Woman accused of snorting cocaine at Lexington Middle

SOUTH FORT MYERS, Fla. A resource officer spotted a woman snorting cocaine in her car in the parents’ pickup line at Lexington Middle School, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said. Christina Hester, 39, of the 6600 block of Hartland Street in Fort Myers, was arrested after the officer noticed her chopping up a white powdery substance […]

Strong storms cause damage in Lehigh Acres

LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. Scattered thunderstorms menaced parts of Southwest Florida on Wednesday afternoon. Strong winds caused a tree branch to fall on a home on the 3000 block of 9th Street West at around 2:20 p.m, the National Weather Service said. LSR: 3 WNW Lehigh Acres [Lee Co, FL] emergency mngr reports TSTM WND DMG at 02:21 […]

Allegiant Air flight attendants picket at Punta Gorda Airport

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. About a dozen Allegiant Airlines flight attendants picketed over contract negotiations Wednesday morning. The flight attendants– working for the only airline at the Punta Gorda Airport –began picketing at 5 a.m. and left just before 12 p.m. The attendants are seeking an equitable deal, said Raychel Armstrong, one of the picketers. Other […]

Jorge Guerrero-Torres

Man linked to Diana Alvarez held without bond on new charges

FORT MYERS, Fla. A 29-year-old man facing molestation and battery charges in connection with a missing Lee County girl received no bond Wednesday. Jorge Guerrero faces charges of lewd or lascivious molestation and battery of a child — the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said at a press conference Tuesday. Guerrero is prohibited from having contact […]

Mourners gather to remember woman killed at Virginia rally

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) Mourners will gather in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Wednesday to honor the woman who was killed when a car rammed into a crowd of people protesting a white nationalist rally that descended into violence last weekend. A memorial service for Heather Heyer is scheduled Wednesday morning at a downtown Charlottesville theater. Attendees were […]

Homeless woman suspected of stealing 5 guns in North Fort Myers

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. A homeless woman is suspected of stealing five guns from a Buccaneer Estates home. Tiffany Renae Shrum, 37, may be using the alias of Tiffany Shannon, Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers said. Shrum is believed to be in the North Fort Myers area. Four of the guns went missing from inside the […]

Celebrity Chef Night offers eats for good cause

CAPE CORAL, Fla. Southwest Florida residents can enjoy a gourmet meal Wednesday evening at Celebrity Chef Night. The 14th annual event will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Rumrunners at 5848 Cape Harbour Drive. Reservations are required. Event proceeds benefit cancer services at Golisano Children’s Hospital. For more information, visit the event’s […]

5 missing after Army helicopter goes down, items found

HONOLULU (AP) A multi-agency team scoured the ocean off Hawaii on Wednesday for five soldiers aboard an Army helicopter that went down during a nighttime training exercise. The UH-60 Black Hawk went missing when another Army helicopter training with it lost visual and radio contact about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, said Lt. Col. Curtis Kellogg, a […]

University of Florida says no to white nationalist event

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) The University of Florida on Wednesday denied a request by a group headed by white nationalist Richard Spencer to rent space on the campus for a September event and his supporters vowed to file a court challenge. UF President W. Kent Fuchs said in a statement that the decision was made after […]