WINK NEWS Palisades Wildfire devastates SWFL family Just hours after evacuating their Malibu home, the Wohl family learned they would never go back.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral expands with development of The Cove at 47th The Cove sits in south Cape Coral between Cape Coral Parkway and Southeast 47th Terrace right next to Cork Soakers.
ESTERO 1 injured after shooting at Coconut Point Mall According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, one person has been injured after a shooting at the Coconut Point Mall on Friday.
FORT MYERS ‘Operation Ghost Buster’: 16 arrested in Fort Myers drug operation The Fort Myers Police Department Narcotics Unit conducted an operation targeting drug traffickers and individuals unlawfully selling and possessing firearms in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS ‘A Distinctive Honor’: Bank of America award benefits FSW Nursing Program Bank of America has been awarded Florida Southwestern State College the 2024 Neighborhood Champion Award.
CAPTIVA Judge upholds decision in fight over building heights and density on Captiva Island After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge said he stood by his earlier decision in favor of the Captiva Civic Association.
Governor signs death warrant for man accused of 1997 killing of 2 in Charlotte County Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the death warrant for a man accused of killing two people in Charlotte County in 1997.
Community input needed for renaming Challenger Boulevard While Lee Health continues construction on the area’s newest hospital, there are decisions to be made.
ESTERO SWFL Lady Hammerheads find community through rugby The southwest Florida Lady Hammerheads are the Florida Women’s Rugby Union’s newest team.
Heavy law enforcement presence near Arcadia Popeyes According to the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, there is a heavy law enforcement presence near a Popeyes restaurant.
Punta Gorda City Council searches for new home Punta Gorda City Council sought a temporary solution when it was unable to meet Jan. 9 at the Military Heritage Museum because elevators weren’t working, which would have been a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Heavy metal drummer turns Winkler House into Stet’s Bar rock venue Stet Howland, who as a drummer has an affinity for heavy metal music, bought a longtime Fort Myers dive bar and then transformed it into a haven for rock and roll.
CAPE CORAL 40th annual Cape Coral Art Festival to close roads Cape Coral Parkway will close off Coronado Parkway to Del Prado Boulevard for this weekend’s 40th annual Art Festival.
LEHIGH ACRES Lee County man arrested after holding woman at knifepoint The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man for holding a woman at knifepoint during a domestic disturbance.
2 accused of multiple thefts while using stolen vehicle in Charlotte County The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two men accused of multiple thefts and driving a stolen vehicle.
WINK NEWS Palisades Wildfire devastates SWFL family Just hours after evacuating their Malibu home, the Wohl family learned they would never go back.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral expands with development of The Cove at 47th The Cove sits in south Cape Coral between Cape Coral Parkway and Southeast 47th Terrace right next to Cork Soakers.
ESTERO 1 injured after shooting at Coconut Point Mall According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, one person has been injured after a shooting at the Coconut Point Mall on Friday.
FORT MYERS ‘Operation Ghost Buster’: 16 arrested in Fort Myers drug operation The Fort Myers Police Department Narcotics Unit conducted an operation targeting drug traffickers and individuals unlawfully selling and possessing firearms in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS ‘A Distinctive Honor’: Bank of America award benefits FSW Nursing Program Bank of America has been awarded Florida Southwestern State College the 2024 Neighborhood Champion Award.
CAPTIVA Judge upholds decision in fight over building heights and density on Captiva Island After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge said he stood by his earlier decision in favor of the Captiva Civic Association.
Governor signs death warrant for man accused of 1997 killing of 2 in Charlotte County Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the death warrant for a man accused of killing two people in Charlotte County in 1997.
Community input needed for renaming Challenger Boulevard While Lee Health continues construction on the area’s newest hospital, there are decisions to be made.
ESTERO SWFL Lady Hammerheads find community through rugby The southwest Florida Lady Hammerheads are the Florida Women’s Rugby Union’s newest team.
Heavy law enforcement presence near Arcadia Popeyes According to the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, there is a heavy law enforcement presence near a Popeyes restaurant.
Punta Gorda City Council searches for new home Punta Gorda City Council sought a temporary solution when it was unable to meet Jan. 9 at the Military Heritage Museum because elevators weren’t working, which would have been a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Heavy metal drummer turns Winkler House into Stet’s Bar rock venue Stet Howland, who as a drummer has an affinity for heavy metal music, bought a longtime Fort Myers dive bar and then transformed it into a haven for rock and roll.
CAPE CORAL 40th annual Cape Coral Art Festival to close roads Cape Coral Parkway will close off Coronado Parkway to Del Prado Boulevard for this weekend’s 40th annual Art Festival.
LEHIGH ACRES Lee County man arrested after holding woman at knifepoint The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man for holding a woman at knifepoint during a domestic disturbance.
2 accused of multiple thefts while using stolen vehicle in Charlotte County The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two men accused of multiple thefts and driving a stolen vehicle.
The Captiva Civic Association and South Seas Resort were back in court on Friday amid discussions over building height and density. After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge said he stood by his earlier decision in favor of the Captiva Civic Association. The judge upheld his decision to deny the County and South Seas’ motion for summary judgement in relation to the unit density at the resort. A ‘summary judgment’ is a court decision made in favor of one party in a lawsuit without a full trial. Essentially, it allows the case to be resolved without going through the typical trial process. On Tuesday, the judge denied South Seas and Lee County’s motion, and on Friday, he heard the Captiva Civic Association’s motion. The judge has not given an official verdict, but he did say he stands by his decision from earlier this week. It’s all about a mediated settlement agreement, or MSA, that was reached back in 2003. The MSA capped the number of permits allowed for dwelling units in the South Seas at 912. According to court documents, in 2023, South Seas’ owner applied to rezone the resort property from 912 units to 1,271 units. After that, the Captiva Civic Association, also known as the CCA, sued Lee County and the South Seas Resort for violating what it said was Captiva’s historic low-density residential development pattern. On Friday, South Seas argued that the owners are not asking for more than 912 dwelling units, emphasizing the use of the word “dwelling” instead of hotel units but ultimately, the judge didn’t let the argument sway him. “We ask this court to grant summary judgement against CCA because it did not prove the MSA gives an enforceable restrictive covenant because it does not run with the land and it does not bind successors and their interests,” said Hala Sandridge, the attorney representing South Seas. WINK News reporter Amy Galo spoke with Lisa Riordan, president of the Captiva Civic Association, following Friday’s court hearing. She was happy with the result. “We are very pleased that the judge reinforced our position that the settlement agreement that we entered into over twenty years ago in 2003 is valid, and it’s clear, and it’s enforceable,” said Riordan. Galo also asked the South Seas attorney, Hala Sandridge, for comment, but she declined. An important point to note is that the issues of height and density are two separate things when considering the South Seas. RELATED: Fight over increased building heights and density continues on Captiva Island Friday was all about density, not building heights. Those will come up at a later court date. The judge gave both sides a deadline of Next Wednesday to submit additional court filings. After the filing, a decision on whether or not the Captiva Civic Association’s motion for a summary judgment will be approved is expected within a few days.