From rookie to captain, Oliver Chau leads the Florida EverbladesReward increase of $5K for more information on Edison Mall shooter from 2011
ESTERO From rookie to captain, Oliver Chau leads the Florida Everblades From shy newcomer to team leader, one man’s journey with the Florida Everblades has been remarkable.
FORT MYERS Reward increase of $5K for more information on Edison Mall shooter from 2011 Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking more information on a suspect wanted for shooting someone at the Edison Mall.
CAPE CORAL Precautionary boil water notice issued for neighborhood in Cape Coral A precautionary boil water notice is in effect for residents in the area of Southwest 5th Avenue following a water main break that briefly halted potable water service.
Blue Sky Restaurant dawns at Magnolia Square in North Naples The family-owned Blue Sky Restaurant opened Dec. 7 in the former space of Franklin Social, a local bar with a limited food menu that closed earlier this year at Magnolia Square on the northeast corner of Goodlette-Frank and Pine Ridge roads.
American Airlines flights operational following brief grounding American Airlines said a “technical issue” disrupted flights nationwide early Tuesday but has since been cleared by the Federal Aviation Administration.
SANIBEL Bigger and better beaches; Sanibel gets fresh sand If you haven’t been to Sanibel lately you might not recognize it. Just in time for the holidays, the island is celebrating bigger, better and more beautiful beaches.
the weather authority Tracking morning fog and afternoon sunshine on Christmas Eve The Weather Authority says it’s Christmas Eve, and Southwest Florida is ushering in Santa with warmth and sunshine.
CAPE CORAL Homeowners bring Christmas cheer to Cape Coral with dazzling light displays We might not have snow but we do have some amazing Christmas lights. If you plan to hit the road with your family and check out the displays, WINK News has you covered.
ST. JAMES CITY Fire takes over trailer in St. James City Authorities responded to a fire in St. James City on Monday evening after flames engulfed a trailer near York Road and Dewberry Lane.
Charlotte County man arrested for shooting person with flare gun A man has been arrested after shooting someone with a flare gun.
SAN CARLOS PARK Lee County School District approves bus service after mother’s fight The school district said Shannan Santiago’s kids can have a school bus because they live more than two miles away from their school.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral twins together for holidays after congenital heart defect scare Everyone together at home for Christmas. That’s the wish for one Cape Coral family since they were blessed with twins in the spring.
PORT CHARLOTTE Meeting held for future of Beach Park in Port Charlotte Beach Park in Port Charlotte has been closed since hurricanes Helene and Milton. Last week county leaders held a special meeting to come up with a solution to finally reopen the park to neighbors.
PUNTA GORDA Downtown Punta Gorda restaurant rebuilding after back-to-back storms In downtown Punta Gorda, the back-to-back hurricanes spared no one. For one restaurant, it meant starting over, cutting up the walls and redoing the floors not once but twice.
Valerie’s House offers support to those grieving this holiday season Christmas is considered a magical time for many families, but many also struggle with the loss of a loved one this time of year. Valerie’s House is opening its doors for the holidays to help struggling families deal with that grief.
ESTERO From rookie to captain, Oliver Chau leads the Florida Everblades From shy newcomer to team leader, one man’s journey with the Florida Everblades has been remarkable.
FORT MYERS Reward increase of $5K for more information on Edison Mall shooter from 2011 Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking more information on a suspect wanted for shooting someone at the Edison Mall.
CAPE CORAL Precautionary boil water notice issued for neighborhood in Cape Coral A precautionary boil water notice is in effect for residents in the area of Southwest 5th Avenue following a water main break that briefly halted potable water service.
Blue Sky Restaurant dawns at Magnolia Square in North Naples The family-owned Blue Sky Restaurant opened Dec. 7 in the former space of Franklin Social, a local bar with a limited food menu that closed earlier this year at Magnolia Square on the northeast corner of Goodlette-Frank and Pine Ridge roads.
American Airlines flights operational following brief grounding American Airlines said a “technical issue” disrupted flights nationwide early Tuesday but has since been cleared by the Federal Aviation Administration.
