Governor DeSantis to hold press conference at Florida CapitolCity of Fort Myers to keep fluoride in drinking water
TALLAHASSEE Governor DeSantis to hold press conference at Florida Capitol Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference at the state capitol, 400 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee.
City of Fort Myers to keep fluoride in drinking water City of Fort Myers won’t be joining other local governments in removing fluoride from its drinking water, council members decided.
ALVA Alva neighbors brace for another development battle Alva neighbors have made an urgent call to action to “Defend Alva and North River Road from overdevelopment.”
WINK NEWS President Trump signs Executive Order aimed at expanding access to IVF President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order Tuesday to try to reduce the costs of in vitro fertilization (IVF) for Americans.
Warm and breezy afternoon with scattered rain this evening The Weather Authority is tracking a warm and breezy Wednesday, and scattered rain is expected this evening.
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.
SANIBEL Sanibel Church rebuilds after Hurricane Ian The Sanibel Community Church has completed its remarkable rebuild after Hurricane Ian devastated their place of worship over two years ago.
NAPLES Costco construction causes commotion in Collier County community Costco is eyeing a plot of land in Collier County for a new store, but residents are voicing strong opposition.
NAPLES Dr. Cornelius “Pat” Cacho’s impact on education and Southwest Florida Dr. Cornelius “Pat” Cacho, a beloved philanthropist and advocate for education, dedicated his life to empowering others through opportunity and knowledge.
SANIBEL Sanibel cracks down on school zone speeders with new camera system Sanibel is tightening its grip on school zone speeders with newly installed cameras.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers food pantry expands efforts with Harry Chapin support The Harry Chapin Food Bank in Fort Myers plays a crucial role in supporting smaller food banks in the area.
Fort Myers Beach Pier scheduled to be finished a year ahead of schedule The Fort Myers Beach Pier remains a symbol of the destruction caused by Hurricane Ian two years ago. Efforts to rebuild it has taken a lot of time.
FORT MYERS Iconic Fort Myers statue to undergo repairs The iconic “Rachel at the Well” statue on McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers has been a landmark for 94 years. However, it became a casualty of Hurricane Ian in 2022, and discussions for its repair are ongoing.
Salvation Army Thrift Store closing its doors in Collier County The Salvation Army has announced the permanent closure of the Naples Family Store on Davis Boulevard.
SANIBEL Rebuilding the Sanibel Causeway with a cause Construction crews are hard at work making the Sanibel Causeway more resilient. The bridge is being fortified to withstand future storms.
TALLAHASSEE Governor DeSantis to hold press conference at Florida Capitol Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference at the state capitol, 400 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee.
City of Fort Myers to keep fluoride in drinking water City of Fort Myers won’t be joining other local governments in removing fluoride from its drinking water, council members decided.
ALVA Alva neighbors brace for another development battle Alva neighbors have made an urgent call to action to “Defend Alva and North River Road from overdevelopment.”
WINK NEWS President Trump signs Executive Order aimed at expanding access to IVF President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order Tuesday to try to reduce the costs of in vitro fertilization (IVF) for Americans.
Warm and breezy afternoon with scattered rain this evening The Weather Authority is tracking a warm and breezy Wednesday, and scattered rain is expected this evening.
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.
SANIBEL Sanibel Church rebuilds after Hurricane Ian The Sanibel Community Church has completed its remarkable rebuild after Hurricane Ian devastated their place of worship over two years ago.
NAPLES Costco construction causes commotion in Collier County community Costco is eyeing a plot of land in Collier County for a new store, but residents are voicing strong opposition.
NAPLES Dr. Cornelius “Pat” Cacho’s impact on education and Southwest Florida Dr. Cornelius “Pat” Cacho, a beloved philanthropist and advocate for education, dedicated his life to empowering others through opportunity and knowledge.
SANIBEL Sanibel cracks down on school zone speeders with new camera system Sanibel is tightening its grip on school zone speeders with newly installed cameras.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers food pantry expands efforts with Harry Chapin support The Harry Chapin Food Bank in Fort Myers plays a crucial role in supporting smaller food banks in the area.
Fort Myers Beach Pier scheduled to be finished a year ahead of schedule The Fort Myers Beach Pier remains a symbol of the destruction caused by Hurricane Ian two years ago. Efforts to rebuild it has taken a lot of time.
FORT MYERS Iconic Fort Myers statue to undergo repairs The iconic “Rachel at the Well” statue on McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers has been a landmark for 94 years. However, it became a casualty of Hurricane Ian in 2022, and discussions for its repair are ongoing.
Salvation Army Thrift Store closing its doors in Collier County The Salvation Army has announced the permanent closure of the Naples Family Store on Davis Boulevard.
SANIBEL Rebuilding the Sanibel Causeway with a cause Construction crews are hard at work making the Sanibel Causeway more resilient. The bridge is being fortified to withstand future storms.
Robert Linsdell / CC BY 2.0 ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) No need to schlep around wallets or locker keys in your Speedos at Universal Orlando Resort’s new water park opening later this month. That’s because Universal is debuting a new wristband that can pay for food, open lockers, trigger special effects, set spending limits on the kids and most, importantly, eliminate waiting in lines by sending alerts when it’s your turn for a ride. Universal executives hope the Tapu Tapu wearable wristbands get rid of some of the hassles for visitors at the water park which opens May 25, and they want the wristbands to lead to a “frictionless” experience. “It really was designed to rethink and reimagine how we take all of these friction points out and make it so you can get to the fun faster,” said Chris Crayner, the company’s chief digital officer. Tapu Tapu is only the latest effort by theme parks to eliminate waits, go cashless and track guests through technology that allows workers to greet them by name or know what food they have ordered as they arrive at a restaurant. Disney’s parks in 2013 unveiled Magicband wristbands that allow visitors to unlock hotel rooms, gain entrance to parks and pay for food. Earlier this year, Universal introduced “virtual lines” at its “Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon” ride, which allows visitors to relax in a lounge, watch live entertainment or explore the park instead of waiting in a line before getting on the ride. Unlike Disney’s wristbands, Universal’s Tapu Tapu wristbands have screens on which visitors can get text alerts or see images, and they also vibrate. “The wearable we have here is more of a two-way device to display information to the guests,” Crayner said. “It’s like an Apple watch. It buzzes and you can feel it. When your time to ride is near, it will vibrate and send you a message on the screen.” Tapu Tapu uses a combination of radio frequency, Bluetooth and near-field communication technology, which allows electronic devices to talk to each other. When visitors get to a ride, they can swipe their wristband against a kiosk and they will receive an alert when it’s their turn to go on the ride. Visitors can also use their wristbands throughout the park to trigger water jets or lighting effects. Unlike at the Disney parks, visitors at Volcano Bay must return their wristbands at the end of the day. The wristbands engage the guests, enhance their experiences and expedite going through the water park, said Dennis Speigel, president of International Theme Park Services, Inc., a Cincinnati-based consulting firm. “They are helping guests spend more money in the park because they aren’t standing in line so long,” said Speigel, who has been in the business for five decades and says he has never seen as much technological advancement in the theme park industry as in the past five years. “The technology is driving our industry now in every sense.” Universal executives say eliminating the “friction” at its parks is a top priority. While the Tapu Tapu wristbands won’t be used at other Universal parks since they are uniquely designed, and water-proofed, for the water park, “frictionless”-driven technology will show up at other Universal parks, whether through cell phones or other devices, said Jeff Polk, Universal’s vice president of water parks. “The Tapu Tapu wearable isn’t the culmination of our overall technology development,” Polk said. “It’s the first step.”