Bonita Springs Council to vote on duplex project near downtownMinnesota Twins, Lee Health host free open house and health fair
Bonita Springs Council to vote on duplex project near downtown Sagamore Management Co. seeks to build 24 duplexes on 4.6 acres at the northeast corner of Dean Street and Matheson Avenue in Bonita Springs.
Minnesota Twins, Lee Health host free open house and health fair The spring training season has kicked into full gear in Southwest Florida.
Ritz-Carlton Residences on Estero Bay construction reaches top floor London Bay celebrated the construction milestone of reaching the top floor of The Ritz-Carlton Residences at Saltleaf on Estero Bay, a 22-story, 112-unit, $225 million condo tower that has seen swift sales.
WINK News Photos of the Week Feb. 9 – Feb. 16 Welcome to WINK News Photos of the Week, where we highlight memorable moments from Southwest Florida throughout the week.
TALLAHASSEE Gov. DeSantis swears in next Florida Attorney General Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has sworn in the next Attorney General, James Uthmeier.
the weather authority Cold front brings cooler, less humid weather this Monday The Weather Authority is tracking a cold front dropping temperatures and reducing humidity on this Monday.
Hendry County FDOT starting construction on State Road 82 at Hendry County Line The Florida Department of Transportation is working to improve nearly 4 miles of State Road 82.
WINK NEWS Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda church celebrates Pastor’s 45 years of service The First Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Punta Gorda is alive with celebration as they honor a legacy of leadership.
FORT MYERS Shift Coffee Bar in Fort Myers hosts annual Valentine’s Day Party Shift Coffee Bar in Fort Myers held their annual Valentine’s Day pop-up/anniversary event on Sunday morning.
PUNTA GORDA Road rage leads to gunfire near US 41 bridge in Punta Gorda A road rage incident near the Gilchrist Bridge in Punta Gorda led to shots being fired, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
the weather authority Warm, breezy day with evening rain ahead of a slight cold front The Weather Authority says Sunday is starting off warm across Southwest Florida with overnight lows in the upper 60s and 70s, staying warm throughout the day before a cold front sweeps south later this evening.
FORT MYERS Edison Festival parade lights up Fort Myers with floats and bands The Edison Festival parade was a spectacle of lights and sounds, drawing crowds to celebrate the legacy of Thomas Edison.
CAPE CORAL Goth Gala for the Forlorn; How the alt scene honored Valentine’s Day Love Your Rebellion hosted the Goth Gala for the Forlorn at Nice Guys Pizza in Cape Coral on Friday night.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers gears up for Edison Festival parade; road closures in place Downtown Fort Myers is buzzing with excitement as the Edison Festival of Light Parade is set to begin.
Bonita Springs Council to vote on duplex project near downtown Sagamore Management Co. seeks to build 24 duplexes on 4.6 acres at the northeast corner of Dean Street and Matheson Avenue in Bonita Springs.
Minnesota Twins, Lee Health host free open house and health fair The spring training season has kicked into full gear in Southwest Florida.
Ritz-Carlton Residences on Estero Bay construction reaches top floor London Bay celebrated the construction milestone of reaching the top floor of The Ritz-Carlton Residences at Saltleaf on Estero Bay, a 22-story, 112-unit, $225 million condo tower that has seen swift sales.
WINK News Photos of the Week Feb. 9 – Feb. 16 Welcome to WINK News Photos of the Week, where we highlight memorable moments from Southwest Florida throughout the week.
TALLAHASSEE Gov. DeSantis swears in next Florida Attorney General Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has sworn in the next Attorney General, James Uthmeier.
the weather authority Cold front brings cooler, less humid weather this Monday The Weather Authority is tracking a cold front dropping temperatures and reducing humidity on this Monday.
Hendry County FDOT starting construction on State Road 82 at Hendry County Line The Florida Department of Transportation is working to improve nearly 4 miles of State Road 82.
WINK NEWS Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda church celebrates Pastor’s 45 years of service The First Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Punta Gorda is alive with celebration as they honor a legacy of leadership.
