Erika Jackson

A food pantry in Punta Gorda has seen such significant growth that it needs a bigger location. It quickly started expanding after partnering with the Harry Chapin Food Bank, which gave it access to big-name companies. There are fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy all to feed families for free. For Lula Ringham, who lives in […]

From their hands to your table. A group of adults with special needs grows fruits and vegetables at a community garden in Punta Gorda. That food also gets donated to people who need it and agencies that work with local food banks like Harry Chapin. The group from Quality Independence in Charlotte County isn’t afraid […]

Southwest Florida is home to an array of wild animals. But not all of them are welcome in our neighborhoods. We spoke to homeowners in Charlotte County who found the remains of a giant snake near their backyards. Neighbors in Rotonda West discovered what appeared to be an “albino” Burmese python near their homes recently, […]

Red tide continues to be on the minds of many in Southwest Florida. And leading experts gathered at the end of this week to outline the latest research on it and what’s being done to stop it. Researchers with Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium spent Friday afternoon on Boca Grande talking about funding, the latest […]

They are rarely seen north of the Caloosahatchee River, but Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission say a female Florida panther was recently seen in Charlotte County. “These animals are out living in nature as they are supposed to,” said Callie Stahl, the executive director of Peace River Wildlife Center. This is the first time […]

North Port police are searching for a man after a 15-year-old girl reported she had been sexually battered while jogging near her home. Twenty-four hours after a sketch was released, the man still has not been caught putting the neighborhood on edge. The juvenile said on Jan. 6, around 4:41 p.m., a man sexually battered […]

After several delays, there is progress on one cut through in Punta Gorda. Buckley’s Pass is meant to allow boaters easier access to Charlotte Harbor. The project will increase many homeowners’ taxes, but neighbors hope it will also create a return on their investment. Punta Gorda is a boaters’ paradise, but getting from the canals […]

A dog was viciously killed while its owner fought for her pup’s life in Charlotte County. We spoke to her about what she wants done to prevent this from happening to other dogs. Sunday, dog owner Brenda Foley says two pit bulls mauled her Yorkshire terrier, Berkeley, to death while she tried to separate the […]

A Cape Coral community is coming together to celebrate the life of a father of five who tragically lost his life right before the holidays. Eston Taylor died days after falling off a ladder as he prepared his home to be painted. Earlier Friday, a celebration of life ceremony was held for Taylor. Hundreds of […]

Saturday, Jan. 4, is the 25th anniversary of Christine Flahive’s disappearance. She was last seen leaving her home on her bike. Detectives believe she was heading to JD’s Lounge in downtown Punta Gorda, then to a trailer off Rollins Street. That’s where detectives are focusing their search for Flahive: on a piece of land off […]