NAPLES Shy Wolf Sanctuary to host Wolfstock Music festival Shy Wolf Sanctuary will soon host its 6th annual Wolfstock Music and Brewfest.
More women and younger adults getting cancer Mortality rates for cancer continue to decline. The American Cancer Society’s annual report says there was a 34% decrease in deaths between 1991 and 2022, but the report isn’t all good news.
FORT MYERS LCSO deputy struck by suspect vehicle at Page Field Commons A Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputy was injured after being struck by a suspect’s vehicle.
Man arrested after multi-county chase stemming from carjacking A man has been arrested after a carjacking turned into a chase that crossed county lines.
LCSO responds to calls for Carmine Marceno to resign The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has responded to the calls for Sheriff Carmine Marceno to resign on Thursday.
CAPE CORAL 16 bands performing at free 239 Fest in Cape Coral after hurricane delay The show must go on. 239 Fest, which was canceled last year due to Hurricane Milton, will be returning and bigger than ever.
Naples’ CFO formally appointed Naples city manager, city manager’s new job disclosed Naples City Council unanimously agreed Deputy City Manager Gary Young will become city manager, formalizing a decision made two days earlier.
SWFL community raise $1600 for family of fallen Charlotte County Sgt. Southwest Floridians were asked to come out and support the family of fallen Charlotte County Deputy Sgt. Elio Diaz, and you showed up.
Collier commissioners increase opposition to possible move by Naples Airport Collier County commissioners increased their opposition to possibly relocating Naples Airport, supporting a resolution against two sites near Ave Maria and rejecting the airport authority’s request for assistance.
PORT CHARLOTTE Georgia man found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with minor in Port Charlotte A Georgia man has been found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a minor and possessing a firearm as a person with felony convictions.
New recreational marijuana amendment proposed for 2026 Florida ballot Smart & Safe Florida, the political action committee primarily funded by Trulieve – the state’s largest medical marijuana company and fourth largest in the U.S. – this week filed a new proposal to put an amendment on the ballot in Florida in 2026 that would legalize adult recreational use of marijuana.
NAPLES Naples Pride releases statement on city council’s vote Naples Pride has issued a statement on the Naples City Council’s decision to approve this year’s festival but with a caveat.
Punta Gorda scraps plan for new $16M City Hall building Prior to the hurricane in September 2022 causing City Hall’s closure, the previous City Council, including three incumbents who were unseated in the Nov. 5 election, planned to build a new City Hall on its current site at 326 W. Marion Ave.
CAPE CORAL Jaycee Park Renovations — There’s no going back now Where there’s talk of Jaycee Park in Cape Coral Council meetings, there is turmoil.
CAPE CORAL NRG Wrestling slams its way into Cape Coral NRG wrestling is hosting its first live event of 2025 with NRG Fully Charged on Saturday, Jan. 18, at Scotty Bierwerks.
NAPLES Shy Wolf Sanctuary to host Wolfstock Music festival Shy Wolf Sanctuary will soon host its 6th annual Wolfstock Music and Brewfest.
More women and younger adults getting cancer Mortality rates for cancer continue to decline. The American Cancer Society’s annual report says there was a 34% decrease in deaths between 1991 and 2022, but the report isn’t all good news.
FORT MYERS LCSO deputy struck by suspect vehicle at Page Field Commons A Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputy was injured after being struck by a suspect’s vehicle.
Man arrested after multi-county chase stemming from carjacking A man has been arrested after a carjacking turned into a chase that crossed county lines.
LCSO responds to calls for Carmine Marceno to resign The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has responded to the calls for Sheriff Carmine Marceno to resign on Thursday.
CAPE CORAL 16 bands performing at free 239 Fest in Cape Coral after hurricane delay The show must go on. 239 Fest, which was canceled last year due to Hurricane Milton, will be returning and bigger than ever.
Naples’ CFO formally appointed Naples city manager, city manager’s new job disclosed Naples City Council unanimously agreed Deputy City Manager Gary Young will become city manager, formalizing a decision made two days earlier.
SWFL community raise $1600 for family of fallen Charlotte County Sgt. Southwest Floridians were asked to come out and support the family of fallen Charlotte County Deputy Sgt. Elio Diaz, and you showed up.
Collier commissioners increase opposition to possible move by Naples Airport Collier County commissioners increased their opposition to possibly relocating Naples Airport, supporting a resolution against two sites near Ave Maria and rejecting the airport authority’s request for assistance.
PORT CHARLOTTE Georgia man found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with minor in Port Charlotte A Georgia man has been found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a minor and possessing a firearm as a person with felony convictions.
