Black bear spotted in downtown Fort MyersCar with bullet holes towed away from Cape Coral home after police search car, home
FORT MYERS Black bear spotted in downtown Fort Myers A Florida black bear had been spotted in downtown Fort Myers early Monday morning. FWC is responding to relocate the bear.
CAPE CORAL Car with bullet holes towed away from Cape Coral home after police search car, home A Mercedes with at least one bullet hole has been towed from a Cape Coral home.
WINK NEWS Hot and dry Monday afternoon before isolated storms pop up this evening On Monday morning, the weather is starting mild and humid with temperatures in the upper 60s and lower 70s.
FORT MYERS Caught on Camera: Firefighters respond to dumpster fire at FGCU San Carlos Park Fire District responded to a dumpster fire Sunday afternoon.
FORT MYERS FGCU students affected by Covid celebrate first commencement ceremony Graduation is a right of passage from school to the real world, but for these students, reality hit them in 2020.
PUNTA GORDA Motorcycle crash leaves 1 dead One person has died after a motorcycle crash in Charlotte County.
LEE COUNTY Lee Deputies work to track down transient sex offenders who fail to register WINK News Anchor Corey Lazar goes on patrol with Lee County Deputies in search of transient sex offenders who don’t register.
National Hurricane Preparedness Week: Know your risk Hurricane season starts on June 1st, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has designated the week of May 5 through May 11 as National Hurricane Preparedness Week. Each day, Meteorologist Lauren Kreidler will be highlighting ways to stay prepared ahead of this year’s hurricane season.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Stay alert – chance of showers and storms on Sunday Hot, humid, and more rain for parts of Southwest Florida on Sunday.
CAPE CORAL What we learned about Cape Coral’s water crisis after a ride along On Friday, WINK News got to ride along to see just what people are doing that could be wasting water.
The Weather Authority: A wet Saturday evening as storms move through Southwest Florida A rainy Saturday evening across much of southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Lee Health Touch-A-Truck event educates families on Trauma Awareness On Saturday morning, sirens were ringing to celebrate Lee Health Trauma Center’s 30 years of service and to provide the public with trauma education and prevention methods.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (CBS) CDC says bird flu viruses “pose pandemic potential,” cites major knowledge gaps Bird flu continues to appear to pose a “low risk to the general public” for now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. But the agency’s scientists ran into roadblocks investigating a human case of this “pandemic potential” virus this year, they said in a new report.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Bay Street Yard set to open in late May A new place to hang out in Downtown Fort Myers is opening this spring.
Aetna agrees to settle lawsuit over fertility coverage for LGBTQ+ customers Aetna has agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused the health insurer of discriminating against LGBTQ+ customers in need of fertility treatment.
FORT MYERS Black bear spotted in downtown Fort Myers A Florida black bear had been spotted in downtown Fort Myers early Monday morning. FWC is responding to relocate the bear.
CAPE CORAL Car with bullet holes towed away from Cape Coral home after police search car, home A Mercedes with at least one bullet hole has been towed from a Cape Coral home.
WINK NEWS Hot and dry Monday afternoon before isolated storms pop up this evening On Monday morning, the weather is starting mild and humid with temperatures in the upper 60s and lower 70s.
FORT MYERS Caught on Camera: Firefighters respond to dumpster fire at FGCU San Carlos Park Fire District responded to a dumpster fire Sunday afternoon.
FORT MYERS FGCU students affected by Covid celebrate first commencement ceremony Graduation is a right of passage from school to the real world, but for these students, reality hit them in 2020.
PUNTA GORDA Motorcycle crash leaves 1 dead One person has died after a motorcycle crash in Charlotte County.
LEE COUNTY Lee Deputies work to track down transient sex offenders who fail to register WINK News Anchor Corey Lazar goes on patrol with Lee County Deputies in search of transient sex offenders who don’t register.
