Fort Myers veteran worried about FEMA code compliance letterResidents oppose U-Haul storage unit development in Collier County
FORT MYERS Fort Myers veteran worried about FEMA code compliance letter One marine veteran is worried sick over having to raise his home.
Residents oppose U-Haul storage unit development in Collier County A lush line of trees in Collier County may turn into storage units, and neighbors are unhappy.
LEHIGH ACRES Parents want changes made to Lee County Schools JROTC The Lee County School District is making changes after 25 students were treated by emergency services for heat exhaustion at a local high school on Friday.
FORT MYERS BEACH La Ola speaks out a day after FEMA deadline A day after the FEMA deadline for temporary structures on Fort Myers Beach to be removed, the scenery remains largely unchanged.
FORT MYERS Neighbors react to plans for new Amazon warehouse in Fort Myers Amazon will soon have the largest building in Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Councilman Johnny Streets retires after nearly 20 years of service After nearly two decades of service, Fort Myers City Councilman Johnny Streets is retiring.
Local human trafficking survivor speaks out It’s a question many of us think we know the answer to: What is human trafficking? A Collier County woman told WINK her definition changed after she survived it.
PORT CHARLOTTE 8 illegal immigrants arrested in Charlotte County Eight people have been arrested in Port Charlotte for being in the country illegally.
Sheriff’s Office: Teen victim knew suspect in deadly Collier County shooting There is new information on the deadly shooting late Saturday of a teenage girl in Collier County.
FORT MYERS Inauguration ceremony for Lee Board of County Commissioners Lee County held an inauguration ceremony for a newly appointed county commissioner and two incumbents.
FGCU FGCU volleyball prepares to defend ASUN Tournament title FGCU volleyball looks to secure its fourth straight ASUN Tournament title this week and secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers city leaders sworn in On Tuesday night, the City of Fort Myers swore in newly elected councilmember Diana Giraldo, who will take over Ward 2 for the next four years.
FORT MYERS Thomas Golisano pledges $85M to SWFL non-profits Christmas came early for non-profit foundations and agencies across Southwest Florida, thanks to Thomas Galisano.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island City Council vacancy application period extended Marco Island City Council members have voted to extend the application period for people interested in filling a vacant seat on the council.
Man tells troopers he fell asleep before fatal Alligator Alley crash at mile marker 72 A 37-year-old man has been arrested after his involvement in a deadly crash that killed one person and injured another.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers veteran worried about FEMA code compliance letter One marine veteran is worried sick over having to raise his home.
Residents oppose U-Haul storage unit development in Collier County A lush line of trees in Collier County may turn into storage units, and neighbors are unhappy.
LEHIGH ACRES Parents want changes made to Lee County Schools JROTC The Lee County School District is making changes after 25 students were treated by emergency services for heat exhaustion at a local high school on Friday.
FORT MYERS BEACH La Ola speaks out a day after FEMA deadline A day after the FEMA deadline for temporary structures on Fort Myers Beach to be removed, the scenery remains largely unchanged.
FORT MYERS Neighbors react to plans for new Amazon warehouse in Fort Myers Amazon will soon have the largest building in Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Councilman Johnny Streets retires after nearly 20 years of service After nearly two decades of service, Fort Myers City Councilman Johnny Streets is retiring.
Local human trafficking survivor speaks out It’s a question many of us think we know the answer to: What is human trafficking? A Collier County woman told WINK her definition changed after she survived it.
PORT CHARLOTTE 8 illegal immigrants arrested in Charlotte County Eight people have been arrested in Port Charlotte for being in the country illegally.
Sheriff’s Office: Teen victim knew suspect in deadly Collier County shooting There is new information on the deadly shooting late Saturday of a teenage girl in Collier County.
FORT MYERS Inauguration ceremony for Lee Board of County Commissioners Lee County held an inauguration ceremony for a newly appointed county commissioner and two incumbents.
FGCU FGCU volleyball prepares to defend ASUN Tournament title FGCU volleyball looks to secure its fourth straight ASUN Tournament title this week and secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers city leaders sworn in On Tuesday night, the City of Fort Myers swore in newly elected councilmember Diana Giraldo, who will take over Ward 2 for the next four years.
FORT MYERS Thomas Golisano pledges $85M to SWFL non-profits Christmas came early for non-profit foundations and agencies across Southwest Florida, thanks to Thomas Galisano.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island City Council vacancy application period extended Marco Island City Council members have voted to extend the application period for people interested in filling a vacant seat on the council.
Man tells troopers he fell asleep before fatal Alligator Alley crash at mile marker 72 A 37-year-old man has been arrested after his involvement in a deadly crash that killed one person and injured another.
Photo by WINK News. It is no secret that the School District of Lee County is short bus drivers and it is causing all kinds of problems. A vote Tuesday evening by the school board may change that. “We finished the year short bus drivers,” said Rob Spicker, assistant director of Media Relations and Public Information at the School District of Lee County. “We do not want to start the year short.” The School District of Lee County said the shortage had taken a toll. “We’re mixing up routes, pulling in subs,” Spicker said, “and that chess game is more like dominoes and it just starts falling and becoming a problem.” Parents said something has to change, including Douglas Lee, who believes the district has to improve the incentives for drivers better. The district is heeding that advice to encourage more applicants. Starting July 1, drivers will make at least $16 an hour. In Collier and Charlotte counties, school bus drivers make under $15 an hour. The district needs 26 more drivers to be at full staff. On Tuesday evening, the Lee County School Board voted on waiving the requirement for drivers to have a high school diploma or GED for another year. The school board approved a motion in a seven-to-zero vote. The move opens the job to around 60,000 more adults in Lee County, according to Census data. “They’ve got five different exams they’re going to have to pass to drive that bus,” Spicker said. “Just because they don’t have a high school diploma, doesn’t mean they have not shown that they are eligible to drive students.” On top of that, in February it added on more incentives for drivers, paying around $300 in upfront costs toward licensing, fingerprinting and other tests for new hires. The district allocates the capital behind those incentives from the general fund and the operational budget. Spicker said the numbers do not lie. In 2015, the district hired 80 new drivers. The next year, when it added back those incentives, new hires more than doubled. Parents that we spoke with said we would have to wait and see if it works this time. “I think that’s important,” Lee said, “but the market will determine whether that’s enough by how many more applicants they get.”