Melanie Payne, The News-Press

Melanie Payne

The News-Press

Florida, United States

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Recent:
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Past:
  • The News-Press
  • Naples Daily News
  • Florida Times-Union
  • Tallahassee Democrat
  • USA TODAY
  • 11Alive Atlanta
  • wusa9
  • 12NewsNow
  • 10 News Tampa Bay
  • ksdk.com
  • and more…

Past articles by Melanie:

Women accuse former Canterbury basketball coach Terry Kelly of sexual abuse of students in 1990s

Terry Kelly coached basketball at the Canterbury School in Fort Myers, where women say he sexually abused them when they were students in the '90s. Kelly also coached at Estero High and at private schools near Los Angeles and Atlanta. → Read More

Last-minute fake video didn't keep Byron Donalds from winning Florida's GOP primary in District 19

A YouTube video and text messages sent to voters falsely claimed one of the candidates, Byron Donalds, had dropped out of the race. → Read More

State Senate District 27: Ray Rodrigues beats Heather Fitzenhagen in primary race

Ray Rodrigues had more money, more endorsements and more time in the race. He won 75% of votes to Heather Fitzenhagen's 25 percent. → Read More

State campaign funds raised for Byron Donalds go to Super PAC to oppose Askar, Fig and Eagle

Byron Donalds says he had nothing to do with the decision to use leftover money from his former state PAC to fund attacks on his opponents → Read More

Southwest Florida is a hotspot as COVID-19 numbers soar across Florida

The number of positive coronavirus cases and, more significantly, hospitalizations continues to increase rapidly in the region. → Read More

Peaceful protesters march in Fort Myers with hope for solutions

1,000 Men March focuses on accountability for racism and police brutality. → Read More

Analysis: Most Florida officers disciplined for excessive force kept their jobs

As protests over George Floyd’s death at the hands of a Minnesota cop continue to roil the nation, data show that only about 1 in 10 of the nearly 1,700 officers disciplined for using excessive force are barred from law enforcement jobs in Florida. → Read More

Florida lags behind 20 other states in coronavirus testing. Experts say more tests can slow spread

Florida has now tested 1% of its population for COVID-19. Experts say testing is crucial to curtailing the epidemic and must be expanded. → Read More

Fact check: Are Florida's borders closed to out-of-state visitors? No, but expect delays

Facebook post with 150,000 shares claims Florida border is closed at the Alabama and Georgia lines. It is not, but there are traveler checkpoints. → Read More

New Florida data on coronavirus and race: Is uptick in deaths of black people the start of a trend?

Black people in Florida are experiencing faster growth in infection and death rates compared to white people, according to early data. → Read More

'Will I have a job to come back to?': Coronavirus takes its toll on Collier, Lee workforce

The people who have lost their jobs because of the coronavirus are more than just numbers in state reports. They’re real people with families to feed, bills to pay and careers that have temporarily been put on hold. → Read More

Fact check: 39-year-old Florida DJ died from coronavirus complications. His death not 'fake news'

Facebook users contended that a video about a Fort Myers DJ's death was fake. The 39-year-old was indeed killed by coronavirus. → Read More

Fact check: Did Florida county commissioner propose a blow dryer cure for coronavirus?

A video clip claims to show a Florida county commissioner advising uninsured people to kill the coronavirus by inhaling hot air from a blow dryer. → Read More

Florida lags behind 20 other states in coronavirus testing. Experts say more tests can slow spread

Florida has now tested 1% of its population for COVID-19. Experts say testing is crucial to curtailing the epidemic and must be expanded. → Read More

Florida small businesses impacted by coronavirus can now apply for interest-free loans

The bridge loans are meant cover a temporary drop in revenue or unexpected expenses resulting from a disaster. → Read More

The 2010s: A look back at the biggest stories in Collier, Lee counties

As we leave the 2010s, The News-Press and the Naples Daily News take a look back at some of the most important local stories of the last 10 years. → Read More

Fort Myers public works employees fired after audit uncovers time card fraud, theft

At least seven City of Fort Myers employees have been implicated in a theft-of-time scheme, according to an audit of the public works department. → Read More

Adopt a pet: The case of the Halloween kittens and spooky Chihuahuas

"There is literally nothing too corny to get them adopted," said Karen Fordiani, public information specialist for Lee County Domestic Animal Services. → Read More

Government website marks 25 Florida nursing homes with abuse, neglect warning icon

The Nursing Home Compare website marked the nursing homes with a symbol showing a bright red circle around upraised hand in the "halt" position. → Read More

Retired Florida police Capt. Jay Rodriguez officially charged with soliciting prostitution, perjury

Prosecutors officially filed charges of soliciting prostitution, perjury and official misconduct against a Fort Myers police captain a day after his retirement was official → Read More