Dunbar’s Southward Village set for affordable housing transformationBabcock Ranch showcases cutting-edge robot in home construction
dunbar Dunbar’s Southward Village set for affordable housing transformation Southward Village is set to become a new hub for affordable housing as companies prepare to build on the now-empty site.
BABCOCK RANCH Babcock Ranch showcases cutting-edge robot in home construction Neighbors, friends, and students gathered Wednesday morning to witness a groundbreaking event in their community.
FORT MYERS Lee County schools expand garden program to 14 schools The Lee County School District is expanding its farm-to-school garden program to 14 schools, providing fresh ingredients for cafeteria meals.
SANIBEL Sanibel dredging raises questions about red tide and beach conditions The beaches of Southwest Florida are a major attraction and a key reason why many visit or move to the area. However, a recent look at the Gulf waters shows a concerning change.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Most Wanted Wednesday: Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for February 12, 2025 Here are some of Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for Wednesday, February 12, 2025.
Charlotte County faces drought, Punta Gorda limits lawn watering Charlotte County is feeling the heat as it grapples with a significant drought.
LEE COUNTY Red Sox pitchers and catchers return to SWFL Boston Red Sox pitchers and catchers report to JetBlue Park for the first workout of the Spring Training season.
FORT MYERS Man arrested for prowling and enticing a child in Fort Myers A concerned citizen flagged down Florida Highway Patrol state troopers in Fort Myers to report an adult man was harassing his daughter, according to authorities.
Exclusive: Collier County sheriff explains how immigration crackdown helps residents There is concern over illegal immigration in Southwest Florida and its impact on safety and money.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers man pleads guilty following Papa Johns armed robbery A Fort Myers man has pled guilty to multiple charges following a robbery at a Fort Myers Papa Johns in September.
Proton therapy center advances in SWFL Proton therapy is taking a significant step forward in Southwest Florida with the addition of a new medical director to the team.
Pitbull located after getting lost in Lee County crash A missing pitbull has been located after being lost for days.
FORT MYERS US Marshal shoots suspect at Mel’s Diner in Fort Myers The Fort Myers Police Department has confirmed that a U.S. Marshal shot a suspect at Mel’s Diner on Cleveland Avenue.
Commerce Bank economist discusses Trump tariffs, economic outlook Scott Colbert, chief economist for Commerce Bank and Trust, visited Naples this week from his home in St. Louis, where he works for one of the nation’s top 50 banks, one with $32 billion in assets, $25.3 billion in deposits and $74.8 billion in total trust assets.
Homes, hotel, commercial development planned for Murdock Village area Kolter Group LLC got the green light to move forward with its development plans for 670 residential units, a 150-room hotel, 250,000 square feet of regional commercial space and another 150,000 square feet of commercial and governmental space.
dunbar Dunbar’s Southward Village set for affordable housing transformation Southward Village is set to become a new hub for affordable housing as companies prepare to build on the now-empty site.
BABCOCK RANCH Babcock Ranch showcases cutting-edge robot in home construction Neighbors, friends, and students gathered Wednesday morning to witness a groundbreaking event in their community.
FORT MYERS Lee County schools expand garden program to 14 schools The Lee County School District is expanding its farm-to-school garden program to 14 schools, providing fresh ingredients for cafeteria meals.
SANIBEL Sanibel dredging raises questions about red tide and beach conditions The beaches of Southwest Florida are a major attraction and a key reason why many visit or move to the area. However, a recent look at the Gulf waters shows a concerning change.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Most Wanted Wednesday: Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for February 12, 2025 Here are some of Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for Wednesday, February 12, 2025.
Charlotte County faces drought, Punta Gorda limits lawn watering Charlotte County is feeling the heat as it grapples with a significant drought.
LEE COUNTY Red Sox pitchers and catchers return to SWFL Boston Red Sox pitchers and catchers report to JetBlue Park for the first workout of the Spring Training season.
FORT MYERS Man arrested for prowling and enticing a child in Fort Myers A concerned citizen flagged down Florida Highway Patrol state troopers in Fort Myers to report an adult man was harassing his daughter, according to authorities.
Exclusive: Collier County sheriff explains how immigration crackdown helps residents There is concern over illegal immigration in Southwest Florida and its impact on safety and money.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers man pleads guilty following Papa Johns armed robbery A Fort Myers man has pled guilty to multiple charges following a robbery at a Fort Myers Papa Johns in September.
Proton therapy center advances in SWFL Proton therapy is taking a significant step forward in Southwest Florida with the addition of a new medical director to the team.
Pitbull located after getting lost in Lee County crash A missing pitbull has been located after being lost for days.
FORT MYERS US Marshal shoots suspect at Mel’s Diner in Fort Myers The Fort Myers Police Department has confirmed that a U.S. Marshal shot a suspect at Mel’s Diner on Cleveland Avenue.
Commerce Bank economist discusses Trump tariffs, economic outlook Scott Colbert, chief economist for Commerce Bank and Trust, visited Naples this week from his home in St. Louis, where he works for one of the nation’s top 50 banks, one with $32 billion in assets, $25.3 billion in deposits and $74.8 billion in total trust assets.
