Gone but not forgotten: Traveling Vietnam Memorial pays tribute to veteransTwo arrested for street racing in Lee County
NEW YORK (AP) Biden officials indefinitely postpone ban on menthol cigarettes amid election-year pushback President Joe Biden’s administration is indefinitely delaying a long-awaited menthol cigarette ban, a decision that infuriated anti-smoking advocates but could avoid a political backlash from Black voters in November.
FORT MYERS Gone but not forgotten: Traveling Vietnam Memorial pays tribute to veterans A powerful symbol of honor and remembrance is standing proudly here in Southwest Florida. The Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall is open to the public, a reminder of those we lost who served our country.
LEE COUNTY Two arrested for street racing in Lee County Two people have been arrested for street racing in Lee County according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
CAPE CORAL Boaters with rifles seen in Cape Coral canal On an average day, it’s pretty common to see people fishing or swimming in a canal. One neighbor in Cape Coral saw something unusual in his backyard Friday afternoon.
FORT MYERS Car flips, one sent to hospital after two car crash in Fort Myers A crash involving at least two vehicles sent one person to the hospital.
The Weather Authority: Clouds, sunshine, wind, and the possibility of a brief shower for your Sunday Clouds and occasional sunshine this Sunday. A few brief showers are possible late in the afternoon and this evening.
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.
NEW YORK (AP) Biden officials indefinitely postpone ban on menthol cigarettes amid election-year pushback President Joe Biden’s administration is indefinitely delaying a long-awaited menthol cigarette ban, a decision that infuriated anti-smoking advocates but could avoid a political backlash from Black voters in November.
FORT MYERS Gone but not forgotten: Traveling Vietnam Memorial pays tribute to veterans A powerful symbol of honor and remembrance is standing proudly here in Southwest Florida. The Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall is open to the public, a reminder of those we lost who served our country.
LEE COUNTY Two arrested for street racing in Lee County Two people have been arrested for street racing in Lee County according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
CAPE CORAL Boaters with rifles seen in Cape Coral canal On an average day, it’s pretty common to see people fishing or swimming in a canal. One neighbor in Cape Coral saw something unusual in his backyard Friday afternoon.
FORT MYERS Car flips, one sent to hospital after two car crash in Fort Myers A crash involving at least two vehicles sent one person to the hospital.
The Weather Authority: Clouds, sunshine, wind, and the possibility of a brief shower for your Sunday Clouds and occasional sunshine this Sunday. A few brief showers are possible late in the afternoon and this evening.
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.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings believes the Southeastern Conference can play with any of the so-called best basketball leagues in the country. Leading the way once again this season will be the SEC’s Final Four teams of Kentucky and Florida. The star-filled Wildcats and defending champion Gators were picked by the media to finish 1-2 in the league in voting released Wednesday. “It’s a great league. Anybody that wants to say we’re a two-team league, they can say it, but at least our two teams are in the Final Four,” Stallings said Wednesday at the league’s media day. The SEC has taken its share of hits for its lack of depth behind Kentucky and Florida. Tennessee, which advanced to the final eight, was the only other SEC team that qualified for the NCAA tournament. It was the second straight season – and third time in the past six years – that only three teams from the conference were chosen for the NCAA field. Florida won the SEC regular-season and tournament crowns last year, winning 30 straight games and becoming the first team to go 18-0 in league play. The Gators fell in national semifinals to champion Connecticut, which defeated Kentucky in the title game. Stallings said Florida and Kentucky’s NCAA success helped gain attention for all league teams. “Success breeds success, but it’s the responsibility of the rest of us to close up some of that gap,” he said. “The rest of us have to make it interesting and make it where it’s not those two and the rest of us.” Preseason voting did little to shake that view. Kentucky got all 20 first-place votes from the media panel for 280 points with Florida just behind at 258. Arkansas was third, followed by LSU, Georgia, Mississippi and Missouri. Auburn and new coach Bruce Pearl was eighth, followed by Texas A&M, Alabama, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Tennessee and Mississippi State. Wildcats guard Aaron Harrison was selected the preseason player of the year and made the all-SEC first team along with Florida guard Michael Frazier II, Mississippi guard Jarvis Summers, Arkansas forward Bobby Portis and LSU forward Jordan Mickey. The SEC second team looked more like Kentucky coach John Calipari’s planned five-man platoons he insisted he’ll use – four of the five players were Wildcats, including Harrison’s twin brother Andrew. Seven-footer Willie Cauley-Stein, forward Alex Poythress and 6-11 freshman Karl-Anthony Towns from Kentucky were also on the second team. Georgia guard Charles Mann was the only non-Wildcat in that group. “It’s pretty cool,” Aaron Harrison said. “I’m just happy for my teammates. It’s an honor to be picked for player of the year, I guess. But it doesn’t really mean anything because we haven’t played a game yet.” Once league games start, Donovan expects to be challenged by all SEC teams. He believes the SEC is hurt when teams lose nonconference matchups in November and December. Alabama lost games to Drexel and South Florida last season. Auburn fell to Northwestern State. Georgia started 1-4 a year ago with losses to rival Georgia Tech, then Davidson, Temple and Nebraska in the Charleston Classic. “What’s happened is you go into league games and the league gets labeled,” Donovan said. “One of the things we’ve talked about as a league is we’re going to start measuring our nonconference schedule in terms of strength of schedule where there’s almost this thought process now where we want to play the most challenging non-conference schedule.” South Carolina has gotten that message with games against Big 12 opponents Baylor, Oklahoma State and Iowa State. Gamecocks coach Frank Martin, in his third year, said his program is ready for games like that. What Martin’s not ready for are those who brand the league lacking because the SEC doesn’t get half its teams in the NCAA tournament. “There are 11 coaches in this league that have coached teams to the round of 32 or won national championships,” he said. “I think it’s a little insulting when you continue to tell coaches that have that on their side that their teams and their league isn’t any good.” Martin’s first two teams at South Carolina were 14-18 and 14-20, his only losing seasons in seven years as a college head coach. Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy, whose Rebels won the SEC tournament title in 2013, said the league went through a period of instability with the recent additions of Missouri and Texas A&M and several other member schools changing coaches. Now, he said it’s realistic for the SEC to have six teams in the tournament. “As coaches, we’ve got to schedule strong” nonconference games, Kennedy said. “We’ve got to win basketball games and then once we get to league play we’ve got to show everybody the strength of our league top to bottom.” (Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)