the weather authority Isolated showers for your Friday plans The Weather Authority is tracking isolated showers with mild and humid conditions throughout this Friday afternoon.
CAPE CORAL SWAT team responds to barricaded person in Cape Coral home The swat team was called to Cape Coral home on Thursday night to help get someone barricaded inside of a house.
Tax tips for those who are recovering from hurricanes The holiday season is over and tax season is upon us. Between two hurricanes and Ian, there are things you’ll want to do to get money back.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Beyond the businessman: Who is Tom Golisano? Beyond the buildings that bear his name, who is Tom Golisano?
FORT MYERS Accused drunk driver nearly hits 8 Lee County deputies An accused drunk driver almost hit eight deputies trying to stop and get him out of his car.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral nonprofit rescues five dogs from breeder Karena Loudin rescued five miniature Schnauzers – Molly, Joey, Ike, Zeus and Maggie from dog breeder Delaine Lowry’s home in Big Pine Key.
ARCADIA Arcadia residents reflect on Hurricane Ian over 2 years later People in Arcadia survived Helene and Milton with minor impacts, but their Ian story is one that doesn’t get told often or enough.
LEHIGH ACRES More businesses heading to Lehigh Acres, including Chipotle and Chick-fil-A New developments are coming to Lehigh Acres, including numerous restaurants like Panda Express and Zaxby’s.
Former Make-a-Wish recipient gives back to SWFL community From wish kid to wish giver a local college student is turning a life-changing experience into a mission to give back.
FORT MYERS BEACH People spend holiday break on Fort Myers Beach For those who decided to stay in Southwest Florida during the holidays, they had one thing in mind: the beach.
FORT MYERS Innovative thumb joint replacement surgery Similar to getting a new knee or hip to relieve severe arthritis, a growing number of people are getting a thumb joint replacement.
FORT MYERS BEACH Bonita Bills restaurant closing after 30+ years of service Bonita Bill’s will be closing its doors after 30+ years of service.
FORT MYERS BEACH 2 juveniles, 1 man accused of armed robbery, fleeing from Lee County deputies Two juveniles and one man have been arrested after allegedly robbing a victim at gunpoint and then fleeing from Lee County deputies.
cape coral 19-year-old Cape Coral man accused of attempted car burglary on Christmas Eve The Cape Coral Police Department has arrested a man accused of attempting to steal a car on Christmas Eve.
RSW braces for post-holiday travel Now that the holidays have passed for many, the return to normalcy has begun as Southwest Florida International Airport prepares for a large influx of travelers.
the weather authority Isolated showers for your Friday plans The Weather Authority is tracking isolated showers with mild and humid conditions throughout this Friday afternoon.
CAPE CORAL SWAT team responds to barricaded person in Cape Coral home The swat team was called to Cape Coral home on Thursday night to help get someone barricaded inside of a house.
Tax tips for those who are recovering from hurricanes The holiday season is over and tax season is upon us. Between two hurricanes and Ian, there are things you’ll want to do to get money back.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Beyond the businessman: Who is Tom Golisano? Beyond the buildings that bear his name, who is Tom Golisano?
FORT MYERS Accused drunk driver nearly hits 8 Lee County deputies An accused drunk driver almost hit eight deputies trying to stop and get him out of his car.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral nonprofit rescues five dogs from breeder Karena Loudin rescued five miniature Schnauzers – Molly, Joey, Ike, Zeus and Maggie from dog breeder Delaine Lowry’s home in Big Pine Key.
ARCADIA Arcadia residents reflect on Hurricane Ian over 2 years later People in Arcadia survived Helene and Milton with minor impacts, but their Ian story is one that doesn’t get told often or enough.
LEHIGH ACRES More businesses heading to Lehigh Acres, including Chipotle and Chick-fil-A New developments are coming to Lehigh Acres, including numerous restaurants like Panda Express and Zaxby’s.
Former Make-a-Wish recipient gives back to SWFL community From wish kid to wish giver a local college student is turning a life-changing experience into a mission to give back.
FORT MYERS BEACH People spend holiday break on Fort Myers Beach For those who decided to stay in Southwest Florida during the holidays, they had one thing in mind: the beach.
FORT MYERS Innovative thumb joint replacement surgery Similar to getting a new knee or hip to relieve severe arthritis, a growing number of people are getting a thumb joint replacement.
FORT MYERS BEACH Bonita Bills restaurant closing after 30+ years of service Bonita Bill’s will be closing its doors after 30+ years of service.
FORT MYERS BEACH 2 juveniles, 1 man accused of armed robbery, fleeing from Lee County deputies Two juveniles and one man have been arrested after allegedly robbing a victim at gunpoint and then fleeing from Lee County deputies.
cape coral 19-year-old Cape Coral man accused of attempted car burglary on Christmas Eve The Cape Coral Police Department has arrested a man accused of attempting to steal a car on Christmas Eve.
RSW braces for post-holiday travel Now that the holidays have passed for many, the return to normalcy has begun as Southwest Florida International Airport prepares for a large influx of travelers.
Credit: WINK News As we go through phases to reopen, we looked at what schools are doing to prepare for the possibility of kids coming back. Experts predict schools like Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School in Fort Myers can reopen in the fall as long as school districts find ways to keep students practicing social distancing in the classroom. But parents we spoke to say it’s too early to really decide if it’s safe yet. For almost two months, Florida parents have become the teachers for their children, including Stephanie Cotillo to her soon to be kindergartner, Cole. “For now, the plan is he’s probably going to start right on time,” Cotillo said. As restrictions loosen across the state, the question has become whether students should return to their classrooms for the next school year. The American Academy of Pediatrics says yes. “We would like for those children to have that socialization,” said Dr. Sally Goza, the president of the academy. “And for the kids, we do believe that in-school learning is probably best for a lot of children, better than online learning.” Goza says, if schools reopen, it should come in phases and with social distancing. “I think children, if you can get them to wear a mask in the schools, good sanitization in the schools,” Goza said. “Good ways to isolate children if they are sick or become sick in school and ways to not have children congregate like in cafeterias and things like that.” Goza says parents should still be prepared for schools to shut down again. Doctors worry a second wave of the virus might strike around the beginning of next school year. “I truly believe we will be practicing those social distancing, or as I like to call it physical distancing, at least until we have a vaccine and we can get that vaccine widely used and spread amongst the community because I don’t believe this virus is going to go away.” The American Academy of Pediatrics thinks, even if schools reopen in the fall, it might take some time for sports and school athletics to come back because will be hard to practice social distancing. Either way, Cotillo says she’ll have to see how the virus plays out before ultimately deciding if it’s safe for her 5-year-old to school. “We’re just playing it by ear,” Cotillo said. “Not sure how I’ll feel about it in a couple of months.”