SANIBEL Bigger and better beaches; Sanibel gets fresh sand If you haven’t been to Sanibel lately you might not recognize it. Just in time for the holidays, the island is celebrating bigger, better and more beautiful beaches.
the weather authority Tracking morning fog and afternoon sunshine on Christmas Eve The Weather Authority says it’s Christmas Eve, and Southwest Florida is ushering in Santa with warmth and sunshine.
CAPE CORAL Homeowners bring Christmas cheer to Cape Coral with dazzling light displays We might not have snow but we do have some amazing Christmas lights. If you plan to hit the road with your family and check out the displays, WINK News has you covered.
ST. JAMES CITY Fire takes over trailer in St. James City Authorities responded to a fire in St. James City on Monday evening after flames engulfed a trailer near York Road and Dewberry Lane.
Charlotte County man arrested for shooting person with flare gun A man has been arrested after shooting someone with a flare gun.
SAN CARLOS PARK Lee County School District approves bus service after mother’s fight The school district said Shannan Santiago’s kids can have a school bus because they live more than two miles away from their school.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral twins together for holidays after congenital heart defect scare Everyone together at home for Christmas. That’s the wish for one Cape Coral family since they were blessed with twins in the spring.
PORT CHARLOTTE Meeting held for future of Beach Park in Port Charlotte Beach Park in Port Charlotte has been closed since hurricanes Helene and Milton. Last week county leaders held a special meeting to come up with a solution to finally reopen the park to neighbors.
PUNTA GORDA Downtown Punta Gorda restaurant rebuilding after back-to-back storms In downtown Punta Gorda, the back-to-back hurricanes spared no one. For one restaurant, it meant starting over, cutting up the walls and redoing the floors not once but twice.
Valerie’s House offers support to those grieving this holiday season Christmas is considered a magical time for many families, but many also struggle with the loss of a loved one this time of year. Valerie’s House is opening its doors for the holidays to help struggling families deal with that grief.
Manatees. Credit: WINK News More than 1,000 manatees have died in Florida so far this year, eclipsing a previous annual record as the threatened marine mammals struggle with starvation due to pollution in the water. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported the updated total on Wednesday. The 1,003 manatee deaths so far in 2021 is many more than the 637 recorded last year and well above the previous mark of 830 set in 2013. Slow-moving, bulky manatees have long struggled to coexist with humans. Boat strikes account for some deaths and many injuries. But state officials and environmental groups say polluted water runoff from agriculture, sewage and other man-made development has caused algae blooms in estuaries, choking off the seagrass upon which manatees rely. Climate change is worsening the problem. Bonita Springs resident Michael Wade said the manatees are beautiful to see. That’s why he and Kathryn Wade visited Manatee Park in Lee County. “It is sad news,” Michael Wade said. “It’s terrible because a lot of it has to do with the boaters but also there is a lack of food and that has to do with the runoff of the fertilizer so it’s really sad and we are the only thing that can keep them alive and stop them from dying.” Authorities expected another bad year for manatees, with more deaths to come as Florida enters the winter months when the animals congregate in warm-water areas where food supplies have dwindled. Seagrass beds on the state’s eastern coast have been hit especially hard. “It’s probably going to take take a decade if not longer, to restore that ecosystem to where seagrass can grow again,” said Martine De Wite, a veterinarian with the FWC. To compound the problem, manatees are slow to reproduce. According to the nonprofit Save the Manatee Club – co-founded by Florida troubadour Jimmy Buffet – one calf is born every two to five years after a manatee reaches sexual maturity at about age 5. Twin births are rare. “Manatees are in serious trouble,” ZooTampa at Lowry Park, one of four main manatee critical care centers in Florida, said in a statement Wednesday. “The loss of more than 1,000 manatees this year is deeply concerning and will have serious repercussions for years to come.” The commission is asking state lawmakers to approve $7 million in the upcoming legislative session for seagrass restoration, manatee rehabilitation centers and other projects. Lawmakers approved $8 million last year. Manatees were listed as an endangered species beginning in 1966, but their status was changed to threatened in 2017. A new push is on to restore the endangered label to bring more resources and attention to the problem. The wildlife commission estimates there are currently about 7,500 manatees, also known as sea cows, living in Florida waters. Viewing areas around winter warm-water spots are a big tourist attraction around the state. “I just think people have to be just more conscious of the manatee and manatees they may not be around forever,” Michael Wade said.