Punta Gorda Waterfront Hotel demolition set for July 84 suspected Ulta Beauty thieves arrested after fleeing from Collier deputies
Punta Gorda Waterfront Hotel demolition set for July 8 After numerous delays, the demolition of Punta Gorda Waterfront Hotel will begin next month. Interior demolition will start July 8, attorney Derek Rooney, who represents property owner Amer Asmar, told the Punta Gorda Code Enforcement Board on June 26.
NAPLES 4 suspected Ulta Beauty thieves arrested after fleeing from Collier deputies Four Tampa residents have been arrested after allegedly stealing from a Naples Ulta Beauty store and then leading deputies on a chase.
WINK NEWS Genetic testing can offer major insight into your health background Genetic testing helps researchers determine whether you have a genetic condition and can help figure out the chances of developing or passing on deadly diseases.
FORT MYERS 3 injured at DS&S Construction in Fort Myers The Fort Myers Police Department is responding to a scene at the DS&S Construction, where three people have reportedly been injured.
WINK NEWS Sheriff: deputies investigating a homicide in Three Oaks Park, shooter at large Deputies are searching for a shooter who killed a man in the Three Oaks Parks community.
The Weather Authority Tracking Invest 95L in the Eastern Atlantic; 70% chance of development The Weather Authority is tracking a tropical wave designated as Invest 95L in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County Sheriff’s Office unveils LCSO Academy The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has officially announced an academy that aims to set the tone for future training for deputies.
WINK NEWS Recommendations approved for regional superintendents in Lee County The Lee County School District is looking into creating regional associate superintendents, which may impact the future leadership over your child’s schools.
FORT MYERS Man accused of killing boyfriend transported to Lee County Jail Christopher Davis, who stands accused of killing his boyfriend Barry Schmalbach, has been transported to the Lee County Jail.
the weather authority Coastal showers move inland this Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking some light coastal rain showers that will further develop inland this Thursday afternoon.
WINK NEWS Arbitrator to review Lee County Teachers Union case against school district A special fund that pays teachers for extra work and covering classrooms has been gone for over a year, forcing the Lee County Teachers Union to file a complaint.
ESTERO Camp Vester returns to Florida Gulf Coast University Hurricane Ian essentially closed Camp Vester after it almost destroyed the Florida Gulf Coast University facility.
VILLAS Memorial service held for 12-year-old killed in crash Andrew’s family told WINK News that he was a good friend, a dedicated student and a talented musician.
NORTH FORT MYERS Hooping from Australia to the Sunshine State The exhibition between two Australian teams and two Lee County teams gives kids the experience of what it is like playing in another country.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte High grad wins first place at USA Weightlifting Nationals Port Charlotte High School alumna Angelina Dabney wins first place at USA Weightlifting Nationals event in Pittsburgh.
Punta Gorda Waterfront Hotel demolition set for July 8 After numerous delays, the demolition of Punta Gorda Waterfront Hotel will begin next month. Interior demolition will start July 8, attorney Derek Rooney, who represents property owner Amer Asmar, told the Punta Gorda Code Enforcement Board on June 26.
NAPLES 4 suspected Ulta Beauty thieves arrested after fleeing from Collier deputies Four Tampa residents have been arrested after allegedly stealing from a Naples Ulta Beauty store and then leading deputies on a chase.
WINK NEWS Genetic testing can offer major insight into your health background Genetic testing helps researchers determine whether you have a genetic condition and can help figure out the chances of developing or passing on deadly diseases.
FORT MYERS 3 injured at DS&S Construction in Fort Myers The Fort Myers Police Department is responding to a scene at the DS&S Construction, where three people have reportedly been injured.
WINK NEWS Sheriff: deputies investigating a homicide in Three Oaks Park, shooter at large Deputies are searching for a shooter who killed a man in the Three Oaks Parks community.
The Weather Authority Tracking Invest 95L in the Eastern Atlantic; 70% chance of development The Weather Authority is tracking a tropical wave designated as Invest 95L in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County Sheriff’s Office unveils LCSO Academy The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has officially announced an academy that aims to set the tone for future training for deputies.
