Charlotte County, Punta Gorda | featured news

OTTER CREEK, Fla. — Money is usually tight in Florida’s Levy and Citrus counties, which are hours removed from the flashy tourist attractions in Orlando and the vast housing subdivisions in suburban Tampa. The median household income in each ranks near th...

The 3-year-old girl wandered away from her grandmother’s home in Wareham, Mass., in mid-April. A frantic search began almost immediately, and within an hour little Alyvia Navarro was found unresponsive in a nearby pond. She was pronounced dead the next da...

LAKELAND — Out on the course, where the concrete flows fast and smooth and skaters pull off righteous tricks on the many bumps, rails, hips, flats and curbs, Dwayne Glowner might be mistaken for just another protective dad.
And he is, but his kids — one w...

NEW YORK (AP) — The dystopian science fiction thriller “Elysium” topped the weekend box office with $30.5 million, according to studio estimates Sunday, enough to beat three newcomers, including the Jennifer Aniston comedy “We’re the Millers.”
Sony’s “Ely...

PORT CHARLOTTE — Pastor Dave White, of First Baptist Church of Port Charlotte, felt the emotional trauma of Sgt. Michael Wilson’s death and wanted to do something positive about it. He felt particular sympathy for the wife and three kids who survive Wilso...

More photos of Saturday’s farewell to Sgt. Michael Wilson....

Angel Alejandro took four young relatives to Muscle Car City in Punta Gorda.
The five of them walked around, looking at Camaros and Corvettes, and carrying on in-depth automotive conversations.
“I love it,” said Angel, of New Jersey.
Each of the boys h...

PUNTA GORDA — Vahan Grigorian has traveled four continents, spent years in prison camps in two countries, been targeted by both the Russian KGB and the Nazi SS, and worked secretly under Gen. George S. Patton against Mother Russia.
He has looked evil in t...

CAIRO (AP) — Egyptian security officials say forces will besiege two protest camps in Cairo supporting the country’s ousted president within 24 hours.
One official suggested action against the sit-ins by supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi could...

WILDWOOD, N.J. (AP) — Coast Guard and state police crews have suspended their search for a swimmer who went missing off the southern New Jersey coast.
Twenty-four-year-old Christian Alfred was swimming in Wildwood around 7 p.m. Saturday when witnesses say...