Bonita Springs man arrested for animal crueltyEstero Village celebrates 10 years with music, food, and family fun
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs man arrested for animal cruelty According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, a Bonita Springs man faces charges of animal cruelty and aggravated stalking.
ESTERO Estero Village celebrates 10 years with music, food, and family fun Estero Village marked its 10-year anniversary with a free and lively celebration at the Estero Fest on Saturday.
FGCU FGCU women’s basketball clinches 8th straight ASUN Championship The FGCU women’s basketball team beat Central Arkansas to win its eighth consecutive ASUN Conference Championship.
NORTH PORT Police Explorer Marcus Freeman remembered 14 years after North Port crash The North Port Police Department is remembering a young life lost too soon.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach celebrates early St. Patrick’s Day with lively parade Fort Myers Beach celebrated St. Patrick’s Day early with a lively parade, bringing the island to life with Irish spirit.
the weather authority A breezy Saturday with near-record high heat in store The Weather Authority says a warm Saturday with near-record high heat is in store with sun and clouds overhead.
SANIBEL Sanibel Beach shines as a top 2025 destination for shelling Southwest Florida’s beaches are a major draw for visitors from around the world.
911 calls save two kayakers in distress on Caloosahatchee River After strong winds left them stranded, two kayakers were rescued from the Caloosahatchee River.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral woman tricked into romance scam, police seek recovery Cape Coral police are working to recover more than $250,000 from a bank account that may be tied to criminal activity.
Captiva’s Mucky Duck plans reopening after hurricane damage The Mucky Duck, a beloved restaurant on Captiva Island, is determined to clear up any rumors about its closure.
PORT CHARLOTTE Tampa Bay Rays’ future in Port Charlotte raises business concerns The Tampa Bay Rays are planning to stay at Tropicana Field for the 2026 season while they repair damage from Hurricane Milton.
Red tide health alert lifted in certain Lee County areas The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has lifted the red tide health alerts issued in certain areas.
Charlotte Sheriff elected as chair of Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell is stepping into a new role as chair of the Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranches.
NAPLES Naples groups unite to protect endangered Florida Panthers The third Saturday in March marks the official Save the Florida Panther Day.
New housing development in Collier County raises environmental concerns Instead of fields of oranges fueling the local economy, rows of homes could soon take their place in the region.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs man arrested for animal cruelty According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, a Bonita Springs man faces charges of animal cruelty and aggravated stalking.
ESTERO Estero Village celebrates 10 years with music, food, and family fun Estero Village marked its 10-year anniversary with a free and lively celebration at the Estero Fest on Saturday.
FGCU FGCU women’s basketball clinches 8th straight ASUN Championship The FGCU women’s basketball team beat Central Arkansas to win its eighth consecutive ASUN Conference Championship.
NORTH PORT Police Explorer Marcus Freeman remembered 14 years after North Port crash The North Port Police Department is remembering a young life lost too soon.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach celebrates early St. Patrick’s Day with lively parade Fort Myers Beach celebrated St. Patrick’s Day early with a lively parade, bringing the island to life with Irish spirit.
the weather authority A breezy Saturday with near-record high heat in store The Weather Authority says a warm Saturday with near-record high heat is in store with sun and clouds overhead.
SANIBEL Sanibel Beach shines as a top 2025 destination for shelling Southwest Florida’s beaches are a major draw for visitors from around the world.
911 calls save two kayakers in distress on Caloosahatchee River After strong winds left them stranded, two kayakers were rescued from the Caloosahatchee River.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral woman tricked into romance scam, police seek recovery Cape Coral police are working to recover more than $250,000 from a bank account that may be tied to criminal activity.
Captiva’s Mucky Duck plans reopening after hurricane damage The Mucky Duck, a beloved restaurant on Captiva Island, is determined to clear up any rumors about its closure.
PORT CHARLOTTE Tampa Bay Rays’ future in Port Charlotte raises business concerns The Tampa Bay Rays are planning to stay at Tropicana Field for the 2026 season while they repair damage from Hurricane Milton.
Red tide health alert lifted in certain Lee County areas The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has lifted the red tide health alerts issued in certain areas.
Charlotte Sheriff elected as chair of Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell is stepping into a new role as chair of the Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranches.
