How many people have been killed by alligators in Florida? The number may surprise you
Despite their cute appearance, these animals are incredibly dangerous. The FWC lists how many people have been killed by gators in Florida since 1948.
Florida is the nationโs โLightning Capital.โ Hereโs how many fatal strikes there have been
The vast majority of those struck were men โ 85% โ while women accounted for approximately 15% of those deaths.
How many people have been killed by alligators in Florida? The number may surprise you
Despite their cute appearance, these animals are incredibly dangerous. The FWC lists how many people have been killed by gators in Florida since 1948.
Skeletal remains discovered at Florida lake, could be โhistorically significantโ
Eight-foot-long alligators were in the lake as divers searched the bottom, prompting deputies to stand by with rifles.
Sheriff: 2 dead, 2 hurt in shooting at Florida home during domestic disturbance
Authorities say a man wearing a ski mask opened fire at a southwest Florida home during a domestic disturbance, leaving two people dead and the suspect and another person wounded.
Do you know all the nicknames of Floridaโs coasts? โSeaโ them here
Depending on where you live in Florida, you know there are different names for different coasts in the state. But where did the names come from?
Gov. 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 stateโs ongoing recovery efforts in South Florida after Hurricane Ian, previewing some future plans and awarding money to local education foundations.
Truck spills over 1,300 gallons of cooking oil in Lee County, video shows
A cooking oil truck rolled over in Lee County Thursday morning, spilling over 1,300 gallons of cooking oil and ejecting two men from the truck.
Tax breaks teed up for Florida hurricane damage victims
Nearly 50,000 property owners forced from their homes for more than a month by Hurricane Ian or Hurricane Nicole could be eligible for tax relief under a bill that was being prepared Friday for a special legislative session next week.
WATCH: Cape Coral officer jumps into canal to save driver in sinking car
A Cape Coral police officer jumped into action after a driver and her car ended up in a nearby canal, according to the police department.
Gov. DeSantis hands off $1M for first responders, $7.7M for CTE programs at Lee County event
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday morning held a news conference at Miceliโs Restaurant, a dockside eatery near Pine Island.
Post-storm housing initiatives, more announced at DeSantis event in Fort Myers Beach
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced new developments in disaster-recovery efforts still underway nearly a month after Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida.
$2M in state disaster funds will go to education foundations in 6 South Florida counties, DeSantis says
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 Gov. DeSantis announces special session to deal with property taxes for victims of Hurricane Ian
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced an executive order to extend deadlines for property taxes to people whose homes or businesses have been rendered unusable by damage caused by Hurricane Ian.
โOur lifeline:โ Florida restores Sanibel Causeway, giving residents access to island after Hurricane Ian
The Sanibel Causeway, lifeline to Sanibel Island in southwest Florida, will be reopened after suffering major damages in Hurricane Ian.
Is this your ticket? Winning share of $494M Mega Millions lottery jackpot sold in Fort Myers
Florida lottery officials announced that one of two Mega Millions lottery winning tickets was purchased in the Sunshine State from Oct. 14โฒs drawing.
Recent hires at Cape Coral Police Department accept bonuses at DeSantis news conference
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis officiated while six recent hires of the cityโs police department accepted $5,000 bonus checks from the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program.
Gov. DeSantis awards $2M from Florida Disaster Fund to first responder groups
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday announced the disbursement of $2 million from the growing Florida Disaster Fund to several groups representing law enforcement and first responders.
Rough times ahead: Hurricane Ian batters SW Florida economy
Hurricane Ian has come and gone, but it still could deliver prolonged blows to the local economy โ particularly small businesses heavily dependent on tourists and seasonal residents.
โMassive convoyโ of Florida linemen, first responders use Sanibel Causeway damaged in Hurricane Ian
A โmassive convoyโ of linemen and first responders used the temporarily repaired Sanibel Causeway that was destroyed during Hurricane Ian, according to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Disasters like Ian pose extra risk for fragile older people
Older people with limited mobility and those with chronic health conditions requiring the use of electrically powered medical devices were especially vulnerable when Hurricane Ian slammed into Southwest Florida.
Hurricane Ian closes some Florida schools indefinitely
The devastation from Hurricane Ian has left schools shuttered indefinitely in parts of Florida, leaving storm-weary families anxious for word on when and how children can get back to classrooms.
โAnything we can do to help:โ Osceola deputies head to Lee County to offer help after Hurricane Ian
Deputies with the Osceola County Sheriffโs Office are set to deploy Wednesday to Lee County, which is still struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, the sheriffโs office said in a release.
Florida Gov. DeSantis announces 1st Disaster Recovery Center, financial relief programs in wake of Ian
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday the activation of the stateโs 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.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis talks rescues, restoring power in Hurricane Ianโs wake
Gov. Ron DeSantis said rescue teams deployed in Ianโs aftermath had already performed more than 1,900 rescues across Florida as of Monday, less than a week after the storm made landfall in Florida.
