Charlotte County

Maranda Malnory, 29, was less than one month away from her second birthday when James Ford killed her parents in rural Charlotte County. Ford was executed by the state this month.

The Charlotte County Commission has imposed a ban on all outdoor burning, including the use and discharge of fireworks and sparklers.

Some people spend a portion of their lives searching for a passion. Others never stop chasing it. On this night, one man is proving that it’s never too late to take the stage.

James Dennis Ford was put to death with a lethal injection as about 25 witnesses watched at Florida State Prison. He was found guilty of murdering Gregory and Kimberly Malnory during a fishing trip.

The Supreme Court declined to issue a stay of execution or take up an appeal by James Ford. He is set to die by lethal injection at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Florida State Prison outside Starke.

Big companies are snapping up land along the I-75 corridor, bringing a type of boomtown to Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties. Local leaders believe higher-paying jobs are coming to the area, easing the past dependence on tourism to drive the economy.

The $265 million deal with Community Health Systems includes ShorePoint Health Port Charlotte and ShorePoint Health Punta Gorda, which has been closed due to hurricane damage.

“It was one of those central moments,” Neil Durrant said. “There was before Charley and there’s after Charley. Charley wasn’t just an event, it is always going to be a big part of Punta Gorda’s history, Charlotte County’s history. It’s always going to be one of those standout moments."

John Joseph Richter, 39, of Port Charlotte, has been found guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia of multiple felony and misdemeanor offenses following a bench trial before U.S. District Court Judge Randolph D. Moss.

Many attending the school board aired complaints about book removal aimed at adhering to a new state law.

Charlotte County's superintendent and board lawyer told librarians at a meeting over the summer that a bill signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis requires the removal of any book that mentions LGBTQ+ issues, even those where a minor character is gay and is not explicit.

Florida residents own rights to decide if 5,000 acres of farmland in Charlotte, Hardee, and Highlands counties will ever be developed as part of the Rural and Family Lands program.