NAPLES Naples groups unite to protect endangered Florida Panthers The third Saturday in March marks the official Save the Florida Panther Day.
New housing development in Collier County raises environmental concerns Instead of fields of oranges fueling the local economy, rows of homes could soon take their place in the region.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs man arrested for animal cruelty According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, a Bonita Springs man faces charges of animal cruelty and aggravated stalking. ESTERO Estero Village celebrates 10 years with music, food, and family fun Estero Village marked its 10-year anniversary with a free and lively celebration at the Estero Fest on Saturday. FGCU FGCU women’s basketball clinches 8th straight ASUN Championship The FGCU women’s basketball team beat Central Arkansas to win its eighth consecutive ASUN Conference Championship. NORTH PORT Police Explorer Marcus Freeman remembered 14 years after North Port crash The North Port Police Department is remembering a young life lost too soon. FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach celebrates early St. Patrick’s Day with lively parade Fort Myers Beach celebrated St. Patrick’s Day early with a lively parade, bringing the island to life with Irish spirit. the weather authority A breezy Saturday with near-record high heat in store The Weather Authority says a warm Saturday with near-record high heat is in store with sun and clouds overhead. Links Mentioned on WINK SANIBEL Sanibel Beach shines as a top 2025 destination for shelling Southwest Florida’s beaches are a major draw for visitors from around the world. 911 calls save two kayakers in distress on Caloosahatchee River After strong winds left them stranded, two kayakers were rescued from the Caloosahatchee River. CAPE CORAL Cape Coral woman tricked into romance scam, police seek recovery Cape Coral police are working to recover more than $250,000 from a bank account that may be tied to criminal activity. Captiva’s Mucky Duck plans reopening after hurricane damage The Mucky Duck, a beloved restaurant on Captiva Island, is determined to clear up any rumors about its closure. Gulfshore Business View all Storms, tariff talk put pressure on Charlotte County tourism As Charlotte County officials struggle to restore beaches and structures damaged from recent hurricanes, a new tourism trend has emerged. While visitors continue to flock to Charlotte County, more have chosen to visit and stay in Punta Gorda due to hurricane damage in Englewood and Manasota Key, according to the Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau. Tim Aten Knows: Transformational work in progress at Waterside Shops The interior and part of the exterior of the former Barnes & Noble building at Waterside Shops are being demolished to enable the buildout of that two-story space for Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn home furnishing stores, which are expected to relocate there later this year or early next year. Charlotte Technical College’s Aviation Training Facility under construction Charlotte Technical College’s aviation program students will have a state-of-the-art training facility late this year when construction is expected to be completed on land adjacent to Punta Gorda Airport. Terminal E expansion begins with groundbreaking at Southwest Florida International Airport Lee County Port Authority board members and employees and Suffolk Construction celebrated the official groundbreaking of the $1.1 billion Terminal E expansion project at Southwest Florida International Airport — the most expensive municipal construction project in county history. Prima Luce condo tower faces $36.9M foreclosure The Prima Luce twin condo towers and Towles Garden workforce housing development face foreclosure in Fort Myers. Planning and Zoning Board approves rezoning for RV park in northeastern Charlotte Co. The Charlotte County Planning and Zoning Board voted 3-2 March 10 to approve amending current zoning for 33.66 acres in the eastern part of the county that could make way for an upscale recreational vehicle park. 21 Spices restaurant in Naples permanently closing March 31 The contemporary Indian restaurant 21 Spices by Chef Asif will permanently close March 31 after serving the Naples area for more than nine years. Latest local news delivered to your inbox daily. Investigations Exclusive: New close-up look of hostage situation at Bank of America In a WINK News exclusive, a new look inside the dramatic hostage situation at the Bank of America at Bell Tower last year. Congress steps in as Port Charlotte widow searches for husband’s ashes A Port Charlotte woman continues to fight to find her husband’s ashes, lost in the mail. Members of Congress are now backing her efforts. Lost ashes in Fort Myers: USPS employee speaks out A widow’s search for closure continues as her husband’s ashes remain lost in the mail. Englewood residents urged to stay vigilant as armed man eludes capture Authorities are still searching for a 20-year-old man considered armed and dangerous, who escaped from deputies during an attempted arrest. 