9th annual Eagle Radio Music Festival rocks the FGCU campusCape Coral mourns loss of dedicated police volunteer
ESTERO 9th annual Eagle Radio Music Festival rocks the FGCU campus Florida Gulf Coast University held the 9th annual Eagle Radio Music Festival, which exposed students to live local acts on its front lawn.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral mourns loss of dedicated police volunteer Stanley Maliszewski, a dedicated volunteer for the Cape Coral Police Department for over 20 years, has passed away.
CAPE CORAL Rare right whales spotted near Cape Coral, experts urge caution Two critically endangered right whales made a rare appearance near Cape Coral, swimming into Southwest Florida waters.
FORT MYERS Storm surge VR from NOAA shows hurricane danger to teach safety NOAA has introduced a groundbreaking virtual reality simulation called “Weather the Storm,” designed to immerse people in the experience of a hurricane’s storm surge safely.
LEHIGH ACRES FWC officers arrest Lee County woman for illegal deer possession The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has arrested a woman after she allegedly mutilated a deer and kept it as a pet.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers City Council unanimously approves ICE, FMPD partnership The Fort Myers City Council reconvened for a special meeting to vote on the Fort Myers Police Department’s partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Port Charlotte Bowland sells, new owner plans upgrade Bowland on Harbor Boulevard in Port Charlotte has been sold to New York-based Bowl 360, which will continue to operate it as a bowling center with plans to upgrade the facility with modern, state-of-the-art technology and entertainment.
Market Trends shift to buyer’s market for Southwest Florida homes The Southwest Florida housing market has shifted, and if you’re thinking about selling, you had better hurry or put it off altogether if you bought after 2020, said Denny Grimes.
NAPLES Naples enhances Vedado Way Beach with ADA upgrades for accessibility Naples is making efforts to enhance accessibility at Vedado Way Beach by adding ADA-compliant amenities set to begin in April.
Animal safety bill passes Florida senate, on pace to governor’s desk Florida lawmakers just passed a major hurdle in the Senate as the push for Trooper’s Law to become ratified continues.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers City Council to reconsider ICE, FMPD partnership The Fort Myers City Council faces a critical decision as they are set to reconvene and vote on whether the Fort Myers Police Department should partner with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Road closures in Collier County for Sgt. Flanagan’s funeral procession There will be a funeral procession Friday morning for Collier County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Alan Flanagan.
Tim Aten Knows: Prime Social Reserve rooftop restaurant plans October launch in Naples Prime Social Reserve rooftop restaurant and lounge plans an October launch on Fifth Avenue South in downtown Naples.
WINK News Photos of the Week (3/14 – 3/20) Welcome to WINK News Photos of the Week, where we highlight memorable moments from Southwest Florida throughout the week.
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Cool and sunny for your Friday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a pleasant Friday afternoon with cool and breezy conditions expected.
ESTERO 9th annual Eagle Radio Music Festival rocks the FGCU campus Florida Gulf Coast University held the 9th annual Eagle Radio Music Festival, which exposed students to live local acts on its front lawn.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral mourns loss of dedicated police volunteer Stanley Maliszewski, a dedicated volunteer for the Cape Coral Police Department for over 20 years, has passed away.
CAPE CORAL Rare right whales spotted near Cape Coral, experts urge caution Two critically endangered right whales made a rare appearance near Cape Coral, swimming into Southwest Florida waters.
FORT MYERS Storm surge VR from NOAA shows hurricane danger to teach safety NOAA has introduced a groundbreaking virtual reality simulation called “Weather the Storm,” designed to immerse people in the experience of a hurricane’s storm surge safely.
LEHIGH ACRES FWC officers arrest Lee County woman for illegal deer possession The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has arrested a woman after she allegedly mutilated a deer and kept it as a pet.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers City Council unanimously approves ICE, FMPD partnership The Fort Myers City Council reconvened for a special meeting to vote on the Fort Myers Police Department’s partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Port Charlotte Bowland sells, new owner plans upgrade Bowland on Harbor Boulevard in Port Charlotte has been sold to New York-based Bowl 360, which will continue to operate it as a bowling center with plans to upgrade the facility with modern, state-of-the-art technology and entertainment.
Market Trends shift to buyer’s market for Southwest Florida homes The Southwest Florida housing market has shifted, and if you’re thinking about selling, you had better hurry or put it off altogether if you bought after 2020, said Denny Grimes.
