Bruno’s of Brooklyn opens new downtown Fort Myers locationFEMA deadline looms for Lee County: flood insurance discounts at risk
Bruno’s of Brooklyn opens new downtown Fort Myers location The new Bruno’s of Brooklyn Italian Eatery opens the evening of Nov. 18 at 2149 First St. in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS BEACH FEMA deadline looms for Lee County: flood insurance discounts at risk FEMA will soon announce whether homeowners in five different areas of Lee County will keep that 25% discount on their flood insurance policies long term.
NORTH FORT MYERS Man wanted for grand theft at North Fort Myers Dollar Tree SWFL Crime Stoppers is seeking information on a man wanted for committing grand theft at a Dollar Tree in North Fort Myers last week.
WINK NEWS 1 dead from e-coli outbreak due to carrots sold in popular grocery stores The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating an outbreak of e-coli linked to tainted carrots.
FORT MYERS Lee County Library System announces annual Fandom Fest The Lee County Library System is inviting people of all ages to bring cosplay and pop culture fun to its annual Fandom Fest.
FORT MYERS Lee County opens Royal Palms Avenue parking lot for downtown Fort Myers workers Lee County has announced the opening of the Royal Palms Avenue parking lot, which will be used by downtown workers and become paid public parking on nights and weekends.
NAPLES Naples sculptor makes memorable busts for 9 locations You may notice some new, massive statues that have been placed in popular areas around Naples, like Waterside Shops and Maserati Naples.
the weather authority Seasonal Monday with highs in the mid 80s The Weather Authority is tracking seasonal temperatures with an approaching cold front that is expected to bring rain and cooler conditions during the middle of the week.
Volunteers gather for 20th annual Turkey Drop event in Collier County The 20th annual Capital Wealth Advisors Turkey Drop event is set to begin as organizers seek to mark this milestone anniversary with the goal of over 7,000 turkeys donated.
FORT MYERS BEACH FMB residents raise concerns over removal of business trailers Residents and business owners on Fort Myers Beach are raising concerns after FEMA called for the removal of temporary structures off the island.
Driver arrested after failing to stop in Lehigh Acres According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a driver was arrested after he failed to stop for troopers on State Road 82 and Blackstone Drive in Lehigh Acres on Saturday Night.
WINK Neighborhood Watch: burglary, aggravated battery and cockfighting This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a burglary spree, aggravated battery with a vehicle and a man arrested for cockfighting.
NAPLES Deputies investigating death at Collier house party The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a death that happened at a house party.
southwest florida Beautiful Sunday on tap with temperatures reaching the low 80s this afternoon It will be another seasonal day with sun and clouds across Southwest Florida with temperatures reaching yet again topping out in the low 80s.
NAPLES Community raises funds for family of elementary school choking victim Staff and students from Laurel Oak Elementary School gathered at a Naples Culver’s to raise money for the family of Benjamin Cronin, an 11-year-old boy who died after choking at school.
Bruno’s of Brooklyn opens new downtown Fort Myers location The new Bruno’s of Brooklyn Italian Eatery opens the evening of Nov. 18 at 2149 First St. in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS BEACH FEMA deadline looms for Lee County: flood insurance discounts at risk FEMA will soon announce whether homeowners in five different areas of Lee County will keep that 25% discount on their flood insurance policies long term.
NORTH FORT MYERS Man wanted for grand theft at North Fort Myers Dollar Tree SWFL Crime Stoppers is seeking information on a man wanted for committing grand theft at a Dollar Tree in North Fort Myers last week.
WINK NEWS 1 dead from e-coli outbreak due to carrots sold in popular grocery stores The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating an outbreak of e-coli linked to tainted carrots.
FORT MYERS Lee County Library System announces annual Fandom Fest The Lee County Library System is inviting people of all ages to bring cosplay and pop culture fun to its annual Fandom Fest.
FORT MYERS Lee County opens Royal Palms Avenue parking lot for downtown Fort Myers workers Lee County has announced the opening of the Royal Palms Avenue parking lot, which will be used by downtown workers and become paid public parking on nights and weekends.
NAPLES Naples sculptor makes memorable busts for 9 locations You may notice some new, massive statues that have been placed in popular areas around Naples, like Waterside Shops and Maserati Naples.
the weather authority Seasonal Monday with highs in the mid 80s The Weather Authority is tracking seasonal temperatures with an approaching cold front that is expected to bring rain and cooler conditions during the middle of the week.
