Fort Myers man sentenced to 2 years in prison for possessing marijuana, firearmICE activity confirmed in Hendry County
FORT MYERS Fort Myers man sentenced to 2 years in prison for possessing marijuana, firearm A Fort Myers man has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison for possessing marijuana with intent to distribute and a firearm as a person with felony convictions.
ICE activity confirmed in Hendry County WINK News has confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is in Hendry County.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers woman sentenced to 1 year in prison for forging late mother’s signature to claim benefits A Fort Myers woman was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for wire fraud beginning in 2005.
TALLAHASSEE Streaming Now: Gov. DeSantis holds news 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 Fort Myers man sentenced to 2 years in prison for possessing marijuana, firearm A Fort Myers man has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison for possessing marijuana with intent to distribute and a firearm as a person with felony convictions.
ICE activity confirmed in Hendry County WINK News has confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is in Hendry County.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers woman sentenced to 1 year in prison for forging late mother’s signature to claim benefits A Fort Myers woman was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for wire fraud beginning in 2005.
TALLAHASSEE Streaming Now: Gov. DeSantis holds news 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.
The drop off of information to be shredded at Safeguard Shredding. (WINK News photo) Patients trust their doctors with some of their most intimate information. But that trust may have been violated as many confidential medical records from patients in Southwest Florida have ended up in the public domain. One personal injury attorney said the incident could have been prevented as there are businesses that destroy documents to prevent unlawful exposure. Richard Purtz, co-manager and partner at Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz, PA in Fort Myers, said he was stunned when he found out about the exposure of confidential medical documents. “There’s an invention, it’s been out for many years now,” said the personal injury attorney. “It’s called a shredding machine.” The private patient documents, which were spilled on S Tamiami Trail in Bonita Springs, were slightly torn while clearly showing the names of patients and their lab work. “It is a direct violation of HIPPA,” said Purtz, referring to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. HIPPA provides data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding patient medical information. Purtz said the HIPPA law puts the responsibility on health care providers to protect patients’ information. Otherwise, the data may get into the wrong hands. He said the government could fine the person who lost the confidential documents $50,000. “For instance, if someone has their identity stolen through this process,” Purtz said, “their credit ruined or has their home sold out from underneath them.” If a person is a victim of a HIPPA violation, he or she can file a claim under Florida’s constitutional right to privacy. Shredding the documents was a preventive measure that could have kept the information safe. “It’s peoples information,” said Anthony Rety, vice-president of operations for Safeguard Shredding. “It’s private. It’s sensitive. It’s something you want to keep yourself.” At Safeguard Shredding, Rety said even on the way over to their facility, a patient’s doctor notes are locked in place. “The material must be locked once it enters the vehicle or trucks, then it’s wheeled in here in our locked facility,” Rety said. “Once it’s in here, goes up on the tipper; shredded up in the machine, bailed, then comes out just like it is behind me!” As a HIPPA compliant site, workers ensure all records end up unrecognizable. That prevents a nefarious person from trying to put the private medical information together. Before being hired by the scanning and shredding business, there are several requirements to prevent internal leaks of information. “All employees must take this test about secure document management,” Rety said. “Be drug tested and background checked every six months.”