CAPE CORAL Gas leak closes portion of busy Cape Coral road Police are closing lanes along a busy road in Cape Coral due to a gas leak.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral man accused of raping 15-year-old The Cape Coral Police Department has arrested a man for the alleged rape of a 15-year-old.
fort myers beach Possible red tide appearing in SWFL may impact beachgoers Red tide, a harmful algae bloom that can infect people, animals, and ecosystems, has already begun to appear in Southwest Florida.
NAPLES Naples Water Department announces temporary change in water supply Some people might notice a change in their water beginning next week.
NAPLES Father drowns after trying to rescue 4-year-old son from pond in Collier County A man has drowned after chasing after a child who wandered into a pond at the Everly Apartments in Naples.
Tim Aten Knows: More changes coming to Mercato Tap 42 Craft Kitchen & Bar is shooting to open in the former space of AZN Azian Cuizine at the end of June or beginning of July.
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.
Celebrating the final Friday’s Furry Friends For the final Friday’s Furry Friends, WINK News reflects on the two years spent visiting the Gulf Coast Coast Human Society and the Collier County Domestic Animal Services.
WINK NEWS Survey: Florida ranks 3rd in lowest percentage of adult non-swimmers A recent poll by Poolonomics, which surveyed the country, found that Florida has the third-lowest percentage of adult non-swimmers.
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Hot and mainly dry for your Friday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a hot and dry Friday in Southwest Florida with “feels like” temperatures ranging from 95 – 100°.
MARCO ISLAND Brown pelican found on Marco Beach with possible red tide poisoning A brown pelican was found on a Marco Island beach last week, showing signs of red tide toxicosis.
FORT MYERS Jeep flipped on its side after two-vehicle crash Authorities are responding to a car crash on Ortiz Avenue and Palm Beach Boulevard in Fort Myers.
The future of the Fort Myers Ferris wheel proposal Is the third time the charm? Downtown Fort Myers is buzzing over the idea of a new eye in the sky. On Thursday night, Steve Weathers gave his presentation on the proposed Ferris Wheel plan for the third time in a matter of months. Currently, nothing is set in stone. For the historic preservation committee, […]
LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS Lee County Schools approves new code of conduct The Lee County school board unanimously passed a new code of conduct on Thursday night, and there wasn’t any pushback, not even during public comment.
ALVA ‘I still feel like I’m under the water sometimes,’ Drowning survivor speaks out as community mourns A community mourns the death of three young men who died drowning in the Caloosahachee River on Saturday, May 18.
CAPE CORAL Gas leak closes portion of busy Cape Coral road Police are closing lanes along a busy road in Cape Coral due to a gas leak.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral man accused of raping 15-year-old The Cape Coral Police Department has arrested a man for the alleged rape of a 15-year-old.
fort myers beach Possible red tide appearing in SWFL may impact beachgoers Red tide, a harmful algae bloom that can infect people, animals, and ecosystems, has already begun to appear in Southwest Florida.
NAPLES Naples Water Department announces temporary change in water supply Some people might notice a change in their water beginning next week.
NAPLES Father drowns after trying to rescue 4-year-old son from pond in Collier County A man has drowned after chasing after a child who wandered into a pond at the Everly Apartments in Naples.
Tim Aten Knows: More changes coming to Mercato Tap 42 Craft Kitchen & Bar is shooting to open in the former space of AZN Azian Cuizine at the end of June or beginning of July.
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.
Celebrating the final Friday’s Furry Friends For the final Friday’s Furry Friends, WINK News reflects on the two years spent visiting the Gulf Coast Coast Human Society and the Collier County Domestic Animal Services.
WINK NEWS Survey: Florida ranks 3rd in lowest percentage of adult non-swimmers A recent poll by Poolonomics, which surveyed the country, found that Florida has the third-lowest percentage of adult non-swimmers.
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Hot and mainly dry for your Friday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a hot and dry Friday in Southwest Florida with “feels like” temperatures ranging from 95 – 100°.
MARCO ISLAND Brown pelican found on Marco Beach with possible red tide poisoning A brown pelican was found on a Marco Island beach last week, showing signs of red tide toxicosis.
