WINK NEWS Palisades Wildfire devastates SWFL family Just hours after evacuating their Malibu home, the Wohl family learned they would never go back.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral expands with development The Cove at 47th The Cove sits in south Cape Coral between Cape Coral Parkway and Southeast 47th Terrace right next to Cork Soakers.
ESTERO 1 injured after shooting at Coconut Point Mall According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, one person has been injured after a shooting at the Coconut Point Mall on Friday.
FORT MYERS ‘Operation Ghost Buster’: 16 arrested in Fort Myers drug operation The Fort Myers Police Department Narcotics Unit conducted an operation targeting drug traffickers and individuals unlawfully selling and possessing firearms in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS ‘A Distinctive Honor’: Bank of America award benefits FSW Nursing Program Bank of America has been awarded Florida Southwestern State College the 2024 Neighborhood Champion Award.
CAPTIVA Judge upholds decision in fight over building heights and density on Captiva Island After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge said he stood by his earlier decision in favor of the Captiva Civic Association.
Governor signs death warrant for man accused of 1997 killing of 2 in Charlotte County Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the death warrant for a man accused of killing two people in Charlotte County in 1997.
Community input needed for renaming Challenger Boulevard While Lee Health continues construction on the area’s newest hospital, there are decisions to be made.
ESTERO SWFL Lady Hammerheads find community through rugby The southwest Florida Lady Hammerheads are the Florida Women’s Rugby Union’s newest team.
Heavy law enforcement presence near Arcadia Popeyes According to the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, there is a heavy law enforcement presence near a Popeyes restaurant.
Punta Gorda City Council searches for new home Punta Gorda City Council sought a temporary solution when it was unable to meet Jan. 9 at the Military Heritage Museum because elevators weren’t working, which would have been a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Heavy metal drummer turns Winkler House into Stet’s Bar rock venue Stet Howland, who as a drummer has an affinity for heavy metal music, bought a longtime Fort Myers dive bar and then transformed it into a haven for rock and roll.
CAPE CORAL 40th annual Cape Coral Art Festival to close roads Cape Coral Parkway will close off Coronado Parkway to Del Prado Boulevard for this weekend’s 40th annual Art Festival.
LEHIGH ACRES Lee County man arrested after holding woman at knifepoint The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man for holding a woman at knifepoint during a domestic disturbance.
2 accused of multiple thefts while using stolen vehicle in Charlotte County The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two men accused of multiple thefts and driving a stolen vehicle.
WINK NEWS Palisades Wildfire devastates SWFL family Just hours after evacuating their Malibu home, the Wohl family learned they would never go back.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral expands with development The Cove at 47th The Cove sits in south Cape Coral between Cape Coral Parkway and Southeast 47th Terrace right next to Cork Soakers.
ESTERO 1 injured after shooting at Coconut Point Mall According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, one person has been injured after a shooting at the Coconut Point Mall on Friday.
FORT MYERS ‘Operation Ghost Buster’: 16 arrested in Fort Myers drug operation The Fort Myers Police Department Narcotics Unit conducted an operation targeting drug traffickers and individuals unlawfully selling and possessing firearms in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS ‘A Distinctive Honor’: Bank of America award benefits FSW Nursing Program Bank of America has been awarded Florida Southwestern State College the 2024 Neighborhood Champion Award.
CAPTIVA Judge upholds decision in fight over building heights and density on Captiva Island After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge said he stood by his earlier decision in favor of the Captiva Civic Association.
Governor signs death warrant for man accused of 1997 killing of 2 in Charlotte County Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the death warrant for a man accused of killing two people in Charlotte County in 1997.
Community input needed for renaming Challenger Boulevard While Lee Health continues construction on the area’s newest hospital, there are decisions to be made.
ESTERO SWFL Lady Hammerheads find community through rugby The southwest Florida Lady Hammerheads are the Florida Women’s Rugby Union’s newest team.
Heavy law enforcement presence near Arcadia Popeyes According to the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, there is a heavy law enforcement presence near a Popeyes restaurant.
Punta Gorda City Council searches for new home Punta Gorda City Council sought a temporary solution when it was unable to meet Jan. 9 at the Military Heritage Museum because elevators weren’t working, which would have been a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Heavy metal drummer turns Winkler House into Stet’s Bar rock venue Stet Howland, who as a drummer has an affinity for heavy metal music, bought a longtime Fort Myers dive bar and then transformed it into a haven for rock and roll.
CAPE CORAL 40th annual Cape Coral Art Festival to close roads Cape Coral Parkway will close off Coronado Parkway to Del Prado Boulevard for this weekend’s 40th annual Art Festival.
LEHIGH ACRES Lee County man arrested after holding woman at knifepoint The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man for holding a woman at knifepoint during a domestic disturbance.
2 accused of multiple thefts while using stolen vehicle in Charlotte County The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two men accused of multiple thefts and driving a stolen vehicle.
(Credit: WINK News) Online learning tools implemented in local schools during the pandemic have continued to remain in place. Zoom and other technologies are now an everyday tool for teachers and students. The pandemic has even taught educators to be more innovative. WINK News spoke with the superintendent of Glades County schools Doctor Beth Barfield and she says if there’s something good that came out of the lockdown during COVID-19, it is the role technology now plays in the education of students. Tools like Google Meets, Google Classroom and Zoom made sure that the learning never stopped during the pandemic. Lee Virtual and Charlotte Virtual programs have been around for a while but the number of students enrolled in these programs is now more than ever. Barfield says this showed teachers that there are a lot of different ways to educate kids. “It helped push us where we went outside the box. And we started utilizing these different learning platforms, virtually, that enabled our students to have the connectivity to their teachers, and that their education just because school wasn’t a session school continued to progress.” The virtual programs school districts in Southwest Florida are using are helping both students and teachers, and giving students the opportunity to connect with teachers and even get extra help with their assignments via Zoom. Glades County schools Superintendent Barfield says a lot of teachers weren’t familiar with these programs at first, but now they are key to student education. “We’ve learned and we’ve stepped outside of our comfort zone. And educators have a wonderful way of always doing what’s best for kids are that we want to always do what’s best for kids. And we in glades county did not want our students to stop,” said Barfield. Barfield also said that the virtual learning programs have been helpful during the teacher shortage Glades County schools have experienced. Glades County schools will soon launch a program similar to Lee Connect where students can get help with homework assignments via zoom.