Motorcycle crash leaves 1 deadLee Deputies work to track down transient sex offenders who fail to register
PUNTA GORDA Motorcycle crash leaves 1 dead One person has died after a motorcycle crash in Charlotte County.
LEE COUNTY Lee Deputies work to track down transient sex offenders who fail to register WINK News Anchor Corey Lazar goes on patrol with Lee County Deputies in search of transient sex offenders who don’t register.
National Hurricane Preparedness Week: Know your risk Hurricane season starts on June 1st, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has designated the week of May 5 through May 11 as National Hurricane Preparedness Week. Each day, Meteorologist Lauren Kreidler will be highlighting ways to stay prepared ahead of this year’s hurricane season.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Stay alert – chance of showers and storms on Sunday Hot, humid, and more rain for parts of Southwest Florida on Sunday.
CAPE CORAL What we learned about Cape Coral’s water crisis after a ride along On Friday, WINK News got to ride along to see just what people are doing that could be wasting water.
The Weather Authority: A wet Saturday evening as storms move through Southwest Florida A rainy Saturday evening across much of southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Lee Health Touch-A-Truck event educates families on Trauma Awareness On Saturday morning, sirens were ringing to celebrate Lee Health Trauma Center’s 30 years of service and to provide the public with trauma education and prevention methods.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (CBS) CDC says bird flu viruses “pose pandemic potential,” cites major knowledge gaps Bird flu continues to appear to pose a “low risk to the general public” for now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. But the agency’s scientists ran into roadblocks investigating a human case of this “pandemic potential” virus this year, they said in a new report.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Bay Street Yard set to open in late May A new place to hang out in Downtown Fort Myers is opening this spring.
Aetna agrees to settle lawsuit over fertility coverage for LGBTQ+ customers Aetna has agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused the health insurer of discriminating against LGBTQ+ customers in need of fertility treatment.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINK Neighborhood Watch: Robbery, Pawn Shops, and Child Porn This week’s segment of Wink Neighborhood Watch features an armed robber, fraud at a pawn shop, and possession of child pornography.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Sun, clouds, humidity, rain – it’s all in your weekend forecast Saturday afternoon will be hot and humid, with a mix of sun and clouds.
LEHIGH ACRES Chaotic lake getting fence and security Now, with all the negative attention it has gotten, some think putting up a fence is a great way to keep that bad activity out.
FORT MYERS Students affected by COVID-19 able to graduate for the first time For many young people, COVID stripped away one of their greatest rites of passage: graduation.
Deadly crash on State Road 29 in Hendry County Authorities are at the scene of a deadly crash on State Road 29 in Hendry County on Friday afternoon.
PUNTA GORDA Motorcycle crash leaves 1 dead One person has died after a motorcycle crash in Charlotte County.
LEE COUNTY Lee Deputies work to track down transient sex offenders who fail to register WINK News Anchor Corey Lazar goes on patrol with Lee County Deputies in search of transient sex offenders who don’t register.
National Hurricane Preparedness Week: Know your risk Hurricane season starts on June 1st, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has designated the week of May 5 through May 11 as National Hurricane Preparedness Week. Each day, Meteorologist Lauren Kreidler will be highlighting ways to stay prepared ahead of this year’s hurricane season.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Stay alert – chance of showers and storms on Sunday Hot, humid, and more rain for parts of Southwest Florida on Sunday.
CAPE CORAL What we learned about Cape Coral’s water crisis after a ride along On Friday, WINK News got to ride along to see just what people are doing that could be wasting water.
The Weather Authority: A wet Saturday evening as storms move through Southwest Florida A rainy Saturday evening across much of southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Lee Health Touch-A-Truck event educates families on Trauma Awareness On Saturday morning, sirens were ringing to celebrate Lee Health Trauma Center’s 30 years of service and to provide the public with trauma education and prevention methods.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (CBS) CDC says bird flu viruses “pose pandemic potential,” cites major knowledge gaps Bird flu continues to appear to pose a “low risk to the general public” for now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. But the agency’s scientists ran into roadblocks investigating a human case of this “pandemic potential” virus this year, they said in a new report.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Bay Street Yard set to open in late May A new place to hang out in Downtown Fort Myers is opening this spring.
