Crews battle 2.5-acre brush fire near Alico and Eagle Village DriveJake’s story: A mother’s mission to share her son’s story and help other young people
ESTERO Crews battle 2.5-acre brush fire near Alico and Eagle Village Drive San Carlos Park Fire District is on the scene fighting a 2.5-acre brushfire near Alico and Eagle Village Drive.
FORT MYERS Jake’s story: A mother’s mission to share her son’s story and help other young people One Fort Myers mom is turning her pain into purpose after her son, who she refers to as her “heavenly Angel,” took his own life.
CAPE CORAL New renderings for the Cape Coral Yacht Club promise a bright future The Cape Coral Yacht Club, which has been part of this community since the 1960s, will now have a new look after Hurricane Ian’s devastating effects.
LEHIGH ACRES Owner bars public from Barefoot Lake, LCSO installs Watch Tower Every weekend, roughly 200 people go to Barefoot Lake in Lehigh Acres to relax, fish, swim and have a good time.
CAPE CORAL Concern over water shortage in Cape Coral Concern is flowing through Cape Coral as neighbors are seeing their canal levels low and their wells run dry.
FORT MYERS FSW softball swinging for success in the postseason Now their focus shifts to states which means the newbies are looking to the experienced sophomores for advice.
BONITA SPRINGS Young SWFL tennis player competing with professionals You may not know her name now, but you might want remember it because 16-year-old Cookie Jarvis-Tredgett is already competing with professionals.
NORTH NAPLES ‘It’s all about connection,’ Statement Peace makes jewelry with sustainability in mind The brand Statement Peace, once started inside founder Jessica Lee’s home, is now in 2,700 stores across the country
Pine Manor 2 arrested for firing gun at birthday party in Pine Manor A party ended with two people behind bars.
FORT MYERS Shooting investigation on busy Fort Myers street Police are conducting a shooting investigation that involves a traffic crash near Michigan Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard.
FGCU New FGCU athletic director Colin Hargis ready to build on department’s success New FGCU athletic director Colin Hargis talks about the department’s future amid the age of NIL and the transfer portal.
FORT MYERS More middle-aged women being treated for acne You probably thought you broke up with it after high school, but acne is rearing it’s ugly blackheads in adult women.
Lee County student ran up and hit teacher in head, report shows The report says a 13-year-old student ran up and smacked a teacher in the head because multiple classmates offered him money to do so.
NAPLES Collier Planning Commission continues discussion for apartments near Fiddler’s Creek The developer of Fiddler’s Creek wants to build hundreds of luxury apartments on a slice of a 600 acre-plus property known as section 29.
CAPE CORAL Fatigue sets in for third day of FEMA hearings Flying several hours to come to a FEMA code compliance hearing in Cape Coral is the reality for John Gasparini from Maryland.
ESTERO Crews battle 2.5-acre brush fire near Alico and Eagle Village Drive San Carlos Park Fire District is on the scene fighting a 2.5-acre brushfire near Alico and Eagle Village Drive.
FORT MYERS Jake’s story: A mother’s mission to share her son’s story and help other young people One Fort Myers mom is turning her pain into purpose after her son, who she refers to as her “heavenly Angel,” took his own life.
CAPE CORAL New renderings for the Cape Coral Yacht Club promise a bright future The Cape Coral Yacht Club, which has been part of this community since the 1960s, will now have a new look after Hurricane Ian’s devastating effects.
LEHIGH ACRES Owner bars public from Barefoot Lake, LCSO installs Watch Tower Every weekend, roughly 200 people go to Barefoot Lake in Lehigh Acres to relax, fish, swim and have a good time.
CAPE CORAL Concern over water shortage in Cape Coral Concern is flowing through Cape Coral as neighbors are seeing their canal levels low and their wells run dry.
FORT MYERS FSW softball swinging for success in the postseason Now their focus shifts to states which means the newbies are looking to the experienced sophomores for advice.
BONITA SPRINGS Young SWFL tennis player competing with professionals You may not know her name now, but you might want remember it because 16-year-old Cookie Jarvis-Tredgett is already competing with professionals.
NORTH NAPLES ‘It’s all about connection,’ Statement Peace makes jewelry with sustainability in mind The brand Statement Peace, once started inside founder Jessica Lee’s home, is now in 2,700 stores across the country
Pine Manor 2 arrested for firing gun at birthday party in Pine Manor A party ended with two people behind bars.
FORT MYERS Shooting investigation on busy Fort Myers street Police are conducting a shooting investigation that involves a traffic crash near Michigan Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard.
FGCU New FGCU athletic director Colin Hargis ready to build on department’s success New FGCU athletic director Colin Hargis talks about the department’s future amid the age of NIL and the transfer portal.
FORT MYERS More middle-aged women being treated for acne You probably thought you broke up with it after high school, but acne is rearing it’s ugly blackheads in adult women.
Lee County student ran up and hit teacher in head, report shows The report says a 13-year-old student ran up and smacked a teacher in the head because multiple classmates offered him money to do so.
NAPLES Collier Planning Commission continues discussion for apartments near Fiddler’s Creek The developer of Fiddler’s Creek wants to build hundreds of luxury apartments on a slice of a 600 acre-plus property known as section 29.
CAPE CORAL Fatigue sets in for third day of FEMA hearings Flying several hours to come to a FEMA code compliance hearing in Cape Coral is the reality for John Gasparini from Maryland.
