2 Florida corrections officers accused of throwing scalding water at inmates
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Two Florida corrections officers are accused of throwing scalding water at inmates, authorities said Wednesday. Howell was charged with felony official misconduct, felony battery and misdemeanor battery, Marceno said during a news conference on Wednesday. Finamore has been charged with felony official misconduct and misdemeanor battery, the sheriff said. Howell has been charged with felony official misconduct, felony battery, & misdemeanor battery. Finamore has been charged with felony official misconduct, & misdemeanor battery.
wftv.comOfficials: North Carolina man missing since Christmas Eve found dismembered, sealed in concrete
LEE COUNTY, N.C. — Officials in North Carolina said a man who had been missing Christmas Eve was reportedly found dismembered and sealed in concrete about a month later. He was reported missing on Jan. 5 but no one had seen him or heard from him since before Christmas. Lee County Sheriff’s Office said that Bright has an extensive criminal history. I would also like to extend my condolences and prayers to the family of Michael Bradley Cox,” said Lee County Sheriff Brian Estes in the news release. Lee County Sheriff’s Office said that additional charges are expected.
wftv.comGov. DeSantis talks hurricane recovery, gives $1M from disaster fund to South Florida schools
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.
Sheriff: Remains of woman, 82, missing since Hurricane Ian found in mangroves
LEE COUNTY, Fla. — The remains of a Florida woman missing since Hurricane Ian destroyed her home in September have been identified, a sheriff said Thursday. Workers removing debris on hard-hit Fort Myers Beach discovered the remains of 82-year-old Ilonka Knes earlier this week in a thicket of mangroves, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said at a news conference. The remains of her husband, 81-year-old Robert Knes, were found shortly after the storm struck. “She was one of two people still missing from Hurricane Ian,” Marceno said. Before the discovery of Knes’ remains, the Florida Medical Examiners Commission on Tuesday reported 145 confirmed deaths in the state from Hurricane Ian.
wftv.comSheriff: Remains found of woman missing since Hurricane Ian
FORT MYERS, Fla. — (AP) — The remains of a Florida woman missing since Hurricane Ian destroyed her home in September have been identified, a sheriff said Thursday. Workers removing debris on hard-hit Fort Myers Beach discovered the remains of 82-year-old Ilonka Knes earlier this week in a thicket of mangroves, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said at a news conference. “She was one of two people still missing from Hurricane Ian,” Marceno said. Hurst told family he would ride out the storm on his sailboat off Fort Myers Beach but was not heard from again. Before the discovery of Knes' remains, the Florida Medical Examiners Commission on Tuesday reported 145 confirmed deaths in the state from Hurricane Ian.
wftv.comOfficials: 2 Florida men arrested for allegedly setting house fire with 21 people inside
LADY LAKE, Fla. — Two men in Lee County, Florida, have been arrested for allegedly setting a house fire with 21 people inside, officials say. When deputies arrived, they learned prior to the fire that one of the suspects, Ulysses Rivera was inside the house with a machete allegedly threatening to kill people inside. Ulysses allegedly began pouring gasoline through the house as the second suspect, Orlando Rivera, allegedly set the fuel on fire, according to LCSO. Ulysses and Orlando then fled the house and allegedly locked the doors behind them, according to WFLA. LCSO said that about 21 people were inside the house at the time of the fire.
wftv.comVideo shows car drive off Florida bridge into river after multi-car crash
LEE COUNTY, Fla. — A video released by deputies in Southwest Florida shows a dangerous crash that sent a car off of a bridge. Crews worked to rescue the driver after a crash sent them veering off of the US-41 bridge and into the Caloosahatchee River in the Fort Myers area. Photos: Video shows car drive off Florida bridge into river after multi-car crashExpand Autoplay Image 1 of 5 Video shows car drive off Florida bridge into river after multi-car crashVideo released by police shows the car go right over the guard rail and into the water. Watch: 4 hurt after truck crashes into Orlando barPolice said three cars were involved in the crash on Saturday. Read: 11 people seriously injured after Hawaiian Airlines flight hits severe turbulenceFirst responders said they were able to rescue the person in the car.
