Large police presence in Hendry County after vehicle crash with “suspicious circumstances” Hendry County Sheriff’s Office deputies, HCSO detectives and first responders are on the scene of what appears to be a single-vehicle crash with “suspicious circumstances.”
CAPE CORAL New police precincts coming to Cape Coral The Cape Coral Police Department is adding new precincts around the city. The reason? Growth.
Vietnam veteran’s unique service animal companion When we think of service animals, dogs usually come to mind, but it’s not just dogs that help people navigate through their challenges.
NAPLES Gulfshore Life’s Men and Women of the Year award honoree: John Cooney It’s one thing to be philanthropic and help our community. It’s another to provide so much help and want absolutely nothing in return, not even your name mentioned.
FORT MYERS Dunbar High principal named Lee County Principal of the Year Carl Burnside was the last to find out Friday morning that he was selected as Lee County Schools Principal of the Year for 2025.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach businesses excited for increased season traffic Those on Fort Myers Beach are excited for the town to return to normal. Businesses are ready to accept snowbirds and residents again.
CAPE CORAL Mom faces DUI charge after crash during pick-up at Oasis High School A crash in the pick-up line at Oasis High School led Cape Coral police to a DUI investigation.
Rethinking daily Asprin intake Many of us have heard the saying, “An aspirin a day keeps the doctor away,” but new research shows that taking aspirin every day might not be as good for you as we once thought.
NAPLES Embezzlement investigation in Naples WINK News is looking into claims of embezzlement in the Naples government.
NORTH FORT MYERS Where did the Shell Factory animals go? With the closure of The Shell Factory in September, people have been wondering where the animals went.
Tim Aten Knows: Publix to demolish, rebuild Naples store Two days after Thanksgiving, the 38-year-old Publix supermarket in Neapolitan Way Plaza will close to begin a Naples redevelopment project that has been planned for years.
Planned retail, lifestyle center seeking tenants at Babcock Ranch A new 112,000-square-foot mixed-use complex designed for retail shops, restaurants, bars, office space and residential units is planned for Babcock Ranch. Called B Street at Babcock Ranch, there are approximately 20 parties negotiating leases, said Jon Cashion, a principal with commercial real estate agency Katz & Associates. A groundbreaking ceremony is slated for early 2025, […]
WASHINGTON (AP) Trump chooses loyalist Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Matt Gaetz withdraws President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday he will nominate former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead the Justice Department, turning to a longtime ally after his first choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name from consideration amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations.
FORT MYERS 2 Fort Myers men arrested in separate cases involving children Two men from Fort Myers have been arrested; one faces charges related to child pornography and another faces child molestation charges.
ESTERO Phase 2 in the Corkscrew Rd. Widening project begins Phase 1 of Corkscrew Road’s widening has been completed, and phase 2 is now commencing.
Large police presence in Hendry County after vehicle crash with “suspicious circumstances” Hendry County Sheriff’s Office deputies, HCSO detectives and first responders are on the scene of what appears to be a single-vehicle crash with “suspicious circumstances.”
CAPE CORAL New police precincts coming to Cape Coral The Cape Coral Police Department is adding new precincts around the city. The reason? Growth.
Vietnam veteran’s unique service animal companion When we think of service animals, dogs usually come to mind, but it’s not just dogs that help people navigate through their challenges.
NAPLES Gulfshore Life’s Men and Women of the Year award honoree: John Cooney It’s one thing to be philanthropic and help our community. It’s another to provide so much help and want absolutely nothing in return, not even your name mentioned.
FORT MYERS Dunbar High principal named Lee County Principal of the Year Carl Burnside was the last to find out Friday morning that he was selected as Lee County Schools Principal of the Year for 2025.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach businesses excited for increased season traffic Those on Fort Myers Beach are excited for the town to return to normal. Businesses are ready to accept snowbirds and residents again.
CAPE CORAL Mom faces DUI charge after crash during pick-up at Oasis High School A crash in the pick-up line at Oasis High School led Cape Coral police to a DUI investigation.
