Invasive Burmese pythons have slithered to a new location in South Florida, establishing a new colony.

YouTube video by Gulf Coast News

Community based care agency highlights successful programs decreasing foster care children in Charlotte County.

Heather Mashburn-Smith, the 37-year-old former English teacher at Port Charlotte High School in Florida who admitted to intimacy with a student, quickly entered a guilty plea. Read on for more details. Pleading Guilty After her arrest on April 29 this year, she was set for a standard case management hearing on August 25. However, the […] The post Florida Teacher Heather Mashburn-Smith Gets Prison Time In Student Case appeared first on Soap Opera Spy.

After public concern about environmental effects, the Charlotte County Board discussed options to pause or limit future solar projects and voted to schedule a public hearing on the Tall Pines siting agreement for Aug. 2, 2022.

After a public hearing on June 22, 2021 the Charlotte County Planning Commission voted to recommend amendments to solar setback rules and to require a community meeting for utility-scale solar applications, moving a conditional-use clause to clarify Board authority; public commenters were split between economic and environmental concerns.

After a public hearing, the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors approved a siting agreement and a conditional-use permit for CPV County Line Solar, a proposed 150 MW AC facility that includes county payments, construction jobs and conditions for setbacks, buffers and decommissioning.

Heather Mashburn-Smith, a 37-year-old English teacher at Port Charlotte High School in Florida, was arrested on April 29, 2026. She faces a charge of unlawful sexual activity with certain minors under Florida Statute 794.05, upgraded to a first-degree felony because of her job as an educator. The charge carries a potential prison sentence of up […] The post Heather Mashburn-Smith Shows Deputies Where She Allegedly Had Sex With Student appeared first on Soap Opera Spy.

After a lengthy staff presentation on safety and maintenance impacts from trucks parking in rights‑of‑way, commissioners expressed consensus for a countywide prohibition on parking commercial vehicles with six wheels or more (including large box trucks), with narrow exceptions for deliveries and moving; staff will draft ordinance language.

After public hearings and a Planning Commission recommendation, the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors approved a siting agreement and a Conditional Use Permit for NOVI Energy’s proposed 140 MW Taro Solar project, with two supervisors voting no on the CUP and the board adding conditions and bond/assessment expectations.

The Charlotte County Board of Supervisors approved two solar conditional‑use permits — the 1.9 MW Charlotte Solar 1 (Gibson) and the 3 MW Charlotte Solar 2 (Goldman) — after public hearings that drew multiple supporters and opponents. A separate 150‑MW CPV County Line Solar proposal was presented and drew extensive public comment but was not decided.

Public Safety Director Chris Russell told the Board the Charlotte County Rescue Squad is averaging seven calls per day and staff are burned out; he presented two staffing options that would cost the county an additional roughly $350,000 or $550,000. The Board directed staff to move forward with the larger, three-crew option.

After a public hearing featuring advocates and opponents, the Charlotte County Planning Commission voted 7–4 to recommend a zoning amendment that would allow Tier 1 battery energy storage as proposed with conditions, ask the Board to consult seven fire chiefs about response responsibilities, refer Tier 1 back for further review, and require careful decommissioning plans.

At a July 18 joint public hearing, Charlotte County staff and Dominion presented a proposed amendment to the conditional use permit for Quarter Horse Solar, a 125‑megawatt facility on Devin Logging Company property near the Charlotte–Mecklenburg line. Public comment was mostly supportive citing jobs and local revenue, while some speakers urged performance‑based protections for battery storage, wildlife corridors, cemeteries, and panel disposal; no final action was taken.