FORT MYERS

Eight months ago, chef Michael Cellura had a restaurant job and had just moved into a fancy new camper home on Fort Myers Beach.

A man in Florida lost his arm after being attacked by an alligator behind a bar.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is holding a news conference at a technical college in Fort Myers.

A new study says changes in air patterns as the world warms will likely push more and nastier hurricanes up against the United States’ east and Gulf coasts.

Hurricane Ian briefly reached maximum Category 5 status before weakening to a Category 4 storm as it blasted ashore last September in southwest Florida, eventually causing over $112 billion in damage in the U.S. and more than 150 deaths directly or indirectly.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis holds a news conference at a restaurant in Fort Myers.

Boston Red Sox infielder Justin Turner needed 16 stitches after he was hit in the face by a pitch during a spring training game against the Detroit Tigers.

A Florida man has been sentenced to seven years and three months in federal prison for stealing more than $2.6 million in COVID-19 relief funds.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday held a news conference at a street corner near Fort Myers, recapping the state’s ongoing recovery efforts in South Florida after Hurricane Ian, previewing some future plans and awarding money to local education foundations.

The remains of a man who has been missing since Hurricane Ian hit Florida’s Gulf Coast last year have been recovered from a sunken sailboat.

Threats that prompted two south Florida high schools to enter precautionary lockdowns around noon Wednesday were deemed un-credible.

The Florida Legislature will meet next week for a special session on property insurance and property tax relief in the wake of damage caused by Hurricane Ian.

Federal officials say U.S. aid to Florida for recovery from Hurricane Ian has topped the $2 billion mark.

FEMA announced on Saturday, Oct. 29 that is is hiring for more than 300 jobs in Kissimmee, Orlando, Brandon, Fort Myers and Sarasota as the agency continues to help in Hurricane Ian recovery efforts.

It has been a month since Hurricane Ian ravaged southwest Florida.

DeSantis announced $2 million from the Florida Disaster Fund would be disbursed to education foundations in six South Florida counties hit hard by Hurricane Ian.

Florida lottery officials announced that one of two Mega Millions lottery winning tickets was purchased in the Sunshine State from Oct. 14′s drawing.

Lee County deputies arrested five Osceola County men Wednesday, accused of looting in Fort Myers

Hurricane Ian has come and gone, but it still could deliver prolonged blows to the local economy — particularly small businesses heavily dependent on tourists and seasonal residents.

Action Church in Winter Park is working to send donations to southwest Florida in the wake of Hurricane Ian.

A “massive convoy” of linemen and first responders used the temporarily repaired Sanibel Causeway that was destroyed during Hurricane Ian, according to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday announced Floridians living in counties deemed eligible for FEMA individual assistance after Hurricane Ian qualify for the now-activated Transitional Sheltering Program.

Ashley Garner had given up on ever seeing her wedding ring again.

Speaking from a makeshift office in Fort Myers Wednesday, Dept. of Economic Opportunity Secretary Dane Eagle seemed numb as he discussed his boyhood town being wiped out.

The full breadth of Hurricane Ian's destruction is still coming into focus a week after it hit southwest Florida.

Deputies with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office are set to deploy Wednesday to Lee County, which is still struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, the sheriff’s office said in a release.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday the activation of the state’s first Disaster Recovery Center in Fort Myers, with more expected to open in the coming weeks, for Floridians impacted by the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Ian.

Throughout a southwest Florida devastated by Hurricane Ian, Jews plan to hold worship services for Yom Kippur starting Tuesday night.

Experts say that Hurricane Ian is shining a spotlight once again on the vulnerability of the nation’s barrier islands and the increasing cost of people living on them.

Dozens of Florida residents have evacuated from their flooded and splintered homes by boat and air as rescuers search for survivors after Hurricane Ian.

Cars are left abandoned where they stalled on the road into Fort Myers Beach when Hurricane Ian's storm surge flooded their engines and their drivers couldn’t continue.

