Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society concernsStudents benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars
Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society concerns An large amount of pets are being surrendered by their owners. About half of the dogs at the Gulf Coast Humane Society are surrender dogs.
Students benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars So far, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax has brought in $507 million for the Lee County School District.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘Shady’: One woman feels misled after federal student loan consolidation It takes some people decades to pay off their student loans. One woman’s last payment was in sight until she took a gamble she said she was told to take.
FORT MYERS Homeless encampments inch closer to neighborhoods Law enforcement has swept multiple encampments, cleaning the trails of mess and muck left behind, and some of these encampments are right in our backyards.
BIG CYPRESS PRESERVE What changes if Big Cypress National Preserve becomes a Wilderness Area? America’s first nationally designated preserve is in Southwest Florida’s backyard, and it is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Method to treat IBD being used for other health issues Trying to get treatments for the brain when fighting neurological diseases like epilepsy and ALS is a challenge.
FORT MYERS NTSB report reveals new details in helicopter crash after Hurricane Ian The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on a helicopter crash that occurred in Iona, Florida, shortly after Hurricane Ian.
NAPLES Memorial celebrates the life of John Passidomo Hundreds of friends and family gathered for a memorial at Baker Park in Naples.
‘Latinos in Action’ empowers all students to succeed WINK News talked with teachers who are a part of the program, helping kids reach their full potential.
Immokalee ‘The eyes always draw me in’; Immokalee portrait artist turns dark times into color One of Southwest Florida best portrait artist, Martha Maria Cantu, almost gave up art. Now she’s on the forefront of the city of Immokalee, to make her community filled with color.
GOLDEN GATE Collier commissioners approve agreement for golf complex in Golden Gate Collier commissioners unanimously approved a long term lease and operating agreement to reopen the Golden Gate golf course Tuesday.
PUNTA GORDA Motorcyclists ride in SWFL to help veterans battle suicide A group of veterans from the American Legion are grabbing their helmets and boots for a motorcycle ride to bring awareness to the staggering rates of suicide among veterans.
SARASOTA Alleged sexual abuse victims of Port Charlotte priest comes forward Father Riley worked at three churches in Charlotte County and another in Naples. On Friday, new allegations emerged from a news conference in Sarasota.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte priest accused of sexual abuse appears in court A priest accused of sexually abusing four altar boys in Iowa nearly 40 years ago returned to Charlotte County court.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema prepares for opening at Mercato The newest movie theater in Southwest Florida opens April 29, and it does so with an array of entertainment offerings that go beyond the usual options across the region.
Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society concerns An large amount of pets are being surrendered by their owners. About half of the dogs at the Gulf Coast Humane Society are surrender dogs.
Students benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars So far, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax has brought in $507 million for the Lee County School District.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘Shady’: One woman feels misled after federal student loan consolidation It takes some people decades to pay off their student loans. One woman’s last payment was in sight until she took a gamble she said she was told to take.
FORT MYERS Homeless encampments inch closer to neighborhoods Law enforcement has swept multiple encampments, cleaning the trails of mess and muck left behind, and some of these encampments are right in our backyards.
BIG CYPRESS PRESERVE What changes if Big Cypress National Preserve becomes a Wilderness Area? America’s first nationally designated preserve is in Southwest Florida’s backyard, and it is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Method to treat IBD being used for other health issues Trying to get treatments for the brain when fighting neurological diseases like epilepsy and ALS is a challenge.
FORT MYERS NTSB report reveals new details in helicopter crash after Hurricane Ian The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on a helicopter crash that occurred in Iona, Florida, shortly after Hurricane Ian.
NAPLES Memorial celebrates the life of John Passidomo Hundreds of friends and family gathered for a memorial at Baker Park in Naples.
‘Latinos in Action’ empowers all students to succeed WINK News talked with teachers who are a part of the program, helping kids reach their full potential.
Immokalee ‘The eyes always draw me in’; Immokalee portrait artist turns dark times into color One of Southwest Florida best portrait artist, Martha Maria Cantu, almost gave up art. Now she’s on the forefront of the city of Immokalee, to make her community filled with color.
