FGCU softball pitcher making a name for herselfSurrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society concerns
FORT MYERS FGCU softball pitcher making a name for herself One season in FGCU, freshman pitcher Allison Sparkman is already ruffling feathers in the circle.
Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society concerns An large amount of pets are being surrendered by their owners. About half of the dogs at the Gulf Coast Humane Society are surrender dogs.
Students benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars So far, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax has brought in $507 million for the Lee County School District.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘Shady’: One woman feels misled after federal student loan consolidation It takes some people decades to pay off their student loans. One woman’s last payment was in sight until she took a gamble she said she was told to take.
FORT MYERS Homeless encampments inch closer to neighborhoods Law enforcement has swept multiple encampments, cleaning the trails of mess and muck left behind, and some of these encampments are right in our backyards.
BIG CYPRESS PRESERVE What changes if Big Cypress National Preserve becomes a Wilderness Area? America’s first nationally designated preserve is in Southwest Florida’s backyard, and it is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Method to treat IBD being used for other health issues Trying to get treatments for the brain when fighting neurological diseases like epilepsy and ALS is a challenge.
FORT MYERS NTSB report reveals new details in helicopter crash after Hurricane Ian The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on a helicopter crash that occurred in Iona, Florida, shortly after Hurricane Ian.
NAPLES Memorial celebrates the life of John Passidomo Hundreds of friends and family gathered for a memorial at Baker Park in Naples.
‘Latinos in Action’ empowers all students to succeed WINK News talked with teachers who are a part of the program, helping kids reach their full potential.
Immokalee ‘The eyes always draw me in’; Immokalee portrait artist turns dark times into color One of Southwest Florida best portrait artist, Martha Maria Cantu, almost gave up art. Now she’s on the forefront of the city of Immokalee, to make her community filled with color.
GOLDEN GATE Collier commissioners approve agreement for golf complex in Golden Gate Collier commissioners unanimously approved a long term lease and operating agreement to reopen the Golden Gate golf course Tuesday.
PUNTA GORDA Motorcyclists ride in SWFL to help veterans battle suicide A group of veterans from the American Legion are grabbing their helmets and boots for a motorcycle ride to bring awareness to the staggering rates of suicide among veterans.
SARASOTA Alleged sexual abuse victims of Port Charlotte priest comes forward Father Riley worked at three churches in Charlotte County and another in Naples. On Friday, new allegations emerged from a news conference in Sarasota.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte priest accused of sexual abuse appears in court A priest accused of sexually abusing four altar boys in Iowa nearly 40 years ago returned to Charlotte County court.
FORT MYERS FGCU softball pitcher making a name for herself One season in FGCU, freshman pitcher Allison Sparkman is already ruffling feathers in the circle.
Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society concerns An large amount of pets are being surrendered by their owners. About half of the dogs at the Gulf Coast Humane Society are surrender dogs.
Students benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars So far, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax has brought in $507 million for the Lee County School District.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘Shady’: One woman feels misled after federal student loan consolidation It takes some people decades to pay off their student loans. One woman’s last payment was in sight until she took a gamble she said she was told to take.
FORT MYERS Homeless encampments inch closer to neighborhoods Law enforcement has swept multiple encampments, cleaning the trails of mess and muck left behind, and some of these encampments are right in our backyards.
BIG CYPRESS PRESERVE What changes if Big Cypress National Preserve becomes a Wilderness Area? America’s first nationally designated preserve is in Southwest Florida’s backyard, and it is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Method to treat IBD being used for other health issues Trying to get treatments for the brain when fighting neurological diseases like epilepsy and ALS is a challenge.
FORT MYERS NTSB report reveals new details in helicopter crash after Hurricane Ian The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on a helicopter crash that occurred in Iona, Florida, shortly after Hurricane Ian.
NAPLES Memorial celebrates the life of John Passidomo Hundreds of friends and family gathered for a memorial at Baker Park in Naples.
‘Latinos in Action’ empowers all students to succeed WINK News talked with teachers who are a part of the program, helping kids reach their full potential.
Immokalee ‘The eyes always draw me in’; Immokalee portrait artist turns dark times into color One of Southwest Florida best portrait artist, Martha Maria Cantu, almost gave up art. Now she’s on the forefront of the city of Immokalee, to make her community filled with color.