National Hurricane Preparedness Week: Know your risk Hurricane season starts on June 1st, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has designated the week of May 5 through May 11 as National Hurricane Preparedness Week. Each day, Meteorologist Lauren Kreidler will be highlighting ways to stay prepared ahead of this year’s hurricane season.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Stay alert – chance of showers and storms on Sunday Hot, humid, and more rain for parts of Southwest Florida on Sunday.
CAPE CORAL What we learned about Cape Coral’s water crisis after a ride along On Friday, WINK News got to ride along to see just what people are doing that could be wasting water.
The Weather Authority: A wet Saturday evening as storms move through Southwest Florida A rainy Saturday evening across much of southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Lee Health Touch-A-Truck event educates families on Trauma Awareness On Saturday morning, sirens were ringing to celebrate Lee Health Trauma Center’s 30 years of service and to provide the public with trauma education and prevention methods.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (CBS) CDC says bird flu viruses “pose pandemic potential,” cites major knowledge gaps Bird flu continues to appear to pose a “low risk to the general public” for now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. But the agency’s scientists ran into roadblocks investigating a human case of this “pandemic potential” virus this year, they said in a new report.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Bay Street Yard set to open in late May A new place to hang out in Downtown Fort Myers is opening this spring.
Aetna agrees to settle lawsuit over fertility coverage for LGBTQ+ customers Aetna has agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused the health insurer of discriminating against LGBTQ+ customers in need of fertility treatment.
Johnny Streets. CREDIT: WINK News A former cop, and elected official, is fighting behind the scenes after learning about law enforcement issues through WINK News coverage. It comes after three officers were suspended and recommended for termination yet allowed to keep their job. Fort Myers City Council member Johnny Streets says he had no clue this was happening until he saw our story. Because of that, he wants better communication and more transparency between the police department and the public it works to protect. Streets said, “let’s get this out there. Let’s find out, where did we go wrong?” That’s how Streets describes his reaction after first learning about time card issues allegedly occurring for years at the Fort Myers Police Department. WINK News first told you about the claims of inflating hours nearly three weeks ago. Three FMPD officers internally investigated after getting paid with taxpayer dollars for overtime they never worked. Chief Derrick Diggs allowed them to keep their jobs despite an investigator recommending termination. Streets served on the force for 27 years and had no idea about it until watching our story. “Before? None. Absolutely nothing” said Streets. The information jolted him into action. He says he’s met with City Manager Marty Lawing, whose job description is in part: “Overseeing the day-to-day operations and providing direction for all city departments.” FMPD has also informed WINK News that it has updated its time card system to avoid similar issues, and the officers paid back some of the overtime. Last week, Streets also questioned the ‘state of the department’ at a city council meeting. “The police bill of rights does not supersede the Constitution of the United States.” Mayor Kevin Anderson contributed to the discussion saying, “we’ve made a lot of progress here in Fort Myers. There’s always room for more.” But the other city council members chose to watch the discussion. Streets said, “let’s create a transparency path here so that people will know what we’re doing and how we’re doing and that it’s not about someone having their own agenda.” Streets says he’s been assured about the city and police department’s direction and integrity, but he didn’t leave those meetings feeling entirely convinced. “It’s under review and investigation. We can’t talk about it. That may be your view, but that’s not good enough,” said Streets. “We have betrayed the public’s trust.” WINK News asked streets explicitly; Does he believe in Chief Diggs? Streets responded by saying, “I believe the chief needs to… He has a job to do.” WINK News Reporter Peter Fleischer followed up, asking, “you didn’t say yes or no. Do you believe in the police chief?” Streets said, “I do believe in the police chief. But it’s like saying something else: does the police chief believe in us?” Again, Streets wants more transparency and communication moving forward, and he believes the public deserves the same. Streets said, “silence, if we don’t say anything, is betrayal. And we can’t sit silently by.” WINK News reached out several times to every Fort Myers City Council member, but only Streets agreed to speak with us on-camera. WINK News also contacted FMPD about an interview with Chief Diggs and has not heard back.