Van catches fire after crash with trailer in North Fort MyersSecond teen accused in Kayla Rincon-Miller murder case to appear in court
NORTH FORT MYERS Van catches fire after crash with trailer in North Fort Myers Several crews are responding to a crash that involved a work van and a truck pulling a trailer in North Fort Myers this morning.
CAPE CORAL Second teen accused in Kayla Rincon-Miller murder case to appear in court A 16-year-old is facing adult charges for his alleged role in the murder of 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller.
the weather authority Hotter and drier day ahead with isolated storms staying inland The Weather Authority is tracking a hot and dry Tuesday morning with inland isolated storms expected in the afternoon.
Cape Canaveral Gov. DeSantis to hold news conference in Cape Canaveral Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference in Cape Canaveral.
WINK News Lee County School Board to hold a transportation workshop With one month left for the academic year, parents’ concerns have turned to frustration as buses struggle to get kids to and from school.
Readying for hurricane season with Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday Hurricane season is rapidly approaching as Floridians prep for potential storms with the upcoming Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday.
NAPLES Increasing amount of homeless seniors in SWFL Saint Matthew House told Wink News that 20% of the people they shelter are over 60 years old.
NAPLES Man suspected of threatening pickelballers with machete A man has been arrested after authorities said he chased a group of pickleball players off a Naples court.
NAPLES Turtle Club in Naples reopens Following a 19-month closure because of Hurricane Ian, the Turtle Club has reopened.
FORT MYERS BEACH Hurricane season preparations at Lee County construction sites Many already know the drill when hurricane season is around the corner.
SANIBEL Bones found on Sanibel concern beachgoers A husband and wife found what appeared to be bones. What type and where they came from is being investigated.
FGCU FGCU president reflects on first year with graduating class Alico Arena was packed this weekend as Florida Gulf Coast University graduated 1,900 students in four ceremonies.
Reverse shoulder replacement offers new approach to pain management Shoulder replacement is the third most common replacement in the US, following hip and knee replacement.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Lee County teachers bargain for new raises Kevin Daly is the voice of the Lee County Teachers Union, and he says he knows firsthand the struggle teachers experience across the state.
FORT MYERS New Starbucks off Colonial expected to add to traffic headaches It’s a venti-sized traffic nightmare. That’s how Gina O’Donnell envisions the future of this plaza.
NORTH FORT MYERS Van catches fire after crash with trailer in North Fort Myers Several crews are responding to a crash that involved a work van and a truck pulling a trailer in North Fort Myers this morning.
CAPE CORAL Second teen accused in Kayla Rincon-Miller murder case to appear in court A 16-year-old is facing adult charges for his alleged role in the murder of 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller.
the weather authority Hotter and drier day ahead with isolated storms staying inland The Weather Authority is tracking a hot and dry Tuesday morning with inland isolated storms expected in the afternoon.
Cape Canaveral Gov. DeSantis to hold news conference in Cape Canaveral Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference in Cape Canaveral.
WINK News Lee County School Board to hold a transportation workshop With one month left for the academic year, parents’ concerns have turned to frustration as buses struggle to get kids to and from school.
Readying for hurricane season with Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday Hurricane season is rapidly approaching as Floridians prep for potential storms with the upcoming Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday.
NAPLES Increasing amount of homeless seniors in SWFL Saint Matthew House told Wink News that 20% of the people they shelter are over 60 years old.
NAPLES Man suspected of threatening pickelballers with machete A man has been arrested after authorities said he chased a group of pickleball players off a Naples court.
NAPLES Turtle Club in Naples reopens Following a 19-month closure because of Hurricane Ian, the Turtle Club has reopened.
FORT MYERS BEACH Hurricane season preparations at Lee County construction sites Many already know the drill when hurricane season is around the corner.
SANIBEL Bones found on Sanibel concern beachgoers A husband and wife found what appeared to be bones. What type and where they came from is being investigated.
FGCU FGCU president reflects on first year with graduating class Alico Arena was packed this weekend as Florida Gulf Coast University graduated 1,900 students in four ceremonies.
Reverse shoulder replacement offers new approach to pain management Shoulder replacement is the third most common replacement in the US, following hip and knee replacement.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Lee County teachers bargain for new raises Kevin Daly is the voice of the Lee County Teachers Union, and he says he knows firsthand the struggle teachers experience across the state.
FORT MYERS New Starbucks off Colonial expected to add to traffic headaches It’s a venti-sized traffic nightmare. That’s how Gina O’Donnell envisions the future of this plaza.
A homebound senior’s oxygen concentrator sits in front of her. Credit: Shared with WINK News. Florida is working on a plan to get the coronavirus vaccine to homebound seniors. The State says it’s prepared to help counties vaccinate people who can’t make it to vaccine sites, saying it plans to have vaccination strike teams that can vaccinate those in need from their homes. But counties have to request that help. It’s unclear if Southwest Florida counties have, but people we spoke to who work closely with homebound seniors say they haven’t seen a program to get them the shot, but they would like to see a plan in place soon. For Sandra Franchino on Marco Island, caring for her 93-year-old mother, Carmela, is like a full-time job. Carmela is on oxygen 24/7. She has congestive heart failure, high blood pressure and anxiety that makes it extremely hard for her to leave home. “Leaving the house is one of several issues that promotes a lot of anxiety for her so much so that she actually gets sick to her stomach, and sometimes, she will even faint,β Franchino explained. Franchino says she would take that risk for a vaccine appointment, but she wishes she did not have to. “It would be so much less painful emotionally and physically for her if there was a program that the vaccines could be distributed in the homes for folks that qualify,β Franchino said. That’s exactly what vice president Susan Nimnaun of BrightStar Care wants to do. Nimnaun says home care agencies should get to give homebound seniors vaccines who might not have the ability or technology to make an appointment themselves. She’s pushing lawmakers and health officials to make that happen. “We have a team of nurses that are ready and able to administer vaccinations in the home,” Nimnaun said. βThey want to feel that they have that same level of protection that a senior you know may be in a facility is getting.β The Nimnaun told us over 350,000 Florida seniors have in-home care. She says they are just as vulnerable to COVID-19 as people who leave the home because their nurses and family members are still visiting. We reached out to health departments in Lee and Collier counties to see if they’ve requested vaccine strike teams from the State to vaccinate homebound seniors. We’re still waiting to hear back. Franchino says it’s crucial her mother gets protection soon. “If a woman like my mom caught the virus, I’m sure she wouldn’t survive,” Franchino said. βWe would be ensuring ourselves with that hope that she is safe.β