Caught on Camera: Firefighters respond to dumpster fire at FGCUFGCU students affected by Covid celebrate first commencement ceremony
FORT MYERS Caught on Camera: Firefighters respond to dumpster fire at FGCU San Carlos Park Fire District responded to a dumpster fire Sunday afternoon.
FORT MYERS FGCU students affected by Covid celebrate first commencement ceremony Graduation is a right of passage from school to the real world, but for these students, reality hit them in 2020.
PUNTA GORDA Motorcycle crash leaves 1 dead One person has died after a motorcycle crash in Charlotte County.
LEE COUNTY Lee Deputies work to track down transient sex offenders who fail to register WINK News Anchor Corey Lazar goes on patrol with Lee County Deputies in search of transient sex offenders who don’t register.
National Hurricane Preparedness Week: Know your risk Hurricane season starts on June 1st, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has designated the week of May 5 through May 11 as National Hurricane Preparedness Week. Each day, Meteorologist Lauren Kreidler will be highlighting ways to stay prepared ahead of this year’s hurricane season.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Stay alert – chance of showers and storms on Sunday Hot, humid, and more rain for parts of Southwest Florida on Sunday.
CAPE CORAL What we learned about Cape Coral’s water crisis after a ride along On Friday, WINK News got to ride along to see just what people are doing that could be wasting water.
The Weather Authority: A wet Saturday evening as storms move through Southwest Florida A rainy Saturday evening across much of southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Lee Health Touch-A-Truck event educates families on Trauma Awareness On Saturday morning, sirens were ringing to celebrate Lee Health Trauma Center’s 30 years of service and to provide the public with trauma education and prevention methods.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (CBS) CDC says bird flu viruses “pose pandemic potential,” cites major knowledge gaps Bird flu continues to appear to pose a “low risk to the general public” for now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. But the agency’s scientists ran into roadblocks investigating a human case of this “pandemic potential” virus this year, they said in a new report.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Bay Street Yard set to open in late May A new place to hang out in Downtown Fort Myers is opening this spring.
Aetna agrees to settle lawsuit over fertility coverage for LGBTQ+ customers Aetna has agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused the health insurer of discriminating against LGBTQ+ customers in need of fertility treatment.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINK Neighborhood Watch: Robbery, Pawn Shops, and Child Porn This week’s segment of Wink Neighborhood Watch features an armed robber, fraud at a pawn shop, and possession of child pornography.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Sun, clouds, humidity, rain – it’s all in your weekend forecast Saturday afternoon will be hot and humid, with a mix of sun and clouds.
LEHIGH ACRES Chaotic lake getting fence and security Now, with all the negative attention it has gotten, some think putting up a fence is a great way to keep that bad activity out.
FORT MYERS Caught on Camera: Firefighters respond to dumpster fire at FGCU San Carlos Park Fire District responded to a dumpster fire Sunday afternoon.
FORT MYERS FGCU students affected by Covid celebrate first commencement ceremony Graduation is a right of passage from school to the real world, but for these students, reality hit them in 2020.
PUNTA GORDA Motorcycle crash leaves 1 dead One person has died after a motorcycle crash in Charlotte County.
LEE COUNTY Lee Deputies work to track down transient sex offenders who fail to register WINK News Anchor Corey Lazar goes on patrol with Lee County Deputies in search of transient sex offenders who don’t register.
National Hurricane Preparedness Week: Know your risk Hurricane season starts on June 1st, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has designated the week of May 5 through May 11 as National Hurricane Preparedness Week. Each day, Meteorologist Lauren Kreidler will be highlighting ways to stay prepared ahead of this year’s hurricane season.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Stay alert – chance of showers and storms on Sunday Hot, humid, and more rain for parts of Southwest Florida on Sunday.
CAPE CORAL What we learned about Cape Coral’s water crisis after a ride along On Friday, WINK News got to ride along to see just what people are doing that could be wasting water.
