Surfside collapse: How safe are high-rise buildings in SWFL?

The Surfside tragedy may concern people here who live and work in high-rise buildings, but experts say you shouldn’t worry. While a catastrophic collapse like the one on the East Coast is rare, it’s important to know if your building is up to safety standards. There are high-rise buildings up and down the Southwest Florida […]

trooper tases teen

Teen tased by trooper on girlfriend’s porch; experts call it ‘egregious’

A mother is angry and distraught after what she believes was racial profiling of her son when he was tased before being arrested by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper. Trooper George Smyrnios was caught on surveillance video tasing 16-year-old Jack Rodeman more than once on the back deck of the teen’s girlfriend’s home, where he […]

bonita jet ski crash

Crash on the water in Bonita Springs sends 2 to hospital

The Bonita Springs Fire Rescue and Control District confirms that a catamaran collided with a jet ski with two people on it. This happened near Hickory Blvd in Bonita Springs. Fire crews say both people on the jet ski sustained injuries, one of those being a pediatric patient. The child was flown to Lee Memorial […]

slavery

What Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday means to those in Southwest Florida

Juneteenth is now a federal holiday, thanks to a new bill signed by President Biden on Thursday. The holiday marks June 19, 1865 when some of the last slaves were freed in Galveston, Texas. That was two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Celebrations have been taking place since the law was signed. January 1, 1863 […]

New law aims to keep you safe from skimmers at the pump

Florida will soon require increased security at gas station pumps. Starting Jan. 1, all gas stations must have not one but two security measures in place to prevent skimmers from stealing your personal information. Lee County already requires anti-skimmer devices at the pumps, but now gas stations will need a second line of defense. Three […]

Inaugural group of students graduate from trade program in Lee County

A group of high school students are already getting job offers. They spent their senior year learning trades such as construction, roofing and plumbing. That means they’re ready to get right into the workforce instead of going to college. An inaugural group of trade students graduated Wednesday night from the “Train to Gain” program in […]

Collier County School Board approves use of controversial textbooks

The Collier County School Board on Monday approved the use of new textbooks for the upcoming school year. Some parents and members of the community spoke out against the books, saying they teach the tenets of critical race theory, which the state Board of Education recently banned. The board voted Monday to deny objections from […]

waffle house collier county

1 person shot outside of Waffle House in Collier County

One person was taken to the hospital after a shooting Saturday morning outside a Waffle House, according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office. The shooting occurred around 2:30 a.m. at 3825 Tollhouse Drive, the sheriff’s office said. A man was is in custody but so far no one has been charged with anything. The victim […]

Collier celebrates ldoc

Collier County parents celebrate end of unprecedented school year

It has been a tough year for students in Collier County as they had to adapt to new ways of learning throughout the pandemic. On Friday, both students and parents alike were just happy to finish this school year. Parents had signs and teachers sent their students off with claps and waves, all to celebrate […]

Florida’s Board of Education set to vote on proposal to ban critical race theory

The Florida teacher’s union is pushing back on the decision by Gov. Ron DeSantis to ban critical race theory in classrooms. On Thursday, Florida’s Board of Education is set to vote on the proposed rule that would in effect ban critical race theory. The subject fires up some parents and taxpayers. And they speak up […]