WASHINGTON / NBC News — Karine Jean-Pierre, White House principal deputy press secretary, took the podium in the James S. Brady Briefing Room for the first time on Wednesday. Jean-Pierre, 43, became the first openly gay spokeswoman to lead a presser, and the second Black woman to do so. She follows in the footsteps of Judy Smith who served as deputy press secretary to President George H.W. Bush in 1991. “It’s a real honor to be standing here today,” Jean-Pierre said. “Clearly the president believes that representation matters and I appreciate him giving me this...
Estero Village Council approved the first step of allowing a 1,600-student elementary and middle school on Three Oaks Parkway north of Corkscrew Road.
Naples News
Local officials lament often-successful efforts by Legislature to take away their powers to control everything from home businesses to cruise ships
Naples News
Integrity Florida found that the Florida Legislature in recent years has expanded its use of preemption to block local ordinances it opposes.
Naples News
SAN JOSE, Calif. / CNN — The nine victims of a mass shooting in San Jose on Wednesday have been identified as investigators begin the process of figuring out why such a fierce burst of violence happened during the early morning hours at a light rail yard. Eight of the victims, who ranged from ages 29 to 63, were identified Wednesday by the Santa Clara County Office of the Medical Examiner-Coroner as Paul Delacruz Megia, 42; Taptejdeep Singh, 36; Adrian Balleza, 29; Jose Dejesus Hernandez III, 35; Timothy Michael Romo, 49; Michael Joseph Rudometkin, 40; Abdolvahab Alaghmandan, 63; and...
CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — About 22 Punta Gorda homes had to be evacuated after a car crash on US 41 damaged a gas line Wednesday night, officials said. Two cars collided on US 41 near Acline Road around 8:30 p.m. A car involved in the crash swerved off the road and ran over a pressurized natural gas main. The damaged line started spewing out natural gas and was making a noise that sounded similar to a jet engine, rescue crews with Charlotte County Fire & EMS said. Because the damaged gas line had a risk of exploding, 22 homes had to be evacuated, rescue crews said. Charlotte County...
FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Fort Myers Police Department gave ABC7 an inside look at their new state-of-the-art training tool for officers: virtual reality simulations. Lieutenant Jason Pate is a 26-year veteran police officer but he is continuing to learn. The new technology helping him and his officers avoid using lethal force. “They really get to develop de-escalation skills, de-escalation techniques,” said Lt. Pate. “It’s actually gaining someone’s trust. It’s actually taking the time to let them settle.” Every element of a possible situation is customizable in the...
FORT MYERS, Fla.– With dry, windy conditions around Southwest Florida, burn bans are being issued to avoid tragedy ahead of Memorial Day Weekend. Collier County, Hendry County, Cape Coral and North Port are issuing burning bans ahead of the holiday. The bans follow a 900 acre brush fire that destroyed homes in Golden Gate Estates. One of the destroyed homes belonged to Tyler Uzcategui. “It takes on spark now in this dry season and this could happen to anybody. You lose everything,” said Uzcategui. His home, car and his belongings have been reduced to rubble on 14th Avenue...
CAPE CORAL, Fla. – A boater died Wednesday afternoon after crashing into a dock at Alhambra Lake in Cape Coral. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed the crash happened around 5:45 p.m. when an 18-foot pontoon boat crashed into a dock causing the driver to be thrown from the vessel. EMS crews responded to the scene and confirmed the boater died from their injuries. FWC is still investigating the crash. The identity of the boater has not been released at this time. “All of the members of the FWC want to express our sincere sympathies to the family and...
BONITA SPRINGS Fla. — When Mike O’Malley was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he had a simple request for his wife, Nikki: to find a hobby. Mike thought it would help ease her anxiety as he battled the disease. And it did. “It was something to comfort me,” Nikki said. “That’s what’s so special about it.” Nikki decided her new hobby would be launching a clothing line of leggings, one of the few things that brought her comfort during that difficult time. She promised Michael “everything would be fine” and she would continue the effort after...