The National Hurricane Center said Ian could return at or near hurricane strength on Friday when it enters the Atlantic Ocean toward South Carolina and North Carolina.

Hurricane Ian has regained some strength after exiting Florida and taking aim at South Carolina.

Hurricane Ian is currently hitting the Gulf Coast of Florida after strengthening to a Category 4 storm before making landfall, possibly near Port Charlotte.

Hurricane Ian left a path of destruction in southwest Florida, trapping people in flooded homes, damaging the roof of a hospital intensive care unit and knocking out power to 2 million people before aiming for the Atlantic Coast.

A vegan woman convicted of murder in the malnutrition death of her young son has been sentenced to life in prison.

A mother who followed a strict vegan diet in Florida faces sentencing for the malnutrition death of her 18-month-old son.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement has issued a missing child alert for 6-year-old Zainab Hassan.

A Florida missing child alert has been issued Wednesday morning for two children, including an infant, out of Fort Myers.

Gov. Ron DeSantis touted more than $1 billion earmarked for Everglades and water resource investments in the upcoming state budget at a news conference in Fort Myers Beach Wednesday morning.

Sheriff's deputies in Florida have arrested a 10-year-old fifth grade student accused of threatening to shoot up a school.

An overturned semi-truck closed westbound lanes near Interstate 75 in Lee County Friday morning, the sheriff’s office wrote in a Facebook post.

A Florida woman has been convicted for her part in a 2016 Florida nightclub shooting that left two teenagers dead and 14 other people injured.

Authorities say they rescued a woman by helicopter after she was stuck in the vast marshland of a Florida state park.

Officials say a Florida airport shut down for about a half-hour over the weekend after a woman crashed her car through a secured gate and drove across a runway.

The Boston Red Sox have announced their signing of former Rockies shortstop Trevor Story to make the deal official.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis doubled down on claims he made last month the Biden administration withheld funding for tornado victims in Lee and Charlotte counties because of “politics” and announced $1.1 million was raised for repairs, temporary housing and other forms of relief.

Baseball’s bitter 99-day lockout moved a little further back in the rearview mirror when spring training games began Thursday.

A Florida couple has pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $900,000 in COVID-19 relief funds.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis accused the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Biden Administration of delaying help to Floridians impacted by recent tornadoes because of “politics.”

A Florida sheriff’s deputy is facing charges that he conspired to arrest an innocent person on drug charges in exchange for sexual favors and a trip to Paris.

Leona Maguire became the first Irish winner in LPGA Tour history Saturday, closing with a 5-under 67 for a three-stroke victory in the LPGA Drive On Championship at Crown Colony.

Leona Maguire and Marina Alex shared the lead Friday in the LPGA Drive On Championship after another windy round at Crown Colony.

A winter storm that was expected to blast the southern U.S. with dangerously high winds Sunday did not disappoint, as some South Floridians witnessed and filmed infamous weather events likely uncommon to them: tornadoes.

Officials say an 8-year-old girl from Tennessee was killed when a 30-year-old driver slammed into traffic on Interstate 75 in southwest Florida.

A short-lived tornado touched down in southwest Florida Tuesday morning, leaving more than $500,000 worth of damage in its wake, according to the National Weather Service.

A Florida missing child alert has been issued for a 12-year-old girl out of Lee County.

Caloosahatchee River flows are looking good at a time when algae is absent from the entire system, and other health indicators seem promising as the region transitions into the brunt of the dry season.

Sara Marie, of Fort Myers, is one of thousands of Florida residents tired of waiting for unpaid unemployment benefits, wondering if they will ever get paid.

Officials say a man jumped 55 feet off a bridge into Florida's Caloosahatchee River in a vain attempt to avoid capture after crashing a stolen van during a police chase.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news briefing at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in South Florida.

A Florida Highway Patrol trooper died following complications with COVID-19.

A Florida man fed up with repeated potholes near his place of business has planted a banana tree in one of them to warn motorists away.

This is strange, even by Florida standards.

Authorities are looking for Alexander Connolly.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at a middle school in Fort Myers.