Volunteers gather for 20th annual Turkey Drop event in Collier County The 20th annual Capital Wealth Advisors Turkey Drop event is set to begin as organizers seek to mark this milestone anniversary with the goal of over 7,000 turkeys donated.
FORT MYERS BEACH FMB residents raise concerns over removal of business trailers Residents and business owners on Fort Myers Beach are raising concerns after FEMA called for the removal of temporary structures off the island.
Driver arrested after failing to stop in Lehigh Acres According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a driver was arrested after he failed to stop for troopers on State Road 82 and Blackstone Drive in Lehigh Acres on Saturday Night.
WINK Neighborhood Watch: burglary, aggravated battery and cockfighting This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a burglary spree, aggravated battery with a vehicle and a man arrested for cockfighting.
NAPLES Deputies investigating death at Collier house party The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a death that happened at a house party.
southwest florida Beautiful Sunday on tap with temperatures reaching the low 80s this afternoon It will be another seasonal day with sun and clouds across Southwest Florida with temperatures reaching yet again topping out in the low 80s.
NAPLES Community raises funds for family of elementary school choking victim Staff and students from Laurel Oak Elementary School gathered at a Naples Culver’s to raise money for the family of Benjamin Cronin, an 11-year-old boy who died after choking at school.
If you’re on unemployment in Florida and never received your Lost Wages Assistance from the federal government, this could be why. WINK News obtained documents from the state’s Department of Economic Opportunity discussing the federal assistance those on unemployment can get for weeks claimed in August. Except call takers at the DEO’s customer service centers are told not to tell claimants about the form, unless they have a specific reason. Darlene Felker of Punta Gorda knew something was wrong when, after the state began distributing LWA payments in September, she didn’t get hers. Now, WINK News has the internal documents to show the DEO wasn’t forthcoming with helping people who were eligible but didn’t get paid. FEMA approved Florida for four weeks of $300 in LWA to go to eligible unemployed people. People collecting benefits had to meet certain requirements to qualify, and Felker says she met them all. “Those $300 should have been released,” Felker said. She had her suspicions, thinking she didn’t get paid because one of the questions she had to answer she feels was misleading. That question is “are you currently unemployed?” “I specifically called DEO, I was told to put ‘no’ because I am working, I’m just working 8-10 hours a week, 16 hours at the most,” Felker said, who’s partially unemployed. Under the eligibility requirements listed by the state, it says, “Floridians who are eligible for state or federal Reemployment Assistance benefits, are unemployed or partially unemployed due to COVID-19 and have a weekly benefit amount of at least $100 in a state or Federal Reemployment Assistance program may be eligible to receive the additional $300 LWA benefits.” WINK News brought her situation to the DEO back in September and a representative said “this is a non-issue.” But three weeks later, WINK News got a tip about something the DEO was keeping quiet. A public records request revealed internal documents showing an email dated Oct. 5, where the DEO told its call center employees in part: “A new form has been created […] for those claimants calling in stating they answered incorrectly to the question regarding COVID-19 while requesting benefits for the weeks ending 08/01/20-08/22/20. This form will be used internally, please do not volunteer to complete this form for anyone calling regarding the Lost Wage Assistance payments, the claimant specifically has to indicate they answered the question incorrectly. Also, this form will only be available for the duration of time the department has available funding for the Lost Wage Assistance program (LWA).” That means people calling in to the DEO have to specifically say they answered a question wrong to get help. Felker said had she not known she’d answered a question wrong, she would’ve thought she wasn’t eligible for the money. After WINK News questioned the DEO about the existence of these instructions, they sent out a press release on Oct. 9, saying people need to call if they think there are errors in their application, not once did it mention Lost Wages Assistance. “It tripped all these people up that are not getting that money, it’s crazy,” Felker said. It took more than a dozen calls and several faxes to the DEO, but last week, Felker finally got the $1,200 owed to her. “You just have to be persistent on calling and speaking to a supervisor and letting them know that you’re aware of this form,” Felker said. WINK News on Monday asked the DEO why they kept it internal, a representative did not address that question. However, DEO did confirm there is still LWA funding available. For ongoing updates 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.