The Weather Authority: A wet Saturday evening as storms move through Southwest Florida A rainy Saturday evening across much of southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Lee Health Touch-A-Truck event educates families on Trauma Awareness On Saturday morning, sirens were ringing to celebrate Lee Health Trauma Center’s 30 years of service and to provide the public with trauma education and prevention methods.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (CBS) CDC says bird flu viruses “pose pandemic potential,” cites major knowledge gaps Bird flu continues to appear to pose a “low risk to the general public” for now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. But the agency’s scientists ran into roadblocks investigating a human case of this “pandemic potential” virus this year, they said in a new report.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Bay Street Yard set to open in late May A new place to hang out in Downtown Fort Myers is opening this spring.
Aetna agrees to settle lawsuit over fertility coverage for LGBTQ+ customers Aetna has agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused the health insurer of discriminating against LGBTQ+ customers in need of fertility treatment.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINK Neighborhood Watch: Robbery, Pawn Shops, and Child Porn This week’s segment of Wink Neighborhood Watch features an armed robber, fraud at a pawn shop, and possession of child pornography.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Sun, clouds, humidity, rain – it’s all in your weekend forecast Saturday afternoon will be hot and humid, with a mix of sun and clouds.
LEHIGH ACRES Chaotic lake getting fence and security Now, with all the negative attention it has gotten, some think putting up a fence is a great way to keep that bad activity out.
The City of North Port is telling residents in some areas of North Port to consider evacuating as water levels rise after heavy rains from Tropical Storm Elsa. (Credit: WINK News) The remnants of Elsa’s heavy rains and downpours are sticking around, forcing some neighbors out of their homes and causing a larger concern for the rest of hurricane season. High levels of flooding in Sarasota County are becoming North Port’s problem, and the water level is higher than the city has seen in decades. The City of North Port on Thursday told residents in some areas to consider evacuating. “We are currently seeing concerning levels. A significant amount of rain fell on the City and the thousands of mostly undeveloped acres to our north. Those waters are now traveling south through the City, looking to ultimately exit into Charlotte Harbor,” the City said in a press release. The areas seeing rising water and most likely to be impacted are those in the North Port Estates area and those along the Myakkahatchee Creek Corridor. The city said Public Works had exhausted all available resources to relieve pressure from the system and it is not a system issue, but a capacity issue. “We could see some significant rise in levels over the next 72 hours. The water could come at a level not seen here in the City in decades. Already water in some areas has come up two feet overnight. Some roads have nearly four feet of water on top of them.” People who spoke with WINK News said they saw high water levels after Hurricane Irma in 2017, but nothing like this. The water is deeper than 4-feet in some areas, too high for cars to pass through, meaning some people found themselves trapped in their homes. “This morning, it came to the back right there around the corner and it has slowly just been creeping up,” said Vanessa Carr, who has watched her backyard turn into a pond. “It’s going to continue to rise here and we’re gonna keep flooding.” City leaders expect the water to continue to rise through the weekend. Emergency crews have already had to rescue a handful of people. “If those people are still in there, they probably won’t be able to get out,” said Zane Smith. Rural areas to the north in Sarasota County received a lot of rainfall during Elsa. That water is now moving south toward Charlotte Harbor, first passing through North Port, where it’s getting trapped in the low-lying streets surrounding the Myakkahatchee Creek. “More rain would not be helpful. Let’s put it that way. But what is coming is already coming,” said Josh Taylor, spokesperson for the city. “There’s not much else you can do but just watch it and hope. Maybe pull up fishing poles,” Carr said. Emergency responders have boats, airboats and high-water vehicles on standby in case more rescues are necessary. A WINK News crew saw a family and their pets rescued Thursday afternoon. The city has opened a call center for any residents who have specific concerns on the flooding. That number is 941-429-7169. The city has partnered with Sarasota County to open a shelter for residents at 8 p.m. at the Morgan Family Community Center, 6207 West Price Blvd., in North Port. Pets must be crated while at the shelter, and showers and cots will be available. Food will not initially be provided. The city said they also have resources to help evacuate large animals as soon as possible. For help, contact the call center at 941-429-7169. Sandbags will be available at 6 p.m. Thursday at the football fields by the George Mullen Activity Center along City Center Boulevard, east of Sumter Boulevard. Bags, sand, and shovels will be provided for you to fill. Bags will be first-come, first-served and available until supplies run out. Impacted areas (Graphic provided by City of North Port) Photo provided by City of North Port Photos provided by City of North Port