FORT MYERS Shift Coffee Bar in Fort Myers hosts annual Valentine’s Day Party Shift Coffee Bar in Fort Myers held their annual Valentine’s Day pop-up/anniversary event on Sunday morning.
PUNTA GORDA Road rage leads to gunfire near US 41 bridge in Punta Gorda A road rage incident near the Gilchrist Bridge in Punta Gorda led to shots being fired, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
the weather authority Warm, breezy day with evening rain ahead of a slight cold front The Weather Authority says Sunday is starting off warm across Southwest Florida with overnight lows in the upper 60s and 70s, staying warm throughout the day before a cold front sweeps south later this evening.
FORT MYERS Edison Festival parade lights up Fort Myers with floats and bands The Edison Festival parade was a spectacle of lights and sounds, drawing crowds to celebrate the legacy of Thomas Edison.
CAPE CORAL Goth Gala for the Forlorn; How the alt scene honored Valentine’s Day Love Your Rebellion hosted the Goth Gala for the Forlorn at Nice Guys Pizza in Cape Coral on Friday night.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers gears up for Edison Festival parade; road closures in place Downtown Fort Myers is buzzing with excitement as the Edison Festival of Light Parade is set to begin.
FORT MYERS, Fla. – As the concern for the mosquito-borne Zika virus mounts, a Lee County epidemiologist says the risk is low for Floridians and a Collier County organization prepares to respond by spreading awareness in Haiti. The World Health Organization declared Zika virus a global health emergency Monday and predicted that as many as 4 million people could become infected in 2016. According to WHO, there have been 32 documented cases in the United States with three of those cases in Florida. Epidemiologist Jennifer Roth, with the Florida Department of Health in Lee County, says Florida residents’ chances of being infected with the Zika virus in the U.S. are low. “Not every mosquito carries the virus but the ones that do carry Zika, they are in South Florida. But it’s important to know that of all of the mosquitoes here in Florida, none have been identified with having the virus,” says Roth. That means the Floridians infected with Zika disease contracted the disease from traveling out of the country. Roths says WHO’s declaration is more about bringing awareness to the growing health concern. “By stating that it’s a global emergency they’re hoping to bring lots of awareness and resources to helping to combat the problem,” says Roth. The rise in birth defects that causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads has been casually linked to the virus but not yet scientifically proven. “The Center [for] Disease Control is still trying to determine the risk for pregnant women. They’re encouraging them to not travel to these countries because they’re unsure if there’s an increase in birth defects after being infected,” says Roth. While there is cause for concern for pregnant women in those countries with the disease, the Lee County Health Department says of all the viruses mosquitoes carry, Zika is far from the most dangerous. “Almost 80-percent of people don’t show any symptoms, about half of the people infected only get a fever so it’s much more mild than other mosquito diseases,” says Roth. Click here for more information about the Zika virus. Local charity to help fight Zika disease in Haiti The virus is most prominent in South America and the Caribbean but could spread to the United States and Canada, according to WHO. In Port Au Prince, there have been at least five confirmed cases of the Zika virus, said Paula Prince, Hope for Haiti’s chief program officer. Hope for Haiti has worked for the past 25 years to improve the quality of life for people in South Haiti. Prince said the organization has worked to combat the spread of other diseases via mosquitoes before. “We have malaria and dengue, which also poses risk and a health concern,” Prince said. “So this just unfortunately adds another layer of mosquito-borne illness that is going to be a big threat to the population there.” Zika virus poses the largest threat to pregnant women, who may deliver babies with deformities, said health officials. The risks of adverse symptoms are much slighter for most people, but Prince worries that Haitians will not be able to get the treatment they need if infected. “In Haiti people really lack access to health care, to health education,” she said. Now with cases of Zika on the rise, Prince said education is critical. Hope for Haiti will also provide items like mosquito nets and bug spray to people in Haiti. “We’ll have these community health workers be able to provide essential materials in, often times, very rural communities where people don’t have access to TV and radio and other means of information. So that’s going to be our primary front,” Prince said. Every year, Hope for Haiti’s public heath programs serve more than 12,000 people in 12 different communities in South Haiti, Prince said.