FGCU student beats all odds and is able to graduateVictim in MLK Blvd. shooting identified as social media influencer
FORT MYERS FGCU student beats all odds and is able to graduate Nearly four years ago, Marisa Manning had her heart set on going to Florida Gulf Coast University but never thought she’d find her passion for studying parasites.
Victim in MLK Blvd. shooting identified as social media influencer The victim of the Martin Luther King Boulevard shooting has been identified as a local social media influencer.
FORT MYERS Could a Ferris wheel in downtown Fort Myers work? Right now, there are talks to bring a Ferris wheel to downtown Fort Myers, but several things are still up in the air.
LITTLE HICKORY BAY Improving ‘Hell’s Gate’ safety, a notoriously dangerous waterway for boaters A push to make an area known as “Hell’s Gate” safer since it’s a dangerous stretch of water with several blind corners within Little Hickory Bay.
Fixing failed back surgeries More than a million and a half people in the U.S. undergo back surgery each year. However, classic back surgery has one of the highest failure rates of any surgery.
WINK NEWS Getting an inside look at the FEMA discount controversy Picking up the pieces after Hurricane Ian has been difficult for many and moving on can impact our wallets.
FGCU FGCU pitcher Dylan Wolff playing for hometown team after labrum injury FGCU pitcher Dylan Wolff is living the dream playing for the hometown team after he overcame a labrum injury.
LEHIGH ACRES Frustrated Lehigh parents want action after violent school fights go viral online Violence at a Lehigh Acres Middle school was captured and posted online.
Turtle Club beachfront restaurant relaunches in Naples After a series of private friends and family events this week, The Turtle Club will reopen May 5 and begin taking reservations again May 6.
Jimmie The Beef Guy opens in Fort Myers Jimmie “The Beef Guy” Hart opened the first Jimmie The Beef Guy in 2021 on the southeast corner of Bonita Beach Road and U.S. 41.
SARASOTA Distressed endangered sawfish euthanized nearly a month after rescue Wildlife officials euthanized a distressed smalltooth sawfish that was rescued from Cudjoe Bay in the Florida Keys where it was swimming in circles.
FORT MYERS Help identify driver of SUV related to Fort Myers shooting Police hope someone can help identify the driver of an SUV involved in the shooting on Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard and Michigan Avenue.
FORT MYERS Owners of Richards Building speak out over paint job of historic property The Richards Building in downtown Fort Myers, aged 101 years, recently underwent a controversial transformation with a fresh coat of white paint, defying a stop-work order and sparking public outrage.
FORT MYERS Jake’s story: What needs to change to protect other young people? November 8, 2021, Jake Pfeiffer took his own life. His mom shared Jake’s story with WINK News in the hopes of saving another life.
FORT MYERS Man accused of fatal shooting of truck driver appears in court A man facing second-degree murder charges following an altercation with a pickup truck driver made an appearance in court.
FORT MYERS FGCU student beats all odds and is able to graduate Nearly four years ago, Marisa Manning had her heart set on going to Florida Gulf Coast University but never thought she’d find her passion for studying parasites.
Victim in MLK Blvd. shooting identified as social media influencer The victim of the Martin Luther King Boulevard shooting has been identified as a local social media influencer.
FORT MYERS Could a Ferris wheel in downtown Fort Myers work? Right now, there are talks to bring a Ferris wheel to downtown Fort Myers, but several things are still up in the air.
LITTLE HICKORY BAY Improving ‘Hell’s Gate’ safety, a notoriously dangerous waterway for boaters A push to make an area known as “Hell’s Gate” safer since it’s a dangerous stretch of water with several blind corners within Little Hickory Bay.
Fixing failed back surgeries More than a million and a half people in the U.S. undergo back surgery each year. However, classic back surgery has one of the highest failure rates of any surgery.
WINK NEWS Getting an inside look at the FEMA discount controversy Picking up the pieces after Hurricane Ian has been difficult for many and moving on can impact our wallets.
