lehigh acres LCSO: Man shot by car owner protecting property The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County residents wait hours for D-SNAP assistance The supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) is at the Lee Civic Center all weekend, ready to help southwest Florida.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA First eaglet hatches in famous SWFL eagle nest Welcome E24! The third eaglet from the nest of M15 and F23 has hatched according to the Southwest Florida eagle camera.
Rock for Equality: SWFL non-profit hosts benefit concert for Palestine A Southwest Florida non-profit hosted a benefit concert on Friday night to help with humanitarian aid in Palestine.
Warm, breezy Saturday with a few showers possible The Weather Authority is forecasting a breezy, warm weekend in store across Southwest Florida, with the chance of a few showers, particularly on Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Active investigation underway in South Cape Coral Cape Coral police are investigating at a home on Southwest 49th Terrace in South Cape Coral early Saturday morning.
16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier County According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two airboats crashed south of U.S. 41 east between mile markers 74 and 75, leaving well over a dozen people injured.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes There could be new detectives on the block, located in your nearest auto shop. A new state bill aims at trying to stop hit-and-run drivers from getting away.
CAPE CORAL New leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans A drug now being studied in human trials to kill cancerous tumors, is already approved and helping animals.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral planning a new interchange with I-75 The city of Cape Coral is in the early stages of planning a new interchange with I-75, an idea that has been discussed for more than a decade.
Tracking invasive species after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton didn’t just bring wind and rain, they brought new threats to southwest Florida’s ecosystem.
PUNTA GORDA Woman in Punta Gorda shooting charged with 2nd degree murder A woman in a homicide investigation on Nasturtium Drive in Punta Gorda has been charged with 2nd-degree murder.
Lee County mother continuing fight to get children a bus stop The school district already told her she lives too close to the school to qualify for a bus route but she has not given up.
NORTH NAPLES Grant Thornton Invitational returns to Tiburon Golf Club Stars on the PGA and LPGA Tours are back in Southwest Florida for the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club.
FORT MYERS Black Flag brings classic punk energy to The Ranch in Fort Myers Legendary punk band Black Flag made their mark in Southwest Florida during the Fort Myers stop of their “First Four Years” tour.
lehigh acres LCSO: Man shot by car owner protecting property The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County residents wait hours for D-SNAP assistance The supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) is at the Lee Civic Center all weekend, ready to help southwest Florida.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA First eaglet hatches in famous SWFL eagle nest Welcome E24! The third eaglet from the nest of M15 and F23 has hatched according to the Southwest Florida eagle camera.
Rock for Equality: SWFL non-profit hosts benefit concert for Palestine A Southwest Florida non-profit hosted a benefit concert on Friday night to help with humanitarian aid in Palestine.
Warm, breezy Saturday with a few showers possible The Weather Authority is forecasting a breezy, warm weekend in store across Southwest Florida, with the chance of a few showers, particularly on Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Active investigation underway in South Cape Coral Cape Coral police are investigating at a home on Southwest 49th Terrace in South Cape Coral early Saturday morning.
16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier County According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two airboats crashed south of U.S. 41 east between mile markers 74 and 75, leaving well over a dozen people injured.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes There could be new detectives on the block, located in your nearest auto shop. A new state bill aims at trying to stop hit-and-run drivers from getting away.
CAPE CORAL New leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans A drug now being studied in human trials to kill cancerous tumors, is already approved and helping animals.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral planning a new interchange with I-75 The city of Cape Coral is in the early stages of planning a new interchange with I-75, an idea that has been discussed for more than a decade.
Tracking invasive species after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton didn’t just bring wind and rain, they brought new threats to southwest Florida’s ecosystem.
PUNTA GORDA Woman in Punta Gorda shooting charged with 2nd degree murder A woman in a homicide investigation on Nasturtium Drive in Punta Gorda has been charged with 2nd-degree murder.
Lee County mother continuing fight to get children a bus stop The school district already told her she lives too close to the school to qualify for a bus route but she has not given up.
NORTH NAPLES Grant Thornton Invitational returns to Tiburon Golf Club Stars on the PGA and LPGA Tours are back in Southwest Florida for the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club.
