WINK NEWS Citizens Property Insurance depopulation program This is a sign our insurance crisis in Florida is recovering. Citizens, designed to be Floridian’s last resort insurer, is shrinking.
WINK NEWS Warmer temperatures build in for your Thursday plans The Weather Authority is tracking increased temperatures. Thursday is in the 50s, and the warming trend is continuing into the weekend.
WINK NEWS Smoke from prescribed burns this Thursday The Weather Authority is tracking smoke in the air Thursday morning. If you notice smoke, it’s likely from recent prescribed burns.
LEHIGH ACRES Firefighters break open submerged car in Lehigh Acres Firefighters break open a submerged car and appear to rescue someone stuck inside in Lehigh Acres overnight.
FORT MYERS Stem donor meets recipient at Florida Gulf Coast University An FGCU student is giving the gift of life this holiday season. FGCU senior Zoe Horowitz met the person who received her stem cell donation.
PORT CHARLOTTE CCSO ‘Shop with a Cop’ event spreads holiday cheer Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office deputies spent time helping kids pick out gifts for their families during the annual Shop with a Cop event.
CLEWISTON Caught on camera: Explosion in hotel parking lot in Clewiston There was an explosion in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn in Clewiston on Wednesday.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda leaders outline plans for Gilchrist Park repairs Gilchrist Park is closed, and Punta Gorda city leaders have been discussing possibly restoring the park.
NORTH NAPLES Airman surprises 6-year-old daughter at school for the holidays after ten months of service in Kuwait After almost a year of service in Kuwait, one airman came home for the holidays and surprised his daughter.
FORT MYERS Breaking down the Lee County Sheriff’s Office budget The Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Carmine Marceno have been under scrutiny since a federal investigation on potential money laundering began. Many have questioned LCSO’s spending, so we broke down the budget.
How to protect yourself from thieves this holiday season On Cyber Monday, Americans spent $13 billion, which will translate into many packages on doorsteps this holiday season.
FORT MYERS Bishop Verot QB Carter Smith signs with Wisconsin Bishop Verot quarterback Carter Smith signs to play college football for the Wisconsin Badgers on early Signing Day.
WINK NEWS SWFL stars ink with Power 4 programs during Early Signing Period Several Southwest Florida football standouts are taking their talents to the Power 4 gridirons after signing during the Early Signing Period.
Beloved Charlotte County man killed outside home, investigation ongoing A man loved by his peers and his community was taken away from them in the middle of the night at his own home.
FORT MYERS BEACH The Lani Kai Resort reopens on Fort Myers Beach An iconic spot on Fort Myers Beach is back open and taking reservations for the first time since Hurricane Ian.
WINK NEWS Citizens Property Insurance depopulation program This is a sign our insurance crisis in Florida is recovering. Citizens, designed to be Floridian’s last resort insurer, is shrinking.
WINK NEWS Warmer temperatures build in for your Thursday plans The Weather Authority is tracking increased temperatures. Thursday is in the 50s, and the warming trend is continuing into the weekend.
WINK NEWS Smoke from prescribed burns this Thursday The Weather Authority is tracking smoke in the air Thursday morning. If you notice smoke, it’s likely from recent prescribed burns.
LEHIGH ACRES Firefighters break open submerged car in Lehigh Acres Firefighters break open a submerged car and appear to rescue someone stuck inside in Lehigh Acres overnight.
FORT MYERS Stem donor meets recipient at Florida Gulf Coast University An FGCU student is giving the gift of life this holiday season. FGCU senior Zoe Horowitz met the person who received her stem cell donation.
PORT CHARLOTTE CCSO ‘Shop with a Cop’ event spreads holiday cheer Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office deputies spent time helping kids pick out gifts for their families during the annual Shop with a Cop event.
CLEWISTON Caught on camera: Explosion in hotel parking lot in Clewiston There was an explosion in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn in Clewiston on Wednesday.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda leaders outline plans for Gilchrist Park repairs Gilchrist Park is closed, and Punta Gorda city leaders have been discussing possibly restoring the park.