Homes, hotel, commercial development planned for Murdock Village area Kolter Group LLC got the green light to move forward with its development plans for 670 residential units, a 150-room hotel, 250,000 square feet of regional commercial space and another 150,000 square feet of commercial and governmental space.
Video of the paddling was taken by the child’s mother. (Credit: Shared with WINK News) A WINK News exclusive story has been seen on national news and around the world. A 6-year-old girl was paddled by her principal as punishment at a Hendry County elementary school, despite the district eliminating corporal punishment more than five years ago. The child’s mom told deputies it was all over damage to a computer. Thousands of parents are outraged and asking how someone hired to protect children could keep a paddle at school. Others want to know why adults who were also in the room didn’t stop the beating. WINK News reached out to the principal and clerk seen in the video by phone and through the school district for comment but have not been received a reply. For transparency, WINK News and Noticias WINK have transcribed, translated, and posted the entire video here. It was provided to us by the mother. During the recording, the 6-year-old girl’s mother held the camera, so she is not seen in the video. A review by the State Attorney’s Office has found that a Central Elementary School principal did not commit a crime when she paddled the girl in front of the child’s mother. The translators and transcribers had to determine to the best of their ability who was speaking when not in full view of the camera. The Spanish translations were reviewed by no fewer than three individuals. Those in the video are identified as: Central Elementary School principal Melissa Carter: MC Cecilia Self, school clerk: CS Child’s mother Child MC: You can get a spanking, it’s ok. I spanked my son yesterday, ask Ms. Self. CS: Yeah. MC: It’s ok. She’s your mom. CS: (in Spanish) Hers misbehaved and she hit him with the board. Child’s mother: (in Spanish) I told her, one day they’re going to call the cops. They’re going to be there, and they’re going to give it to you. CS: Because yeah. Child’s mother: (in Spanish) Because it’s not right. I’ve explained that to them, but all the time they do this (she does a gesture not seen on camera), but I’ve talked to their dad CS: Yeah, they say they keep telling her they gonna call the police because they’re acting out too much and everything. And they just look ahead and give their back. Child’s mother: (in Spanish) because the dad — MC: You better be glad you’re not my daughter, cus I would spank your butt all the time for acting like that. And I wish you would try to call the police on me. That’s called being a brat. You understand? Child: Mmhmmm MC: I wouldn’t give you money for anything. I wouldn’t get you nice clothes. You would get what you got and that’s it. No extra if you want to act like that. I’ve had this talk with you before. CS: Yeah and not changing. MC: No, and you’re not changing. CS: (in Spanish) It’s been talked a lot, and she doesn’t change. MC: So let’s go. Let’s get it done. CS: Let me tell you how this works. You’re gonna put your hands here, put your butt out. And you’re going to hold on to this because you cannot put your hands up here. MC: You put your hands, and it’s gonna hurt. CS: Come on. MC: Put your hands on the chair. CS: Right here. Let me show you how. This is serious, you see. *girl cries* CS: finally you understand what’s going on. Wait. MC: pull her pants up. CS: Put your butt out. Out. *MC paddles, girl cries​* MC: No, put your hands down. *MC paddles, girl cries​* *MC paddles, girl cries​* MC: Now don’t do it again, and sit down. Sit down. *girl cries​* MC: You better tell your momma sorry, and you better not treat her like that either. *girl cries​* CS: Is this gonna happen again? Girl: No, no, no *cries​* CS: never, you’re going to be good at home? *girl cries​* CS: Are you gonna respect your mom? MC: Because I’m gonna tell you what, if your mom wants to come up to the school and spank you, and we can watch, that’s gonna happen. Do you understand me? Girl: Yes ma’am *cries​* MC: You better start treating your mom right. *girl cries​* MC: And you better start behaving and taking care of the stuff. You don’t keep messing up things. ​Girl: Yes ma’am *cries​* MC: So disappointed in you. CS: next time you come to the office, this is gonna happen again. Every time you come to the office, you understand that? *girl cries​* CS: You want to come back to the office again? Cus you come very often, you wanna keep coming to the office? You gonna come back? *girl cries​* MC: You’re gonna come back to the office? ​Girl: *cries​* no MC: No? I better not see you back up here, cus it’s gonna happen again. *girl cries​* MC: Now calm down. Calm down before you get sick. Take a deep breath. Take that mask off and take a deep breath. CS: (In Spanish) Let’s see if this works. Maybe we won’t see her. *girl cries​* MC: Mom, if that’s what you need to come do, so that we’re here and we see you, that can happen. CS: (In Spanish) And you can come here and do it too. If they don’t believe you that you’re gonna do it, get them in the car and bring them to the school. MC in the background: You don’t keep acting like that *claps​* That’s not the students we have at Central. We don’t like our students to behave that way. You know we don’t teach you that way. Do we? *girl cries​* MC: Take that mask off and breath, and calm down. *girl cries​* MC: Maybe that will make you think next time you act. You understand? ​Girl: Yes ma’am *cries​* MC: I hope so. Cus that’s not fair to mom. That’s not fair. CS: She’s missing work to be able to come to do this. *girl cries​* CS: Do like that *takes deep breath​* ​Girl: No I can’t *cries​* MC: Yes you can. She’ll be ok mom. She’ll be ok. Girl’s mother: Ok, Ok. Thank you. MC: Don’t let her keep acting like that mom. You’re the mom.