FORT MYERS Black Flag brings classic punk energy to The Ranch in Fort Myers Legendary punk band Black Flag made their mark in Southwest Florida during the Fort Myers stop of their “First Four Years” tour.
Robert Kantor of Punta Gorda is a ride-share driver who’s been trying to apply for unemployment since March 16. “I cannot drive because I’m at high risk for coronavirus,” Kantor said. Friday, Kantor’s status finally changed from “completed” to “submitted.” As a gig worker, he’s supposed to be eligible for federal benefits. But he’s starting to lose faith he’ll see anything anytime soon. “It’s the definition of insanity,” Kantor said. “Keep doing the same thing over again. Why do you expect a different result?” Tuesday, Jonathan Satter, secretary of Florida Department of Management Services who now heads the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), told WINK News communication is one of the agency’s top priorities. “There’s no communication whatsoever,” Kantor said. “I have emailed them; I’ve never had a response.” Friday, the DEO’s Reemployment Assistance Claims dashboard showed 21.9 percent of claims have been paid between March 15 – April 23, up from 17 percent the day before. In the meantime, Florida House Majority Leader Dane Eagle says his office is fielding unemployment questions from constituents to get them answered. “So, if anybody’s having problems with DEO, I’d first encourage them to contact my office because we get what is happening,” Eagle said. “And we want to make sure that people get what they need.” Eagle’s office confirmed to WINK News Friday that unemployment system is now updated to accept claims made by self-employed workers, independent contractors and gig workers. These workers can apply through the existing DEO website, the same as all other claimants. Existing applicants do not need to reapply. The system will determine if they’re eligible for regular state benefits and, if they’re not, they will be directed to fill out a Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) application. Eagle’s office also confirmed applicants will get retroactive payments dating back to “whichever is later: March 9 or the day of their job loss and regardless of when their application was successfully submitted.” For now, the CONNECT website is inactive until Monday April 27, as the DEO works to process claims and payments. New claimants can still apply. Kantor says people just need their money. “There are people that are fending day-to-day to eat,” Kantor said. “They need their money. And they need it quickly.” Local lawmakers are offering help to their constituents with questions who are having trouble getting answers from the DEO. Find your local representative here. Rep. Dane Eagle (represents Cape Coral) Email: Dane.Eagle@myfloridahouse.gov Rep. Spencer Roach (represents unincorporated areas of north and east Lee County) Cell: 239-336-4588 Email: Spencer.Roach@myfloridahouse.gov Statement from Florida House Majority Leader Dane Eagle’s office After not receiving answers from the DEO, WINK News turned to Rep. Eagle’s office and got this statement Friday night: Florida Department of Management Services Secretary, John Satter (now overseeing DEO) announced [Thursday] that self-employed workers, independent contractors, and gig workers can apply now through the existing DEO site the same as all other claimants. There has been some misconception here. They have always had the ability to apply; however, they were being deemed ineligible by the system. According to Satter and effective yesterday, the existing system will no longer reject these type of claims as presumably the site has been corrected/updated to accommodate the federal benefit. It is also important to note that if these type of claimants have previously applied, they do not need to reapply. Their information is on file and will be processed accordingly. Additionally, it has been rumored that a new portal, specific to self-employed workers, independent contractors, and gig workers will be created. According to statements made by Secretary Satter [Thursday], this will not be the case. Again, they simply apply using the current system. Lastly, [Thursday] the DEO released an updated Resource Guide. I am linking it here for your convenience: http://www.floridajobs.org/docs/default-source/reemployment-assistance-center/new-individual-faq-includes-cares-act-final.pdf?sfvrsn=5f2547b0_20. Note the relevance and further clarification on Page 11: “Gig workers will apply just like any other individual would apply for Reemployment Assistance benefits. They will fill out the regular Reemployment Assistance application to determine if they’re eligible for regular Reemployment Assistance benefits, and if they’re not, they will be directed to fill out a Pandemic Unemployment Assistance application.” For ongoing updates and information on unemployment, follow WINK News Investigative Reporter Sara Girard on Twitter and Facebook. She also updates the FAQ: Unemployment Resources page as information is received.