2 wanted for illegal deer poaching in Hendry County The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office Agriculture Unit is seeking assistance from the public in its investigation into the illegal killing of approximately nine deer. State News View all New Florida bill could ban cell phone use in schools statewide A new Florida bill aims to curb cell phone use in schools across the state by the 2025-26 school year. Upcoming SpaceX launch to be visible from SWFL SpaceX is gearing up for an exciting launch from Cape Canaveral. Twenty-one Starlink satellites will take flight aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. Southwest Airlines to end free checked bags policy It’s a break with Southwest’s 54 year history — one that could undermine customer loyalty to the carrier, according to experts. Gov. DeSantis awards $1.5M to railway access expansions in Polk County Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has awarded the Central Florida Intermodal Logistics Center a $1.5 million grant to expand rail access in Winter Haven. Charlotte County pushes for statewide animal abuse registry law A new bill introduced to the Florida Senate aims to create a statewide registry of individuals convicted of animal abuse. Health & Medical View all Foods to prevent colorectal cancer Colorectal cancer is rising among people under 50. The American Cancer Society reports an increase of more than 2% each year. Fort Myers patients find relief with new swallowing disorder test device Most people swallow without a second thought, but for those with swallowing disorders, it’s a different story. Hair loss could be unexpected side effect of losing weight Hair loss can be an unexpected side effect of losing weight. While shedding between 50 to 100 strands of hair a day is normal, losing more could indicate a problem. Lee Health holds first Research Day, including COVID-19 study Five years after the start of COVID-19 in the U.S., doctors are still uncovering its impacts. AdventHealth CEO working to invest for the future AdventHealth took over ShorePoint Health on March 1, marking a significant change for the community, which hopes for improved medical services. Rising colorectal cancer rates in young adults Young people are increasingly being diagnosed with colorectal cancer at ages younger than standard screening recommendations, raising major concerns among doctors. The Environment View all Researchers seeking volunteers to study algae bloom in Cape Coral Researchers are recruiting Lee County volunteers to help better understand the health effects of harmful algal blooms in Cape Coral. Fighting the bite: Soaring high to battle mosquitoes WINK News anchor Liz Biro had the chance to fly with the Lee County Mosquito Control District to see how they work to battle mosquitoes. Plans to remove dead mangroves from McGregor Preserve underway The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation is making progress in restoring its McGregor Preserve in Fort Myers. WINK Sports View all FGCU women’s basketball clinches 8th straight ASUN Championship The FGCU women’s basketball team beat Central Arkansas to win its eighth consecutive ASUN Conference Championship. Tampa Bay Rays fans react to stadium news and team’s uncertain future The Tampa Bay Rays aren’t moving forward with a new stadium and will instead repair Tropicana Field for 2026 as fans wonder about the future. Transfer portal boosts FSW baseball’s roster with D1 talent In the age of the transfer portal, Florida Southwestern baseball is made up of players who have transferred from various prestigious programs. Day in the life of CoolToday Park’s mascot, Palmer Palmer, the friendly palm tree, roams the ballpark spreading joy wherever he goes. FGCU women’s basketball advances to ASUN title game FGCU women’s basketball beats Eastern Kentucky 63-47 in Tuesday night’s ASUN semifinal to advance to the conference title game. FSW softball sits atop national rankings The FSW Buccaneers’ 25-1 record put them atop the national rankings for the second straight week. MLB testing Automatic Ball-Strike System during Spring Training MLB is testing the Automatic Ball-Strike System during Spring Training to see if it can be called up to regular season games. Bregman and Crochet make Red Sox Spring Training debut Alex Bregman and Garrett Crochet make their Red Sox Spring Training debut in the team’s Grapefruit League home opener Sunday. Rays fans make most of home field during Spring Training Tampa Bay Rays fans cherish opportunity to see their team at their Spring Training home after Hurricane Milton damaged Tropicana Field. Former FSW and Mighty Mussels hitting coach joins Twins staff Former FSW and Mighty Mussels hitting coach Rayden Sierra enters his first as a hitting coach for the Minnesota Twins. Campaign Central View all Byron Donalds enters race for Florida governor Congressman Byron Donalds has announced his candidacy for the next governor of Florida. Gov. Ron DeSantis takes swipe at Congressman Byron Donalds Gov. Ron DeSantis has publicly criticized Florida Congressman Byron Donalds, saying that the Republican representative should not be credited with the state’s successes. Sanibel voters to decide on city council seats, charter amendment Sanibel is gearing up for its March 4 election, as voters will head to the polls from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at two locations.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs man arrested for animal cruelty According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, a Bonita Springs man faces charges of animal cruelty and aggravated stalking.
