Erika Jackson

Although canal levels have gone down Thursday, they remain high in parts of Charlotte County. A homeowner we spoke to says the effects of the storm continue to impact her property as well as her wallet. Storm surge from Tropical Storm Eta wipes out a boat dock at Charlotte Harbor. That means getting out to […]

Texting 911 instead of calling can make a huge difference during emergency situations. But, whatever the method, misusing 911 can waste lifesaving resources. Melanie Bailey is the Public Safety Communications Manager for the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. “We get a variety of calls anywhere from medical to accidents with injuries,” Bailey said. Charlotte County 911 […]

A 9-year-old Punta Gorda boy battling brain cancer is giving back to the community that has supported him. Alex Meyer set a goal of collecting 1,000 toys to give to kids going through a tough time, just like he is. From games to stuffed animals to arts and crafts, Alex is working to collect toys […]

City hall saw emotional discussion over the future of masks in Punta Gorda. Some say removing the requirement can help businesses. Others say it needs to stay in place to protect people. And many businesses have signs on the door reminding people to cover up. Punta Gorda City Council unanimously voted to extend the city […]

In October, a dog was left in a hot car for 13 hours in Charlotte County. Worse still the dog had other untreated conditions that suggest he was suffering the entire time. “Snippy,” a grey and white husky was left in his owners’ vehicle for 13 hours. “It’s a 17-year-old husky so they don’t tolerate […]

The Charlotte CARES Act Eviction Diversion program was designed to prevent mass evictions across Charlotte County. It will be launching Monday, November 2. If you applied for CARES Act funding and were approved but still face hardship, namely eviction, you can register for additional funding through this program. You may receive up to an additional […]

One man is paddle boarding 400 miles from Southwest Florida to the Bahamas to help foster children. Nicholas Holzerland, the owner of It’s Time Kayak, is going to make his way down the gulf coast while raising $5,000 for Crossroads Hope Academy Foster Home. And he’s excited about his journey. “There’s just so much wildlife […]

It’s a case of good news-bad news for one of Southwest Florida’s largest airlines. Allegiant Travel Company says more people are buying tickets during the pandemic, but the airline, which flies out of Punta Gorda, is still losing millions of dollars. The airline also had big plans for the new Sunseeker Resort in Charlotte Harbor […]

Voters we spoke to say they were turned away from an official early voting location in Charlotte County for not wearing masks and were given an alternative neither were happy with. They’ve already contacted the governor’s office. Scott Boone calls his encounter outside an Englewood polling station a voting violation. “I said I’m not going […]

With voter approval, counties can increase the statewide 6% sales tax to 7% to be used for a wide range of capital infrastructure needs. Charlotte County and its residents have benefited from five prior 1% local option sales tax programs, starting in 1994. The 1% local option sales tax has funded many projects over the […]