Hodges University creates new institute to fight identity fraud

NAPLES, Fla.- The City of Naples ranks fifth in the nation for identity fraud complaints. The State of Florida has been first on that list for more than seven years. WINK News got a look at Hodges University’s new Identity Fraud Institute that hopes to get the state off that list. “I’ve been working with victims since […]

Man suspected of intentionally setting fires in Estero community

ESTERO, Fla.- Authorities say a string of fires in a community were all intentionally set. Fire after fire popped up in the Copper Oaks community Tuesday night. Residents released a sigh of relief when deputies took Corey Melone into custody as a suspect. Deputies tell WINK News Melone deliberately set three fires, one after the other, in the quiet neighborhood. “I noticed that there was […]

US serves 105 warrants in Puerto Rico drug ring crackdown

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – A group of 105 people in Puerto Rico face murder, drug and weapon charges in one of the largest racketeering cases in the history of the U.S. Department of Justice, authorities said Wednesday. The suspects are suspected of running a drug-trafficking organization in the U.S. territory for nearly a […]

Lawmakers: VA hid details as budget crisis loomed

WASHINGTON (AP) – Lawmakers from both parties accused the Department of Veterans Affairs Wednesday of hiding details of a budget crisis that could force the shutdown of some VA hospitals next month. The VA said last week it may shutter hospitals unless Congress closes a $2.5 billion shortfall caused by a sharp increase in demand […]

Social Security disability fund projected to run dry in 2016

WASHINGTON (AP) – The 11 million people who receive Social Security disability face steep benefit cuts next year – unless Congress acts, the government said Wednesday. The trustees that oversee Social Security said the disability trust fund will run out of money in late 2016, right in the middle of a presidential campaign. That would […]

Sheriff: 2 children, 2 adults killed in murder-suicide

SUWANEE, Ga. (AP) – A gunman killed a woman and two children and critically wounded another man before killing himself inside a suburban Atlanta home Wednesday, a sheriff said. The shooter and the victims all lived at the house, Forsyth County Sheriff Duane Piper said. He would not release the gunman’s name, details of previous […]

Take part in the Fit Fun Challenge

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. – New Life Church of Bonita Springs is hosting their first ever Fit Fun Challenge, designed as a family fun team competition to stay fit and have some fun. Tropical Extremes, Hang Xtreme, Naples Family Fitness, SWFL Bubble Soccer, Sports Club of Naples and several others have teamed up to offer a […]

Target defends selling women’s ‘Trophy’ shirt

NEW YORK (AP) – Target says it had no intention of offending anyone by selling a women’s shirt with the word “Trophy” written on the front of it. Some people on social media say the shirt demeans women and are collecting signatures to stop the sale of the shirt. But Target said Wednesday that the […]

Hundreds gather to remember Chelsey Green

LEE COUNTY, Fla.- Family and friends of Chelsey Green are still mourning her death. The 25-year-old went missing last week. Her body was found in a car pulled from the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers Shores on Monday. Hundreds gathered at a memorial for Green Tuesday night. Friends say Green touched many lives and her […]

Official: Church shooting suspect to face hate crime charge

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – The man accused of slaying nine church members in Charleston will be indicted on a federal hate crime charge on Wednesday, according to an official close to the case. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the indictment hadn’t been publicly announced yet, told The Associated Press that a grand […]