GOLDEN GATE Collier commissioners approve agreement for golf complex in Golden Gate Collier commissioners unanimously approved a long term lease and operating agreement to reopen the Golden Gate golf course Tuesday.
PUNTA GORDA Motorcyclists ride in SWFL to help veterans battle suicide A group of veterans from the American Legion are grabbing their helmets and boots for a motorcycle ride to bring awareness to the staggering rates of suicide among veterans.
SARASOTA Alleged sexual abuse victims of Port Charlotte priest comes forward Father Riley worked at three churches in Charlotte County and another in Naples. On Friday, new allegations emerged from a news conference in Sarasota.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte priest accused of sexual abuse appears in court A priest accused of sexually abusing four altar boys in Iowa nearly 40 years ago returned to Charlotte County court.
Jimmy Rodgers in the courtroom. The trial is underway for one of three suspects in the death of Bonita Springs holistic doctor Teresa Sievers, 46. Jimmy Ray Rodgers, 29, is the first suspect to stand trial and accused bludgeoning Teresa to death with a hammer. Teresa’s husband, Mark Sievers, 51, is accused of orchestrating her murder. Both Sievers and Rodgers are charged with first-degree murder. The third suspect, Curtis Wayne Wright Jr., pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2016 and is expected to be sentenced in December. Rodgers’ trial is set to last five weeks. Jury selection began Tuesday and is expected to continue throughout this week. DAY 2 UPDATES 5:25 p.m. Jury selection is done for the day. Out of nearly 200 people, about 60 potential jurors are coming back on Thursday for additional questioning. 3:40 p.m. About 20 more potential jurors were just sent home for financial or length of trial reasons. 2:05 p.m. The lunch break has ended. Now, they are bringing in another pool of jurors, comprised of 46 people. 1:00 p.m. Out of the 150 potential jurors they’ve already talked to, only about 50 have been asked to come back tomorrow morning. Court breaks for lunch. 11:12 a.m. Jury selection is guaranteed to roll into Thursday, day 3. Judge Kyle just sent about 10 potential jurors home, told to report back tomorrow morning at 8:30. 11:00 a.m. After the first round of questions for this morning’s group regarding financial hardships and length of the trial, HALF of the 52 potential jurors were sent home. Moving on now to questions about Teresa Sievers and her murder. Here’s a big question for potential jurors: “Have you heard of the Teresa Sievers murder trial?” Right now, 15 people out of the 26 left raised their hand. 10:00 a.m. Off the bat, 28 of the 52 people in the room raised their hand, saying they would have an issue with the potential 5-week length of the trial. Judge Kyle is now reading instructions. The judge is hoping to get a pool of 60 potential jurors from Tuesday’s two groups and this morning’s group(s). First questions will focus on financial hardships and length of trial, then will move on to questions about Jimmy Rodgers, Mark #Sievers, and Teresa Sievers. 9:43 a.m. Court is back in session. The new juror pool consisting of 52 people is undergoing questioning. 9:07 a.m. Court is in recess. The third pool of jurors is heading to the courtroom for questioning. 8:50 a.m. Jimmy Rodgers is back in the courtroom. The Defense says there is a new issue. The defense says Lee County detectives interviewed a man about the Rodgers’ and Sievers’ case last year and that they didn’t know about it until last night. The detective is in the courtroom. The State says they are not planning on calling this man that was interviewed a year ago, so it should not be an issue. Both the —— Wednesday begins the second day of jury selection in the highly anticipated trial for the murder of Bonita Springs Doctor, Teresa Sievers. As the second day of the trial gets underway at 8:30 a.m., 30 potential jurors will return to the courtroom after being selected yesterday. 50 other potential jurors will also be screened on Wednesday. Day 1 of the trial began with accused hit-man Jimmy Rodgers rejecting a plea deal offered to him by the state. MORE: Jimmy Rodgers Trial: Jury selection underway: Day 1 Next came jury selection where almost 60 people were excused for things like work obligations. The judge also made it clear that Mark Sievers, Teresa’s husband, and his legal team need to be ready to begin their trial if the Rodgers trial ends sooner than expected. Some of the potential jurors returning Wednesday will have to make sure they can free their schedules for 5 weeks, if the trial does last that long.