CARRIE WISE

Former first lady Laura Bush said hello to people as she signs copies of her book, "Spoken From The Heart," at Books-A-Million at Mercato on Wednesday, April 6, 2011 in North Naples. About 350 people showed up for the event.

The Griffiths are among 31 others in Southwest Florida who are owed a total of more than $200,000 from Cardin who has been convicted of the crime but hasn’t been paying for it.

Naples is known for white sandy beaches and golf courses galore. But residents and snowbirds looking for more than outdoor recreation are finding a home indoors — on a ballroom dance floor.

It was smokin’ at the Collier County Fairgrounds on Saturday for the first annual Ziggy Dick’s BBQ Cook-Off & Festival.

The shipping lines at the post office may take a little longer to get through than last year. Records show there has been a modest increase in volume this holiday season, according to Richard Barber, Naples postmaster.

The chilly weather in Southwest Florida makes for a great day for manatee viewing. On cold days the mammals seek refuge in warm water, like the lagoon at Manatee Park located off of Palm Beach Boulevard in Fort Myers.

From sled rides to snowballs kids took in both the snow and the Florida sunshine at Snowfest in Naples on Saturday. For many it was a first time experience playing in the snow.

If every dog has its day, this is certainly Ru Ru’s. The wheelchair-bound dachshund has captured the hearts of the community and beyond, and his 15 minutes of fame will likely land him a new home.

Cecilia Koncsol never thought she would be getting up at 4:30 in the morning in her retirement, but she has decided to trade in extra sleep for some quality time with newborn children.

Two African crested porcupines were born at the zoo last month. The zoo also recently rescued a two-toed sloth and his mother.

Former Miami Dolphin Kim Bokamper tackles the Naples market with his eponymous sports bar.

The Gulf Coast High School Shark Marching Band is big and loud.

East Naples resident Patti Decker buys a lottery ticket or two every day with no conceived plans of striking it rich. Tuesday was a different day. She hit a $1 million jackpot.

Before sunrise, Maura Kraus starts the day riding along Vanderbilt Beach looking for tracks, a sign a sea turtle has nested. However, after a tropical depression dumped heavy rain on Southwest Florida last week, instead of discovering tracks, Kraus found ...

Three hundred local kids in need will start school in two weeks with new shoes.

During the past six years Collier County elections have attracted only 18 percent of the voters. That turnout pales in comparison to presidential elections when 70 percent or more of Florida voters cast a ballot.

In the wake of a local teen losing his hand to an alligator, we offer a list of tips to stay safe in waters near these creatures.

The Marquesa Plaza will be campaign central this election season.

Chef Darren McGrady has had a dream career cooking at Buckingham Palace for Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth. It all started with a bird’s eye view at Prince Charles and Diana’s wedding and a little determination.

This is the first time the Southwest Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has hosted a job fair in Collier County.

It’s a perfect case of reading between the lines. The economy may be causing some cuts at the Collier County Public Library but it hasn’t stopped the people from using it.

Laura Sklow, senior tax advisor at H&R Block in Naples, sat down with Daily News video reporter Carrie Wise to answer a few tax questions. The deadline for filing is April 15.

The cast of “Little House on the Prairie: The Musical” hammered away on a little home in Naples Wednesday.

He bends utensils and reads minds to both entertain and spark a curiosity for the unknown.

It was a party at Citrus Park in Bonita Springs Tuesday morning. The annual Mardi Gras parade featured more than 550 participants.

Best-selling author James Patterson appeared in Naples on Monday as a guest speaker at the 2010 Nick Linn Lecture Series hosted by the Friends of the Library of Collier County. During his visit he sat down for an interview with ...

In a good economy or bad, Jeffrey Painter wants his students to be able to get a job.

Five candidates are campaigning for three seats on Naples City Council. Voters will have their say on Feb. 2. The top three vote-getters will win the spots on council.

Know someone serving in the military that won’t be home for the holidays?

Rubio, the former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, is seeking the Republican nomination for the seat heald by Mel Martinez, who is stepping down. In the primary, he is running against Gov. Charlie Crist, who is overwhelmingly beating ...

Fort Myers dance instructor Cheryl Sington danced alongside Michael Jackson in the “Thiller” music video. She was the zombie bride dancing to the right of Jackson. Twenty-six years later, she is reliving the experience by teaching the dance to her ...

The black bears at the Naples Zoo had their cake and ate it, too.

Red light running cameras are nabbing thousands of drivers across Collier County. Before you get caught, here are 10 things to know about red light cameras.

An effort to drive awareness to ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is underway at Coconut Point Mall in Estero this weekend.

Workers are hammering away at a restoration project at the historic Naples Depot. The goal is to restore the building to the way was in 1927 when the first Seaboard Air Line train arrived at the station.

A local non-profit is beginning to see the benefits of its plan to fix up foreclosures.

Spencer Clark is passionate about wine and music, and has found a creative way to combine the two. The part-time Marco Island resident tours the country presenting what he calls “Rock ’n’ Wine Dinner Shows,” an event that couples his ...

After 37 days and a cross-country hunt, two bondsmen and bounty hunters, known only as Cobra and Tank, finally caught their fugitive. Christopher Riendeau of East Naples was wanted for failure to appear in court on various drug charges and ...