TALLAHASSEE (CBS) Governor DeSantis signs AI and vape bills Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed 28 bills, including a measure requiring disclaimers on certain political ads created using artificial intelligence and a bill about regulation of vape products.
ESTERO Gold Star Golf Tournament honors fallen veteran Behind each putt and swing of a golf club at the Gold Star Golf Tournament is someone who knew John Wirka Junior.
NEW YORK (AP) How TikTok grew from a fun app for teens into a potential national security threat If it feels like TikTok has been around forever, that’s probably because it has, at least if you’re measuring via internet time. What’s now in question is whether it will be around much longer and, if so, in what form?
FORT MYERS Man wanted for armed robbery at Fort Myers convenience store Crime Stoppers is asking the public for help identifying an armed robber who held up a convenience store Saturday morning.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINK Neighborhood Watch: Rifles, inappropriate texts and Donut shop debacle This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a scary mall trip, an inappropriate coach, and a Dunkin Donuts assault.
The Weather Authority: Sunny Saturday with a nice breeze; fire danger increases Warm temperatures for your Saturday with a nice breeze into the afternoon.
NORTH NAPLES Senior Airman surprises cousin on Aubrey Rogers softball senior night Aubrey Rogers senior pitcher and infielder McKenzie Vargas was surprised by her Air Force cousin for Senior Night.
BONITA SPRINGS Police: 15-year-old injured after accidentally shot in the leg Lee County deputies say the teen was accidentally shot in the leg.
PUNTA GORDA Exclusive: Brother and best friend of accused pedophile priest speak out Riley’s brother reached out to WINK on Friday, saying people aren’t getting the full story.
IMMOKALEE Caught on video: Huge gator crosses Immokalee neighborhood Fridays in Florida are for gators
FORT MYERS FGCU softball pitcher making a name for herself One season in FGCU, freshman pitcher Allison Sparkman is already ruffling feathers in the circle.
Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society raises concerns An large amount of pets are being surrendered by their owners. About half of the dogs at the Gulf Coast Humane Society are surrender dogs.
Students benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars So far, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax has brought in $507 million for the Lee County School District.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘Shady’: One woman feels misled after federal student loan consolidation It takes some people decades to pay off their student loans. One woman’s last payment was in sight until she took a gamble she said she was told to take.
FORT MYERS Homeless encampments inch closer to neighborhoods Law enforcement has swept multiple encampments, cleaning the trails of mess and muck left behind, and some of these encampments are right in our backyards.
TALLAHASSEE (CBS) Governor DeSantis signs AI and vape bills Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed 28 bills, including a measure requiring disclaimers on certain political ads created using artificial intelligence and a bill about regulation of vape products.
ESTERO Gold Star Golf Tournament honors fallen veteran Behind each putt and swing of a golf club at the Gold Star Golf Tournament is someone who knew John Wirka Junior.
NEW YORK (AP) How TikTok grew from a fun app for teens into a potential national security threat If it feels like TikTok has been around forever, that’s probably because it has, at least if you’re measuring via internet time. What’s now in question is whether it will be around much longer and, if so, in what form?
FORT MYERS Man wanted for armed robbery at Fort Myers convenience store Crime Stoppers is asking the public for help identifying an armed robber who held up a convenience store Saturday morning.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINK Neighborhood Watch: Rifles, inappropriate texts and Donut shop debacle This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a scary mall trip, an inappropriate coach, and a Dunkin Donuts assault.
The Weather Authority: Sunny Saturday with a nice breeze; fire danger increases Warm temperatures for your Saturday with a nice breeze into the afternoon.
NORTH NAPLES Senior Airman surprises cousin on Aubrey Rogers softball senior night Aubrey Rogers senior pitcher and infielder McKenzie Vargas was surprised by her Air Force cousin for Senior Night.
BONITA SPRINGS Police: 15-year-old injured after accidentally shot in the leg Lee County deputies say the teen was accidentally shot in the leg.
PUNTA GORDA Exclusive: Brother and best friend of accused pedophile priest speak out Riley’s brother reached out to WINK on Friday, saying people aren’t getting the full story.
IMMOKALEE Caught on video: Huge gator crosses Immokalee neighborhood Fridays in Florida are for gators
FORT MYERS FGCU softball pitcher making a name for herself One season in FGCU, freshman pitcher Allison Sparkman is already ruffling feathers in the circle.
Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society raises concerns An large amount of pets are being surrendered by their owners. About half of the dogs at the Gulf Coast Humane Society are surrender dogs.
Students benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars So far, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax has brought in $507 million for the Lee County School District.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘Shady’: One woman feels misled after federal student loan consolidation It takes some people decades to pay off their student loans. One woman’s last payment was in sight until she took a gamble she said she was told to take.
FORT MYERS Homeless encampments inch closer to neighborhoods Law enforcement has swept multiple encampments, cleaning the trails of mess and muck left behind, and some of these encampments are right in our backyards.
WINK News The Animal Recovery Mission held a townhall style meeting at Lakes Regional Library Thursday to discuss allegations of animal abuse that were presented to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and State Attorney. WINK News / Community members gather to view the undercover security footage. “We are experts on animal abuse,” said Richard Cuoto, the leader of the Miami-based organization that launches undercover investigations into animal cruelty. A few dozen members of the public showed up to listen to details of ARM’s undercover operations into four farms in Lee County, which began in 2015. Cuoto showed a video of a cow being shot in the head, and then slaughtered. It caused members of the crowd to leave the room in tears. The video was one piece of evidence Cuoto said the group presented to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and State Attorney’s office where prosecution was declined. Animal rights supports have been protesting near the farms and calling for action since ARM first released its allegations last month. Prosecutor notes from a 2016 review of an animal abuse investigation conducted by ARM show that a clip of a pig being slaughtered was reviewed and determined that no animal abuse had occurred. Other undercover videos shot by ARM between 2016 and late 2017 depict goats having their throats slit, dogs aggressively biting at each other, and apparent horse meat sales. He said his investigators bought horse meat at one of the farms and they later sent samples to a lab to confirm it was in fact horse meat. Selling and buying horse meat for human consumption in Florida is a felony, according to an attorney for ARM. Cuoto said all of the undercover videos and evidence were presented to Lee County authorities. The State Attorney’s Office said it felt the videos that ARM provided were recorded illegally and declined the cases due to potential issues with that evidence. Emails from the Lee County Sheriff’s office show in 2017, detectives asked ARM to help them with an undercover horse meat buy. However, the email claims that one of the ARM investigators was uncomfortable about potential retaliation so detectives called it off. ARM had a different version of those events: stating that members of the Sheriff’s office had incorrectly explained how protections for confidential informants should work, which made their investigator nervous. Cuoto described being irate when the sheriff’s office called off the investigation. “They said, you are no longer qualified. You no longer fit our criteria to go buy undercover horse meat,” he told the crowd. Christopher Crowley, a former prosecutor who is running for State Attorney, said he invited ARM to present the evidence that had been given to authorities. Prior to the event, he said based on what he had seen on ARM’s website there were charges that could be pursued. Amira Fox, the chief assistant State Attorney, was not available for an interview but issued the following statement: “The State Attorney’s Office always stand ready to review any charges recommended by law enforcement and it is improper and unfortunate that my opponent would try to use potentially serious legal matters as another campaign stunt.” One arrest was made at one of the farms accused in ARM’s investigation, but it was for something unrelated to anything captured on undercover video. Unlicensed slaughter is regulated by the USDA. The agency confirmed it was looking into the farms last month.