wftv.comMother, man arrested after boy found buried under house in Arkansas; another child found injured
— A mother and a man have been arrested after a boy’s body was found buried under a house in Lee County, Arkansas, and another child was found injured, officials say. >> Read more trending newsThe Arkansas State Police in a news release Saturday said the body of a 6-year-old boy was discovered buried below a hallway floor inside of a house in Moro, Arkansas, Friday evening. Lee County sheriff’s deputies called special agents of the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division just before 11 p.m. Friday. According to the AP, police say the boy may have been dead for up to three months. The mother, Ashley Roland, 28, and Nathan Bridges, 33, have been arrested by ASP and are being held at the Lee County Jail, according to ASP.
wftv.comWatch: Two people escape when truck flips, spills more than 1,300 gallons of oil
LEE COUNTY, Fla. — A driver and his passenger were able to escape with minor injuries after a crash sent his truck spiraling down a Florida road. The video shows a tanker truck losing control and rolling over, before landing on its side and skidding down the road. Truck overturned on Buckingham Road today, spilling over 1300 gallons of cooking oil! @FLHSMV pic.twitter.com/u0RGvqH7AL — FHP SWFL (@FHPSWFL) December 15, 2022Troopers said the tanker was carrying more than 1,300 gallons of cooking oil, which spilled out onto the road. The video shows the men falling from the truck as it flips, and then standing up immediately after the impact.
wftv.com‘Narco Navidad’: Florida deputies seize 2 kilos of cocaine, more than $1.1M
FORT MYERS, Fla. — It’s the most wonderful time of the year for Southwest Florida narcotics officers. More than $1.1 million in cash was seized, along with 2 kilograms of cocaine and a gun, the sheriff’s office announced in a Facebook post. Postal Service Inspection Service alerted the sheriff’s office of suspicious packages coming from Puerto Rico, Marceno told reporters at the news conference. An investigation led deputies to a storage unit in North Fort Myers that contained drugs, money and the gun, the Miami Herald reported. “Christmas is canceled for these two drug dealers,” Marceno said in a TikTok video released by the sheriff’s office.
wftv.comHurricane Ian left behind tons of debris. Here's how Florida officials are getting rid of it.
Images from the aftermath of Hurricane Ian sent shockwaves across the world. Cities, bridges and entire islands were completely leveled when Ian made landfall as a fierce Category 4 hurricane in southwestern Florida in late September. Now, just over a month after Ian's landfall, residents are still trying to pick up the pieces, and collection trucks continue to remove piles upon piles of heavy debris. However, the tons of debris that litter the roads and fill people's homes doesn't just disappea
news.yahoo.comHurricane Ian's lucrative cleanup deals generate new storm
It has been a month since Hurricane Ian wiped out parts of southwest Florida. In response to the wide hurricane damage, county officials expanded the contract's scope on Oct. 2 to include waterways and private property. Officials estimate Lee County has 1.8 million cubic yards of storm debris. “We are bumping up against some very important timelines," Lee County Commissioner Ray Sandelli said at a recent meeting. “In light of Hurricane Ian, it’s an enormous addition to the contract’s scope, potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars,” Sanabria said.
wftv.comFlorida sees rise in flesh-eating bacteria amid Ian concerns
FORT MYERS, Fla. — (AP) — Florida has seen an increase in cases of flesh-eating bacteria this year driven largely by a surge in the county hit hardest by Hurricane Ian. The state Department of Health reports that as of Friday there have been 65 cases of vibrio vulnificus infections and 11 deaths in Florida this year. In Lee County, where Ian stormed ashore last month, the health department reports 29 cases this year and four deaths. Health officials didn't give a breakdown of how many of the cases were before or after Ian struck. Lee County health officials earlier this month warned people that the post-hurricane environment — including warm, standing water — could pose a danger from the potentially deadly bacteria.
wftv.comFlorida sees rise in flesh-eating bacteria amid Ian concerns
FORT MYERS, Fla. — (AP) — Florida has seen an increase in cases of flesh-eating bacteria this year driven largely by a surge in the county hit hardest by Hurricane Ian. The state Department of Health reports that as of Friday there have been 65 cases of vibrio vulnificus infections and 11 deaths in Florida this year. In Lee County, where Ian stormed ashore last month, the health department reports 29 cases this year and four deaths. Health officials didn't give a breakdown of how many of the cases were before or after Ian struck. Lee County health officials earlier this month warned people that the post-hurricane environment — including warm, standing water — could pose a danger from the potentially deadly bacteria.
wftv.comFlorida is seeing a spike in infections caused by 'flesh-eating' bacteria after Hurricane Ian. Here's what to know.
