Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast UniversityMissing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Ian.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
LABELLE City of LaBelle under precautionary boil water notice A water main break has the City of Labelle under a precautionary boil water notice.
ESTERO FGCU student wins ice dancing national championship FGCU sophomore Lucas Appel wins his second US Senior Solo Dance National Championship in three years.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office: Parent brings weapon to Lehigh Acres school According to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office report, there is probable cause to believe a woman unintentionally brought a firearm to school.
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Ian.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
LABELLE City of LaBelle under precautionary boil water notice A water main break has the City of Labelle under a precautionary boil water notice.
ESTERO FGCU student wins ice dancing national championship FGCU sophomore Lucas Appel wins his second US Senior Solo Dance National Championship in three years.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office: Parent brings weapon to Lehigh Acres school According to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office report, there is probable cause to believe a woman unintentionally brought a firearm to school.
On a sunny southwest Florida afternoon, we asked the public to tell us what they wanted to know. A white dry erase board with the question “What questions do you have?” greeted sidewalk pedestrians in downtown Fort Myers. Joanne Miller responded to the question with the following: “I’m really concerned about what’s going to happen 9/11 with everything in Kabul. Here and over there. I don’t think it’s a question anyone can answer but I really am concerned,” Miller said. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks that took the lives of 2,977 people. It is also the day President George W. Bush declared a global war on terror promising to fight and defeat terrorists before they could launch another attack. While we are not free from domestic terrorists at home, we have not seen another foreign attack like 9/11 on American soil. Joanne Miller We asked retired FBI agent Daniel Morrison what he would tell Miller about the potential for more terrorism around this vulnerable time. “Anniversary is a date, it’s a reference point. But it doesn’t mean at any given point throughout every day for the last 20 plus years that we’re not in a heightened state of awareness of these possible threats that are constantly being monitored,” says Morrison. He points to the wide communication between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies that we did not have before 9/11. He expects every FBI field office in the country will have a command center ready for the threats of more attacks. The United States Department of Homeland Security released a new advisory bulletin on August 13, 2021 warning of a heightened threat environment across the United States. “The Homeland continues to face a diverse and challenging threat environment leading up to and following the 20th Anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks as well religious holidays we assess could serve as a catalyst for acts of targeted violence. These threats include those posed by domestic terrorists, individuals and groups engaged in grievance-based violence, and those inspiring or motivated by foreign terrorists and other malign foreign influences. These actors are increasingly exploiting online forums to influenece and spread violent extremist narratives and promote violent activity. Such threats are also exacerbated by impacts of the ongoing global pandemic, including grievances over public health safety measures and perceived government restrictions.” Homeland Security even calls for Americans to use “Digital Media Literacy” to determine real news from fake articles created to stoke fear. “They just beheaded a woman, an airline pilot over there today. That was on the news today and it’s just, it’s just horrible. I take that back I think they stoned her,” Miller recalled. “It was on Facebook and people were following it and posting it. I have a lot of friends that are posting things like that.” WINK News found the story Miller was describing online that claimed to have a photo of a female Afghan Air Force pilot being stoned to death for being a female pilot. We found the picture used is actually a photo shared in 2015 by Al Jeezera and the New York Times of a 27-year-old woman named Farkhunda Malikzada killed by a mob outside a shrine in Kabul falsely accused of burning the Qu’ran. There is no evidence of any attacks against female Afghan Air Force pilots. Morrison says misinformation is increasingly being used by terror organizations to stoke fear and division. “So much of it is really hard to identify, I think following the news that you can trust and know rather than some of these tangential sites that can lead you down, down these paths that look legitimate, sound legitimate, but really, they are nothing more than kind of spouting some sort of rhetoric that is promoting violence and or discord,” Morrison said. Morrison says if you see something that just seems off or threatening – say something to your local law enforcement. You can also report a tip directly to the closest FBI Field Office online or leave a message on their phone line 1-800-CALL-FBI. Report suspicious activity and threats of violence, including online threats, to local law enforcement, FBI Field Offices, or local Fusion Center. If you know someone who is struggling with mental health issues or may be a danger to themselves or others, support is available. If you have a question that you’d like WINK to help answer – give us a call on our hotline (239) 344-5055 or email lisa.hutson@winknews.com