Bigger and better beaches; Sanibel gets fresh sandCape Coral twins together for holidays after congenital heart defect scare
SANIBEL Bigger and better beaches; Sanibel gets fresh sand If you haven’t been to Sanibel lately you might not recognize it. Just in time for the holidays, the island is celebrating bigger, better and more beautiful beaches.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral twins together for holidays after congenital heart defect scare Everyone together at home for Christmas. That’s the wish for one Cape Coral family since they were blessed with twins in the spring.
PORT CHARLOTTE Meeting held for future of Beach Park in Port Charlotte Beach Park in Port Charlotte has been closed since hurricanes Helene and Milton. Last week county leaders held a special meeting to come up with a solution to finally reopen the park to neighbors.
PUNTA GORDA Downtown Punta Gorda restaurant rebuilding after back-to-back storms In downtown Punta Gorda, the back-to-back hurricanes spared no one. For one restaurant, it meant starting over, cutting up the walls and redoing the floors not once but twice.
Valerie’s House offers support to those grieving this holiday season Christmas is considered a magical time for many families, but many also struggle with the loss of a loved one this time of year. Valerie’s House is opening its doors for the holidays to help struggling families deal with that grief.
Local beauty editor impacting community through Beauty Holiday event A local beauty editor turned beauty elf is using her event for the better. Wink news anchor Lindsey Sablan talked to Lindsay Peragallo, founder of Beauty Holiday. With brands such as Mac and CoverGirl, table after table was packed with self-care items at the Beauty Holiday event. It was like the elves quit the toy […]
ESTERO Study shows rent prices dropping in areas of SWFL According to national data, rent is slowly dropping in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties. A new study with Florida Gulf Coast University shows the price drop might be more drastic than we think.
Ways to help with an aching head Imagine waking up with a headache so strong you can’t think, a neck pain so severe you can’t move and your eyesight suddenly turning blurry.
Novelist Randy Wayne White plans experimental citrus farming at historic Bokeelia property White just closed on a real estate deal that’s short on price but big on history with a positive outlook on the future of citrus framing.
Deadline approaching for FEMA assistance after hurricanes Milton and Helene Floridians affected by hurricanes Milton and Helene have just two weeks left to apply for federal assistance, with the deadline set for Jan. 7, 2025.
FORT MYERS Man wanted for stealing over $7K in items from Fort Myers business Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on a man wanted for stealing over $7,000 in items from a Fort Myers business.
Pedestrian killed in collision with vehicle on CR 951 in Collier County A pedestrian was killed after being struck by a vehicle on County Road 951, south of Naples Lake Boulevard.
FORT MYERS RSW Airport’s parking lots filling fast ahead of busy travel week If you have a flight on Monday, prepare to be surrounded by many people.
the weather authority Sun & clouds and warmer-than-average this Monday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a warm and dry Monday afternoon, with a mixture of sun, clouds, and highs in the upper 70s to low 80s.
ESTERO Last-minute shoppers at Miromar Outlets prepare for Christmas It’s the last Sunday before Christmas, and you know what that means: last-minute shopping is in full force.
SANIBEL Bigger and better beaches; Sanibel gets fresh sand If you haven’t been to Sanibel lately you might not recognize it. Just in time for the holidays, the island is celebrating bigger, better and more beautiful beaches.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral twins together for holidays after congenital heart defect scare Everyone together at home for Christmas. That’s the wish for one Cape Coral family since they were blessed with twins in the spring.
PORT CHARLOTTE Meeting held for future of Beach Park in Port Charlotte Beach Park in Port Charlotte has been closed since hurricanes Helene and Milton. Last week county leaders held a special meeting to come up with a solution to finally reopen the park to neighbors.
PUNTA GORDA Downtown Punta Gorda restaurant rebuilding after back-to-back storms In downtown Punta Gorda, the back-to-back hurricanes spared no one. For one restaurant, it meant starting over, cutting up the walls and redoing the floors not once but twice.
Valerie’s House offers support to those grieving this holiday season Christmas is considered a magical time for many families, but many also struggle with the loss of a loved one this time of year. Valerie’s House is opening its doors for the holidays to help struggling families deal with that grief.