Energy Harness CEO/inventor/engineer Michael Fischer and senior vice president Peter Lehrer were approached with a problem from a client about a year ago.

An endangered Florida panther has died after being struck by a vehicle.

Major League Baseball has rescinded its decision to have Atlanta host this summer's All-Star Game.

FORT MYERS, Fla. – An endangered Florida panther has died after being struck by a vehicle. It’s the sixth panther death attributed to fatal collisions, out of nine total deaths this year, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. On Friday, the remains of a male panther cub were found on private land near the Collier County landfill, officials said. Florida panthers once roamed the entire Southeast, but now their habitat mostly is confined to a small region of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico. Up to 230 Florida panthers remain in the wild.

CAPE CORAL, Fla. – A Florida couple came up with a great way to meet their new neighbors after moving into their home during the coronavirus pandemic. They offered free beer. We will be in our driveway with drinks, ready to meet any neighbors who would like to stop by. But once the “Free Beer” sign was placed outside, the neighbors started venturing over. We had a few people do a double take, free beer is a pretty easy way to get people to show up,” said Thomas Evans.

FORT MYERS, Fla. – An endangered Florida panther has died after being struck by a vehicle. It’s the fifth panther death attributed to fatal collisions, out of seven total deaths this year, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The remains of the panther were found last Wednesday in Hardee County on a rural road near Wauchula, wildlife officials said. Florida panthers once roamed the entire Southeast, but now their habitat mostly is confined to a small region of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico. Up to 230 Florida panthers remain in the wild.

Hall of Famers taking part include include Anthony Muñoz, in both English and Spanish, Darrell Green, Aeneas Williams, and Drew Pearson. ___Indiana baseball coach Jeff Mercer has tested positive for COVID-19, and the Hoosiers’ home doubleheader against Penn State on Friday has been called off. ___Kansas withdrew from the Big 12 Tournament on Friday after a positive COVID-19 test within the men’s basketball program, sending No. ___The Minnesota Twins are the latest Major League Baseball team to receive government approval for fans to return to their games this season. Only a limited amount of family members of players and staff have been able to attend those games this season.

FORT MYERS, Fla. – An endangered Florida panther has died after being struck by a vehicle. It’s the fourth panther death attributed to fatal collisions, out of six total deaths this year, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The remains of the 7-year-old female panther were found Saturday in Lee County on a rural road near Wild Turkey Strand Preserve, wildlife officials said. Florida panthers once roamed the entire Southeast, but now their habitat mostly is confined to a small region of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico. Up to 230 Florida panthers remain in the wild.

FILE - Minnesota Twins' Eddie Rosario hits the ball during a spring training baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Fort Myers, Fla., in this Monday, March 9, 2020, file photo. The Indians officially signed free agent outfielder Eddie Rosario, adding a quality player who pounded their pitchers in recent years. Rosario passed his physical on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, to finalize a one-year, $8 million contract for 2021. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)CLEVELAND – Free agent outfielder Eddie Rosario has joined the Cleveland Indians, adding a quality player who has haunted their pitchers in recent years. Rosario passed his physical on Thursday and finalized the $8 million, one-year contract he agreed to late last week.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida launched a new statewide website Friday to streamline the state’s approach to COVID-19 vaccine distribution, following the slow rollout of a state appointment hotline earlier in the month. [TRENDING: Video shows deputy Tasing student | How to get the vaccine in Fla. | NASA tests new moon rocket]Ad“Pre-register now for the COVID-19 vaccine,” the website reads. Once appointments are available individuals will be contacted by phone, text or email to schedule an appointment, according to the DOH. However, the hotline and state website may not be the best way to sign up for local department of health shots. She said Florida is working with counties to make sure existing registration systems can coordinate with the MyVaccine website.

FORT MYERS, Fla. – An endangered Florida panther has died after being struck by a vehicle. It’s the third panther death attributed to fatal collisions, out of four total deaths this year, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. A total of 22 Florida panther deaths were reported in 2020, with 19 killed by vehicles. Florida panthers once roamed the entire Southeast, but now their habitat mostly is confined to a small region of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico. Up to 230 Florida panthers remain in the wild.

