FORT MYERS Tempers flare over RSW expansion budget Tensions rose during Thursday’s meeting with the Lee County Port Authority and county commissioners over RSW’s budget.
ENGLEWOOD Promoting good mental health for veterans The tragedy of veteran suicide impacts far too many families.
72-year-old former law enforcement still displaced after Glades County tornado Devastating damage was brought to the Lakeport Community in Glades County on October 2024, after the strongest tornado to ever hit southwest Florida ripped the neighborhood to shreds.
NORTH FORT MYERS Drivers react to FDOT project on US 41 in North Fort Myers Drivers are reacting to the traffic being caused by a Florida Department of Transportation project at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Pine Island Road.
FORT MYERS Bishop Verot boys basketball coach celebrates 500 career wins Bishop Verot High School boys basketball head coach Matt Herting celebrates 500 career wins and reflects on 29 years coaching the sport.
NAPLES Shy Wolf Sanctuary to host Wolfstock Music festival Shy Wolf Sanctuary will soon host its 6th annual Wolfstock Music and Brewfest.
More women and younger adults getting cancer Mortality rates for cancer continue to decline. The American Cancer Society’s annual report says there was a 34% decrease in deaths between 1991 and 2022, but the report isn’t all good news.
FORT MYERS LCSO deputy struck by suspect vehicle at Page Field Commons A Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputy was injured after being struck by a suspect’s vehicle.
Man arrested after multi-county chase stemming from carjacking A man has been arrested after a carjacking turned into a chase that crossed county lines.
LCSO responds to calls for Carmine Marceno to resign The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has responded to the calls for Sheriff Carmine Marceno to resign on Thursday.
CAPE CORAL 16 bands performing at free 239 Fest in Cape Coral after hurricane delay The show must go on. 239 Fest, which was canceled last year due to Hurricane Milton, will be returning and bigger than ever.
Naples’ CFO formally appointed Naples city manager, city manager’s new job disclosed Naples City Council unanimously agreed Deputy City Manager Gary Young will become city manager, formalizing a decision made two days earlier.
SWFL community raise $1600 for family of fallen Charlotte County Sgt. Southwest Floridians were asked to come out and support the family of fallen Charlotte County Deputy Sgt. Elio Diaz, and you showed up.
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.
FORT MYERS Tempers flare over RSW expansion budget Tensions rose during Thursday’s meeting with the Lee County Port Authority and county commissioners over RSW’s budget.
ENGLEWOOD Promoting good mental health for veterans The tragedy of veteran suicide impacts far too many families.
72-year-old former law enforcement still displaced after Glades County tornado Devastating damage was brought to the Lakeport Community in Glades County on October 2024, after the strongest tornado to ever hit southwest Florida ripped the neighborhood to shreds.
NORTH FORT MYERS Drivers react to FDOT project on US 41 in North Fort Myers Drivers are reacting to the traffic being caused by a Florida Department of Transportation project at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Pine Island Road.
FORT MYERS Bishop Verot boys basketball coach celebrates 500 career wins Bishop Verot High School boys basketball head coach Matt Herting celebrates 500 career wins and reflects on 29 years coaching the sport.
NAPLES Shy Wolf Sanctuary to host Wolfstock Music festival Shy Wolf Sanctuary will soon host its 6th annual Wolfstock Music and Brewfest.
More women and younger adults getting cancer Mortality rates for cancer continue to decline. The American Cancer Society’s annual report says there was a 34% decrease in deaths between 1991 and 2022, but the report isn’t all good news.
FORT MYERS LCSO deputy struck by suspect vehicle at Page Field Commons A Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputy was injured after being struck by a suspect’s vehicle.
Man arrested after multi-county chase stemming from carjacking A man has been arrested after a carjacking turned into a chase that crossed county lines.
LCSO responds to calls for Carmine Marceno to resign The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has responded to the calls for Sheriff Carmine Marceno to resign on Thursday.
CAPE CORAL 16 bands performing at free 239 Fest in Cape Coral after hurricane delay The show must go on. 239 Fest, which was canceled last year due to Hurricane Milton, will be returning and bigger than ever.
Naples’ CFO formally appointed Naples city manager, city manager’s new job disclosed Naples City Council unanimously agreed Deputy City Manager Gary Young will become city manager, formalizing a decision made two days earlier.
SWFL community raise $1600 for family of fallen Charlotte County Sgt. Southwest Floridians were asked to come out and support the family of fallen Charlotte County Deputy Sgt. Elio Diaz, and you showed up.
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.
Credit: WINK News On Monday, leaders for the City of Naples met to discuss payback for veteran officers who could no longer fulfill their duties after injury. These veterans feel they were sidelined by the police force and want their retirement money back. Two of these veterans say the City of Naples owes them thousands of dollars. So, City council members met to see what they could do for these two and other officers in similar positions. Councilmembers were in that meeting for most of the day on Monday. However, that meeting is closed to the public. WINK News spoke to one of the retired officers fighting the City of Naples to get the money he says he’s owed. He thinks he knows why city leaders decide to keep this meeting closed. Brad Gallagher is a retired Naples Police officer. “This shouldn’t even be a discussion. You know, anybody looking at this situation can say this is the right thing to do to return the money in this situation. It’s almost a theft at this point,” Gallagher said. “I’m just hoping to see that city council is really going to stand up for what the city of Naples is supposed to be,” he said. Brad Gallagher got a termination letter from the City of Naples in January. He was let go for injuring his knee while chasing a suspect. Ever since then, he’s been fighting the city to get his money back. “I mean, one of the city’s mottos is ‘ethics above all else,’ and I don’t know how you could be ethics above all else if they’re not willing to do the right thing,” said Gallagher. Before he was a police officer, Gallagher was a veteran. So, through the Military Buyback Program, he put $27,000 into the city’s retirement fund. Napel City law does not allow leaders to pay back pension funds to a veteran that has been totally injured in the line of duty. So, Gallagher came to a Naples City Council meeting, and the city’s Police Pension Board made a motion to change that law. “I was a little bit hopeful that something was finally getting done,” Gallagher said. Before the meeting, Naples City Councilman Ted Blankenship said he thinks this change is something the council should take into consideration. “I do think that the others will agree with me that this is something we should consider,” said Blankenship. “They said that we were trailblazers in this route, and I really hope that this is solved for all future first responders and veterans because nobody should have to go through this. Nobody,” said Gallagher. A spokeswoman for the City of Naples told WINK News that she could not divulge what happened during the meeting.