifetime for any panther. RELATED: Florida Panther Conservation: Protecting the State Animal of Florida Getting a panther plate from The Florida Panther Research and Management Trust Fund is another way to help the endangered species. The license plate costs $25 annually, and every dollar goes to helping the endangered species. You can also directly donate to the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida’s Florida Panther Fund. Click here to learn more about the Florida Panther Fund. Click here to learn more from FWC about living with Florida panthers and ways to help protect them. There were 27 reported Florida panther deaths in 2022, 2021, and 2019. There were 22 reported deaths in 2020. FWC says there are between 120 and 230 adult Florida panthers left in the wild.