Fort Myers Beach Town Council facing threats over development projectsAttendees arrive ahead of 2025 Naples Winter Wine Festival
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Beach Town Council facing threats over development projects Tensions have risen in Fort Myers Beach, with local council member Karen Woodson facing verbal threats and abuse.
NAPLES Attendees arrive ahead of 2025 Naples Winter Wine Festival The Naples Winter Wine Festival is set to begin on Friday night, marking its silver anniversary.
COVID-19’s hidden dangers Researchers have discovered that the neurological effects of long COVID extend beyond common symptoms like coughing and sneezing.
Locals react to Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s attempt to end the nation’s birthright citizenship policy.
Watering schedule to begin for unincorporated Lee County residents A once-a-week watering schedule is being issued for unincorporated Lee County, which is intended to conserve water and protect the aquifer.
ESTERO Upcoming election for Village of Estero canceled According to Tommy Doyle, the Lee County Supervisor of Elections, the scheduled election for the Village of Estero has been canceled.
LEHIGH ACRES Quan Martin representing SWFL on NFL Championship Sunday Washington Commanders safety Quan Martin, who went to Lehigh Senior High, is representing Southwest Florida on NFL Championship Sunday.
8-story Naples hotel passes first hurdle in approval process An eight-story, dual-brand luxury hotel received unanimous preliminary approval from the Naples Design Review Board, the first hurdle in a yearlong planning process.
Jacksonville Gov. Ron DeSantis to reinforce immigration policies Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is looking to enhance law enforcement’s role in helping the federal government with immigration policies.
Man accused of stealing ATV from DeSoto County campground A man has been arrested after allegedly driving an ATV that was reported stolen last year in DeSoto County.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers hospital offers free autism screening for young children Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida is offering free monthly autism spectrum disorder screenings for toddlers aged 18 months to 5 years.
FWC rescues 30 sea turtles from cold waters amid freezing temperatures Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers recently braved icy waters to rescue around 30 sea turtles.
Clarifying our style referencing the president’s name in stories WINK News has received multiple emails from viewers concerned about our approach to referring to President Donald Trump, both on-air and online, only by his last name on second reference.
Southwest Florida International Airport JetBlue begins nonstop travel from RSW to Manchester, NH The Southwest Florida International Airport has announced JetBlue will begin nonstop service to Manchester, New Hampshire.
Winkler & Gladiolus farmland sells for $19.97M, to become apartments One of the few pieces of farmland left on Gladiolus Drive in south Fort Myers has sold and will join its neighboring properties as being developed to become part of the surrounding suburbia.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Beach Town Council facing threats over development projects Tensions have risen in Fort Myers Beach, with local council member Karen Woodson facing verbal threats and abuse.
NAPLES Attendees arrive ahead of 2025 Naples Winter Wine Festival The Naples Winter Wine Festival is set to begin on Friday night, marking its silver anniversary.
COVID-19’s hidden dangers Researchers have discovered that the neurological effects of long COVID extend beyond common symptoms like coughing and sneezing.
Locals react to Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s attempt to end the nation’s birthright citizenship policy.
Watering schedule to begin for unincorporated Lee County residents A once-a-week watering schedule is being issued for unincorporated Lee County, which is intended to conserve water and protect the aquifer.
ESTERO Upcoming election for Village of Estero canceled According to Tommy Doyle, the Lee County Supervisor of Elections, the scheduled election for the Village of Estero has been canceled.
LEHIGH ACRES Quan Martin representing SWFL on NFL Championship Sunday Washington Commanders safety Quan Martin, who went to Lehigh Senior High, is representing Southwest Florida on NFL Championship Sunday.
8-story Naples hotel passes first hurdle in approval process An eight-story, dual-brand luxury hotel received unanimous preliminary approval from the Naples Design Review Board, the first hurdle in a yearlong planning process.
Jacksonville Gov. Ron DeSantis to reinforce immigration policies Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is looking to enhance law enforcement’s role in helping the federal government with immigration policies.
Man accused of stealing ATV from DeSoto County campground A man has been arrested after allegedly driving an ATV that was reported stolen last year in DeSoto County.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers hospital offers free autism screening for young children Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida is offering free monthly autism spectrum disorder screenings for toddlers aged 18 months to 5 years.
