CDC says bird flu viruses “pose pandemic potential,” cites major knowledge gapsBay Street Yard set to open in late May
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (CBS) CDC says bird flu viruses “pose pandemic potential,” cites major knowledge gaps Bird flu continues to appear to pose a “low risk to the general public” for now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. But the agency’s scientists ran into roadblocks investigating a human case of this “pandemic potential” virus this year, they said in a new report.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Bay Street Yard set to open in late May A new place to hang out in Downtown Fort Myers is opening this spring.
Aetna agrees to settle lawsuit over fertility coverage for LGBTQ+ customers Aetna has agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused the health insurer of discriminating against LGBTQ+ customers in need of fertility treatment.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINK Neighborhood Watch: Robbery, Pawn Shops, and Child Porn This week’s segment of Wink Neighborhood Watch features an armed robber, fraud at a pawn shop, and possession of child pornography.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Sun, clouds, humidity, rain – it’s all in your weekend forecast Saturday afternoon will be hot and humid, with a mix of sun and clouds.
LEHIGH ACRES Chaotic lake getting fence and security Now, with all the negative attention it has gotten, some think putting up a fence is a great way to keep that bad activity out.
CAPE CORAL What we learned about Cape Coral’s water crisis after a ride along On Friday, WINK News got to ride along to see just what people are doing that could be wasting water.
FORT MYERS Students affected by COVID-19 able to graduate for the first time For many young people, COVID stripped away one of their greatest rites of passage: graduation.
Deadly crash on State Road 29 in Hendry County Authorities are at the scene of a deadly crash on State Road 29 in Hendry County on Friday afternoon.
Celebrating Free Comic Book Day in SWFL JP Sports store manager Jonathan Powell said this is a generational event that brings families together to reminisce on comics and other hobby-related knickknacks.
FORT MYERS Group rescues dogs before getting put down in Lee County Our animal shelters are packed with amazing puppies who have the sole desire to be loved.
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.
FORT MYERS 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.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (CBS) CDC says bird flu viruses “pose pandemic potential,” cites major knowledge gaps Bird flu continues to appear to pose a “low risk to the general public” for now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. But the agency’s scientists ran into roadblocks investigating a human case of this “pandemic potential” virus this year, they said in a new report.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Bay Street Yard set to open in late May A new place to hang out in Downtown Fort Myers is opening this spring.
Aetna agrees to settle lawsuit over fertility coverage for LGBTQ+ customers Aetna has agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused the health insurer of discriminating against LGBTQ+ customers in need of fertility treatment.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINK Neighborhood Watch: Robbery, Pawn Shops, and Child Porn This week’s segment of Wink Neighborhood Watch features an armed robber, fraud at a pawn shop, and possession of child pornography.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Sun, clouds, humidity, rain – it’s all in your weekend forecast Saturday afternoon will be hot and humid, with a mix of sun and clouds.
LEHIGH ACRES Chaotic lake getting fence and security Now, with all the negative attention it has gotten, some think putting up a fence is a great way to keep that bad activity out.
CAPE CORAL What we learned about Cape Coral’s water crisis after a ride along On Friday, WINK News got to ride along to see just what people are doing that could be wasting water.
FORT MYERS Students affected by COVID-19 able to graduate for the first time For many young people, COVID stripped away one of their greatest rites of passage: graduation.
Deadly crash on State Road 29 in Hendry County Authorities are at the scene of a deadly crash on State Road 29 in Hendry County on Friday afternoon.
Celebrating Free Comic Book Day in SWFL JP Sports store manager Jonathan Powell said this is a generational event that brings families together to reminisce on comics and other hobby-related knickknacks.
FORT MYERS Group rescues dogs before getting put down in Lee County Our animal shelters are packed with amazing puppies who have the sole desire to be loved.
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.
FORT MYERS 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.
Credit: WINK News. Hundreds of people voiced their concerns during the Naples City Council emergency meeting about the city’s public beaches to start the week after the city shut them down over the weekend due to concerns for lack of social distancing. Naples City Council voted 4-3 in favor of reopening the city’s public beaches Monday during the meeting. New rules were part of the vote to help mitigate the same issues that occurred over the weekend from happening again. Naples public beaches will reopen Wednesday under new restriction approved by city council. “We should have been stricter when we made our first policy in closing and reopening the beaches,” Mayor Teresa Heitmann said. Heitmann and the council spent hours discussing beach restrictions. “I think it was a tough decision, being the incidents that we had over the weekend,” Heitmann said. “And I think the council really went the extra mile in making sure we had the right policy for our citizens.” We spoke to locals who shared their thoughts after the new decision on beaches was made in the city. “I think what we are experiencing is a lot of people from Broward and Dade county,” Vinny Buxo said. “And they are taking advantage of this, and we like it the way it is.” “So why restrict us?” Benrice Tomaso said. “It wasn’t caused by natives.” Some people who live in Naples wish last weekend did not escalate the way it did. “It was shocking to see this many people,” Tomasso said. “We are lucky we haven’t had a lot of illness around here,” Laura Buxo said. The new policies include the beaches staying open Monday through Friday from sunrise to sunset, allowing chairs and umbrellas, but no coolers or tents. On the weekends, beaches will open from 7 to 11 a.m. for exercise activities only. Then, it will open back up from 5 p.m. to sunset, allowing people to bring chairs to watch the sunset. This includes Memorial Day weekend too. “The plan that they have in place is good,” Vinny said. “Limiting the hours on weekends is when we get the influx on the east coast.” Some think the restrictions in place are enough, while others think it could be too much. “I think this is really overdone,” Tomasso said. Other restrictions include no parking unless you have a city or county sticker and no parking in any residential areas unless marked. Fines will double from $100 to $200. Discussion will be revisited at the June 3 regular city council meeting. Regulated visiting hours Monday – Friday, open sunrise to sunset No coolers and tents (chairs and umbrellas allowed) Walking, running, swimming, fishing, and paddle boarding allowed Weekends: 7 a.m to 11 a.m. Chairs, tents, umbrellas or coolers prohibited Walking, running, swimming, fishing and paddle boarding allowed Weekends: 5pm – sunset ONLY chairs allowed. (Tents, umbrellas or coolers prohibited) Memorial Day weekend (Saturday, May 23rd through Monday, May 25th ): 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Chairs, tents, umbrellas, or coolers prohibited Walking, running, swimming, fishing, and paddle boarding allowed 5 p.m. to sunset ONLY chairs allowed. (Tents, umbrellas, or coolers prohibited) Parking: City of Naples and Collier County beach parking permits ONLY No hourly beach parking (metered parking) No parking on residential streets unless in properly marked parking areas Fines will be doubled from $100 to $200 with no early discount Illegally parked vehicles will be towed Bathrooms will reopen.