NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County residents wait hours for D-SNAP assistance The supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) is at the Lee Civic Center all weekend, ready to help southwest Florida.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA First eaglet hatches in famous SWFL eagle nest Welcome E24! The third eaglet from the nest of M15 and F23 has hatched according to the Southwest Florida eagle camera.
lehigh acres LCSO: Lehigh Acres shooting investigation underway The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
Rock for Equality: SWFL non-profit hosts benefit concert for Palestine A Southwest Florida non-profit hosted a benefit concert on Friday night to help with humanitarian aid in Palestine.
Warm, breezy Saturday with a few showers possible The Weather Authority is forecasting a breezy, warm weekend in store across Southwest Florida, with the chance of a few showers, particularly on Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Active investigation underway in South Cape Coral Cape Coral police are investigating at a home on Southwest 49th Terrace in South Cape Coral early Saturday morning.
16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier County According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two airboats crashed south of U.S. 41 east between mile markers 74 and 75, leaving well over a dozen people injured.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes There could be new detectives on the block, located in your nearest auto shop. A new state bill aims at trying to stop hit-and-run drivers from getting away.
CAPE CORAL New leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans A drug now being studied in human trials to kill cancerous tumors, is already approved and helping animals.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral planning a new interchange with I-75 The city of Cape Coral is in the early stages of planning a new interchange with I-75, an idea that has been discussed for more than a decade.
Tracking invasive species after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton didn’t just bring wind and rain, they brought new threats to southwest Florida’s ecosystem.
PUNTA GORDA Woman in Punta Gorda shooting charged with 2nd degree murder A woman in a homicide investigation on Nasturtium Drive in Punta Gorda has been charged with 2nd-degree murder.
Lee County mother continuing fight to get children a bus stop The school district already told her she lives too close to the school to qualify for a bus route but she has not given up.
NORTH NAPLES Grant Thornton Invitational returns to Tiburon Golf Club Stars on the PGA and LPGA Tours are back in Southwest Florida for the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club.
FORT MYERS Black Flag brings classic punk energy to The Ranch in Fort Myers Legendary punk band Black Flag made their mark in Southwest Florida during the Fort Myers stop of their “First Four Years” tour.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County residents wait hours for D-SNAP assistance The supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) is at the Lee Civic Center all weekend, ready to help southwest Florida.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA First eaglet hatches in famous SWFL eagle nest Welcome E24! The third eaglet from the nest of M15 and F23 has hatched according to the Southwest Florida eagle camera.
lehigh acres LCSO: Lehigh Acres shooting investigation underway The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
Rock for Equality: SWFL non-profit hosts benefit concert for Palestine A Southwest Florida non-profit hosted a benefit concert on Friday night to help with humanitarian aid in Palestine.
Warm, breezy Saturday with a few showers possible The Weather Authority is forecasting a breezy, warm weekend in store across Southwest Florida, with the chance of a few showers, particularly on Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Active investigation underway in South Cape Coral Cape Coral police are investigating at a home on Southwest 49th Terrace in South Cape Coral early Saturday morning.
16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier County According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two airboats crashed south of U.S. 41 east between mile markers 74 and 75, leaving well over a dozen people injured.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes There could be new detectives on the block, located in your nearest auto shop. A new state bill aims at trying to stop hit-and-run drivers from getting away.
CAPE CORAL New leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans A drug now being studied in human trials to kill cancerous tumors, is already approved and helping animals.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral planning a new interchange with I-75 The city of Cape Coral is in the early stages of planning a new interchange with I-75, an idea that has been discussed for more than a decade.
Tracking invasive species after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton didn’t just bring wind and rain, they brought new threats to southwest Florida’s ecosystem.
PUNTA GORDA Woman in Punta Gorda shooting charged with 2nd degree murder A woman in a homicide investigation on Nasturtium Drive in Punta Gorda has been charged with 2nd-degree murder.
Lee County mother continuing fight to get children a bus stop The school district already told her she lives too close to the school to qualify for a bus route but she has not given up.
NORTH NAPLES Grant Thornton Invitational returns to Tiburon Golf Club Stars on the PGA and LPGA Tours are back in Southwest Florida for the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club.
FORT MYERS Black Flag brings classic punk energy to The Ranch in Fort Myers Legendary punk band Black Flag made their mark in Southwest Florida during the Fort Myers stop of their “First Four Years” tour.
Site of Margaritaville Resort opening on Fort Myers Beach. Credit: WINK News Fort Myers Beach is about to get a whole new look and feel, as construction crews broke ground on the Margaritaville Resort Friday. For a while, the resort was blocked by lawsuits. Then, the pandemic delayed construction. Now, fencing is up around the area, and they’re finally ready to start building. The resort will take up over 6 acres and will have around 254 hotel rooms once complete, as well as a beach club and restaurants. It’s a diamond in the … sand here for them to be coming here,” Scott Rediger said. Rediger has been a fan of Jimmy Buffett since the beginning. He wears his fandom proudly in his clothing and his beach setup. While some are concerned about the traffic, Rediger thinks that’s a good thing. “You’re bringing in the crowds means money,” Rediger said. That’s the hope for many businesses on the beach, especially for Kathy Doherty, a hostess at Sunset Beach Tropical Grille. “They’re not just going to stay at their resort,” Doherty said. “They’re going to venture out, and they’re going to come to all the other shops and restaurants around the area. As with any big change, this one has met with resistance and excitement in equal measure. Some neighbors don’t like to see the small town of Fort Myers Beach grow too big, and were upset when the iconic Mermaid Lounge got shut down. The project will be adding a lot of new things while also paying homage to the area’s culture. The resort will be turning the Cigar Hut into a pool club facility “That’s been around on this island since about 1933,” said John Gucciardo, a spokesman for TPI Hospitality. “We tried to do everything we could to incorporate that into the finished product, and we were able to.” Many people told WINK News of their excitement for the new resort. “I’m actually very excited; I think it’s going to do good,” said Isabel Garcia, who lives and works on Fort Myers Beach. “I’m really hoping to see how Fort Myers Beach has been growing because it’s been growing, and yeah, I’m so excited about it.” “It’s going to bring a lot of tourism to the area and restaurants and things to do and shop, so that’s good,” said Elaine Robarge, from Fort Myers. The Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce and other businesses say they think more people will come for the resort alone, but will then spend money outside of Margaritaville and come back for the beach. “I think change is good for all of us,” said Jacki Liszak, executive director of the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce. “I think it’s going to bring increased opportunities for our frontline workers and our hospitality workers. It’s going to bring opportunities for new people to come to Southwest Florida, who would, like I mentioned, may never have thought to come see us. And they’re going to come over our Sky Bridge, and they’re going to fall in love with us.” Rediger said Margaritaville’s arrival was an added bonus for him and his wife to move to Southwest Florida from Indiana. He says he will be in the region full-time in two years when the resort opens in 2023. There was only one thing that would have made the groundbreaking of the resort better for Rediger and likely many others. “Wish Jimmy Buffett would fly his seaplane in here and land here and play a few songs,” Rediger said.