GOLDEN GATE Collier commissioners approve agreement for golf complex in Golden Gate Collier commissioners unanimously approved a long term lease and operating agreement to reopen the Golden Gate golf course Tuesday.
PUNTA GORDA Motorcyclists ride in SWFL to help veterans battle suicide A group of veterans from the American Legion are grabbing their helmets and boots for a motorcycle ride to bring awareness to the staggering rates of suicide among veterans.
SARASOTA Alleged sexual abuse victims of Port Charlotte priest comes forward Father Riley worked at three churches in Charlotte County and another in Naples. On Friday, new allegations emerged from a news conference in Sarasota.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte priest accused of sexual abuse appears in court A priest accused of sexually abusing four altar boys in Iowa nearly 40 years ago returned to Charlotte County court.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema prepares for opening at Mercato The newest movie theater in Southwest Florida opens April 29, and it does so with an array of entertainment offerings that go beyond the usual options across the region.
MGN DENVER (AP) – Caution: “Human Sledgehammer” at work. Big hits about to happen. Penn State rugby standout Meya Bizer is known for her jarring collisions on the field, leading to her fitting nickname. There’s even a compilation of her most ferocious tackles on Youtube that’s been viewed more than 100,000 times. This weekend, Bizer leads the Nittany Lions into the USA rugby college sevens national championships in Denver. This after helping Penn State to a national crown at the college 15s championships two weeks ago in Georgia. Today, the college scene. A year from now, maybe a spot on the U.S. team when rugby sevens makes its Olympic debut at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio. “You don’t ever want to get tackled by Meya,” said Pete Steinberg, who coaches the U.S. women’s rugby 15s squad and was Bizer’s coach at Penn State before taking a sabbatical during the 2014-15 season. “It’s an instinct for her to accelerate into the contact at just the right moment. She’s probably the best in the world at it. She’s an intimidating presence.” Bizer grew up playing football in The Woodlands, Texas. She was a free safety and wide receiver in middle school before switching over to kicker in high school. She even joined the football team at the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas, for a bit, before transferring to Penn State to concentrate on rugby. At 5-foot-8, 158 pounds, Bizer can really pack a wallop. Her favorite all-time collision? No contest, when she took down a Stanford player who was running at full speed. Not just took her down, either, but lifted her off the ground with a blow to the midsection. Until then, Bizer didn’t know tackling was her strong suit. “In that game, it really clicked for me,” the 22-year-old Bizer said. “I was so hyped off that hit.” The powerful hits have kept on coming and she’s turned into a back-line force. Still, this weekend will present some unique challenges for Bizer and the Nittany Lions. Chief among them, they haven’t had much practice time to make the transition from rugby 15s to the faster-paced style of rugby sevens. With fewer players on the field and featuring two 7-minute halves, it’s a lot of sprinting and they can play up to four matches in a day. There are 16 teams in the women’s division, including Central Washington, the team Penn State beat in the final of rugby 15s on May 9. On the men’s Division I side, the field consists of 24 squads. The tournament also features a 12-team men’s Division II field. “We don’t have the full squad we’d like to have, because the seasons ran so close together,” said Bizer, whose team raises money for travel since it’s a club sport. “But we’ll be well conditioned. We’ll be ready.” Bizer’s tough as they come, once breaking her nose in a game and popping it back into place as if it were no big deal. She also played last summer for the U.S. at the World Cup with a partially torn ligament in her knee. She was named the team’s player of the tournament, too, Steinberg said. While she’s suiting up for Penn State this weekend, the U.S. team is in Amsterdam, trying to secure a spot for Rio in a qualifier. This summer, the plan is for Bizer to join the team in Chula Vista, California, for training. There are about 30 or 40 women attempting to make the Olympic team, which will consist of about a dozen roster spots. “I try not to think about it too much because it’s still a year away,” said Bizer, whose major is psychology. “I know I’m competing against other amazing athletes. It’s intimidating to think about.” Her nickname is pretty intimidating, too. Not only that, she has a highlight reel worth of hits to go with it. “That reel on Youtube is a great example of her hitting college kids,” Steinberg said. “But we have hits of her doing that in international games, too. That’s how we know she’s as good as anyone in the world.”