ESTERO Estero Village celebrates 10 years with music, food, and family fun Estero Village marked its 10-year anniversary with a free and lively celebration at the Estero Fest on Saturday.
FGCU FGCU women’s basketball clinches 8th straight ASUN Championship The FGCU women’s basketball team beat Central Arkansas to win its eighth consecutive ASUN Conference Championship.
NORTH PORT Police Explorer Marcus Freeman remembered 14 years after North Port crash The North Port Police Department is remembering a young life lost too soon.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach celebrates early St. Patrick’s Day with lively parade Fort Myers Beach celebrated St. Patrick’s Day early with a lively parade, bringing the island to life with Irish spirit.
the weather authority A breezy Saturday with near-record high heat in store The Weather Authority says a warm Saturday with near-record high heat is in store with sun and clouds overhead.
SANIBEL Sanibel Beach shines as a top 2025 destination for shelling Southwest Florida’s beaches are a major draw for visitors from around the world.
911 calls save two kayakers in distress on Caloosahatchee River After strong winds left them stranded, two kayakers were rescued from the Caloosahatchee River.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral woman tricked into romance scam, police seek recovery Cape Coral police are working to recover more than $250,000 from a bank account that may be tied to criminal activity.
Captiva’s Mucky Duck plans reopening after hurricane damage The Mucky Duck, a beloved restaurant on Captiva Island, is determined to clear up any rumors about its closure.
Storms, tariff talk put pressure on Charlotte County tourism As Charlotte County officials struggle to restore beaches and structures damaged from recent hurricanes, a new tourism trend has emerged. While visitors continue to flock to Charlotte County, more have chosen to visit and stay in Punta Gorda due to hurricane damage in Englewood and Manasota Key, according to the Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau.
Tim Aten Knows: Transformational work in progress at Waterside Shops The interior and part of the exterior of the former Barnes & Noble building at Waterside Shops are being demolished to enable the buildout of that two-story space for Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn home furnishing stores, which are expected to relocate there later this year or early next year.
Charlotte Technical College’s Aviation Training Facility under construction Charlotte Technical College’s aviation program students will have a state-of-the-art training facility late this year when construction is expected to be completed on land adjacent to Punta Gorda Airport.
Terminal E expansion begins with groundbreaking at Southwest Florida International Airport Lee County Port Authority board members and employees and Suffolk Construction celebrated the official groundbreaking of the $1.1 billion Terminal E expansion project at Southwest Florida International Airport — the most expensive municipal construction project in county history.
Prima Luce condo tower faces $36.9M foreclosure The Prima Luce twin condo towers and Towles Garden workforce housing development face foreclosure in Fort Myers.
Planning and Zoning Board approves rezoning for RV park in northeastern Charlotte Co. The Charlotte County Planning and Zoning Board voted 3-2 March 10 to approve amending current zoning for 33.66 acres in the eastern part of the county that could make way for an upscale recreational vehicle park.
21 Spices restaurant in Naples permanently closing March 31 The contemporary Indian restaurant 21 Spices by Chef Asif will permanently close March 31 after serving the Naples area for more than nine years.
Exclusive: New close-up look of hostage situation at Bank of America In a WINK News exclusive, a new look inside the dramatic hostage situation at the Bank of America at Bell Tower last year.
Congress steps in as Port Charlotte widow searches for husband’s ashes A Port Charlotte woman continues to fight to find her husband’s ashes, lost in the mail. Members of Congress are now backing her efforts.
Lost ashes in Fort Myers: USPS employee speaks out A widow’s search for closure continues as her husband’s ashes remain lost in the mail.
Englewood residents urged to stay vigilant as armed man eludes capture Authorities are still searching for a 20-year-old man considered armed and dangerous, who escaped from deputies during an attempted arrest.
2 wanted for illegal deer poaching in Hendry County The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office Agriculture Unit is seeking assistance from the public in its investigation into the illegal killing of approximately nine deer.
New Florida bill could ban cell phone use in schools statewide A new Florida bill aims to curb cell phone use in schools across the state by the 2025-26 school year.
