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.
Man teaches classroom full of children. (Credit: Neonbrand Unsplash) Lawyers representing teachers are accusing the Florida Department of Education of improperly allowing school districts to deduct employer taxes from teacher bonuses, cutting into the financial awards of tens of thousands of high-performing educators. The lawsuit, filed in Leon County Circuit Court on Tuesday, alleges that Florida education officials wrongly directed school districts to pay teachers less than the award amount provided in state law, under the controversial “Best and Brightest” teacher bonus program. “We will fight for these teachers to get their due, as well as to uncover why the DOE shorted thousands of teachers their hard-earned bonuses, and to ensure they’re properly paid going forward,” attorney Ryan Morgan, of the Orlando-based Morgan & Morgan law firm, told reporters during a press conference announcing the lawsuit Tuesday. According to Morgan, more than 100,000 teachers are owed between $25 million and $30 million for losses over the past two years. The lawsuit accuses state officials of “wrongfully instructing school districts to pay less than the statutorily mandated bonuses.” Education officials did not have a response to the lawsuit. “As a general practice, we do not comment on pending litigation,” said Cheryl Etters, a spokeswoman with the Department of Education, said in an email. Former Orange County elementary school teacher Chris Alianiello is currently the only teacher represented in the legal challenge, but lawyers in the case are seeking class-action status. Alianiello, who joined Morgan at Tuesday’s press conference, told reporters he wants to recoup what the state owes him from three separate bonuses. Alianiello said he was supposed to receive a $6,000 bonus as a new teacher in the 2017-2018 academic year, but received $426 less. The following year, he was supposed to get two bonuses totaling $7,200, but the district deducted $511, Alianiello said. Alianiello is seeking a jury trial as well as his “full and complete bonus amounts,” according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit also asks the court to deem the department’s actions unlawful and to stop education officials from authorizing school districts to “pay less than the program’s required bonus amounts.” “The law seems to be very black and white in this case and I just want to do what is right,” Alianiello said. Under Florida law, the teacher bonus program, which was created in 2015, lays out specific award amounts that the education department must distribute to each school district. The program has three different bonus categories for teachers and principals who are rated as “highly effective” or “effective.” Educators can earn up to $6,000 for the awards. “The statute establishes the requirements which the teachers must meet, and the specific bonus amounts to be awarded to those who meet or exceed those requirements. It does not have any qualifying language or clauses in it which states the DOE, or any school district can award and pay less than the program’s stated bonus amounts (other than the third bonus amount of up to $800),” the 36-page complaint says. The lawsuit includes a copy of an email sent by the Florida Department of Education to school district finance officers saying that “districts may subtract any employer portion of applicable payroll taxes and mandatory payroll expenses” when paying bonuses to teachers and principals. “If necessary, other mandatory payroll related expenses such as unemployment compensation insurance or worker’s compensation insurance that are normally paid by the district, may also be included in this line item,” the January 2018 email instructed. State officials reiterated this message in a March 2019 memo to school district superintendents, according records included in the lawsuit. Gov. Ron DeSantis has been a powerful advocate for the teacher bonus program. Shortly after taking office, he asked state lawmakers to set aside $422 million for the program, but the Legislature instead approved $285 million for the bonuses. The governor has said he would like to revisit the issue during the 2020 legislative session. The “Best and Brightest” program has been a flashpoint for the Florida Legislature, with Democratic lawmakers siding with teachers who maintain they would rather receive salary increases than one-time bonuses. “The Legislature has shown no regard for the last 10-plus years, and I am happy to see teachers taking a stand to show that they are in charge and they will not be walked over. It’s time for the state of Florida to pay up and do what’s right for our greatest commodity, our teachers,” state Rep. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park, told The News Service of Florida after learning of the lawsuit. The union representing Florida teachers two years ago also challenged the bonus program, alleging in a lawsuit that it discriminated against black and Hispanic teachers who were rated “highly effective” because it considered teachers’ scores on SAT or ACT college-entrance exams in determining eligibility. State lawmakers eliminated that requirement during the 2019 legislative session, which ended in May.