Samantha Romero

Miami

News Reporter at WBBH-TV (Fort Myers, FL)

News Reporter at WZVN-TV (Fort Myers, FL)

Articles

'She is a miracle baby': Why one Gulf Coast family is urging parents not to wait for swim lessons

2 weeks ago | gulfcoastnewsnow.com | Samantha Romero

She rests quietly in her father’s arms, asleep. It’s a moment that feels peaceful. But to Paul Lagergren, every second like this is a miracle. In February of 2020, when Penny was just a couple of months old, she fell into a backyard pond. "It just happens so fast," Penny's dad, Paul Lagergren, said. "After 70 minutes of full cardiac arrest, she had finally come back."Now six years old, she’s the center of her family’s world, and the boss of the house, if you ask her parents.
New medians on San Carlos Boulevard spark mixed reactions from drivers

2 weeks ago | gulfcoastnewsnow.com | Samantha Romero

A new set of concrete medians on San Carlos Boulevard is stirring up strong opinions from drivers, some calling it a much-needed safety move, others describing it as a confusing obstacle course.The Florida Department of Transportation installed the medians between Kelly Road and Summerlin Boulevard to slow down speeding drivers. But locals say navigating them isn’t always smooth sailing."It’s like crawling through a maze," said Terry Tyson, a Lee County resident who’s driven the road for years.
Florida lawmakers consider letting residents fight back against spying drones

3 weeks ago | gulfcoastnewsnow.com | Samantha Romero

When Kevin Purcell heard his dogs barking one quiet Sunday afternoon in Olga, he stepped outside to find something he wasn’t expecting: a drone. “At first I was like, what the heck is it?” he said. “The lights on it were so bright.”His curiosity quickly turned into confusion. “You’re dumbfounded,” he said.
Florida Gulf Coast University students react to proposed gun law changes

4 weeks ago | gulfcoastnewsnow.com | Samantha Romero

ANYTHING ELSE. >> IT ALL COMES AS TODAY THERE WAS AN INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE ON THE CAMPUS OF FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER SAMANTHA ROMERO IS LIVE FOR US FROM FGCU. SOME STATE LAWMAKERS JUST TRIED TO ALLOW A BILL OR JUST TRIED TO PASS A BILL THAT WOULD LOWER THE MINIMUM AGE TO PURCHASE A GUN. >> ALEX, THAT'S RIGHT. AND I TALKED TO STUDENTS ABOUT THAT TODAY, FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, SOME OF THEM ARE WORRYING ABOUT THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN TALLAHASSEE.
Southwest Florida tow truck driver and business owner's death sparks call for change

1 month ago | abc-7.com | Samantha Romero

A local towing community is grieving after a longtime tow truck driver and business owner was killed on the job Monday in Highlands County. Florida Highway Patrol says 53-year-old Ken Sposato of LaBelle was standing on the northbound shoulder of U.S. 27, helping a stranded driver, when another vehicle veered off the roadway and struck him. The crash happened just north of Ragan Avenue. Sposato owned Cape Coral Towing & Recovery and Stonewall Towing in LaBelle.
Southwest Florida tow truck driver and business owner's death sparks call for change

1 month ago | gulfcoastnewsnow.com | Samantha Romero

A local towing community is grieving after a longtime tow truck driver and business owner was killed on the job Monday in Highlands County. Florida Highway Patrol says 53-year-old Ken Sposato of LaBelle was standing on the northbound shoulder of U.S. 27, helping a stranded driver, when another vehicle veered off the roadway and struck him. The crash happened just north of Ragan Avenue. Sposato owned Cape Coral Towing & Recovery and Stonewall Towing in LaBelle.
Cape Coral launches initiative to speed up services, cut waste

1 month ago | gulfcoastnewsnow.com | Samantha Romero

A new team inside city hall is working to streamline operations and improve efficiency within the city of Cape Coral’s internal processes, aiming to deliver faster, smarter services to residents. City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn announced the creation of the Bureau of Transformative Change (BTC). It's a cross-departmental group focused on streamlining city services and eliminating waste. “If it doesn’t add value, we don’t want to do it,” Ilczyszyn said. “We've been making incremental change.
Englewood Beach parking lot reopens after Hurricane Milton

1 month ago | gulfcoastnewsnow.com | Samantha Romero

Six months after Hurricane Milton, the south entrance to Englewood Beach parking lot has reopened.The Englewood Beach shoreline looks like a postcard, but take a couple of steps out to the parking lot, and some will say it looks like a flashback.Six months after Hurricane Milton, visitors are walking through debris piles and businesses closed off with yellow tape — a reminder of the rough journey. "Debris, boats in the road, houses in the middle of the road.
First witnesses take the stand in North Fort Myers toddler murder trial

1 month ago | gulfcoastnewsnow.com | Samantha Romero

Opening statements began Friday morning, followed by the first witnesses, in the trial of a North Fort Myers man accused of killing and sexually abusing a 2-year-old girl. A jury has been selected, and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the case.FOLLOW UPDATES BELOW9:30 a.m. – The State and Defense deliver opening statements.10:09 a.m. – The court calls its first witness, a Lee County Sheriff’s Office emergency telecommunications operator.
23andMe bankruptcy raises privacy concerns for millions of users

1 month ago | gulfcoastnewsnow.com | Samantha Romero

SO IT DOESN'T CREATE TOO MUCH NOISE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. >> WE ALREADY SUSPECT THAT POSSIBILITY. OF OUR DATA ARE ALREADY OUT THERE. 23 AND ME JUST ANNOUNCED THEY'RE FILING FOR BANKRUPTCY. >> THIS COMPANY HAS THE PERSONAL INFORMATION OF MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. I DID IT LAST YEAR FOUND OUT MOSTLY FROM GERMANY AND ENGLAND AND MY FAMILY'S FROM IRELAND AND SCOTLAND. >> FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS, 23 AND ME HAS BEEN CONNECTING PEOPLE TO FAMILY AROUND THE WORLD.