Collier man accused of supplying fentanyl-laced pills, enough to kill 531,500 peopleCape Coral council supports construction of I-75 interchange into city
Collier man accused of supplying fentanyl-laced pills, enough to kill 531,500 people The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man accused of supplying more than 10,000 fentanyl-laced pills disguised as prescription painkillers.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral council supports construction of I-75 interchange into city The Cape Coral City Council has approved a resolution requesting support from Lee and Charlotte counties to prioritize state and federal funding for the Interstate 75 Interchange at Slater Road.
PUNTA GORDA Crews removing derelict boats from Gilchrist Park Crews are working to remove derelict boats from Gilchrist Park after several of them washed ashore during Hurricane Milton in October.
33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County Another Florida panther has been killed by a vehicle, this time in Hardee County, increasing the death toll of the endangered species to 33 for 2024.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cold morning conditions before temperatures warm up to the low 70s this Thursday.
Police release threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Milton.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
Collier man accused of supplying fentanyl-laced pills, enough to kill 531,500 people The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man accused of supplying more than 10,000 fentanyl-laced pills disguised as prescription painkillers.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral council supports construction of I-75 interchange into city The Cape Coral City Council has approved a resolution requesting support from Lee and Charlotte counties to prioritize state and federal funding for the Interstate 75 Interchange at Slater Road.
PUNTA GORDA Crews removing derelict boats from Gilchrist Park Crews are working to remove derelict boats from Gilchrist Park after several of them washed ashore during Hurricane Milton in October.
33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County Another Florida panther has been killed by a vehicle, this time in Hardee County, increasing the death toll of the endangered species to 33 for 2024.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cold morning conditions before temperatures warm up to the low 70s this Thursday.
Police release threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Milton.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
Nearly one in four adults have medical bills in collection in Southwest Florida. WINK News is launching a project to make what we hope is a multi-million dollar difference to area residents. Across the country, many people are experiencing “doctor debt.” Paola Gonzalez knows those calls well. She owes more than $30,000 in medical bills. It’s a debt that she says he affected her entire family. “I didn’t choose to be sick but I’m trying to keep a job and when I do work its just to pay off medical bills,” Gonzalez said. In Florida, almost one in four people are in collection for medical bills totaling $6.6 billion. Just last month, WINK News introduced you to Melissa and Zachary Rizutto, who were trying to raise $125,000 for Zachary’s cancer treatment in Collier County. “When you have health insurance it doesn’t mean you have health coverage,” Melissa said. Here in Southwest Florida multiple residents are struggling with millions of dollars in medical bills: Collier County: one in five people for $115 million Lee County: one in four people for $213 million in medical bills Charlotte and other inland counties: $419 million in debt DONATE: Click here to make a donation of your own Craig Antico, Co-founder, CEO of RIP Medical Debt, said “we’re predatory givers.” “We’re going to be able to buy over one million dollars of medical debt in your viewers’ area,” Antico said. Tracking a huge problem bite by bite in order to buy it and bury it for all the people here at home. WINK News has been watching how RIP Medical Debt, a nonprofit, has worked for people in other places. “I was just like someone just called me and said they’re going to pay one of my bills,” Gonzalez said. RIP uses donated money to buy old debt for pennies on the dollar. WINK News has paid $12,500 to buy the first million dollars in medical debt, and we’re asking you to help raise $10,000 to wipe out a second million dollars for people here at home. $10 wipes out $1,000 in debt. WINK News paid the administrative costs up front, so every penny of the money donated will go towards buying and paying off someone’s bills. “We’re going to send letters out to each one of them saying that your debt was abolished because of a generous donation,” Antico said. How does so little pay for so much? Old medical debt is often sold, and if a bill isn’t paid, it can be sold again and again with the the collection letters and phone calls continuing. “They can collect on it for almost ten years, and we’re trying to stop that long tail of abuse,” Antico said. RIP works with credit agency TransUnion to pick people based on several criteria, including income, to buy big batches of debt. We don’t know in advance who it will be, but based on criteria, RIP is designed to find some of the worst cases, and several people in the area will get envelopes saying at least some of your medical bills have been paid in full. “These are the accounts that are poor.. these are the accounts that are insolvent,” Antico said. Increasingly, accounts held by military veterans as they seek service outside the V.A. and can’t pay the bills. With your help, we’ll have success stories here, like this one from up North. “We actually had to move out of our old house and come live here because they couldn’t afford me being sick and paying the house,” Gonzalez said. WINK News is accepting donations through our nonprofit partner, Southwest Florida Community Foundation. You can donate online by clicking here. Again, WINK will not get any money from your donation. CBS New York contributed to this story.