Local beauty editor impacting community through Beauty Holiday event A local beauty editor turned beauty elf is using her event for the better. Wink news anchor Lindsey Sablan talked to Lindsay Peragallo, founder of Beauty Holiday. With brands such as Mac and CoverGirl, table after table was packed with self-care items at the Beauty Holiday event. It was like the elves quit the toy […]
ESTERO Study shows rent prices dropping in areas of SWFL According to national data, rent is slowly dropping in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties. A new study with Florida Gulf Coast University shows the price drop might be more drastic than we think.
Ways to help with an aching head Imagine waking up with a headache so strong you can’t think, a neck pain so severe you can’t move and your eyesight suddenly turning blurry.
Novelist Randy Wayne White plans experimental citrus farming at historic Bokeelia property White just closed on a real estate deal that’s short on price but big on history with a positive outlook on the future of citrus framing.
Deadline approaching for FEMA assistance after hurricanes Milton and Helene Floridians affected by hurricanes Milton and Helene have just two weeks left to apply for federal assistance, with the deadline set for Jan. 7, 2025.
FORT MYERS Man wanted for stealing over $7K in items from Fort Myers business Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on a man wanted for stealing over $7,000 in items from a Fort Myers business.
Pedestrian killed in collision with vehicle on CR 951 in Collier County A pedestrian was killed after being struck by a vehicle on County Road 951, south of Naples Lake Boulevard.
FORT MYERS RSW Airport’s parking lots filling fast ahead of busy travel week If you have a flight on Monday, prepare to be surrounded by many people.
the weather authority Sun & clouds and warmer-than-average this Monday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a warm and dry Monday afternoon, with a mixture of sun, clouds, and highs in the upper 70s to low 80s.
ESTERO Last-minute shoppers at Miromar Outlets prepare for Christmas It’s the last Sunday before Christmas, and you know what that means: last-minute shopping is in full force.
Gov. Ron DeSantis Credit: via WINK News. Florida reached $2 billion in unemployment claims paid over the weekend. But, still, we keep hearing from a lot of you that you still haven’t been paid or were wrongfully denied. Gov. Ron DeSantis is firing back at anyone saying they aren’t getting what they are entitled to. He said that some people may have left out key information such as their social security number, which delays payments. DeSantis also says the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is getting applicants from out of state and out of the country, and each one needs vetting. But we continue to hear from claimants that the entire process has been extremely confusing, and people just want to know what they need to do to get paid. Monday, the governor got aggressive. “Did you vet any of them?” DeSantis asked. He challenged reporters on whether we know if people complaining about the state’s unemployment system actually completed their applications correctly. “You are not even investigating whether they’re valid claims,” DeSantis said. “You’re just asserting that people have applied.” DeSantis has been showing less patience with the repeated questions about unemployment. Last Friday, he asked reporters, “Who’s been waiting?” So WINK News sent his office and the DEO applicants’ names and their concerns. The DEO wrote back saying they, “Have a dedicated team working to check on each” of them. Monday, the governor offered an example as one valid reason for why certain people are not getting paid. “We took the name and went, and it turns out the employer is contesting it, saying that the individual quit,” DeSantis said. Meanwhile, the governor says the people are getting the benefits they deserve. “More than $2 billion has now been paid out,” DeSantis said. “And, of all the unique, complete and eligible applicants, 97% have now been paid.” The newest numbers from the DEO say that number is closer to 91%. And that doesn’t mean people are getting paid in full. Many are writing to us saying they’re missing multiple weeks of payments and don’t know why. The governor says on Tuesday he will be laying out all the numbers for who has been paid and the “common pitfalls” for people waiting or ineligible. If you still haven’t received your unemployment benefits, WINK News created a short form you can fill out. We will take your names and information straight to the governor and DEO for answers. For ongoing updates and information on unemployment, follow WINK News Investigative Reporter Sara Girard on Twitter and Facebook. She also updates the WINK News FAQ: Unemployment Resources page as information is received.