NAPLES Naples enhances Vedado Way Beach with ADA upgrades for accessibility Naples is making efforts to enhance accessibility at Vedado Way Beach by adding ADA-compliant amenities set to begin in April.
Animal safety bill passes Florida senate, on pace to governor’s desk Florida lawmakers just passed a major hurdle in the Senate as the push for Trooper’s Law to become ratified continues.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers City Council to reconsider ICE, FMPD partnership The Fort Myers City Council faces a critical decision as they are set to reconvene and vote on whether the Fort Myers Police Department should partner with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Road closures in Collier County for Sgt. Flanagan’s funeral procession There will be a funeral procession Friday morning for Collier County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Alan Flanagan.
Tim Aten Knows: Prime Social Reserve rooftop restaurant plans October launch in Naples Prime Social Reserve rooftop restaurant and lounge plans an October launch on Fifth Avenue South in downtown Naples.
WINK News Photos of the Week (3/14 – 3/20) Welcome to WINK News Photos of the Week, where we highlight memorable moments from Southwest Florida throughout the week.
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Cool and sunny for your Friday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a pleasant Friday afternoon with cool and breezy conditions expected.
Fans cheer during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) So much for the mayor’s order requiring masks at Super Bowl parties. Videos went viral on social media, showing throngs of mostly maskless fans and packed sports bars as the clock inside Raymond James Stadium ticked down on a hometown Super Bowl win for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “It is a little frustrating because we have worked so hard,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said during an early Monday morning news conference with the Super Bowl Host Committee. “At this point in dealing with COVID-19, there is a level of frustration when you see that.” Some 200,000 masks were handed out ahead of the game, and “a majority” of people and businesses followed the rules, she said. Hours later, during another news conference, Castor’s remarks shifted, saying that at least among those people that she saw celebrating, most of them were masked. “I’m proud to say the majority of individuals that I saw out and about enjoying the festivities associated with the Super Bowl were complying,” she said. “They understood their level of personal responsibility and they were doing the right thing. I’m very proud of that.” Even the White House weighed in. White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked about whether President Joe Biden was concerned over Tampa fans taking to the streets following the Buccaneers Super Bowl. “He is of course concerned when there are pictures and photos – we all are – that show many, many people without masks in close distance with one another at the height of a pandemic,” she said. To meet coronavirus protocols, the NFL capped the crowd at under 25,000 in a stadium that normally holds some 66,000 fans, and required masks. But outside the stadium, crowds of fans who weren’t wearing masks or practicing social distancing could be seen celebrating the Buccaneers’ 31-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night. Folks cheered, crammed into bars and hugged in several hotspots around the city – and swarmed the streets – all without masks. In hopes of curbing so-called super-spreader events, Castor had signed a largely voluntary executive order requiring people wear face coverings during the Super Bowl festivities, even while they’re outdoors. She pleaded with people to celebrate safely, noting the city could issue fines of up to $500. It wasn’t clear on Monday how many citations the city handed out, if any. The mayor noted that there had been no major spikes in COVID-19 cases following the fall Stanley Cup win by the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team and outdoor celebrations surrounding that victory. “We didn’t see those spikes after the Stanley Cup events,” she said. Local orders were overridden last year by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose executive order made it difficult for local governments to enforce mask policies because it prohibits them from fining people who don’t comply. Florida has never had a mask policy. Across Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg, Mayor Rick Kriseman was already unhappy about a maskless party hosted by Rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson in a hangar at Albert Whitted Airport on Friday night. Pictures from the party posted on social media showed a densely packed event with few people wearing masks to protect against spread of the coronavirus. “This isn’t how we should be celebrating the Super Bowl,” the mayor tweeted on Saturday. “It’s not safe or smart. It’s stupid. We’re going to take a very close look at this, and it may end up costing someone a lot more than 50 cent.” The nation’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, also warned against turning the Super Bowl into a super spreader, saying before the game that people should “just lay low and cool it.” Florida has recorded 1.7 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus and more than 28,000 deaths, according to state health records. State officials said Sunday that 667,830 people in Florida had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Castor said the city and Buccaneers are planning an official celebration to be held later this week. “This win was from the Buccaneer team but this win was for our entire community,” she said. “They deserve to be able to celebrate with the team. Everybody will be able to participate and participate safely.”