โDevastating impacts:โ Florida Gov. DeSantis discusses Hurricane Ianโs aftermath in Hardee County
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday will hold a news conference at the Hardee County Emergency Management office in Wachula.
See ya later, alligator: Video shows SRO wrangle 7-foot gator at Florida middle school drop-off
A 7-foot alligator greeted students at a Lee County middle school drop-off, Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in a tweet.
Arizona county had largest white, Black, Hispanic growth
Metro Phoenixโs Maricopa County had among the biggest growth in white, Black and Hispanic residents last year, as well as the biggest increase overall of any U.S. county.
Florida Gov. DeSantis discusses environmental investments in next state budget
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.
Florida hits boating benchmark with 1M registered vessels, FWC says
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced Friday that Florida has passed the mark of 1 million registered recreational vessels.
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 โpoliticsโ and announced $1.1 million was raised for repairs, temporary housing and other forms of relief.
State launches donation portal supporting those impacted in southwest Florida tornadoes
A new donation portal opened for those impacted by tornadoes that touched down in southwest Florida last month.
DeSantis accuses Biden administration of delaying help for Florida tornado victims
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 โpolitics.โ
Tornadoes touch down in South Florida as thousands lose power
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.
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 โgoing outโ to testing sites after their usage date was extended to March 2022 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Caloosahatchee River conditions are looking better this fall
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.
WATCH LIVE at 11:30 a.m.: Gov. Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody to speak in South Florida
Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news briefing at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in South Florida.
2 Florida teens interested in Columbine massacre plotted to carry out school shooting, deputies say
Two Florida teens who โtook an interestโ in the Columbine High School shooting are accused of plotting to carry out a school shooting, according to the Lee County Sheriffโs Office.
Florida K-9 helps bring home missing 12-year-old girl during Elsa, deputies say
A Florida K-9 helped track down a missing 12-year-old girl during the severe weather then Tropical Storm Elsa brought to the state, according to the Lee County Sheriffโs Office.
Gov. Ron DeSantis: Florida students will be taught communism is evil
Civics education will be expanded in Florida, including instruction about communist and totalitarian governments, and state universities will be prevented from quashing conservative ideology under bills Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed.
Child rape suspect found off Florida trying to leave country by boat, police say
After a months-long manhunt, a man accused of raping two children in the state of Washington was found and arrested off Florida's coast.
CVS Pharmacy expanding vaccine locations across Florida
LEE COUNTY, Fla. โ CVS Pharmacy will be receiving more COVID-19 vaccine doses and expanding its inoculations across Florida beginning Friday, Gov. Under Florida vaccine eligibility groups: K-12 school employees, law enforcement officers and firefighters, all 50 and older, can also get vaccinated. AdCVS, CVS Pharmacy y mรกs, Navarro Discount Pharmacy, Publix, Winn-Dixie and Walmart pharmacies are also offering vaccines in Florida by appointment. I mentioned we are going to probably do another Walgreens would be really, really good,โ DeSantis said. Just make an appointment come into your local pharmacy, do it.โFind a list of CVS Pharmacy locations and make an appointment for a vaccine here.
Florida panther struck, killed by vehicle
FORT MYERS, Fla. โ An endangered Florida panther has died after being struck by a vehicle. Itโs 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.
Florida panther struck and killed by vehicle
FORT MYERS, Fla. โ An endangered Florida panther has died after being struck by a vehicle. Itโs 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.
Deputy Dog: Puppy pulled from mouth of alligator gets new job
LEE COUNTY, Fla. โ A Florida dog whose rescue went viral last month has a brand new job. Gunner, a 5-month-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, is now a โdeputy dogโ with the Lee County Sheriffโs Office. โDo you swear to up hold the constitutional law for the Lee County Sheriffโs Office, Gunner,โ Sheriff Carmine Marceno asked the pup. In a video shared by the Sheriffโs Office Wilbanks retold the story of the wild encounter when he rescued Gunner from the jaws of an alligator. Gunner is fine, Iโm fine and so am I,โ Wilbanks said.
Puppy pried from gatorโs mouth by his human doing just fine
Meredith Budd, regional policy director with Florida Wildlife Federation, said Wilbanks volunteers with an educational program called Sharing the Landscape. Itโs a campaign part of the Stop Foundation with a mission to teach about co-existing with wild animals. The nonprofit organization hopes the video will serve as a learning experience for people to maintain their distance from wild animals and make sure to stay safe. โYou know, I didnโt even realize that until people started making that comment after they saw the video. Gunner is fine, Iโm fine and so am I,โ Wilbanks said.
Restaurants scramble to reopen in most of Florida
MIAMI, Fla. โ As restaurants in many Florida cities prepare to re-open on Monday under new pandemic rules set by Gov. Restaurants in all but three South Florida counties can reopen inside dining rooms at 25% capacity. In Lee County, for example, officials are allowing restaurants to place tables and seating in areas not previously allowed, such as parking lots. Florida is saying no condos can be rented, but restaurants can be open. The governorโs order said retail and store-front businesses can reopen, but only if the local government allows it.