FGCU softball pitcher making a name for herselfSurrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society concerns
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 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.
BIG CYPRESS PRESERVE What changes if Big Cypress National Preserve becomes a Wilderness Area? America’s first nationally designated preserve is in Southwest Florida’s backyard, and it is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Method to treat IBD being used for other health issues Trying to get treatments for the brain when fighting neurological diseases like epilepsy and ALS is a challenge.
FORT MYERS NTSB report reveals new details in helicopter crash after Hurricane Ian The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on a helicopter crash that occurred in Iona, Florida, shortly after Hurricane Ian.
NAPLES Memorial celebrates the life of John Passidomo Hundreds of friends and family gathered for a memorial at Baker Park in Naples.
‘Latinos in Action’ empowers all students to succeed WINK News talked with teachers who are a part of the program, helping kids reach their full potential.
Immokalee ‘The eyes always draw me in’; Immokalee portrait artist turns dark times into color One of Southwest Florida best portrait artist, Martha Maria Cantu, almost gave up art. Now she’s on the forefront of the city of Immokalee, to make her community filled with color.
GOLDEN GATE Collier commissioners approve agreement for golf complex in Golden Gate Collier commissioners unanimously approved a long term lease and operating agreement to reopen the Golden Gate golf course Tuesday.
PUNTA GORDA Motorcyclists ride in SWFL to help veterans battle suicide A group of veterans from the American Legion are grabbing their helmets and boots for a motorcycle ride to bring awareness to the staggering rates of suicide among veterans.
SARASOTA Alleged sexual abuse victims of Port Charlotte priest comes forward Father Riley worked at three churches in Charlotte County and another in Naples. On Friday, new allegations emerged from a news conference in Sarasota.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte priest accused of sexual abuse appears in court A priest accused of sexually abusing four altar boys in Iowa nearly 40 years ago returned to Charlotte County court.
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 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.
BIG CYPRESS PRESERVE What changes if Big Cypress National Preserve becomes a Wilderness Area? America’s first nationally designated preserve is in Southwest Florida’s backyard, and it is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Method to treat IBD being used for other health issues Trying to get treatments for the brain when fighting neurological diseases like epilepsy and ALS is a challenge.
FORT MYERS NTSB report reveals new details in helicopter crash after Hurricane Ian The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on a helicopter crash that occurred in Iona, Florida, shortly after Hurricane Ian.
NAPLES Memorial celebrates the life of John Passidomo Hundreds of friends and family gathered for a memorial at Baker Park in Naples.
‘Latinos in Action’ empowers all students to succeed WINK News talked with teachers who are a part of the program, helping kids reach their full potential.
Immokalee ‘The eyes always draw me in’; Immokalee portrait artist turns dark times into color One of Southwest Florida best portrait artist, Martha Maria Cantu, almost gave up art. Now she’s on the forefront of the city of Immokalee, to make her community filled with color.
GOLDEN GATE Collier commissioners approve agreement for golf complex in Golden Gate Collier commissioners unanimously approved a long term lease and operating agreement to reopen the Golden Gate golf course Tuesday.
PUNTA GORDA Motorcyclists ride in SWFL to help veterans battle suicide A group of veterans from the American Legion are grabbing their helmets and boots for a motorcycle ride to bring awareness to the staggering rates of suicide among veterans.
SARASOTA Alleged sexual abuse victims of Port Charlotte priest comes forward Father Riley worked at three churches in Charlotte County and another in Naples. On Friday, new allegations emerged from a news conference in Sarasota.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte priest accused of sexual abuse appears in court A priest accused of sexually abusing four altar boys in Iowa nearly 40 years ago returned to Charlotte County court.
MGN Baylor coach Kim Mulkey is already talking about the NCAA Final Four – the one two years from now in Dallas, about 100 miles from the Waco campus. The Lady Bears, in the Sweet 16 for the seventh year in a row, still have a chance to make it to Tampa this year. There is always Indianapolis next season, too. “I think the older you are, the more experience you have, those teams usually are the ones that make it to the Final Four,” Mulkey said. “I’ve said it many times. I don’t count this team out, but I still think we’re young. And I think in a year or two, watch out.” With only one senior and three sophomore starters, including Big 12 player of the year Nina Davis, the Lady Bears (32-3) this season won their fifth straight Big 12 regular season and conference titles. They swept through the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament at home, with lopsided wins over Northwestern State and Arkansas. “To watch them do what they’re doing right now, at the age they are, it’s going to be fun if they stay healthy the next two years, because then you add Alexis Jones to the mix,” Mulkey said of the Duke transfer. “You’ve got her for two years, and then you add those five big recruits – 6-5, 6-5, 6-4, 5-8, 5-8 – and the Final Four is in Dallas in two years. I hope I’m still coaching by then.” Baylor, the No. 2 seed in the Oklahoma City Regional, plays No. 3 seed Iowa (26-7) on Friday night. The Lady Bears won the Big 12 tournament last season in Oklahoma City, but lost a physical Sweet 16 matchup against Louisville two years ago in three-time All-American center Brittney Griner’s last game. Top-seeded Notre Dame (33-2) plays No. 4 seed Stanford (26-9) in the other Oklahoma City game Friday night. The Lady Bears lost to Notre Dame in last year’s regional final, that game on the Fighting Irish’s home court. Mulkey has two national championships in her 15 seasons at Baylor, after winning titles as a player and assistant coach at Louisiana Tech. Duke transfer Jones started all 64 games she played there the last two seasons before tearing the ACL in her left knee. An All-ACC pick by coaches as a sophomore after earning league tournament MVP as a freshman, the 5-8 guard averaged 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.9 steals for the Blue Demons. Jones is from MacArthur High in Irving, Texas, the same school as former Lady Bears point guard Odyssey Sims, a two-time All-American. Baylor’s signing class for next season includes two McDonald’s All-Americans – 6-5 Kalani Brown and 6-4 Beatrice Mompremier – another 6-4 post and two standout guards. Sims left Baylor as the career assists leader with 641, a record junior guard Niya Johnson matched with her 12 assists against Arkansas. Johnson’s 296 assists this season are a Big 12 record and she is the national leader with 8.5 per game. She was mentored the past two seasons by Sims, who took on more of a scoring role last year after the departure of Griner. Johnson had 17 assists without a turnover in one game. “She’s just able to see things that we’re unable to see. She sees things before they happen, and she just makes the game that much easier,” said Davis, the undersized 5-11 post who averages 20.9 points and 8.3 rebounds. “Most of the time, (the pass) is perfect and right on point, and she just helps everybody to get easy shots.”