Aetna agrees to settle lawsuit over fertility coverage for LGBTQ+ customers Aetna has agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused the health insurer of discriminating against LGBTQ+ customers in need of fertility treatment.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINK Neighborhood Watch: Robbery, Pawn Shops, and Child Porn This week’s segment of Wink Neighborhood Watch features an armed robber, fraud at a pawn shop, and possession of child pornography.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Sun, clouds, humidity, rain – it’s all in your weekend forecast Saturday afternoon will be hot and humid, with a mix of sun and clouds.
LEHIGH ACRES Chaotic lake getting fence and security Now, with all the negative attention it has gotten, some think putting up a fence is a great way to keep that bad activity out.
FORT MYERS Students affected by COVID-19 able to graduate for the first time For many young people, COVID stripped away one of their greatest rites of passage: graduation.
Deadly crash on State Road 29 in Hendry County Authorities are at the scene of a deadly crash on State Road 29 in Hendry County on Friday afternoon.
MGN Online DAVIE, Fla. (AP) – Word on the street is Miami Dolphins reserve defensive tackle A.J. Francis has good acceleration, an excellent motor and a high ceiling in his 2014 Dodge Charger. He’s an Uber driver. Francis is under contract to earn $510,000 this year in his third NFL season, but paychecks don’t start coming until July, and it’s uncertain he’ll make the team. He wanted some extra spending money, so in April he became a driver for hire with Uber, making $40 to $50 an hour. “I’m not putting all my eggs in one basket,” Francis said following the Dolphins’ offseason practice Monday. “Where I’m from, when you have a job, where are you when that job is over?” Team officials have voiced no objection regarding Francis’ moonlighting. “Yeah, I was kidding him about Uber or Yuber or whatever you call it,” defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle said. “It’s a little outside the box, but so is he.” The outgoing Francis said the job suits him because he enjoys meeting people. He hopes to pursue a broadcasting career after football, so he polishes his interviewing skills by videotaping conversations with passengers, and posts them on YouTube. “He’s a talker,” said his wife, Tatiana, who married Francis in March. “He’ll talk your ear off about anything.” Francis recently finished his third semester studying for a master’s degree in international security and economic policy, and he sounds like an economist talking about Uber’s impact on the market. “Everywhere Uber is, it thrives,” he said. “The resistance comes from taxi drivers who don’t want to get beat out, because they know they can’t compete. Which is funny to me, because in no other aspect of American culture are you allowed to stifle capitalism.” Because of his studies and the Dolphins’ offseason training schedule, the flexibility Uber offered was appealing to Francis. He tries to work at least three days a week, in shifts of four to five hours. He said he’ll stop driving for pay once training camp starts. NFL veterans who worked in the offseason were common a few decades ago, but in an era when even bottom-of-the-roster players make half a million dollars a year, Francis is a throwback. No Uber rider has recognized the 6-foot-5, 330-pound Francis as a professional football player, which doesn’t surprise him. He was undrafted out of the University of Maryland, has spent much of his pro career on practice squads and has yet to play in an NFL game. “People just think I’m some big dude in a nice car,” he said. “I tell them at the end of the interview who I am, and the shock on their face is really funny.” Tatiana said friends and family are also surprised when they learned of her husband’s offseason job. “I admire him for it,” she said. “You always have to have a hustle, you know? Football is something that doesn’t last forever.” Tatiana said Francis is a good driver, and he agreed, saying he has never been ticketed. “Just like I’m a world-class athlete, I’m a world-class driver,” he said with a grin. “If I wasn’t 330, Tony Stewart should watch out.” Uber jobs have taken Francis from Boca Raton to South Beach, and he has waited in vain for the chance to drive someone to another state. He would love more time to chat up a passenger. He has given lifts to a couple of his teammates, and has been teased by most of them. Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Wake said he has yet to hire Francis as a driver. “I have a car, so I probably wouldn’t,” Wake said. “But I can’t knock anybody’s hustle. He’s an interesting guy.” Coach Joe Philbin said he would recommend Francis to anyone in need of a ride. “Definitely,” Philbin said with a smile. “But I would suggest that they bring some earplugs along.”