New recreational marijuana amendment proposed for 2026 Florida ballot Smart & Safe Florida, the political action committee primarily funded by Trulieve – the state’s largest medical marijuana company and fourth largest in the U.S. – this week filed a new proposal to put an amendment on the ballot in Florida in 2026 that would legalize adult recreational use of marijuana.
NAPLES Naples Pride releases statement on city council’s vote Naples Pride has issued a statement on the Naples City Council’s decision to approve this year’s festival but with a caveat.
Punta Gorda scraps plan for new $16M City Hall building Prior to the hurricane in September 2022 causing City Hall’s closure, the previous City Council, including three incumbents who were unseated in the Nov. 5 election, planned to build a new City Hall on its current site at 326 W. Marion Ave.
CAPE CORAL Jaycee Park Renovations — There’s no going back now Where there’s talk of Jaycee Park in Cape Coral Council meetings, there is turmoil.
CAPE CORAL NRG Wrestling slams its way into Cape Coral NRG wrestling is hosting its first live event of 2025 with NRG Fully Charged on Saturday, Jan. 18, at Scotty Bierwerks.
Testing new foam pads to cleanup algae in SWFL. Photo credit: Scott Smith Representative Francis Rooney is hosting a roundtable of federal, state and local leaders to discuss harmful algal blooms at Florida Gulf Coast University on Tuesday. Representatives from the CDC, EPA and NOAA will attend the event, which is not open to the public or press. “I am encouraged that these key agency officials are coming together to help our community prepare for future algae outbreaks,” wrote Rooney in a press release. However, emails obtained by WINK News show a more specific purpose of the meeting. Dr. Michael Parsons, a marine scientists at FGCU taking part in the panel, suggested in April to Rooney senior legislative aide Ken Clifford that the roundtable include other agencies like Fish and Wildlife, the Florida Department of Agriculture, The Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District and the Florida Department of Health. Clifford wrote back, “We left the USACOE, SFWMD and FL Ag out of this because they get so much coverage on the issue. The Congressman really wants to focus on human health effects and future recovery.” The email went on to explain, “We wanted to bring in the (Florida Department of Health) but with the confirmation delay, we have held off.” The meeting has generated a lot of attention on social media because it is closed to the public. “Sniff sniff. Closed meetings always smell funny. They may well be above board, but easier for the press and public to digest when the meetings are open. Closed meetings never generate trust,” wrote a WINK News viewer on Facebook. On Friday, an attorney for WINK News wrote a letter to Rooney and the confirmed participants in the meeting laying out arguments for why holding the meeting in private is a violation of the state’s sunshine law. MORE: Read our full legal argument why this meeting should be open to the public Rooney’s office has not responded to that letter or multiple requests from WINK News. Some in southwest Florida are in favor of the private meeting. “Every meeting shouldn’t be open to the public. It makes it a dog and pony show rather than a real meeting to discuss many ideas and issues,” wrote another WINK News viewer on Facebook. It’s important to point out that a publicly accessible meeting does not have to be held as a town hall style meetings where the public is asked to speak. For example, Representative Charlie Crist held a meeting in August with scientists and local Tampa-Bay area leaders on red tide. The meeting was in a small conference room, and members of the public were not in attendance, but the media was invited to document the outcome of the meeting. Rooney’s office has not responded to that letter or multiple requests from WINK News. Some in Southwest Florida are in favor of the private meeting. “Every meeting shouldn’t be open to the public. It makes it a dog and pony show rather than a real meeting to discuss many ideas and issues,” wrote another WINK News viewer on Facebook. It’s important to point out that a publicly accessible meeting does not have to be held as a town-hall-style meeting where the public is asked to speak. For example, Representative Charlie Crist held a meeting in August with scientists and local Tampa Bay area leaders on red tide. The meeting was in a small conference room, and members of the public were not in attendance, but the media was invited to document the outcome of the meeting. Held roundtable on #redtide with local scientists and community leaders. Clear need for robust research investments and common-sense environmental protections to help prevent the kind of crisis plaguing Florida’s waters this summer. pic.twitter.com/8orE1bdwWh — Rep. Charlie Crist (@RepCharlieCrist) August 27, 2018 Rooney’s office invited the media for a press conference following Tuesday’s close-door meeting. However, staffers did not respond to questions from WINK News about whether or not a transcript or any record of the private meeting would be made available to the public following the actual roundtable. The roundtable discussion will take place at 12 p.m. at FGCU’s Emergent Technology Institute. For a full list of attendees, click here.