“I was petrified.”The race to vaccinate millions of Americans is off to a slower, messier start than public health officials and leaders of the Trump administration's Operation Warp Speed had expected. Overworked, underfunded state public health departments are scrambling to patch together plans for administering vaccines. Jha said the Trump administration, principally the Department of Health and Human Services, has set states up to fail. Army Gen. Gustave Perna, Operation Warp Speed’s chief operating officer, said Wednesday that 14 million doses had been shipped around the country so far. Health officials said the state received 20,300 doses on Tuesday that had been expected to arrive last week.

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Ann Shepard has been fighting to save her Fort Myers home by renting out her bedroom for the past nine months. [TRENDING: Record-setting attractions coming to Orlando | Bacteria halts swan boats | Snake and eggs for breakfast]She’s been sleeping on a mattress on her back porch since April. The confusion over her job status with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity was triggered by a temporary job that lasted less than a day. “I know unemployment is not the answer,” a tearful Shepard said. Supervisors with the agency reviewed her account status and were able to deposit $1,500 in unemployment money into her account Tuesday.

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The U.S. Coast Guard says a man went missing after falling into the water from a dinner-cruise ship in the Gulf Coast in Florida. J.P. boat late Friday. The company J.C. Cruises says Capt J.P. is a 475-passenger paddlewheel boat that tours the scenic Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers, Florida. Coast Guard crews searched for more than 11 hours in the waters before suspending the search. They received help from agencies such as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Fort Myers Beach Police, and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

ORLANDO, Fla. – With Eta projected to impact Central Florida, News 6 wants to keep you as informed as possible. A News 6 meteorologist on Wednesday will provide a weather update in the video player above. [SIGN UP TO BE A PINPOINT WEATHER INSIDER: Subscribe to our newsletter]Computer models show Eta making landfall Thursday north of Tampa and tracking across the state, near Jacksonville. Several Central Florida counties are under tropical storm warnings and watches. Thanks for visiting ClickOrlando.com, and stay safe!

As of Wednesday morning, Tropical Storm Eta was 130 miles west-southwest of Fort Myers, dumping rain and packing 70 mph winds as it moved north-northeast at 15 mph. Several Central Florida counties are under tropical storm warnings and watches. A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 24 hours. Tropical storm force winds begin by 4AM Thursday. Latest wind advisory issued in Volusia County (WKMG)Tropical Storm warning released in Central Florida.

Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that current restrictions on visitation policies at long-term care facilities across the state will be loosened to allow residents more time with their family and friends in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The governor lifted that ban in September, citing the toll the lack of family, friends and physical touch has had on residents in those facilities. As of Thursday, there are 807 COVID-19 positive residents and 2,494 positive staff members in long-term care facilities across the state, according to figures from the Florida Department of Health. We’re going to keep supplying these tests for you,” the governor said. To keep up with the latest news on the pandemic, subscribe to News 6′s coronavirus newsletter and go to ClickOrlando.com/coronavirus.

FORT MYERS, Fla. – A Florida girl was sent home from school when a nurse indicated that fatigue from her menstrual cycle could be a symptom of COVID-19, according to WFTX. The girl, an eighth grade student at Lexington Middle School in Fort Myers, went to the school nurse on Monday complaining of fatigue because she had just started her period. Sheila Gayle told the TV station that her daughter didn’t have any aches, chills or a fever. It’s just ridiculous at this point,” the mother told WFTX. The school district told the TV station that it’s trying to be extra cautious to keep students safe.

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. – A woman was attacked by an alligator Thursday morning while trimming trees near a lake in Florida, officials said. The 27-year-old woman had been working near the water in North Fort Myers when the 10-foot reptile ambushed her, according to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission news release. Rescue workers took the woman to a Fort Myers hospital, where she was treated for injuries to both legs, officials said. The fish and wildlife agency contracted a nuisance alligator trapper to capture the animal and remove it from the area. Serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida, officials said.