Upcoming SpaceX launch to be visible from SWFL SpaceX is gearing up for an exciting launch from Cape Canaveral. Twenty-one Starlink satellites will take flight aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.
Southwest Airlines to end free checked bags policy It’s a break with Southwest’s 54 year history — one that could undermine customer loyalty to the carrier, according to experts.
Gov. DeSantis awards $1.5M to railway access expansions in Polk County Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has awarded the Central Florida Intermodal Logistics Center a $1.5 million grant to expand rail access in Winter Haven.
Charlotte County pushes for statewide animal abuse registry law A new bill introduced to the Florida Senate aims to create a statewide registry of individuals convicted of animal abuse.
Foods to prevent colorectal cancer Colorectal cancer is rising among people under 50. The American Cancer Society reports an increase of more than 2% each year.
Fort Myers patients find relief with new swallowing disorder test device Most people swallow without a second thought, but for those with swallowing disorders, it’s a different story.
Hair loss could be unexpected side effect of losing weight Hair loss can be an unexpected side effect of losing weight. While shedding between 50 to 100 strands of hair a day is normal, losing more could indicate a problem.
Lee Health holds first Research Day, including COVID-19 study Five years after the start of COVID-19 in the U.S., doctors are still uncovering its impacts.
AdventHealth CEO working to invest for the future AdventHealth took over ShorePoint Health on March 1, marking a significant change for the community, which hopes for improved medical services.
Rising colorectal cancer rates in young adults Young people are increasingly being diagnosed with colorectal cancer at ages younger than standard screening recommendations, raising major concerns among doctors.
Researchers seeking volunteers to study algae bloom in Cape Coral Researchers are recruiting Lee County volunteers to help better understand the health effects of harmful algal blooms in Cape Coral.
Fighting the bite: Soaring high to battle mosquitoes WINK News anchor Liz Biro had the chance to fly with the Lee County Mosquito Control District to see how they work to battle mosquitoes.
Plans to remove dead mangroves from McGregor Preserve underway The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation is making progress in restoring its McGregor Preserve in Fort Myers.
FGCU women’s basketball clinches 8th straight ASUN Championship The FGCU women’s basketball team beat Central Arkansas to win its eighth consecutive ASUN Conference Championship.
Tampa Bay Rays fans react to stadium news and team’s uncertain future The Tampa Bay Rays aren’t moving forward with a new stadium and will instead repair Tropicana Field for 2026 as fans wonder about the future.
Transfer portal boosts FSW baseball’s roster with D1 talent In the age of the transfer portal, Florida Southwestern baseball is made up of players who have transferred from various prestigious programs.
Day in the life of CoolToday Park’s mascot, Palmer Palmer, the friendly palm tree, roams the ballpark spreading joy wherever he goes.
FGCU women’s basketball advances to ASUN title game FGCU women’s basketball beats Eastern Kentucky 63-47 in Tuesday night’s ASUN semifinal to advance to the conference title game.
FSW softball sits atop national rankings The FSW Buccaneers’ 25-1 record put them atop the national rankings for the second straight week.
MLB testing Automatic Ball-Strike System during Spring Training MLB is testing the Automatic Ball-Strike System during Spring Training to see if it can be called up to regular season games.
Bregman and Crochet make Red Sox Spring Training debut Alex Bregman and Garrett Crochet make their Red Sox Spring Training debut in the team’s Grapefruit League home opener Sunday.
Rays fans make most of home field during Spring Training Tampa Bay Rays fans cherish opportunity to see their team at their Spring Training home after Hurricane Milton damaged Tropicana Field.
Former FSW and Mighty Mussels hitting coach joins Twins staff Former FSW and Mighty Mussels hitting coach Rayden Sierra enters his first as a hitting coach for the Minnesota Twins.
Byron Donalds enters race for Florida governor Congressman Byron Donalds has announced his candidacy for the next governor of Florida.
Gov. Ron DeSantis takes swipe at Congressman Byron Donalds Gov. Ron DeSantis has publicly criticized Florida Congressman Byron Donalds, saying that the Republican representative should not be credited with the state’s successes.
Sanibel voters to decide on city council seats, charter amendment Sanibel is gearing up for its March 4 election, as voters will head to the polls from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at two locations.