Rethinking daily Asprin intake Many of us have heard the saying, “An aspirin a day keeps the doctor away,” but new research shows that taking aspirin every day might not be as good for you as we once thought.
NAPLES Embezzlement investigation in Naples WINK News is looking into claims of embezzlement in the Naples government.
NORTH FORT MYERS Where did the Shell Factory animals go? With the closure of The Shell Factory in September, people have been wondering where the animals went.
Tim Aten Knows: Publix to demolish, rebuild Naples store Two days after Thanksgiving, the 38-year-old Publix supermarket in Neapolitan Way Plaza will close to begin a Naples redevelopment project that has been planned for years.
Planned retail, lifestyle center seeking tenants at Babcock Ranch A new 112,000-square-foot mixed-use complex designed for retail shops, restaurants, bars, office space and residential units is planned for Babcock Ranch. Called B Street at Babcock Ranch, there are approximately 20 parties negotiating leases, said Jon Cashion, a principal with commercial real estate agency Katz & Associates. A groundbreaking ceremony is slated for early 2025, […]
WASHINGTON (AP) Trump chooses loyalist Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Matt Gaetz withdraws President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday he will nominate former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead the Justice Department, turning to a longtime ally after his first choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name from consideration amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations.
FORT MYERS 2 Fort Myers men arrested in separate cases involving children Two men from Fort Myers have been arrested; one faces charges related to child pornography and another faces child molestation charges.
ESTERO Phase 2 in the Corkscrew Rd. Widening project begins Phase 1 of Corkscrew Road’s widening has been completed, and phase 2 is now commencing.
Lekesha Gales said her daughter Kierra Russ, accused in Club Blu shooting, is innocent. (CREDIT: WINK News) A 23-year-old woman arrested in the Club Blu shootings has asked the judge to dismiss the case against her due to lack of evidence. Kierra Russ appeared in court Friday to ask that the charges against her be dropped. Russ faces two counts of second-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder. Russ was arrested in December along with co-defendants Derrick Church, Demetrius O’Neal, Tajze Battle and Dontril Loggins after a years-long investigation into the mass shooting at the end of a teen club party that killed two and injured others in Fort Myers. Stef’An Strawder, a Lehigh Acres basketball star, and 14-year-old Sean Archilles, a basketball player in his own right and member of the Crossover Youth Center at CityGate Ministries, were killed in the shooting. According to a motion to dismiss filed by Russ’s attorney, the evidence against Russ amounts to little more than text messages exchanged with O’Neal weeks before the shooting and the night of July 25 when the shooting occurred. In an interview with WINK News, Russ’ parents, Lekesha Gales and Sharone Russ, say Russ is innocent. “We’re parents, that’s our baby. And we’re just wanting the truth to be revealed and that she’s, she’s innocent,” Gales said. “She’s innocent. She’s, she’s a good girl. No trouble. No, nothing. She needs to be out.” Russ has been in Lee County Jail on $750,000 bond since her arrest. “I’m a mother first and I know this case. You know, it’s been long. And, you know, with the respect of the victim’s family. We’re victims in this as well, you know, my daughter has been incarcerated. And we know for a fact that, you know, she’s innocent,” Gales said. “It’s tough for us as parents too. The victims have lost loved ones, but we’re losing a loved one as well. And I’m just overwhelmed with it all.” Russ was scheduled to perform at the party, according to the motion. In one text, she tells O’Neal “I see one opp wide open,” which investigators say referred to the “opposition” or “enemy.” At 12:33 a.m., Russ texts O’Neal “we leaving.” O’Neal responds by asking “everybody?” And Russ responds “yeah.” The shooting occurs minutes after the text was received. In their response to the motion to dismiss, the state argues that the text “incited, caused, encouraged, assisted, and/or advised the other person or persons to commit the crime.” The judge decided to review the evidence and discuss the motion in a few weeks. Russ will be back in court on June 3. Russ’ parents say she has never been arrested. “She’s not a criminal. She’s not a bad person,” Gales said. “We all have our flaws. But this is not one of her flaws. She’s not a murderer. She’s not a bad child at all. Like, you know. So this has been very overwhelming for our family.”