WINK NEWS Recommendations approved for regional superintendents in Lee County The Lee County School District is looking into creating regional associate superintendents, which may impact the future leadership over your child’s schools.
FORT MYERS Man accused of killing boyfriend transported to Lee County Jail Christopher Davis, who stands accused of killing his boyfriend Barry Schmalbach, has been transported to the Lee County Jail.
the weather authority Coastal showers move inland this Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking some light coastal rain showers that will further develop inland this Thursday afternoon.
WINK NEWS Arbitrator to review Lee County Teachers Union case against school district A special fund that pays teachers for extra work and covering classrooms has been gone for over a year, forcing the Lee County Teachers Union to file a complaint.
ESTERO Camp Vester returns to Florida Gulf Coast University Hurricane Ian essentially closed Camp Vester after it almost destroyed the Florida Gulf Coast University facility.
VILLAS Memorial service held for 12-year-old killed in crash Andrew’s family told WINK News that he was a good friend, a dedicated student and a talented musician.
NORTH FORT MYERS Hooping from Australia to the Sunshine State The exhibition between two Australian teams and two Lee County teams gives kids the experience of what it is like playing in another country.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte High grad wins first place at USA Weightlifting Nationals Port Charlotte High School alumna Angelina Dabney wins first place at USA Weightlifting Nationals event in Pittsburgh.
MGN WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared skeptical that state officials have the power to require health insurers to turn over reams of data revealing how much they pay for medical claims. Most of the justices seemed to agree during a one-hour argument that efforts by Vermont and other states to collect and publicize the data conflict with federal law governing certain health plans. Vermont is one of at least 18 states that gather health care claims data in an effort to keep down health costs, increase competition and improve quality. More than a dozen other states are interested in starting up similar databases to compile health claims and allow consumers to compare plans. But that has run into resistance from Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., which operates a self-insured health plan for its workers and refused to turn over the data to Vermont officials. A federal appeals court sided with the company, saying its plan already is subject to reporting requirements under the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or ERISA. Justice Stephen Breyer said he was concerned that some 93 million people are covered under self-insured health plans in which the employer pays out claims with its own funds rather than going through an insurance company. “There can be 50 different states with 50 different sets of regulations, imposing a huge financial burden upon health care,” Breyer said. Justice Elena Kagan said the prospect of every state developing different rules and formats “just all adds up to a lot of hassle, which all adds up to a lot of money.” Breyer wondered if the Department of Labor could set uniform national regulations on data reporting or issue a regulation allowing states to do so. But Justice Antonin Scalia said he doubted the department could simply approve state plans that conflicted with federal law. Vermont’s solicitor general, Bridget Asay, argued that the state is using its traditional powers to ensure the health and safety of its citizens. She said the state simply takes information the company has already generated, which doesn’t impose a burden or interfere with any of ERISA’s requirements. But Justice Samuel Alito noted that President Barack Obama’s health care law now authorizes federal officials to collect data similar to what states are gathering. “I don’t see how that does not undermine your principal argument,” Alito said. The Obama administration has backed Vermont in the case. Justice Department lawyer John Bash told the justices that the state’s law is “incidental” to ERISA and used for state interests such as hospital budget review and oversight of health insurance rates. That met with skepticism from Chief Justice John Roberts, who pointed out that “one of the things ERISA plans do is report data and compile data.” Arguing for Liberty Mutual, lawyer Seth Waxman argued that federal law intended self-funded insurance plans to run without burdensome state regulations. He said a patchwork of conflicting reporting requirements from states would hinder those plans. Both Kagan and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg later pressed Waxman on whether the cost of compliance is really so high. They noted that Liberty Mutual was already passing along much of the same data to other agencies. Waxman said specific compliance costs were not available from Liberty Mutual’s plan administrator, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. But he said Vermont is requiring “that we keep records that we don’t keep, and that we display them and provide information in ways that we don’t.” “This doesn’t end at Vermont,” Waxman said. Every dollar spent complying with data reporting “comes directly out of the benefits that they can pay.”