FWC rescues 30 sea turtles from cold waters amid freezing temperatures Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers recently braved icy waters to rescue around 30 sea turtles.
Clarifying our style referencing the president’s name in stories WINK News has received multiple emails from viewers concerned about our approach to referring to President Donald Trump, both on-air and online, only by his last name on second reference.
Southwest Florida International Airport JetBlue begins nonstop travel from RSW to Manchester, NH The Southwest Florida International Airport has announced JetBlue will begin nonstop service to Manchester, New Hampshire.
Winkler & Gladiolus farmland sells for $19.97M, to become apartments One of the few pieces of farmland left on Gladiolus Drive in south Fort Myers has sold and will join its neighboring properties as being developed to become part of the surrounding suburbia.
FILE — In this Nov. 18, 2020, file photo, University of Utah student Abigail Shull takes a rapid COVID-19 test in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File) As of 2 p.m. Friday, there have been 1,814,422 positive cases of the coronavirus recorded in the state. The case count includes 1,781,450 Florida residents and 32,972 non-Florida residents. There are 28,565 Florida resident deaths reported, 496 non-resident deaths, and 75,734 hospitalizations at some point during illness, according to the Florida Department of Health. According to the CDC, Florida has recorded 347 positive cases of COVID-19 variants as of Feb. 12. The type of variants is not specified on the table. Florida Department of Health and the CDC were previously investigating the evidence of the first known case of what is known as the UK COVID-19 variant on Dec. 31, 2020. *Numbers are released by the DOH every afternoon. STATEWIDE NUMBERS Total number of recorded cases: 1,814,422 (up from 1,806,805) Florida resident deaths: 28,565 (up from 28,382) Non-resident deaths: 496 (up from 489) Total deaths in state (Fla./non-Fla. residents combined): 29,061 (up from 28,871) 7,617 total new cases reported Friday 183 new resident deaths reported Friday 7 new non-resident deaths reported Friday Percent positive for new cases in Fla. residents: 6.22% This percent is the number of people who test PCR- or antigen-positive for the first time divided by all the people tested that day, excluding people who have previously tested positive. SOUTHWEST FLORIDA NUMBERS Total recorded cases in SWFL: 102,925 (up from 102,583) Deaths: 1,745 (up from 1,739) 342 total new cases reported Friday 6 new deaths reported Friday Lee County: 55,176 cases (up from 55,001) – 849 deaths (1 new) Collier County: 28,978 (up from 28,883) – 428 deaths (2 new) Charlotte County: 10,194 (up from 10,150) – 323 deaths (3 new) DeSoto County: 3,524 (up from 3,511) – 69 deaths Glades County: 879 (up from 872) – 14 deaths Hendry County: 4,174 (up from 4,166) – 62 deaths Click HERE* for a case-by-case breakdown – updated daily. *If not linked, the final report has not yet been made available. TESTING DATA Effective Oct. 27, the Florida Department of Health ceased releasing data showing overall testing numbers. Their statement: “The Florida Department of Health is making adjustments to the COVID-19 dashboard and daily report to provide clear, accurate information for Florida families. Moving forward, the daily report will focus on the number of tests reported to the state by day and the corresponding positivity rate by day. The previously reported cumulative number did not reflect the current status of the pandemic in Florida. This change is in line with the CDC recommendation that calculation of percent positivity [is] applied consistently and with clear communication, will allow public health officials to follow magnitude and trends effectively, and the trends will be useful for local public health decision making.” RESOURCES VACCINE IN SWFL: COVID-19 vaccine schedules and information for SWFL VACCINE IN FLORIDA: State of Florida’s COVID-19 vaccine reports NOW HIRING: SWFL companies adding jobs FOOD PANTRIES: Harry Chapin mobile food pantry schedule, week of Feb. 8 REPORT COVID-19 DIAGNOSIS/TEST: International self-reporting system IF YOU FEEL SICK: The Florida Department of Health has a 24-hour COVID-19 Call Center at 1-866-779-6121. Questions may also be emailed to covid-19@flhealth.gov. Email responses will be sent during call center hours. LINK: Florida Department of Health COVID-19 updates *The map is best viewed on a desktop computer. If you don’t see the map above tap HERE for a fullscreen version.