ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
Clockwise from top left: David Thomas, an FGCU professor, Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell, Fort Myers Councilman Johnny Streets and Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson talk about Derek Chauvin’s guilty verdict and it’s effect on the future of policing. (CREDIT: WINK News) A push for change in community policing is coming after Derek Chauvin’s guilty verdict in the murder of George Floyd. But will it have an effect on policing in Southwest Florida? Black communities celebrated the decision by a jury to convict on all three counts on Tuesday. But while they are relieved by the verdict, there is also hope this means more police reform. While police departments reflect on the jury’s decision, most that spoke to WINK News agreed what happened to 46-year-old Floyd hurt all police officers and should not happen again. “I think there’s kind of a little relief with some law enforcement now that hopefully, this is behind us,” said Sheriff Bill Prummelll of the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. Fort Myers Councilman Johnny Streets, a retired Fort Myers police officer, said it was a good day for law enforcement to say this is not what we do. “This is not who we are,” Streets said. FGCU justice studies Professor David Thomas said he doesn’t think the verdict changes the job for police officers out on the streets. “I think officers, to some respect, may second-guess themselves,” said Thomas, also a retired police officer. “My thing is that if you do the right thing, it should never be an issue.” Prummell also said he isn’t sure it will impact policing. “I think his actions kind of gave a big black eye to us nationwide,” Prummell said. But Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson, also a retired Fort Myers police officer, said it will change policing in hopefully, “a positive way where accountability will stay in everybody’s mind.” Anderson also said officers may also be more cautious when it comes to using force. “They may be just more reluctant when they are in a situation where use of force is warranted,” Anderson said. “That little bit of reluctance may cause them either just to totally back away or to maybe put themselves in harm’s way by not responding the way they are trained to do.” But all four agreed that improvement is needed. But it won’t happen overnight. “I think it’s part of the catalyst for change and I think we need to ride this wave out and do the will of the people,” Streets said. Streets said he plans to get the conversation started next week at a community forum to bridge the gap between police and the people they serve. “It has to be community members and police department and sheriff’s offices sitting at the table and talking,” Thomas said. “The Bridging the Gap in our Community” forum will take place at the S.T.A.R.S. Complex, 2980 Edison Avenue, on April 29 at 6 p.m. The forum will include conversations on what a child should do if they are stopped by police and what proper protocol is for an officer. Fort Myers Police Department statement “We will continue to move forward and are grateful to have strong support from our community. There’s always room for improvement, and we will continue to train and adapt accordingly.”