SWFL law enforcement prepares for Inauguration Day security

The inauguration of Joe Biden is just days away, and security has ramped up around the country. State capitals are on alert after threats of violence. While local sheriff’s offices in Southwest Florida won’t go into great detail about their security plans in place for Inauguration Day, they have all prepared themselves to respond to […]

Guadalupe Center starts building new day care

The Guadalupe Center, dedicated to providing a safe, educational space for children in Immokalee, just started construction on a new day care. One mom, Maria Mendoza, says this center has been life-changing. Her husband lives in Mexico, so she’s raising her sons alone. Mendoza is thankful to have work at the same center her youngest […]

Family moves out of East Naples apartment complex after shots fired at home

Investigators are searching for suspects who shot at an apartment recently while a family was home. Wednesday Collier County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of shots fired at an apartment complex on Santa Clara Drive in East Naples. The family who lived at one of the apartments was very scared when shots went through a […]

red tide marco island

Red tide continues to plague Southwest Florida

While levels in some places have improved, high red tide levels are still plaguing parts of Southwest Florida. From Charlotte Harbor to Pine Island Sound to Sanibel are experiencing clusters of low and medium levels. But, near Vanderbilt Beach, we are seeing some high levels of red tide. There is a sign up at Vanderbilt […]

First responders in Collier County receive vaccine

Around 300 first responders are receiving a vaccine shot this week in Collier County. Police, firefighters and paramedics from Naples to Immokalee will get a shot thanks to Collier County EMS. On Thursday, Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk received his shot in the arm. Rambosk said it’s an important step for first responders because they […]

Naples business hopes tourism returns sooner than State economist predicts

Businesses are trying to keep busy and hope to help their bottom line. Since the pandemic began, businesses are working to get their money back after they lost it from a lack of tourism. Florida’s top economist warns it could take one to two years for the industry to recover. Businesses in downtown Naples hope […]

GOP Congressman Byron Donalds claims Democrats are weaponizing race

A Southwest Florida Republican congressman is making controversial claims about Democrats, including that they are pulling the race card to push for impeachment. Congressman Byron Donalds, who is Black, said Democrats are weaponizing race, which will only divide the nation further. “I know that there’s been times that they’ve called the president, a white supremacist. […]

Collier County teacher wants educators given next priority for COVID-19 vaccine

Teachers are among those waiting their turn to get the coronavirus vaccine, as the threat of COVID-19 inside schools rises. A teacher in Southwest Florida thinks educators should be the next group given priority for the vaccine. Teaching in 2020 proved challenging for longtime educator Soraya Ahmed in Collier County. “We were all stuck at […]

Publix storefront. (Credit: AP)

People turn to Publix for the COVID-19 vaccine, but problems persist

New day, same problem. People are frustrated while trying to get an appointment for their COVID-19 vaccine, this time from Publix. Some described the process to sign up online as pretty easy. Others said they spent hours trying to refresh the page to make an appointment, only to find out all slots are full. “For […]

Mental health professionals want an increase in funding for children’s services

Children are grasping to understand the new normal brought on by the pandemic. Golisano Children’s Hospital and providers across the region are reporting high increases in visits to their behavioral health facilities by youth. At the same time, the area is grappling with a shortage of mental health professionals to help kids in crisis. They […]