Photo via Mike Danielewski/WINK In the race for the governor’s mansion, five democratic candidates participated in a gubernatorial debate Wednesday evening hosted by WINK News at Florida Gulf Coast University. MORE: When and where to vote for the Florida primary election Several questions asked during the hour-long debate focused on issues here in Southwest Florida: water quality, school safety, and area industries. Gwen Graham, a former congresswoman, spelled out several issues she’s found with past leadership in the state’s capitol. “After 20 years of Republican rule in Tallahassee, our public schools are starved, our lakes and rivers are cloaked with algae and a woman’s right to choose is on the line,” Graham said. Philip Levine, a two-term mayor of Miami Beach, said his reason behind running for governor stemmed from his childhood. “I’m running for governor because I want to see everyone in Florida live the American dream the way I did,” Levine said. Algae is plaguing the waterways of Southwest Florida and other parts of the state, finding a solution to the problem is key. Jeff Greene, an entrepreneur, emphasized water quality as an issue. "Water is going to be the issue of our time. It's not just (Lake) Okeechobee, it's everywhere," said candidate Jeff Greene. #FLDemDebate #fastfact — WINK News (@winknews) July 18, 2018 The candidates could not speak exclusively about water quality without also talking about the sugar industry. The candidates pledged not to take funds from the sugar industry. Candidate Chris King called himself the “the first voice in a generation” to take a stand against the sugar industry. “Take the toxic algae blooms right now poisoning both of our coasts,” King said. “And nobody, nobody in either party has stood up to big sugar, and done what needs to be done to fix this problem once and for all.” Graham spoke directly to the big sugar industry during the debate and said she isn’t going to back down. “I know that the big sugar is watching this very carefully, because they know that change is coming,” Graham said. “Because the next governor of Florida, they know with me, they’re going to get someone who is going to stand up to them and who’s going to fight to make sure that we do what they need to do.” School safety reform was also a topic of discussion during the debate following the deadly mass shooting in Parkland. Andrew Gillum, the mayor of Tallahassee, argued teachers should be given additional support and supplies, but disagreed with arming instructors in the classroom. Gillum added how if elected, he would work to enact legislation designed to protect human beings. Democratic candidate Andrew Gillum on school safety: "We have an obligation here to keep our kids safe." #FLDemDebate #fastfact — WINK News (@winknews) July 18, 2018 Graham said immigration’s a federal issue, but at the state level, she’d like to “welcome all to the state of Florida.” In closing, the candidates expressed their enthusiasm when getting voters to the polls. King said it’s been a long time since a democrat was in office, but was passionate about the democratic party. “We are the party of big dreams,” King said. “This was a party built to do big things.” Graham expressed the importance of this election and urged people to vote. “This is the future of Florida on the line,” Graham said. Meet the candidates Andrew Gillum By City of Tallahassee (City of Tallahassee) [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsAndrew Gillum, 38, is a democratic candidate running for governor of Florida. Gillum was born in Miami and attended college at Florida A&M University. He then was elected to Tallahassee City Commission before being elected mayor, according to his campaign website. Gillum said he wants to run for mayor because there’s a “need (for) a fresh approach to solving the problems of our state and get our government back on track.” Gillum has a plethora of issues he’s focusing on including health care, education, jobs, and the environment, to name a few, according to his campaign website. For more information on the candidate, click here. Gwen Graham By U.S. House of Representatives ([1]) [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsGwen Graham, 55, is a democratic candidate running for governor of Florida. Graham went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for her undergrad and went to law school at the Washington College of Law. Prior to serving public office for Florida’s second congressional district, Graham was on a school advisory board, became P.T.A. president and worked for her local school district, according to her campaign website. During her time in Congress, helping Florida families was a priority for Graham, according to her campaign website. She also returned $2.5 million to veterans and cut her office’s operating budget by more than 15 percent. Graham is focusing on a variety of issues for her campaign including education, economy, civil rights, justice reform, etc., according to her campaign’s website. Click here to learn more about the candidate. Jeff Greene Jeff Greene. Credit AP Jeff Greene, 63, is a democratic candidate running for governor of Florida. Greene attended Johns Hopkins University and Harvard College of Business. He’s also an entrepreneur in his professional life prior to campaigning for public office. If elected, some of his priorities include immigration, education, justice reform and jobs and wages, just to name a few, according to his campaign website. Visit the candidate’s website to learn more. Chris King Chris King for Florida Chris King, 39, is a democratic candidate running for governor of Florida. King was born in Orlando, Fla., according to his campaign website. He attended college at Harvard University and law school at the University of Florida. Prior to running for public office, King was an entrepreneur. King is focusing on several issues related to the campaign including gun safety reform, criminal justice reform, affordable housing, and equality, etc., according to his campaign website. To learn more about the candidate, visit his website. Philip Levine By City of Miami Beach (City of Miami Beach) [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsPhilip Levine, 56, is a democratic candidate running for governor of Florida. Levine went to the University of Michigan. He’s a self-made entrepreneur in South Florida, according to his campaign website. He then served two terms as mayor of Miami Beach. Levine’s motto is “just get it done,” and said he strives to take action. He added he aims to take revamp the state’s economy with jobs and schooling, as well as taking “an entrepreneurial approach to protecting our environment.” Levine has several priorities for his campaign including the environment, education, jobs, and health care, just to name a few, according to his campaign website. Visit the candidate’s website for more information. Issues important for SWFL The televised debate began at 7 p.m. at the FGCU Cohen Center on 11090 FGCU Blvd. N. It was moderated by WINK News anchors Chris Cifatte and Lois Thome. WINK News posed a question for viewers what issues are important to the people of Southwest Florida? WINK News also took to Twitter to poll viewers if watching a debate will correlate to voter turnout in November: RACE TO THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION: Will watching a debate get you to the polls? — WINK News (@winknews) July 18, 2018