Collier commissioners increase opposition to possible move by Naples AirportGeorgia man found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with minor in Port Charlotte
Collier commissioners increase opposition to possible move by Naples Airport Collier County commissioners increased their opposition to possibly relocating Naples Airport, supporting a resolution against two sites near Ave Maria and rejecting the airport authority’s request for assistance.
PORT CHARLOTTE Georgia man found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with minor in Port Charlotte A Georgia man has been found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a minor and possessing a firearm as a person with felony convictions.
New recreational marijuana amendment proposed for 2026 Florida ballot Smart & Safe Florida, the political action committee primarily funded by Trulieve – the state’s largest medical marijuana company and fourth largest in the U.S. – this week filed a new proposal to put an amendment on the ballot in Florida in 2026 that would legalize adult recreational use of marijuana.
NAPLES Naples Pride releases statement on city council’s vote Naples Pride has issued a statement on the Naples City Council’s decision to approve this year’s festival but with a caveat.
Punta Gorda scraps plan for new $16M City Hall building Prior to the hurricane in September 2022 causing City Hall’s closure, the previous City Council, including three incumbents who were unseated in the Nov. 5 election, planned to build a new City Hall on its current site at 326 W. Marion Ave.
CAPE CORAL Jaycee Park Renovations — There’s no going back now Where there’s talk of Jaycee Park in Cape Coral Council meetings, there is turmoil.
CAPE CORAL NRG Wrestling slams its way into Cape Coral NRG wrestling is hosting its first live event of 2025 with NRG Fully Charged on Saturday, Jan. 18, at Scotty Bierwerks.
Backlash over new state law banning kids from social media From body image issues to bullying and, even worse, depression and suicide.
orlando Gov. DeSantis appoints Ashley Moody for Florida Senator Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has named Attorney General Ashley Moody the next Florida Senator, replacing Marco Rubio.
sanibel Volunteer Expo to be held at Sanibel Community House; nearly 50 organizations in attendance The City of Sanibel is set to hold its Volunteer Expo, an event with nearly 50 organizations aiming to give back to the community.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads-Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox-Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
the weather authority Cooler-than-average with a few showers possible this afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cooler-than-average temperatures with a possible afternoon shower this Thursday.
PORT CHARLOTTE Community grieves as investigation continues into fatal Port Charlotte fire The state fire marshal has yet to confirm whether 70-year-old Roseanne Cantasano was the victim of a devastating house fire on Monday night.
Local influencer reacts to potential TikTok ban TikTok is more than just a place to dance, learn something new or just scroll. For the Manella family, the app is a place where they can be themselves.
Protecting the Florida Panther from urban expansion The endangered Florida Panther is the king of the Everglades but new developments could rip apart their core territory.
Collier commissioners increase opposition to possible move by Naples Airport Collier County commissioners increased their opposition to possibly relocating Naples Airport, supporting a resolution against two sites near Ave Maria and rejecting the airport authority’s request for assistance.
PORT CHARLOTTE Georgia man found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with minor in Port Charlotte A Georgia man has been found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a minor and possessing a firearm as a person with felony convictions.
New recreational marijuana amendment proposed for 2026 Florida ballot Smart & Safe Florida, the political action committee primarily funded by Trulieve – the state’s largest medical marijuana company and fourth largest in the U.S. – this week filed a new proposal to put an amendment on the ballot in Florida in 2026 that would legalize adult recreational use of marijuana.
NAPLES Naples Pride releases statement on city council’s vote Naples Pride has issued a statement on the Naples City Council’s decision to approve this year’s festival but with a caveat.
Punta Gorda scraps plan for new $16M City Hall building Prior to the hurricane in September 2022 causing City Hall’s closure, the previous City Council, including three incumbents who were unseated in the Nov. 5 election, planned to build a new City Hall on its current site at 326 W. Marion Ave.
CAPE CORAL Jaycee Park Renovations — There’s no going back now Where there’s talk of Jaycee Park in Cape Coral Council meetings, there is turmoil.
CAPE CORAL NRG Wrestling slams its way into Cape Coral NRG wrestling is hosting its first live event of 2025 with NRG Fully Charged on Saturday, Jan. 18, at Scotty Bierwerks.
Backlash over new state law banning kids from social media From body image issues to bullying and, even worse, depression and suicide.
orlando Gov. DeSantis appoints Ashley Moody for Florida Senator Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has named Attorney General Ashley Moody the next Florida Senator, replacing Marco Rubio.
sanibel Volunteer Expo to be held at Sanibel Community House; nearly 50 organizations in attendance The City of Sanibel is set to hold its Volunteer Expo, an event with nearly 50 organizations aiming to give back to the community.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads-Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox-Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
the weather authority Cooler-than-average with a few showers possible this afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cooler-than-average temperatures with a possible afternoon shower this Thursday.
PORT CHARLOTTE Community grieves as investigation continues into fatal Port Charlotte fire The state fire marshal has yet to confirm whether 70-year-old Roseanne Cantasano was the victim of a devastating house fire on Monday night.
Local influencer reacts to potential TikTok ban TikTok is more than just a place to dance, learn something new or just scroll. For the Manella family, the app is a place where they can be themselves.
Protecting the Florida Panther from urban expansion The endangered Florida Panther is the king of the Everglades but new developments could rip apart their core territory.
Credit: WINK News. High-rent prices are making it harder for many people to make ends meet in Florida, and that includes Southwest Florida – one of the most expensive areas to rent in the state. According to the 2021 Out of Reach report, an individual would have to make more than $26 an hour to afford housing in parts of Collier County. On average, someone would have to work nearly three full-time jobs at minimum wage to afford a two-bedroom rental home. We looked at salaries for teachers and firefighters, and it looks like some of them would struggle to pay rent. Some of those jobs start around $30,000 to $40,000 annual salaries, and there are a lot of people who don’t make that much year-round. “I feel like it can get overwhelming,” Deshawn Layne said. Having the essentials is not always easy. “I’ve been renting down here for a good minute,” said Layne, who lives in Collier County. “With everything going on and how it’s going high, I feel like they’re not reasonable.” Layne agrees rent prices are sky high and sometimes hard to pay up. “They can’t breathe because there is just so much more they have to come up with to pay this,” Layne said. According to the report, the Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island area is one of the top five most expensive areas to rent. The average two-bedroom apartment or home is more than $1,300 in monthly rent. “Because prices are higher here, we do see a lot of people renting, and a lot of new construction, luxury apartments and rentals,” Realtor Michelle Jackson said. That means to live comfortably, people would need to make on average $55,000 annually. To put it into perspective, teachers in Collier County make yearly salaries of $30,000 to $52,000, and starting EMS and firefighters make $44,000 to $76,000 each year. For some people, including Grant Henderson, it’s what drove him away from renting, and he decided to buy a home. “I noticed that rent and property prices were going up, and I was renting, and it was going up,” Henderson said. “I decided I was getting tired of that.” The salaries needed to live comfortably in Cape Coral and Fort Myers are almost $48,000 each year. In Punta Gorda, it’s more than $42,000. Unfortunately, Jackson says she thinks the trend will continue. “We predict it to continue on for about a year and a half,” Jackson said. “We don’t see it tanking or anything like that.” MORE: National Low Income Housing Coalition – Out of Reach 2021 2021 Out of Reach Report – Florida