Lee County Sheriff’s Office Highway Patrol announced to combat traffic issuesCelebrate Mom at Mother’s Day events across Southwest Florida
Lee County Sheriff’s Office Highway Patrol announced to combat traffic issues On Monday, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office introduced the LCSO Highway Patrol, which is equipped to handle high-risk traffic stops.
WINK NEWS Celebrate Mom at Mother’s Day events across Southwest Florida Mother’s Day is a day to celebrate and honor the love and sacrifices of mothers.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Mayor optimistic on maintaining flood insurance discount Cape Coral’s Mayor John Gunter spoke about submitting the city’s paperwork before FEMA’s flood insurance guideline deadline.
Florida deputies who fatally shot US airman burst into wrong apartment, attorney says Deputies responding to a disturbance call at a Florida apartment complex burst into the wrong unit and fatally shot a Black U.S. Air Force airman who was home alone when they saw he was armed with a gun, an attorney for the man’s family said Wednesday.
The Weather Authority A hotter day ahead with ‘feels like’ temperatures as high as 100° The Weather Authority is tracking a muggy Thursday morning, with afternoon temperatures expected to climb into the lower to mid-90s.
CAPE CORAL The City of Cape Coral announces it has met the FEMA deadline related to flood insurance discount The City of Cape Coral announces that it has met all of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s guidelines regarding the flood insurance discount rate.
Teachers union reaches contract agreement with Lee County School District The Lee County Teachers Union said it has reached an agreement with the district regarding teacher contracts for the next school year.
BABCOCK RANCH Family and friends remember teen killed in SR-31 crash Family and friends are keeping a 19-year-old’s memory alive after he lost his life in a collision with a truck on State Road 31.
FORT MYERS Officers searching for alleged Racetrac arsonist The Fort Myers Police Department has confirmed an early morning fire at a gas station was arson.
CAPE CORAL What we know about man accused of flushing ex-girlfriend’s fish Bean down the toilet Bret Dahl is accused of breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s house, assaulting her, breaking things and flushing her fish named Bean down the toilet.
FORT MYERS Pushing for changes at Lee County Domestic Animal Services The Lee County Domestic Animal Services is responding to a letter listing concerns and allegations at the shelter.
Miracle Moment: Kinsley Vitiello Three-year-old Kinsley Vitiello loves to play dolls and dance her heart out with her big sister Aubrey.
CAPE CORAL Low canals and dried-up wells: Why does Cape Coral keep building? In a city with more canals than Venice, Waterfront living isn’t hard to find.
BONITA SPRINGS Students turn old treasure into gems for Mother’s Day An array of fine gems and jewels all for a mother’s heart. With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, one Bonita Springs marketing company is helping students think outside the box.
FORT MYERS BEACH Woman sees potentially suspicious charge on her account after parking at Fort Myers Beach Jennifer parked in the parking lot across from Lynn Hall Memorial Park, paid with a QR code and went to visit friends for lunch.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office Highway Patrol announced to combat traffic issues On Monday, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office introduced the LCSO Highway Patrol, which is equipped to handle high-risk traffic stops.
WINK NEWS Celebrate Mom at Mother’s Day events across Southwest Florida Mother’s Day is a day to celebrate and honor the love and sacrifices of mothers.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Mayor optimistic on maintaining flood insurance discount Cape Coral’s Mayor John Gunter spoke about submitting the city’s paperwork before FEMA’s flood insurance guideline deadline.
Florida deputies who fatally shot US airman burst into wrong apartment, attorney says Deputies responding to a disturbance call at a Florida apartment complex burst into the wrong unit and fatally shot a Black U.S. Air Force airman who was home alone when they saw he was armed with a gun, an attorney for the man’s family said Wednesday.
The Weather Authority A hotter day ahead with ‘feels like’ temperatures as high as 100° The Weather Authority is tracking a muggy Thursday morning, with afternoon temperatures expected to climb into the lower to mid-90s.
CAPE CORAL The City of Cape Coral announces it has met the FEMA deadline related to flood insurance discount The City of Cape Coral announces that it has met all of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s guidelines regarding the flood insurance discount rate.
