‘Shady’: One woman feels misled after federal student loan consolidationHomeless encampments inch closer to neighborhoods
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.
‘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.
Let’s Waffle opens in Cape Coral Let’s Waffle is one of two businesses the Feix family launched locally, with the FMS Florida Boat Tours and Limousine Service owned and operated by Feix’s husband, Alexander.
Planned Punta Gorda hotel, pub, brewery faces construction delay Kevin Doyle, owner of Celtic Ray Public House Irish pub in downtown Punta Gorda, and his partner, S4 Global Investments, were found in violation of the city’s exposed soils code.
Three Sisters Spring Toast the manatee released by FWC, SeaWorld and Casey DeSantis near Crystal River A manatee named Toast was released back into the Florida waters after a final medical evaluation from wildlife officials.
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.
‘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.
Let’s Waffle opens in Cape Coral Let’s Waffle is one of two businesses the Feix family launched locally, with the FMS Florida Boat Tours and Limousine Service owned and operated by Feix’s husband, Alexander.
Planned Punta Gorda hotel, pub, brewery faces construction delay Kevin Doyle, owner of Celtic Ray Public House Irish pub in downtown Punta Gorda, and his partner, S4 Global Investments, were found in violation of the city’s exposed soils code.
Three Sisters Spring Toast the manatee released by FWC, SeaWorld and Casey DeSantis near Crystal River A manatee named Toast was released back into the Florida waters after a final medical evaluation from wildlife officials.
(Credit: Southern Fidelity Insurance Co.) Saddled with financial losses and lacking reinsurance for this year’s hurricane season, another Florida property-insurance company is headed toward receivership. The Florida Department of Financial Services late Monday filed a petition in Leon County circuit court to be appointed as a receiver for Southern Fidelity Insurance Co. The petition described Southern Fidelity, which has about 78,000 policies in Florida, as “insolvent.” The move was the latest blow to the state’s troubled property-insurance market. Tallahassee-based Southern Fidelity became the fourth insurer declared insolvent since late February, following Lighthouse Property Insurance Corp., Avatar Property & Casualty Insurance Co. and St. Johns Insurance Co. The petition, posted on the court website Wednesday, did not detail plans for replacement coverage for Southern Fidelity’s customers. But a June 3 document signed by state Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier said Southern Fidelity was trying to shift policies to other companies. “Southern Fidelity has represented that it is in active negotiations with other property insurers to effectuate the transition of some or all of Southern Fidelity’s policies to that insurer as part of a wind-down plan,” Altmaier wrote in what is known as a consent order. At least some policies likely will go to the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. which has seen its number of customers explode during the past two years as private insurers have shed policies and sought hefty rate increases. As an example, Citizens Chief Operating Officer Kelly Booten said during a meeting last week that Citizens wrote about 13,000 policies for former customers of Avatar Property & Casualty Insurance Co., or about 39 percent of the policies Avatar had in the state. As of May 31, Citizens had 883,333 policies, up from 463,247 policies two years earlier. The Southern Fidelity petition came less than a month after state lawmakers held a special legislative session to try to shore up the property-insurance system. But the Southern Fidelity insolvency was not a surprise: The rating agency Demotech announced early this month that it had withdrawn the company’s financial-stability rating. A final straw for insurance regulators was Southern Fidelity’s inability to purchase reinsurance by the June 1 start of the hurricane season. Reinsurance is critical backup coverage for insurers, but it has become more expensive and harder to find. “Respondent’s lack of catastrophe reinsurance renders the continuation of its insurance business prospectively hazardous to its policyholders,” the petition said. The petition said Southern Fidelity, which also has about 69,000 policies in Louisiana, South Carolina and Mississippi, agreed last week to the appointment of the Department of Financial Services as a receiver. Altmaier notified state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis in a letter Friday, leading to the petition being filed Monday. Documents filed with the petition indicate Southern Fidelity has had financial problems since at least 2019. Among other things, the Office of Insurance of Insurance Regulation placed the company in “confidential administrative supervision” in October 2020 and required the infusion of at least $35 million into the business, according to an affidavit filed by Virginia Christy, director of the office’s property and casualty financial oversight business unit. In November 2020, Southern Fidelity was approved to be acquired by Gulf & Atlantic Insurance Companies, Inc., which is owned by Hudson Capital Management, L.P., whose general partner is HSCM GP, LLC, according to Christy’s affidavit. That led to Southern Fidelity being provided $50 million in capital. But Christy said Southern Fidelity continued to sustain underwriting losses, leading to additional infusions of money, non-renewed policies and increased premiums. “Since the acquisition of Southern Fidelity by Gulf & Atlantic Insurance Companies, Inc., HSCM GP, LLC has provided in excess of $200 million in funding in an effort to avoid the delinquency of Southern Fidelity,” Christy said in the affidavit dated Friday.