Erika Jackson

In a normal year, thousands of people would flock to downtown Punta Gorda for their annual Halloween celebration. But in 2020, because of the pandemic, leaders are calling for celebrations in your own neighborhood – with masks, of course. Either way, they still think some sort of trick-or-treating is necessary to keep the tradition alive. […]

Dispatchers who receive 911 calls can now better track people’s locations and medical history, but they need help from the public to do it. Charlotte County and Punta Gorda launched a new program to enhance the knowledge of first responders about people in emergency situations prior to arrival. How it works: First a smartphone is […]

Rev. Louis Anderson, president of the Charlotte County NAACP, is being accused of committing worker’s compensation fraud. Anderson’s known in the for his role as a pastor and president of the county’s NAACP chapter.  But, after a lengthy investigation, he may become known for committing worker’s compensation fraud during his previous employment with the Sarasota […]

The memorial site for four young Port Charlotte men who were killed in a fiery Englewood crash in 2017 was recently vandalized, so community members came together to put it back together again. The families of those lost are dealing with not only a broken memorial but broken hearts, as they receive community support. Friends […]

After nearly a year in recovery, a bald eagle is flying free again Thursday. The Peace River Wildlife Center released Volt, a bald eagle they’ve been nursing back to health since November. And he was ready to go! He took off quickly when rescuers opened his cage at the Punta Gorda Nature Park. Last year, […]

A man was arrested Wednesday in North Port after calling 911 to say he shot his wife in the head with a .45 caliber pistol, killing her. North Port officers arrived at a home on Chesapeake Avenue shortly after 9 p.m. and found Shawn Edward Baker, 47, on his knees in the front yard with […]

Families in Rotonda West and Rotonda Lakes can’t get access to the internet from several providers. Brad Morgan went to the McDonald’s in Englewood, not for lunch but to use the Wi-Fi. “This is the only way that we can enjoy internet without dropping signal,” Morgan said. “I’ve contacted over 17 suppliers of internet, no […]

Charlotte County Public Schools has had success keeping the coronavirus out of schools. Amy Gonzales, a Vineland Elementary School parent, had a change of heart since the start of school. “The girls are so happy,” said Gonzales in Rotonda West. “They are absolutely thriving. They are so glad to be back.” We interviewed Gonzales about […]

Thanks to this new, handicap-accessible playground, swinging just got easier for kids who play differently. Some families can’t wait to jump on the opportunity. Twelve-year-old Ben Bittner loves running around the park, but he has arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, or AMC. In other words, Ben has a disease that tightens his joints and limits range of […]

Charlotte County parents were forced to identify their children in porn found on a phone belonging to a man accused of sex crimes against minors. Investigators say James Palmucci’s victims are between the ages of 10 and 14, and some of them are siblings. He faces 83 charges – and more are expected. The investigation […]