Film academy announced reforms to diversify

The film academy is pledging to double the number of female and minority members by 2020, and will immediately diversify its leadership by adding three new seats to its board of governors. Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs announced the changes Friday, following a weeklong storm of criticism and calls for an Oscar boycott after academy […]

Charlotte Co. Boys & Girls Club founder arrested for theft

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.- The founder of the Boys and Girls Club of Charlotte County is facing prison time after being accused of theft and racketeering. Those who have worked closely with 52-year-old Mitchell Brooks are shocked to hear he’s suspected of stealing nearly $1.5 million from the National Plasterers Council. “I was surprised, really, that he’s capable of doing something, […]

North Korea arrests US student, cites ‘hostile act’

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korea on Friday announced the arrest of a university student from Ohio for what it called a “hostile act” orchestrated by the American government to undermine the authoritarian nation. In language that mirrors past North Korean claims of outside conspiracies, Pyongyang’s state media said the University of Virginia student, […]

Lowering speed limits back on Cape council agenda

CAPE CORAL, Fla.- The City of Cape Coral is still weighing the option of lowering speed limits in residential neighborhoods from 30 to 25 mph. City leaders will pick up the discussion once again at Monday’s council meeting, after months of traffic studies and revisions to the plan. Under the new plan, more than two dozen streets that serve as […]

Florida struggling to decide next steps for notorious school

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – After a multi-year investigation, Florida is now struggling to figure out what should happen next to a now-closed reform school that was the site of horrific acts and a supposed “rape dungeon.” Researchers from the University of South Florida presented their final report Thursday to Gov. Rick Scott and other elected […]

Two Cape homes busted for growing marijuana, 3 arrested

CAPE CORAL, Fla.- Two marijuana grow houses across the street from each other in northeast Cape Coral were busted by deputies Thursday night. Narcotics detectives with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office say they had their eyes on the homes on the 1200 block of Northeast 19th Avenue, just north of Pine Island Road, for three months. Pablo Batista, […]

UEFA approves goal-line technology for use at Euro 2016

NYON, Switzerland (AP) – Goal-line technology will make its UEFA debut at this year’s European Championship, and in the Champions League from next season. UEFA said after an executive committee meeting Friday that it will give its referees more technical help at its top competitions. The decision did not commit UEFA to choosing a goal-line […]

New Tokyo Olympic stadium to be completed in 2019

TOKYO (AP) – The International Olympic Committee says the new stadium for 2020 Tokyo Games will be completed two months earlier than planned to allow organizers time to stage more test events before the games. Japanese organizers told IOC vice president John Coates during a two-day IOC “project review” that the completion date would be […]

FIFA candidate Infantino addresses UEFA members

NYON, Switzerland (AP) – UEFA gave strong but not total support on Friday for its general secretary Gianni Infantino’s bid to become FIFA president, and delayed its own expected leadership election. Amid months of uncertainty for European soccer, leaders of the 54 member federations were summoned to UEFA for the first time since a crisis […]