Charlotte County kicks off their 24th annual boat showLee County man accused of driving the wrong way while intoxicated on US 41
PORT CHARLOTTE Charlotte County kicks off their 24th annual boat show Charlotte County will celebrate its 24th annual boat show, featuring hundreds of boats from major dealers, marine accessories, and services.
Lee County man accused of driving the wrong way while intoxicated on US 41 The Florida Highway Patrol has arrested a man accused of driving on the wrong side of US-41 while intoxicated in Lee County.
LEHIGH ACRES Lee County elementary student accused of swatting call A Lee County elementary student has been arrested after allegedly calling about a school shooting incident that never happened.
Deputies confirm 1 dead in Charlotte County structure fire Several fire departments and the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office are investigating an overnight fire that broke out in a neighborhood and killed one person.
Save Energy: LCEC urges customers to forego heaters as temperatures drop The Lee County Electric Cooperative, LCEC, is encouraging people to conserve energy as temperatures drop throughout Southwest Florida.
the weather authority Cold and sunny for your Thursday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a frigid Thursday with more sunshine expected this afternoon.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads-Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox-Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
NAPLES Expert at Naples Botanical Garden speaks on prescribed burns There’s no need to sound the alarms for this smoke in the air, as Southwest Florida is actually seeing many controlled or ‘prescribed’ fires.
Sawfish caught with fishing wire tied around rostrum and hooks in mouth; removed and released An endangered smalltooth sawfish was not what Mac expected to be at the end of his fishing line after fishing with buddies New Year’s Day.
Florida Power and Light Set to potentially raise prices in 2026 Florida Power and Light has announced their proposal for a need to increase rates from 2026 – 2029.
PORT CHARLOTTE Home of Port Charlotte couple destroyed due to mold from Hurricane Ian A Port Charlotte couple inherited a home after the wife’s parents died. The home is now destroyed because of mold from Hurricane Ian.
NAPLES Update on the Naples Pier construction The Naples Pier has been destroyed since Hurricane Ian. Since then, the city has considered ways to restore the pier but questions linger over the work, especially on how long it will take to complete.
FORT MYERS BEACH Pink Shell resort expansion project moves onto final vote The future for the expansion of a Fort Myers Beach staple comes down to one vote.
PUNTA GORDA Fatal crash on Burnt Store Road, all lanes blocked A crash on Burnt Store Road near Charlee Road in Charlotte County has reportedly resulted in a fatality.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral’s school zone safety plan hits a speed bump Thanks to new cameras, speeders in Cape Coral school zones would be facing fines this week, but due to delays in the contractor’s schedule, they will not.
PORT CHARLOTTE Charlotte County kicks off their 24th annual boat show Charlotte County will celebrate its 24th annual boat show, featuring hundreds of boats from major dealers, marine accessories, and services.
Lee County man accused of driving the wrong way while intoxicated on US 41 The Florida Highway Patrol has arrested a man accused of driving on the wrong side of US-41 while intoxicated in Lee County.
LEHIGH ACRES Lee County elementary student accused of swatting call A Lee County elementary student has been arrested after allegedly calling about a school shooting incident that never happened.
Deputies confirm 1 dead in Charlotte County structure fire Several fire departments and the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office are investigating an overnight fire that broke out in a neighborhood and killed one person.
Save Energy: LCEC urges customers to forego heaters as temperatures drop The Lee County Electric Cooperative, LCEC, is encouraging people to conserve energy as temperatures drop throughout Southwest Florida.
the weather authority Cold and sunny for your Thursday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a frigid Thursday with more sunshine expected this afternoon.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads-Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox-Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
NAPLES Expert at Naples Botanical Garden speaks on prescribed burns There’s no need to sound the alarms for this smoke in the air, as Southwest Florida is actually seeing many controlled or ‘prescribed’ fires.
Sawfish caught with fishing wire tied around rostrum and hooks in mouth; removed and released An endangered smalltooth sawfish was not what Mac expected to be at the end of his fishing line after fishing with buddies New Year’s Day.
Florida Power and Light Set to potentially raise prices in 2026 Florida Power and Light has announced their proposal for a need to increase rates from 2026 – 2029.
PORT CHARLOTTE Home of Port Charlotte couple destroyed due to mold from Hurricane Ian A Port Charlotte couple inherited a home after the wife’s parents died. The home is now destroyed because of mold from Hurricane Ian.
NAPLES Update on the Naples Pier construction The Naples Pier has been destroyed since Hurricane Ian. Since then, the city has considered ways to restore the pier but questions linger over the work, especially on how long it will take to complete.
FORT MYERS BEACH Pink Shell resort expansion project moves onto final vote The future for the expansion of a Fort Myers Beach staple comes down to one vote.
PUNTA GORDA Fatal crash on Burnt Store Road, all lanes blocked A crash on Burnt Store Road near Charlee Road in Charlotte County has reportedly resulted in a fatality.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral’s school zone safety plan hits a speed bump Thanks to new cameras, speeders in Cape Coral school zones would be facing fines this week, but due to delays in the contractor’s schedule, they will not.
Credit: via WINK News. A woman who tried to help ISIS was caught in Southwest Florida and now, she is going to be locked up for the next few years. Alison Marie Sheppard, 35, aka “Aiisha Abdullah” of Punta Gorda was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for buying cell phones intended to be used as ISIS detonation devices. It took a lengthy investigation to catch her. The Punta Gorda woman bought and tried to ship 10 cellphones to the Middle East, where she believed they would be used as timers for pressure cooker bombs. Sheppard even helped another man she met online travel to the Middle East to join ISIS. That person was caught by the FBI and started cooperating with them. Online, Sheppard went by “Aiisha Abdullah” and swore allegiance to ISIS. Rich Kolko, WINK News Safety & Security Specialist explains, “These are the kind of people that really scare law enforcement, the FBI. These self-radicalized, lone wolves that are acting on their own.” In 2017, court documents show Sheppard tried to support the Islamic State, a known terrorist organization, while she was in Punta Gorda. “You can be radicalized no matter where you are in the world,” Kolko said. “All it means is turning on your computer or your smartphone. You’re seeing these speeches, these tapes. People think that’s the right way to go, but, clearly, it’s the wrong path.” Sheppard used social media to find others who support ISIS and posted instructional videos and praised violent jihad. Fortunately for the investigators, she left a big, digital footprint. That was pretty easy to find. Sheppard thought two individuals she was communicating with online were ISIS supporters, but they were actually undercover officers. Sheppard bought 10 cell phones from five stores in Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte and Rotonda West, planning to send them to ISIS for explosives. Those phones ended up going to undercover officers. She found out a way she thought she could help them, offered to purchase phones, send them overseas and possibly kill Americans or allies in foreign lands. But that didn’t happen, and Sheppard was arrested. Sheppard pleaded guilty to her charges in May 2019. After Sheppard gets out of prison, she will be supervised for 15 years.