Officer-involved shooting at Mel’s Diner in Fort MyersCommerce Bank economist discusses Trump tariffs, economic outlook
FORT MYERS Officer-involved shooting at Mel’s Diner in Fort Myers The Fort Myers Police Department has confirmed an officer-involved shooting at Mel’s Diner on Cleveland Avenue.
Commerce Bank economist discusses Trump tariffs, economic outlook Scott Colbert, chief economist for Commerce Bank and Trust, visited Naples this week from his home in St. Louis, where he works for one of the nation’s top 50 banks, one with $32 billion in assets, $25.3 billion in deposits and $74.8 billion in total trust assets.
Homes, hotel, commercial development planned for Murdock Village area Kolter Group LLC got the green light to move forward with its development plans for 670 residential units, a 150-room hotel, 250,000 square feet of regional commercial space and another 150,000 square feet of commercial and governmental space.
naples Preliminary report released for New Year’s Day plane crash at Naples Airport The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report on a plane crash that involved four people at Naples Municipal Airport.
LEHIGH ACRES LCSO searching for family of wandering non-verbal teen in Lehigh Acres Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies are seeking the family members of a young boy found between the ages of 13 and 16 years old.
FORT MYERS Southwest Florida Ag Expo brings agriculture and fun to Fort Myers Fort Myers is holding the Southwest Florida Ag Expo, which promises a mix of agriculture, entertainment, and education this year.
CAPE CORAL Proposal to rename Seahawk Park in Cape Coral The City of Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Department has proposed renaming Seahawk Park to Seahawk Airfield at Festival Park.
Lee County student accused of making school threat A student from Cypress Lake High School is facing charges for making school threats.
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Warm and breezy this Wednesday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a warm and breezy Wednesday with increased cloud coverage.
miami beach Gov. DeSantis annouces Freedom Boater Initative Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced several marine incentives boaters may take advantage of ahead of the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 2025 Miami Beach International Boat Show.
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.
FORT MYERS Drivers react to newly opened intersection on Colonial Blvd. The dreaded drive through one of our busiest intersections has been the focus of several construction projects.
Dinosaur from Shell Factory finds new home in Saint James City marina A dinosaur has found a new home at the soon-to-be Nauti-Dolphin Marina in Saint James City, Florida. This prehistoric attraction is already drawing attention even though it’s the only thing currently on the property. Dean Zoner, owner of the Nauti-Dolphin Marina, acquired the dinosaur from the Shell Factory, a local business that was going out […]
Florida lawmakers to vote on revamped Governor backed immigration bill on Thursday The House and Senate are set to vote on a new immigration bill on Thursday. The bill aims to address illegal immigration and support federal mass deportation efforts.
CLEWISTON Community raises concerns about Clewiston Animal Services The Clewiston Animal Shelter has made significant improvements, but there is still work to be done to bring conditions to a more humane level.
FORT MYERS Officer-involved shooting at Mel’s Diner in Fort Myers The Fort Myers Police Department has confirmed an officer-involved shooting at Mel’s Diner on Cleveland Avenue.
Commerce Bank economist discusses Trump tariffs, economic outlook Scott Colbert, chief economist for Commerce Bank and Trust, visited Naples this week from his home in St. Louis, where he works for one of the nation’s top 50 banks, one with $32 billion in assets, $25.3 billion in deposits and $74.8 billion in total trust assets.
Homes, hotel, commercial development planned for Murdock Village area Kolter Group LLC got the green light to move forward with its development plans for 670 residential units, a 150-room hotel, 250,000 square feet of regional commercial space and another 150,000 square feet of commercial and governmental space.
naples Preliminary report released for New Year’s Day plane crash at Naples Airport The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report on a plane crash that involved four people at Naples Municipal Airport.
LEHIGH ACRES LCSO searching for family of wandering non-verbal teen in Lehigh Acres Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies are seeking the family members of a young boy found between the ages of 13 and 16 years old.
FORT MYERS Southwest Florida Ag Expo brings agriculture and fun to Fort Myers Fort Myers is holding the Southwest Florida Ag Expo, which promises a mix of agriculture, entertainment, and education this year.
CAPE CORAL Proposal to rename Seahawk Park in Cape Coral The City of Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Department has proposed renaming Seahawk Park to Seahawk Airfield at Festival Park.
Lee County student accused of making school threat A student from Cypress Lake High School is facing charges for making school threats.
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Warm and breezy this Wednesday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a warm and breezy Wednesday with increased cloud coverage.
miami beach Gov. DeSantis annouces Freedom Boater Initative Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced several marine incentives boaters may take advantage of ahead of the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 2025 Miami Beach International Boat Show.
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.
FORT MYERS Drivers react to newly opened intersection on Colonial Blvd. The dreaded drive through one of our busiest intersections has been the focus of several construction projects.
Dinosaur from Shell Factory finds new home in Saint James City marina A dinosaur has found a new home at the soon-to-be Nauti-Dolphin Marina in Saint James City, Florida. This prehistoric attraction is already drawing attention even though it’s the only thing currently on the property. Dean Zoner, owner of the Nauti-Dolphin Marina, acquired the dinosaur from the Shell Factory, a local business that was going out […]
Florida lawmakers to vote on revamped Governor backed immigration bill on Thursday The House and Senate are set to vote on a new immigration bill on Thursday. The bill aims to address illegal immigration and support federal mass deportation efforts.