FORT MYERS Jeep flipped on its side after two-vehicle crash Authorities are responding to a car crash on Ortiz Avenue and Palm Beach Boulevard in Fort Myers.
The future of the Fort Myers Ferris wheel proposal Is the third time the charm? Downtown Fort Myers is buzzing over the idea of a new eye in the sky. On Thursday night, Steve Weathers gave his presentation on the proposed Ferris Wheel plan for the third time in a matter of months. Currently, nothing is set in stone. For the historic preservation committee, […]
LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS Lee County Schools approves new code of conduct The Lee County school board unanimously passed a new code of conduct on Thursday night, and there wasn’t any pushback, not even during public comment.
ALVA ‘I still feel like I’m under the water sometimes,’ Drowning survivor speaks out as community mourns A community mourns the death of three young men who died drowning in the Caloosahachee River on Saturday, May 18.
MGN WASHINGTON (AP) – The Obama administration eased rules Friday for U.S. citizens wishing to travel to Cuba or do business with its growing ranks of independent entrepreneurs, hoping to kindle greater economic freedom on the island. The Treasury and Commerce departments said the regulations that take effect Monday simplify procedures for tourism, telephone and Internet investments, and money transfers to Cuba. The changes were first reported by The Associated Press on Thursday and come as both countries seek to transform their new diplomatic relationship into deeper commercial ties. By the end of the year, the former Cold War foes should resume direct postal service for the first time in five decades and clinch an agreement on regularly scheduled commercial flights, a U.S. official familiar with the process told the AP. “A stronger, more open U.S.-Cuba relationship has the potential to create economic opportunities for both Americans and Cubans alike,” Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said in a statement. Easing the embargo on Cuba, he said, will “support the Cuban people in their effort to achieve the political and economic freedom necessary to build a democratic, prosperous and stable Cuba.” Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker said the new rules could “stimulate long overdue economic reform across the country.” When President Barack Obama laid out his vision of improved U.S.-Cuban relations nine months ago, he said his objectives were twofold: ease economic hardship in Cuba and aid the development of a private market outside of state control. In January, he eased economic restrictions on Cuba in potentially the most dramatic manner since relations between the countries broke down after Fidel Castro’s revolution in 1959 and the subsequent Bay of Pigs invasion and Cuban missile crisis. Only Congress can end the embargo. The action sought to cut red tape for U.S. travel to Cuba, permit American companies to export telephones, computers and Internet technology, and allow U.S. firms to send supplies to private Cuban enterprises. But efforts to expand business, tourism and other exchanges ran into an overlapping thicket of U.S. laws and hindrances, not to mention an uneven response from Cuba’s political leaders. Many U.S. travelers still need to go on supervised group trips. Routine airline service hasn’t satisfied various federal conditions. Cruise ships and ferries are still trying to finalize regular maritime routes with Cuban authorities. Credit card and other companies still can’t transfer payments to Cuba. Telecommunications companies haven’t been able to set up shop and get equipment to the island 90 miles south of Florida. And Cuba’s government isn’t even running its Internet connections anywhere near capacity levels. Authorized American citizens now will be able to travel by cruise ship or ferry to Cuba without seeking specific authorization from the U.S. government, though a U.S. official told the AP earlier this week that a direct maritime route probably won’t be established until next year. The official wasn’t authorized to speak publicly on the process and demanded anonymity. All U.S. citizens who fall under permitted rules for travel also are permitted to open and maintain bank accounts in Cuba. The U.S. official who spoke to the AP described significant progress in U.S.-Cuban discussions since the pair reopened embassies in each other’s capitals in July. At a meeting in Havana last week, delegations from each side established a plan to settle a half-century of economic and legal disputes within the next 15 months. While difficult questions related to human rights and compensation claims won’t be resolved immediately, the official said first steps toward a broader normalization of ties would come quickly. Washington and Havana are slated to begin a “pilot program” allowing Cubans and Americans to send mail directly to one another, the official said. Direct mail service was halted in 1963, though letters and packages travel back and forth through countries like Canada and Mexico. The postal program will use the Miami and Havana airports, the official said. Also, the U.S. and Cuba should finalize an agreement on resuming direct, commercial airline routes, though the first flights wouldn’t start until next year.