Fort Myers roads close early for Edison Festival of Light paradeNear-record heat with sun and clouds for your Saturday
FORT MYERS Fort Myers roads close early for Edison Festival of Light parade Downtown Fort Myers is preparing for a big evening with the Edison Festival of Light Parade and 5K set to draw thousands of spectators.
the weather authority Near-record heat with sun and clouds for your Saturday The Weather Authority says the above-normal temperatures that Southwest Florida has been experiencing will stick around yet again for Saturday.
LEE COUNTY Savannah Bananas bring fun on the diamond at JetBlue Park The Savannah Bananas amazed and entertained a sold out JetBlue Park Friday night for the first time in Southwest Florida.
CAPE CORAL Caught on Camera: Cape Coral mailbox hit by drifting car A Cape Coral homeowner was left in shock after a car sent her mailbox flying through the air and left tire tracks next to her home.
ARCADIA DeSoto County man sentenced for deadly DUI crash Justice for a mother and son killed by a man driving under the influence.
NAPLES Oldest Black-owned business in SWFL continues to serve community Cleveland Bass Movers, founded in 1969, stands as the oldest Black-owned business in Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS BEACH Broken gate on Lovers Key Beach Resort frustrating residents Residents of Lover’s Key Beach Club in Fort Myers Beach are frustrated with a gate that remains wide open, despite “No Trespassing” signs, since Hurricane Ian struck two years ago.
St. James City Church plans $700k flood-proofing project for future safety Hurricanes have caused flood after flood, and one island church, The First Baptist Church of Saint James City, wants to build higher.
Romance scams rise in the US, AARP warns residents to beware Romance scams are on the rise, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting over 64,000 cases in the U.S. in 2023.
Fort Myers Savannah Bananas make their way to Fort Myers for first time The Savannah Bananas have made their way to JetBlue Park for Friday’s sold-out game in Fort Myers to watch “the greatest show in sports.”
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Yacht Club receives key permit Cape Coral received a key permit for a Yacht Club Community Park. This permit opens up the necessary steps for the park to be built.
PORT CHARLOTTE Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church holds 31st annual Greek Fest The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Port Charlotte kicked off its 31st annual Greek Fest on Friday.
Donations helping young kids get fed Food insecurity is a pressing issue in the community, and organizations like the Harry Chapin Food Bank, Meals of Hope and the Guadalupe Center are stepping up to help.
New risk factors contribute to heart disease February is American Heart Month, a perfect time to assess your heart health.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte High School student arrested for possession of BB gun According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, a student has been arrested after a BB gun was found in his backpack on Friday.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers roads close early for Edison Festival of Light parade Downtown Fort Myers is preparing for a big evening with the Edison Festival of Light Parade and 5K set to draw thousands of spectators.
the weather authority Near-record heat with sun and clouds for your Saturday The Weather Authority says the above-normal temperatures that Southwest Florida has been experiencing will stick around yet again for Saturday.
LEE COUNTY Savannah Bananas bring fun on the diamond at JetBlue Park The Savannah Bananas amazed and entertained a sold out JetBlue Park Friday night for the first time in Southwest Florida.
CAPE CORAL Caught on Camera: Cape Coral mailbox hit by drifting car A Cape Coral homeowner was left in shock after a car sent her mailbox flying through the air and left tire tracks next to her home.
ARCADIA DeSoto County man sentenced for deadly DUI crash Justice for a mother and son killed by a man driving under the influence.
NAPLES Oldest Black-owned business in SWFL continues to serve community Cleveland Bass Movers, founded in 1969, stands as the oldest Black-owned business in Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS BEACH Broken gate on Lovers Key Beach Resort frustrating residents Residents of Lover’s Key Beach Club in Fort Myers Beach are frustrated with a gate that remains wide open, despite “No Trespassing” signs, since Hurricane Ian struck two years ago.
St. James City Church plans $700k flood-proofing project for future safety Hurricanes have caused flood after flood, and one island church, The First Baptist Church of Saint James City, wants to build higher.
Romance scams rise in the US, AARP warns residents to beware Romance scams are on the rise, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting over 64,000 cases in the U.S. in 2023.
Fort Myers Savannah Bananas make their way to Fort Myers for first time The Savannah Bananas have made their way to JetBlue Park for Friday’s sold-out game in Fort Myers to watch “the greatest show in sports.”
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Yacht Club receives key permit Cape Coral received a key permit for a Yacht Club Community Park. This permit opens up the necessary steps for the park to be built.
PORT CHARLOTTE Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church holds 31st annual Greek Fest The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Port Charlotte kicked off its 31st annual Greek Fest on Friday.
Donations helping young kids get fed Food insecurity is a pressing issue in the community, and organizations like the Harry Chapin Food Bank, Meals of Hope and the Guadalupe Center are stepping up to help.
New risk factors contribute to heart disease February is American Heart Month, a perfect time to assess your heart health.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte High School student arrested for possession of BB gun According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, a student has been arrested after a BB gun was found in his backpack on Friday.
43-year-old Jose Manuel Irizarry Barbosa Credit: The Lee County Sheriff’s Office A Lehigh Acres man has been arrested after allegedly breaking into a woman’s home and threatening her and her two children. On Monday, Lee County Sheriff’s Office detectives responded to a home in Lehigh Acres about a man who had entered a victim’s home. According to the victim, she was home alone and in the pool with her two daughters. She said her daughter had left the front door unlocked when she had gone to get her ID out of the car earlier. The door to the backyard was trying to be opened, and she saw her dogs being let out of the house and 43-year-old Jose Manuel Irizarry Barbosa standing there. She did not know who Barbosa was. “Lost all words. I was kind of muted because I couldn’t say anything at the moment, but immediately I started analyzing how I need to get my girls closer to me,” the mother said. Her younger daughter was in a life vest chewing on a scrunchie when Barbosa approached her and touched her face, telling her to be careful and that she could choke on that. “He grabbed my baby’s face. He touched my daughter’s face and he told me, ‘You should be more careful than that to let your baby have a scrunchie in her mouth,'” the mother said. Barbosa reportedly told the victim that she didn’t have to worry about him being evil and that he stopped being evil long ago; if he had still been evil, the victim would not be here. He then walked backward towards the home, told the mother he had done her a favor, and smiled at her. He unplugged the auxiliary cord from her phone because it had the music connected. He repeated himself, advising her to wait and he’d be back. “In literally a minute, maybe a minute and a half, I threw my daughters out of the pool. I ran to get my phone, and I ran towards the back of my house,” she said. The victim took the kids out of the pool, helped them over her fence into her neighbor’s backyard, and ran to the neighbor’s front door. She then called her husband and then called the police. When deputies arrived on the scene, they said they heard shots coming from behind the residence. Deputies then gave commands for the suspect to exit the home. According to LCSO, the suspect exited through the front door, where he refused further commands from deputies and told deputies to shoot him. Sgt. Boudreaux deployed his less lethal shotgun, striking him. Inside the home, two Smirnoff beers and an open bag of chips were empty on the counter in the kitchen, which weren’t there before. The total approximate cost of the items consumed was $10.00. Nothing else of value was taken from within the residence. Lehigh Acres Fire and Rescue checked out Barbosa before being arrested. Barbosa is being charged with touch or strike, petit theft of less than $100 and unarmed burglary of an occupied dwelling. After going through this scary situation, this mom has a warning for other parents out there. “Always double, triple check your doors before anything, even if it’s to go to the pool, because, look, this happened to me in broad daylight,” she said.