NORTH NAPLES Airman surprises 6-year-old daughter at school for the holidays after ten months of service in Kuwait After almost a year of service in Kuwait, one airman came home for the holidays and surprised his daughter.
FORT MYERS Breaking down the Lee County Sheriff’s Office budget The Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Carmine Marceno have been under scrutiny since a federal investigation on potential money laundering began. Many have questioned LCSO’s spending, so we broke down the budget.
How to protect yourself from thieves this holiday season On Cyber Monday, Americans spent $13 billion, which will translate into many packages on doorsteps this holiday season.
FORT MYERS Bishop Verot QB Carter Smith signs with Wisconsin Bishop Verot quarterback Carter Smith signs to play college football for the Wisconsin Badgers on early Signing Day.
WINK NEWS SWFL stars ink with Power 4 programs during Early Signing Period Several Southwest Florida football standouts are taking their talents to the Power 4 gridirons after signing during the Early Signing Period.
Beloved Charlotte County man killed outside home, investigation ongoing A man loved by his peers and his community was taken away from them in the middle of the night at his own home.
FORT MYERS BEACH The Lani Kai Resort reopens on Fort Myers Beach An iconic spot on Fort Myers Beach is back open and taking reservations for the first time since Hurricane Ian.
FILE: In order to keep students safe if schools reopen this fall strict protocols such as regularly taking temperatures. (LM Otero/AP)(LM Otero/AP) The School District of Lee County officials announced in a letter Friday, that was also posted on social media, that it will not be checking the temperatures of students as they arrive at school. The Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics released a report for superintendents throughout. In the report, the chapter says it does not support temperature checks in schools. “The FCAAP does not recommend temperature checks at school. It is expensive, time-consuming and not sensitive for early infection,” the report stated. Pediatricians and other experts from the Florida Department of Health in Lee County have also recommended the removal of temperature checks from schools, citing a list of reasons. The first being the temperature is only one of the symptoms that children may experience. Infected kids are just as likely to be asymptomatic as they are to have a fever was another reason they used. Also that most patients transfer the virus within a few days prior to actually developing symptoms. So now, armed with this new evidence, Lee County schools will no longer be doing temperature checks. Instead, in accordance with the report sent out by FCAAP, they recommend checking your child’s temperature at home before sending them to school and keeping them home if they have a temperature or any COVID-19 symptoms. If parents wish to update their choice of an educational model for the upcoming school year based on this new decision, Lee County Schools recommends calling your child’s individual school. Masks have made their way to the school supply list for many parents this year. Lisa Burrows has already told her daughter she’ll need to keep her mask on. “She knows she’s gonna have to wear her mask all day,” said Burrows. She tried to make sure she got some fun prints her daughter would like. “I did buy a couple that have like unicorns and purple with stars on them and things like that and that helps,” she said. Another way to make mask-wearing feel more normal for kids is to make it a part of their daily routine, according to Dr. Stephanie Stovall from Golisano’s Children’s Hospital. “If they have a particular day that they are allowed for instance screen time— make a rule that they have to put the mask on if they’re going to continue their screen time,” Dr. Stoval said. Denise Crespo is also trying to prepare her 15-year-old son for back to school this year. “He’s following the rules, he’s dealing with it— I don’t know how these kids are gonna do it for 6 hours 7 hours a day so that’s gonna be tough,” Crespo said. Lee County schools announced Friday they would no longer be taking the temperature of children at school. Crespo says she’s glad about the decision. “Taking the temperatures is a good thing but it’s going to be very time consuming,” she said. Dr. Stoval says if you’re planning on sending your children back to school, to make sure they understand the importance of handwashing. She adds that your child probably only needs one or two masks unless they participate in sports or other outdoor activities. She also recommends letting your child pick out their own masks and having backups in their backpack.