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 MIAMI (AP) – Convicted child killer Michael Hernandez apologized Thursday for fatally stabbing his middle school friend in 2004 and claimed he has gained control over the twisted thoughts about violence and serial killers that led him to commit the crime. But a prosecutor accused Hernandez of expressing false remorse and improved mental health only in hopes of gaining a reduction in his life prison sentence, even to the point of faking tears. “As you sit here today, you cry on cue. That’s what you do,” Assistant State Attorney Gail Levine said mockingly. “No ma’am,” Hernandez replied. Hernandez, now 26, was convicted of first-degree murder in 2008 for the slaying four years earlier of 14-year-old Jaime Gough in a bathroom at Southwood Middle School. Hernandez, also 14 at the time, unsuccessfully used the insanity defense at trial. The new hearing was ordered after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that juveniles could not automatically be sentenced to life without chance of parole, even those convicted of murder. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge John Schlesinger could keep the life sentence for Hernandez or allow him to be eligible for parole in about 13 years. On the stand Thursday for the first time in any court, Hernandez told members of Gough’s family he didn’t realize the repercussions of his actions when he stabbed his friend more than 40 times after weeks of careful planning. “I’m sorry for what I did to him. I want to apologize,” he said. “I feel horrible about what I did.” Hernandez also said after several years behind bars, he began to understand that his earlier thoughts about killings and death were wrong and not based in reality. He said he has gained renewed purpose as a prison law clerk and has come to terms with the idea that he is different from others. “I tried to figure out, what can I do to keep myself grounded?” he said. As a teenager, he added, “I didn’t question my thoughts – is this good, is this bad, does it make sense? I feel I have gained control.” Levine, however, said recorded telephone calls from jail with a female pen pal reveal that Hernandez still obsesses over violence and serial killers. In one call, she said, he talks of his inability to cry and suggests he might have to stab himself in order to summon sympathetic tears. “You feel sorry about Jaime Gough?” she asked. “I do,” Hernandez replied. “Oh, you do today. Today is your show,” the prosecutor responded. “You didn’t think I’d be listening. But I have all the time in the world for you, Michael.” Hernandez repeatedly told Levine that his recorded comments about violence, in praise of Adolf Hitler and about racism were “a stupid thing to say” and that he didn’t really mean any of it. He also said it’s wrong to conclude that his enjoyment of “death metal” music indicates he still obsesses over killing. “It’s not sad to you – it’s your passion,” Levine said. The testimony, much of it involving mental health experts, was scheduled to continue Friday. It was not clear when the judge would issue a ruling.