The Weather Authority: Mostly sunny skies and above-average heatBay Street Yard opens for Memorial Day weekend
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Mostly sunny skies and above-average heat Most of Southwest Florida will be rain-free, hot, and sunny today.
FORT MYERS Bay Street Yard opens for Memorial Day weekend On Saturday, the new business opened its doors to the public.
FORT LAUDERDALE (AP) Rapper Sean Kingston and his mother stole more than $1 million through fraud, authorities say Rapper Sean Kingston and his mother stole more than $1 million through fraud, authorities say
PORT CHARLOTTE CCSO: 2-year-old boy shot in the hand by 4-year-old Charlotte County Fire-EMS said they treated the two-year-old boy, who had a gunshot injury to the hand.
NCAA, Power Five approve settlement sets stage for schools to pay players NCAA and Power Five conferences agree on settlement that will allow schools to pay student athletes and share revenue.
FORT MYERS Placing flags to honor the fallen on Memorial Day weekend This weekend is much more than just a backyard barbecue and some time off work. It allows us to remember our nation’s heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
SANIBEL The beach is back on Sanibel and Captiva for Memorial Day weekend Businesses on Sanibel and Captiva told WINK News they’re ready for the wave of tourism.
The Weather Authority: Here’s what to expect for your Memorial Day weekend Hot and humid weather for your holiday weekend. The UV index will be an 11!
WINK NEWS Honoring fallen soldiers at Memorial Day events across Southwest Florida Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for those who have died in the military, honors those who have served in the armed forces.
LEHIGH ACRES Lehigh Acres neighbor accuses construction company of mistakenly tearing up lot Along 27th Street West in Lehigh Acres, neighbors knew it was only a matter of time before the lots next to them were developed.
FORT MYERS ECS softball celebrates first state championship Evangelical Christian School honors state champion softball team with parade on campus.
SANIBEL Sanibel hosts annual hurricane seminar to prepare for upcoming season With a very active Atlantic hurricane season ahead, they’re not taking anything for granted.
Teen’s killer out of jail after 8 months A teenager charged with manslaughter after accidentally shooting and killing his girlfriend is now out of jail after serving less than a year.
Miles apart: local mother hopes to reunite brothers from Haiti to the U.S. The process of adopting a child is different for everyone, but Michelle Reed’s passion has always been to adopt children into her family.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Downtown Fort Myers Richards Building goes in foreclosure An update on the historic Richards Building in downtown Fort Myers: it’s going into foreclosure.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Mostly sunny skies and above-average heat Most of Southwest Florida will be rain-free, hot, and sunny today.
FORT MYERS Bay Street Yard opens for Memorial Day weekend On Saturday, the new business opened its doors to the public.
FORT LAUDERDALE (AP) Rapper Sean Kingston and his mother stole more than $1 million through fraud, authorities say Rapper Sean Kingston and his mother stole more than $1 million through fraud, authorities say
PORT CHARLOTTE CCSO: 2-year-old boy shot in the hand by 4-year-old Charlotte County Fire-EMS said they treated the two-year-old boy, who had a gunshot injury to the hand.
NCAA, Power Five approve settlement sets stage for schools to pay players NCAA and Power Five conferences agree on settlement that will allow schools to pay student athletes and share revenue.
FORT MYERS Placing flags to honor the fallen on Memorial Day weekend This weekend is much more than just a backyard barbecue and some time off work. It allows us to remember our nation’s heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
SANIBEL The beach is back on Sanibel and Captiva for Memorial Day weekend Businesses on Sanibel and Captiva told WINK News they’re ready for the wave of tourism.
The Weather Authority: Here’s what to expect for your Memorial Day weekend Hot and humid weather for your holiday weekend. The UV index will be an 11!
WINK NEWS Honoring fallen soldiers at Memorial Day events across Southwest Florida Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for those who have died in the military, honors those who have served in the armed forces.
LEHIGH ACRES Lehigh Acres neighbor accuses construction company of mistakenly tearing up lot Along 27th Street West in Lehigh Acres, neighbors knew it was only a matter of time before the lots next to them were developed.
FORT MYERS ECS softball celebrates first state championship Evangelical Christian School honors state champion softball team with parade on campus.
SANIBEL Sanibel hosts annual hurricane seminar to prepare for upcoming season With a very active Atlantic hurricane season ahead, they’re not taking anything for granted.
Teen’s killer out of jail after 8 months A teenager charged with manslaughter after accidentally shooting and killing his girlfriend is now out of jail after serving less than a year.
Miles apart: local mother hopes to reunite brothers from Haiti to the U.S. The process of adopting a child is different for everyone, but Michelle Reed’s passion has always been to adopt children into her family.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Downtown Fort Myers Richards Building goes in foreclosure An update on the historic Richards Building in downtown Fort Myers: it’s going into foreclosure.
MGN TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – South Florida could become home to two massive casinos, dog tracks could end live greyhound racing and slot machines could expand into other parts of the state under a mammoth gambling bill filed Monday. The measure filed by Rep. Dana Young, a Tampa Republican, would upend the state’s multi-billion dollar gambling industry if approved during the 60-day legislative session that kicks off this week. Young ‘s measure does not address the compact that allows the Seminole Tribe of Florida to offer blackjack and other games at its casinos, including at the Hard Rock casino just outside of Tampa. That portion of the state’s compact with the tribe expires later this year. Instead, the 316-page bill focuses on the rest of the state’s gambling landscape. Young, who had been charged with shepherding gambling legislation this year by House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, said she was trying to start a “much-needed and well-timed conversation” about the future of gambling. “I believe it is my responsibility to present members with two competing visions of gaming in Florida … so they can ultimately determine which approach they believe represents the best public policy for our state,” Young said. Young called her bill the “Gaming Control Act of 2015” and pointed out that it had provisions that she argued would reduce the amount of gambling in the state. She is also proposing a stand-alone constitutional amendment that would prohibit gambling expansion in the future. But groups with a long-standing opposition to casinos blasted the measure and said it “defies logic” for Florida to push ahead with the bill even as casinos run into financial trouble in other states like New Jersey. “This bill would cause the biggest expansion of gambling in Florida history,” said John Sowinski, president of No Casinos. “It invites wall to wall casino gambling in Florida, and the social costs and crime that go with it.” Recent efforts to win approval of mega-casinos have gotten bogged down the last few years in the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature. Business groups and Disney have staunchly opposed bills to approve casinos, while the owners of the state’s dog and horse tracks have opposed bills that didn’t help their industry. Gov. Rick Scott tried to win approval of a new deal with the Seminole Tribe last year but he ran into significant opposition among legislators. If approved Young’s bill would allow a total of two “destination resort” casinos in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Those seeking to build the new casinos would have to agree to spend a minimum of $2 billion on the resort. Voters in those counties would also have to approve the casinos ahead of time. While Young said that legislative staff were still “crunching the numbers” the bill could generate more money for the state than the existing compact with the Seminoles. That’s because each mega casino would have to agree to pay at least $175 million a year. The measure (HB 1233) would also allow slot machines to be added to dog tracks in both Palm Beach and Lee counties, while at the same time allowing dog track owners to end live greyhound racing without being forced to surrender permits for other types of gambling such as poker rooms. The legislation would also lower the tax rate paid by tracks located in Broward and Miami-Dade counties that are already have slot machines.