Florida, Punta Gorda | featured news

TALLAHASSEE (AP) — Florida economists are projecting that the state’s economy should continue to grow steadily over the next three years.
After a decade that saw the state’s economy soar — and then crash during the Great Recession — economists are expecti...

SOUTH MIAMI — Derek Medina appeared to live much of his life online.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound South Miami resident posted photos and videos of himself kick boxing, sailing, meeting celebrities and wearing a Miami Heat championship ring. In one Facebook pho...

NORTH PORT — It took less than five minutes to read the two names on the bids submitted to the city for the short-term operation of Warm Mineral Springs Day Spa Friday.
Alla Skipper, who is overseeing the process for the city of North Port read the titles...

PUNTA GORDA — When Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell spoke to the media Tuesday about the loss of Sgt. Michael Wilson, the sheriff described his fallen deputy as “unique” and “one of a kind.”
The sheriff said Wilson “is truly going to be missed.”
Wil...

As the community prepares to pay its last respects to fallen Charlotte County Sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Wilson, law enforcement officials are urging residents today to avoid driving on or around the 25-mile-long procession route.
The route will begin in Punt...

New organist/accompanist
Burnt Store Presbyterian Church, 11330 Burnt Store Road, Punta Gorda, announces the addition of Heidi Thompson as an organist/accompanist, beginning today. In this position, Thompson will work directly with Joy Toll-Chandler, dir...

Mac Adamson wanted to do something special for Charlotte County Sheriff’s Sgt. Mike Wilson’s family.
It didn’t take him long to figure it out.
Mac is the site manager for Allied Recycling, a very busy metal scrapyard in the Whidden Industrial Park off Har...

Prudential Florida Reality sponsored a night of comedy, dining with friends, and fundraising at Visani’s Comedy Club on Thursday to help raise money for Sunshine Kids, a program that benefits kids with cancer....

Surveillance video shows it all: An unsuspecting woman is pumping gas, her back turned to her own vehicle.
Another car pulls up alongside the soon-to-be victim, and an individual quietly exits the newly arrived car, opening the passenger door of the woman...

The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has released the order of events for the funeral services Saturday for Sgt. Michael Wilson.

8 a.m. All members of CCSO are expected to have arrived
8:30 a.m. The front doors are opened to the public.
10 a.m. Ser...