During the discussion, business owners repeatedly asked DeSantis to allow restaurants to operate with 100% indoor capacity rather than the current 50%. Jay Johnson, the owner of Bubba’s Roadhouse & Saloon in Cape Coral, was among the representatives who asked DeSantis on Thursday to allow restaurants to operate at full capacity. “We’d like to ask that you could look at reopening the restaurant to allow us more capacity. “So I think it should be made permanent I think it was, I think it’s been helpful. “I think we’re going to be comfortable, you know, moving forward very soon and I think that that’s important,” DeSantis said.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. The Postal Service in Central Florida is set to hire 1,000 employees in Central Florida. USPS said successful applicants will work at one of seven mail processing and distribution centers from Nov. 7 through Jan. 1. The openings include:Mail Processing Clerk pays $18.15 an hourMail Handler Assistant pays $16.55 an hourUSPS said positions are open in:Fort MyersMid Florida (Lake Mary)OrlandoSeminoleManasotaTampaYborPositions will also be available at annexes in Lakeland, Melbourne, and Tampa, according to the USPS. Anyone interested in applying can click on this link, applications for the positions listed above we be from Sept. 8 through Sept. 12.

Video of the encounter was posted on Twitter by Miami-based documentary filmmaker Billy Corben on Monday and has since gone viral with more than 11 million views. Florida man at Fort Myers Costco in "Running the World Since 1776" shirt flips out on elderly woman who asked him to wear a mask and man who defended her #BecauseFlorida (via @profjaffar) pic.twitter.com/PDOvi33qHK Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) July 7, 2020I feel threatened, Corben yelled. As the video spread online, social media users outed Maples as a sales agent at Ted Todd Insurance in Bonita Springs. pic.twitter.com/q5868M4igY Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) July 7, 2020Ted Todd insurance took to Twitter Tuesday to address the incident. Thank you to everyone for their comments and messages raising awareness about a former employee at Ted Todd Insurance.

FORT MYERS, Fla. A woman en route to get her morning coffee was jolted awake with pounding on her front door she later discovered to be two alligators fighting in front of her home in Florida. The video of the surprising encounter in Fort Myers was posted on Facebook last week by Susan Geshel. They made a mess on the front door, Geshel, who has never seen alligators on her property in Fort Myers, said. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Spokeswoman Melody Kilborn said the fighting alligators were reacting to being in a confined space. The reptiles, who Kilborn said are most visible when the weather is warm, also tend to mate during May and June, according to the wildlife agency.

OSCEOLA COUNTY – The deceased body of a girl missing for nearly three years was found in Osceola County on Saturday, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said the body of 9-year-old Diana Alvarez was discovered by surveyors working in the area, according to WINK in Fort Myers. Alvarez had been missing since May 2016. Jorge Guerrero-Torres has been indicted on a first-degree murder charge in connection with the death of Alvarez. Guerrero-Torres has already been found guilty of federal pornography charges for having pictures of Alvarez on his phone.

In this undated photo made available by the Modell family, Ryan Modell, right, visits Paris with his father Sandy Modell. Sandy Modell is asking Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to reopen the investigation into his son's 2016 shooting death during an altercation at Ryan Modell's Fort Myers, Fla., condominium complex. Local prosecutors declined to charge the shooter, Steve Taylor, citing the state's "stand your ground" law, a decision Sandy Modell wants reversed. (Modell family via AP)

In this undated photo made available by the Modell family, Ryan Modell, right, visits Paris with his father Sandy Modell. Local prosecutors declined to charge the shooter, Steve Taylor, citing the state's "stand your ground" law, a decision Sandy Modell wants reversed. (Modell family via AP)FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – In a case involving Florida's controversial “stand your ground” law, Gov. In both the Martin and Modell slayings, prosecutors cited the “stand your ground” law in deciding, at least initially, not to prosecute. In the Modell case, O'Mara argues that “stand your ground” does not apply.