AISLING SWIFT

• Kowiachobee animal preserve negotiating with county to resolve code complaint Published 05/24/2012 at 1:13 p.m.

  The owners of Kowiachobee Animal Preserve, facing a shutdown of public visits to the 11-year-old Golden Gate Estates attraction, today were given time to meet with county officials to try to resolve a zoning issue.

• Union leads protest about executive pay at HMA shareholders meeting Updated 05/22/2012 at 7:59 p.m.

  Naples-based Health Management Associates Inc. was the target of a protest by about a dozen people when it held its annual shareholders meeting Tuesday in North Naples.

• Too tough? State ed board may lower passing grade after fewer students pass FCAT writing part Updated 05/14/2012 at 8:37 p.m.

  The State Board of Education has set an emergency meeting for Tuesday to consider lowering the passing grade on the writing portion of Florida's standardized test, after preliminary results indicated only about a third of students would pass this year's ...

• Lee judge who doesn't hear cases runs again, 'complete shock' to opponent Published 05/13/2012 at 8 a.m.

  Colleagues said Lee Circuit Judge Joseph A. Simpson was expected to retire for health reasons after this year, so the race for his Southwest Florida judicial seat prompted two magistrates and three attorneys, at various times, to announce plans to ...

• Theft charge dismissed against former manager of Marco-area marina Published 05/11/2012 at 9 p.m.

  A Collier judge threw out a criminal fraud case against Cedar Bay Yacht Club's former general manager after his lawyer proved he didn't steal a club member's 21-foot powerboat, sell it and pocket the money.

• Woman gets 3 years probation for cashing dead mother's government checks Updated 05/01/2012 at 6:04 p.m.

  "I just want to re-emphasize I am very, very sorry," Andrews told the judge, crying again after learning she wasn't going to prison. "I dishonored my family's name. I wish all this had not happened, but it was just not ...

• Two east coast lawyers try to unseat judges in Collier County courtrooms Published 04/29/2012 at 5 p.m.

  Attorney Stephen P. Smith, 34, of West Palm Beach, is running against Collier Judge Mike Carr, 64, who is up for re-election after his first six-year term. Smith is one of two Collier County judicial candidates who don't live in ...

• Collier elections supervisor ranks No. 3, Lee's says rankings are flawed Published 04/27/2012 at 5:05 p.m.

  A ranking of Florida's election supervisors shows Collier County was ranked third for its speed in reporting the Jan. 31 primary election results and other duties, while Lee County came in fifth.

• St. Leo's Father Stan submits resignation, working as psychologist Published 04/25/2012 at 7:48 p.m.

  But in a statement issued Wednesday, the Diocese of Venice said 47-year-old Father Stan Strycharz can't "resign from active ministry of the priesthood" because he's on administrative leave and faces a canonical trial on formal charges that could result in ...

• Lighthouse Project - Who We Are: Rich, poor divide one of most unequal in U.S. Published 04/22/2012 at 12:08 a.m.

  Take a walk through the River Park neighborhood and Joseph Williams often can be found sitting on the stoop of his modest home, doling out advice, just as he did as the reverend at the community's church. Phil McCabe can ...

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