Teachers union reaches contract agreement with Lee County School District The Lee County Teachers Union said it has reached an agreement with the district regarding teacher contracts for the next school year.
BABCOCK RANCH Family and friends remember teen killed in SR-31 crash Family and friends are keeping a 19-year-old’s memory alive after he lost his life in a collision with a truck on State Road 31.
FORT MYERS Officers searching for alleged Racetrac arsonist The Fort Myers Police Department has confirmed an early morning fire at a gas station was arson.
CAPE CORAL What we know about man accused of flushing ex-girlfriend’s fish Bean down the toilet Bret Dahl is accused of breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s house, assaulting her, breaking things and flushing her fish named Bean down the toilet.
FORT MYERS Pushing for changes at Lee County Domestic Animal Services The Lee County Domestic Animal Services is responding to a letter listing concerns and allegations at the shelter.
Miracle Moment: Kinsley Vitiello Three-year-old Kinsley Vitiello loves to play dolls and dance her heart out with her big sister Aubrey.
CAPE CORAL Low canals and dried-up wells: Why does Cape Coral keep building? In a city with more canals than Venice, Waterfront living isn’t hard to find.
BONITA SPRINGS Students turn old treasure into gems for Mother’s Day An array of fine gems and jewels all for a mother’s heart. With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, one Bonita Springs marketing company is helping students think outside the box.
FORT MYERS BEACH Woman sees potentially suspicious charge on her account after parking at Fort Myers Beach Jennifer parked in the parking lot across from Lynn Hall Memorial Park, paid with a QR code and went to visit friends for lunch.
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Unpaid bills, low wages, hopelessness, hunger and homelessness. In Lee County 169,692 families struggle with poverty; The Lee County School District simulated a month in the lives of these families for 50 participants Monday. Among the participants was reporter Stephanie Susskind, who played the role of a 1-year-old named Josh Jacobi. Josh Jacobi lived with his 19-year-old mother and her boyfriend. In the poverty simulation, his mother was unemployed and trying to reestablish food stamps while the live-in boyfriend worked to pay for food, rent and other necessities. The family was just getting things under control when they were evicted from their apartment. Had Josh Jacobi been old enough to attend school in Lee County, he may have joined the more than 70 percent of students who qualify for school lunch subsidies, according to statistics from the school district. The poverty rate for children under 18 is 23.5 percent, which is higher than the average poverty rate — 16 percent — in Lee County, record show. In the simulation, Josh Jacobi became homeless. Poverty and the lack of affordable low-income housing are the primary causes of homelessness in Florida, according to the school district. The demonstration showed participant Debra Haley of New Horizons how close impoverished families are to homelessness. “I think it really brings home to me the reality of what homeless families, families living in poverty really face, and you get into that position and how do you get out?” Other participants, like Terri Ann Lindo of United Way, felt like poverty could create feelings of hopelessness and depression. “I really started to feel the depression set in and the frustration set in on what do I do? Where am I going to be tonight? How’s my child gonna eat?” Lindo said. Many people walked away from the simulation with a greater appreciation for compassion. “It really solidified what I already felt and known,” Rob Malpica, a nurse at Early Head Start, said. “I really learned that sometimes we need to have a little more empathy for people.” Community resources for families: Abuse Counseling and Treatment, (ACT) 239-939-2553 American Red Cross, 239-278-3401 Amigo’s Center, 239-437-6727 ext. 23943 Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast, 239-288-4244 Blessings in a Backpack, 239-690-4653 Bonita Springs Assistance Office, 239-992-3034 Boys & Girls Club of Lee County, 239-334-1886 Catholic Charities of Lee, Hendry and Glades County, 239-337-4193 Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida, 239-334-0222 Community Cooperative Emergency, 239-322-7687 Lee County Legal Aid Society, 239-334-6118 Lehigh Community Services, 239-369-5818 Lutheran Services Florida, 239-278-1140 Quality of Life Center of Southwest Florida, 239-275-3222 Salus Care, 239-275-3222 The Salvation Army, 239-278-1551 United Way 211