Pastrami Dan’s reopens in Naples after SUV crash Pastrami Dan’s in Naples welcomed customers once again, with people waiting at the door.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers family blessed with new home In about sixty days, Myrtle Dillard’s home on Lincoln Boulevard went from being run-down and unlivable to brand new.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte woman’s student loans forgiveness after consolidation One Port Charlotte woman was skeptical of her student loan consolidation and potential forgiveness but an email over the weekend changed her life.
IRVING, Texas (AP) Boy Scouts of America changing name to more inclusive Scouting America after years of woes The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America.
CAPE CORAL Man arrested after police allege he threatened to stab 7-Eleven workers Police have arrested a man who threatened to stab two 7-Eleven gas station employees with a knife.
NEW YORK (AP) Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump’s hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006
Despite SUV crash into Pastrami Dan’s, plans for 50th continue The popular local eatery reopened May 7 after being temporarily closed since a woman drove a Toyota Rav4 SUV into the side of the restaurant on the morning of May 3.
CCSO deputies reminding you not to leave valuables inside the car The Collier County Sheriff’s Office said there were 30 vehicle burglaries in Collier County in April.
NORTH FORT MYERS Heavy police presence on Capitol Street home in North Fort Myers Several Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Fort Myers Fire Department units were seen outside of a home in North Fort Myers.
BONITA SPRINGS Deputies investigating death at Bonita Springs home Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies are investigating a death at a home in Bonita Springs.
Fifth Third Bank branch to be built on former SunTrust Punta Gorda site According to project plans sent to the city, the current building will be demolished, and a single-story Fifth Third Bank branch will stand in its place. Assuming approval, the branch is expected to open in the second half of 2025, a banks spokesperson said.
WINK NEWS Gov. DeSantis signs tax relief package for Floridians Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has renewed the Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday among other tax-free incentives for Floridians.
Fort Myers debates future of police review board A new law signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will change oversight with local police departments and the citizens they protect.
FORT MYERS Lifting weights brings Bishop Verot’s football team together Football teams are spending their days in the iron paradise as spring practice is on for high school football.
LEHIGH ACRES Traffic signal for Lee Blvd. and Joan Ave. North approved The Lee Board of County Commissioners approved measures to install a traffic signal, new lighting, upgraded drainage, and more.
Pastrami Dan’s reopens in Naples after SUV crash Pastrami Dan’s in Naples welcomed customers once again, with people waiting at the door.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers family blessed with new home In about sixty days, Myrtle Dillard’s home on Lincoln Boulevard went from being run-down and unlivable to brand new.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte woman’s student loans forgiveness after consolidation One Port Charlotte woman was skeptical of her student loan consolidation and potential forgiveness but an email over the weekend changed her life.
IRVING, Texas (AP) Boy Scouts of America changing name to more inclusive Scouting America after years of woes The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America.
CAPE CORAL Man arrested after police allege he threatened to stab 7-Eleven workers Police have arrested a man who threatened to stab two 7-Eleven gas station employees with a knife.
NEW YORK (AP) Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump’s hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006
Despite SUV crash into Pastrami Dan’s, plans for 50th continue The popular local eatery reopened May 7 after being temporarily closed since a woman drove a Toyota Rav4 SUV into the side of the restaurant on the morning of May 3.
CCSO deputies reminding you not to leave valuables inside the car The Collier County Sheriff’s Office said there were 30 vehicle burglaries in Collier County in April.
NORTH FORT MYERS Heavy police presence on Capitol Street home in North Fort Myers Several Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Fort Myers Fire Department units were seen outside of a home in North Fort Myers.
BONITA SPRINGS Deputies investigating death at Bonita Springs home Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies are investigating a death at a home in Bonita Springs.
Fifth Third Bank branch to be built on former SunTrust Punta Gorda site According to project plans sent to the city, the current building will be demolished, and a single-story Fifth Third Bank branch will stand in its place. Assuming approval, the branch is expected to open in the second half of 2025, a banks spokesperson said.
WINK NEWS Gov. DeSantis signs tax relief package for Floridians Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has renewed the Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday among other tax-free incentives for Floridians.
Fort Myers debates future of police review board A new law signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will change oversight with local police departments and the citizens they protect.
FORT MYERS Lifting weights brings Bishop Verot’s football team together Football teams are spending their days in the iron paradise as spring practice is on for high school football.
LEHIGH ACRES Traffic signal for Lee Blvd. and Joan Ave. North approved The Lee Board of County Commissioners approved measures to install a traffic signal, new lighting, upgraded drainage, and more.
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.