FGCU FGCU pitcher Dylan Wolff playing for hometown team after labrum injury FGCU pitcher Dylan Wolff is living the dream playing for the hometown team after he overcame a labrum injury.
LEHIGH ACRES Frustrated Lehigh parents want action after violent school fights go viral online Violence at a Lehigh Acres Middle school was captured and posted online.
Turtle Club beachfront restaurant relaunches in Naples After a series of private friends and family events this week, The Turtle Club will reopen May 5 and begin taking reservations again May 6.
Jimmie The Beef Guy opens in Fort Myers Jimmie “The Beef Guy” Hart opened the first Jimmie The Beef Guy in 2021 on the southeast corner of Bonita Beach Road and U.S. 41.
SARASOTA Distressed endangered sawfish euthanized nearly a month after rescue Wildlife officials euthanized a distressed smalltooth sawfish that was rescued from Cudjoe Bay in the Florida Keys where it was swimming in circles.
FORT MYERS Help identify driver of SUV related to Fort Myers shooting Police hope someone can help identify the driver of an SUV involved in the shooting on Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard and Michigan Avenue.
FORT MYERS Owners of Richards Building speak out over paint job of historic property The Richards Building in downtown Fort Myers, aged 101 years, recently underwent a controversial transformation with a fresh coat of white paint, defying a stop-work order and sparking public outrage.
FORT MYERS Jake’s story: What needs to change to protect other young people? November 8, 2021, Jake Pfeiffer took his own life. His mom shared Jake’s story with WINK News in the hopes of saving another life.
FORT MYERS Man accused of fatal shooting of truck driver appears in court A man facing second-degree murder charges following an altercation with a pickup truck driver made an appearance in court.
FILE: Parents wait for news of their loved ones after a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Joel Auerbach/FILE) Friday marks two years since the horrifying massacre in Parkland. Seventeen people lost their lives when a shooter opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Since then, schools everywhere stepped up their safety training in case a similar devastating incident happens in their school. But now, two of the largest teachers unions in the nation said the training does more harm than good and calling for them to end because of the trauma they are causing students. It is required by law for your kids to be put through active shooter training drills at least once a month. Some school districts WINK News reached out to, like Charlotte County Public Schools, said they have hired additional social workers and school psychologists to help. “They may in the moment kind of feel like they’re really going through it,” said Dr. Laura Streyffeler, a mental health professional. “So, it can be traumatizing.” The unions said unannounced active shooter drills are doing the most harm, where students do not know if there is an actual threat. It is something one local middle school student experienced recently. “I didn’t know if it was real or not until afterward,” said the student, who requested anonymity. “We went back inside and we were all like, ‘was it real or no?’ And they’re like, ‘we wouldn’t be inside right now if it was real.'” The unions are hoping parents can be told about the drills ahead of time and mental health professionals can be involved in how the information is presented to students. Rich Kolko, the WINK News safety and security specialist, said the most critical training is actually for first responders. “They’ve got to be razor-sharp with their movements, with their communications,” Kolko said. “You look at the teachers in the schools, they’ve got to be sharp on, ‘how do I lock the doors? How do I communicate with the principal or other people.'” Kolko said for students, it is more about situational awareness and following instruction. But parents we spoke to did not want to take any chances. “They don’t need my consent to do a drill in school,” said Valerie Demas, who has kids in the School District of Lee County. “You know, they can just do it. That gives them. It gives the kids power to get out safely.” Charlotte County Public Schools, in a statement to WINK, said: We are bound by law to do that at this point we have to perform these active shooter drills. As part of our security measures, we hired eight more social workers and four more school psychologists to help our children that are having emotional issues about anything at any time. We are and will always be in compliance with state and DOE law. We are required to hold active shooter and hostage situation drills at least once a month this is not only law, but also our School Board policy. Obviously the drills are a bit different from elementary through high school. If the unions are successful at getting the law changed then we will fall into compliance with the new laws. Collier County Public Schools said: We are monitoring the current legislative session for the impact it could have on our existing safety protocols.