As Florida continues to recover from Hurricane Ian, state health officials are warning that the deadly storm surge that came with it has led to a spike in infections caused by potentially fatal "flesh-eating" bacteria in the floodwaters. "Sewage spills, like those caused from Hurricane Ian, may increase bacteria levels," a warning from the state's health department reads. And while most cases are mild, many people with Vibrio vulnificus infections "require intensive care or limb amputations," according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vibrio vulnificus can cause necrotizing fasciitis, a severe skin infection in which the flesh around an open wound dies, which is why it is described as "flesh-eating" bacteria. Still, Vibrio vulnificus infections are rare.
wftv.comLessons from Hurricane Michael being applied to Ian recovery
FORT MYERS, Fla. — (AP) — Four years before Category 4 Ian wiped out parts of southwest Florida, the state's Panhandle had its own encounter with an even stronger hurricane, Michael. Tiny Mexico Beach, which was nearly leveled by Michael in 2018, still has fewer structures and people than it did before the storm. With little left in town after Michael, Cathey said, residents gathered daily at a portable kitchen to map out the way forward after the hurricane, and there was an unwritten rule. Residents might be ripe for a buyout or conversion after Ian, particularly since he and others had to repair damage after Hurricane Irma in 2017. But looking back, Wood said, he believes he made the right decision to rebuild and hopes people in Fort Myers Beach do the same.
wftv.comLessons from Hurricane Michael being applied to Ian recovery
FORT MYERS, Fla. — (AP) — Four years before Category 4 Ian wiped out parts of southwest Florida, the state's Panhandle had its own encounter with an even stronger hurricane, Michael. Tiny Mexico Beach, which was nearly leveled by Michael in 2018, still has fewer structures and people than it did before the storm. With little left in town after Michael, Cathey said, residents gathered daily at a portable kitchen to map out the way forward after the hurricane, and there was an unwritten rule. Residents might be ripe for a buyout or conversion after Ian, particularly since he and others had to repair damage after Hurricane Irma in 2017. But looking back, Wood said, he believes he made the right decision to rebuild and hopes people in Fort Myers Beach do the same.
wftv.comDeSantis eases voting rules in counties devastated by Ian
Ron DeSantis on Thursday issued an executive order expanding voting access for the midterm elections in three counties where Hurricane Ian destroyed polling places and displaced thousands of people. The decision was praised by Tommy Doyle, the elections supervisor in Lee County, which was the epicenter of Ian's wrath along the Gulf Coast. Hurricane Ian came ashore in Lee County with 155 mph (250 kph) winds that decimated coastal communities and inundated areas with flooding and debris. Lee County voted for Trump in 2020 by nearly 20 percentage points over President Joe Biden. DeSantis and the Republican-controlled legislature have in the last two years tightened various voting rules in Florida.
wftv.comRough times ahead: Hurricane Ian batters SW Florida economy
FORT MYERS, Fla. — (AP) — Hurricane Ian might have come and gone but it could deliver prolonged blows to the local economy, walloping small businesses heavily dependent on tourists and seasonal residents. “It will not be the same,” Maguire said, standing outside the Pinchers seafood restaurant in the Fisherman's Wharf area of Fort Myers. Bars, restaurants and the many mom-and-pop shops that line San Carlos Boulevard, the thoroughfare into Fort Myers Beach, would usually begin filling. In Fort Myers, the sector added 2,700 new jobs in May over the same month the year before. James Kratzke, who has a house on Fort Myers Beach, said water reached nearly to the ceiling in his vacation home.
wftv.com'Nothing's left': Hurricane Ian leaves emotional toll behind
The emotional toll in the days, weeks and months after a hurricane, flood or wildfire can be crippling. Emergency funds for mental health sometimes expire in as soon as two months and last no longer than a year. With disasters becoming more frequent and more severe due to climate change, there could be a cumulative effect on mental health, Horney said. “If it was usual that symptoms would resolve in six months to a year, but then there’s another hurricane or another wildfire, then you’re in this cycle of intensifying mental health impacts,” Horney said. “The research is definitely clear that the more disasters you’re exposed to, the stronger the impacts on mental health."