CLEWISTON Community raises concerns about Clewiston Animal Services The Clewiston Animal Shelter has made significant improvements, but there is still work to be done to bring conditions to a more humane level.
FILE- In this Jan. 10, 2019, file photo Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell pauses as he talks with Carlyle Group co-CEO David Rubenstein during the Economic Club of Washington luncheon, in Washington. On Wednesday, Jan. 30, the Federal Reserve releases its latest monetary policy statement after a two-day meeting. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) The Federal Reserve is set Wednesday to leave its key short-term interest rate alone and to signal that it will remain cautious this year about raising rates further. Chairman Jerome Powell will begin a new era of communications by holding a news conference after each of the Fed’s eight meetings every year, up from four news conferences a year. The move will give the chairman the flexibility to explain any policy changes the Fed makes. Until now, it was widely assumed that the central bank would take no major actions at any meeting that didn’t coincide with a news conference. Powell could shed further light on the Fed’s views of the pressures on the U.S. economy — from a global slowdown and a trade war with China to slowing corporate earnings and a nervous stock market. Here are three things to watch for after the Fed meeting ends Wednesday afternoon: ___ PACE OF RATE HIKES IN 2019 The Fed raised rates four times in 2018, leaving its benchmark rate in a range of 2.25 percent to 2.5 percent. When it last met in December, the central bank issued a projection that it expected to raise rates twice in 2019, down from its previous projection of three times. Yet financial markets tumbled afterward, upset that in his news conference, Powell had sketched a rosy view of the economy and appeared to suggest that the Fed would likely resume raising rates in the coming months. The chairman’s comments were seen as failing to provide a clear signal that the Fed was prepared to hit the pause button on rate hikes in the face of rising global economic pressures. Since then, though, Powell and other Fed officials have emphasized their desire to be “patient” in their approach to rate hikes and their belief that there’s no “pre-set course” for future increases. Some Fed watchers have suggested that the central bank may add the word “patient” to the policy statement it will issue after its meeting ends — and, even if the word doesn’t appear there, that Powell will stress it in his news conference. Traders in futures markets have put the probability of a rate hike at any time this year at just 22 percent, according to data tracked by the CME Group. Some analysts, though, are predicting up to two Fed rate increases in 2019, though not until the second half of the year. ___ THREATS TO GROWTH The economy was already expected to slow this year, given the belief by economists that the boost from President Donald Trump’s tax cuts and billions in extra government spending would start to fade this year. Yet concerns have arisen that the slowdown could be even more pronounced given the emergence of new risks. They include weakening global growth, slowing corporate earnings, lingering effects of the 35-day partial government shutdown and the trade war between the United States and China, the world’s two biggest economies. Powell will likely be asked about all these threats, and investors will gauge his responses to try to assess how concerned the Fed is. The Fed chairman may also face questions about his relationship with Trump. Last year, when the stock market was nosediving, the president complained often about the Fed’s string of rate hikes. Trump argued that the rate increases were unnecessary given that inflation was mild and that the Fed might tighten credit so much as to cause a recession. Asked earlier this month if he would resign if Trump asked him to, Powell responded with a terse no. But reporters may ask whether Powell is concerned that markets fear that outside pressure could influence the Fed’s actions. Trump will have the opportunity this year to fill two vacancies on the Fed’s seven-member board. Last week, Larry Kudlow, head of the president’s National Economic Council, said the administration “wants highly capable, competent people who understand that you can have strong economic growth without higher inflation.” ___ BALANCE SHEET The stock market has halted its late-year slide and has staged a solid rebound this month. But one development that investors had worried about hasn’t been resolved: The Fed’s approach to shrinking its enormous portfolio of Treasury and mortgage bonds. Its portfolio reflects purchases the Fed made after the 2008 financial crisis to help keep borrowing rates down and stimulate the economy. The purchases swelled the Fed’s balance sheet to $4.5 trillion — several times where it had been before the crisis. But as the economy recovered and no longer needed heavy support from the Fed, the central bank in October 2017 began allowing those bond holdings to roll off its balance sheet by not re-investing the bonds when they mature. The balance sheet is now around $4 trillion. The Fed, though, hasn’t said exactly what it thinks is an appropriate level for the balance sheet other than suggesting it should be larger than the near $1 trillion level that existed before the financial crisis hit in 2008. Reports have emerged, though, that the Fed is nearing a decision on an appropriate size for the balance sheet and on when to end its gradual reduction. Some analysts say that level could be around $3.5 trillion, which would exceed previous estimates of $1.5 trillion to $3 trillion. If the Fed chooses to reduce its holdings less than many expect, that would likely result in lower long-term rates. This would be good news for corporations that need to borrow for investments and for homeowners seeking home and auto loans. On this topic, Powell may be prepared to provide further guidance after the Fed meeting ends Wednesday.