wftv.com'Nothing's left': Hurricane Ian leaves emotional toll behind
With her home gone and all her belongings trashed by Hurricane Ian, Alice Pujols wept as she picked through soggy clothes, toys and overturned furniture piled head-high outside a stranger’s house, looking to salvage something — anything — for her four children and herself. For those who lost everything to a natural disaster and even those spared, the anguish can be crushing to return home to find so much gone. Two men in their 70s even took their own lives after viewing their losses, said the medical examiner in Lee County, where Ian first made landfall in southwestern Florida.
news.yahoo.comResidents allowed to return to Florida island slammed by Ian
FORT MYERS, Fla. — (AP) — Residents were allowed to return to a coastal island that was decimated by Hurricane Ian on Saturday with a warning from the governor that the disaster isn't over. While residents were initially allowed back on the island after the storm, officials shut down access to allow teams to finish searching the wreckage building by building for possible victims. Once the work was done, residents lined up and were allowed to return on buses. “It’s gone,” she told the Fort Myers News-Press. “It’s just gone.”Just getting around the island, home to most of Fort Myers Beach, is difficult because of storm debris, but heavy equipment was used to clear roads.
wftv.comResidents allowed to return to Florida island slammed by Ian
Residents were allowed to return to a coastal island that was decimated by Hurricane Ian on Saturday with a warning from the governor that the disaster isn't over. Many of the homes still standing on Estero Island lack basic services, so portable restrooms, hand-washing stations, shower trailers and other essentials were trucked in for residents who want to stay, Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a news conference. “There's a lot more to do, and really some of the hardest stuff is still ahead of us," DeSantis said.
news.yahoo.comDisasters like Ian pose extra risk for fragile older people
Almost all of the dozens of people killed by Ian in hardest hit Lee County were 50 or older, with many in their 70s, 80s and even 90s. It's also intensified drought fueled wildfires like the inferno that incinerated the California town of Paradise in 2018, killing 85 people, again mostly older. Ron DeSantis has recognized the disproportionate effect Ian had on the state's older residents, and the need for local groups to help their recovery. Researchers have concluded that nearly half of those killed by Katrina in Louisiana were 75 or older. Older people are also at risk from heat in the days and weeks after major storms.
wftv.comAs search goes on, Floridians await OK to survey Ian's wrath
FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. — (AP) — William Wellema has been living under a bridge for four days, waiting to get to Fort Myers Beach on Florida's Estero Island to see if his vacation home survived Hurricane Ian. On Friday, he was beyond frustrated as he continued to await permission to drive across. He is in touch with friends in other parts of the country waiting on his word to make their own journeys south. Most were in the worst-hit Lee County that includes the greater Fort Myers area and nearby Gulf Coast islands. “I totally understand why they’re not letting anyone on.”Betty Parker and her husband, Wiley, live in Fort Myers, but they’re about 20 miles (32 kilometers) inland.
wftv.comAs search goes on, Floridians await OK to survey Ian's wrath
FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. — (AP) — William Wellema has been living under a bridge for four days, waiting to get to Fort Myers Beach on Florida's Estero Island to see if his vacation home survived Hurricane Ian. On Friday, he was beyond frustrated as he continued to await permission to drive across. He is in touch with friends in other parts of the country waiting on his word to make their own journeys south. Most them were in the worst-hit Lee County that includes the greater Fort Myers area and nearby Gulf Coast islands. Backyard waterways overflowed into neighborhoods, sometimes by more than a dozen feet (3.5 meters), tossing boats onto yards and roadways.
wftv.comFlorida Gov. DeSantis announces 1st Disaster Recovery Center, financial relief programs in wake of Ian
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.
Gov. DeSantis announces $1.1M raised for tornado victims in Lee, Charlotte counties
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.
1M expired COVID tests to be used in Florida after FDA grants new extension, DeSantis says
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said 1 million Abbott COVID-19 rapid tests that expired in a warehouse last month are now “going out” to testing sites after their usage date was extended to March 2022 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.