WINK Exclusive: First look inside a new Naples theaterMatlacha struggles to recover after hurricanes; wants answers and plan of action
NAPLES WINK Exclusive: First look inside a new Naples theater It’s curtain up in Naples for a newly renovated theater right downtown. People on the inside hope it will be a big part of the city’s future. In a WINK News exclusive, we get a first look inside.
matlacha Matlacha struggles to recover after hurricanes; wants answers and plan of action Is Matlacha forgotten? People in Matlacha still have questions following a civic association meeting Monday night that focused on rebuilding the island after recent storms.
CAPE CORAL Oasis Gator girls win first county crown For the first time in program history, the Oasis Middle School girls’ basketball team went undefeated and the history making didn’t stop there.
ARCADIA DeSoto County school resource officer becomes key in solving case A trusted school resource officer’s connection with students becomes the key to a difficult case.
FORT MYERS SWFL job seekers and employers feeling strain post hurricanes The recent hurricanes that hit Southwest Florida is having an impact on not only the number of people looking for jobs but also employers
NORTH FORT MYERS LCSO steps in to help Shell Factory animals relocate after closure For 86 years, the Shell Factory served the people in North Fort Myers. It gave the community a chance to experience nature up close, but it closed down last month.
FORT MYERS New flight delay refund policies you should know If you plan to fly soon, you should know your rights because some big changes in the airline industry just went into effect.
NAPLES Gov. DeSantis campaigns in Naples against Amendment 4 Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference in Collier County where he made his case on why Floridians should vote against Amendment 4.
MIAMI Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. talks second season and Mexico City game Miami Heat second year standout guard Jaime Jaquez spoke with WINK News about his growth from his rookie season and the game in Mexico City.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda Airport expansion adds space and amenities for flyers The Punta Gorda Airport is expanding to create a higher quality place for travelers with more space and modern upgrades.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Early voters cast their ballots ahead of the 2024 election Early voting is currently underway in southwest Florida. Signs urging people to vote are everywhere, and long lines of voters show that people are taking notice and casting their ballots in the presidential election
Heart-kidney health connection Vital organs work together to keep the body healthy, and that connection runs deep. When one isn’t working properly, it can negatively impact the other, leading to more health complications.
Youngquist Brothers rock mine sells for SWFL record $620M A $620 million land deal believed to be the most lucrative in Southwest Florida history became official Oct. 28, as about 2,000 acres, including an active rock mine, changed ownership.
Experts closely watch SWFL real estate market after Helene, Milton Realtors and analysts are monitoring recent residential real estate transactions in Southwest Florida to gauge whether prices will remain steady, decrease or increase in the aftermath of hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Matlacha residents express anger with Lee County government over hurricane recovery Some of the questions had answers, and some of those answers didn’t sit well with many of the almost 100 people present for a Matlacha Civic Association meeting with Lee County government officials as guests.
NAPLES WINK Exclusive: First look inside a new Naples theater It’s curtain up in Naples for a newly renovated theater right downtown. People on the inside hope it will be a big part of the city’s future. In a WINK News exclusive, we get a first look inside.
matlacha Matlacha struggles to recover after hurricanes; wants answers and plan of action Is Matlacha forgotten? People in Matlacha still have questions following a civic association meeting Monday night that focused on rebuilding the island after recent storms.
CAPE CORAL Oasis Gator girls win first county crown For the first time in program history, the Oasis Middle School girls’ basketball team went undefeated and the history making didn’t stop there.
ARCADIA DeSoto County school resource officer becomes key in solving case A trusted school resource officer’s connection with students becomes the key to a difficult case.
FORT MYERS SWFL job seekers and employers feeling strain post hurricanes The recent hurricanes that hit Southwest Florida is having an impact on not only the number of people looking for jobs but also employers
NORTH FORT MYERS LCSO steps in to help Shell Factory animals relocate after closure For 86 years, the Shell Factory served the people in North Fort Myers. It gave the community a chance to experience nature up close, but it closed down last month.
FORT MYERS New flight delay refund policies you should know If you plan to fly soon, you should know your rights because some big changes in the airline industry just went into effect.
NAPLES Gov. DeSantis campaigns in Naples against Amendment 4 Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference in Collier County where he made his case on why Floridians should vote against Amendment 4.
MIAMI Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. talks second season and Mexico City game Miami Heat second year standout guard Jaime Jaquez spoke with WINK News about his growth from his rookie season and the game in Mexico City.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda Airport expansion adds space and amenities for flyers The Punta Gorda Airport is expanding to create a higher quality place for travelers with more space and modern upgrades.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Early voters cast their ballots ahead of the 2024 election Early voting is currently underway in southwest Florida. Signs urging people to vote are everywhere, and long lines of voters show that people are taking notice and casting their ballots in the presidential election
Heart-kidney health connection Vital organs work together to keep the body healthy, and that connection runs deep. When one isn’t working properly, it can negatively impact the other, leading to more health complications.
Youngquist Brothers rock mine sells for SWFL record $620M A $620 million land deal believed to be the most lucrative in Southwest Florida history became official Oct. 28, as about 2,000 acres, including an active rock mine, changed ownership.
Experts closely watch SWFL real estate market after Helene, Milton Realtors and analysts are monitoring recent residential real estate transactions in Southwest Florida to gauge whether prices will remain steady, decrease or increase in the aftermath of hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Matlacha residents express anger with Lee County government over hurricane recovery Some of the questions had answers, and some of those answers didn’t sit well with many of the almost 100 people present for a Matlacha Civic Association meeting with Lee County government officials as guests.
Why don’t these people just get jobs so they can get off the streets? That’s a typical question people ask when they see the homeless. But the solution to homelessness isn’t that simple. As we first told you in our special series, The Working Homeless, there are people in our community who work in local businesses by day and live on the streets at night. We asked lawmakers—Democrat and Republican—to watch and weigh in. Both agree something needs to be done to help the homeless, particularly the working homeless. Rep. Spencer Roach, (R): “The folks who have the best chance of fully reintegrate into society are the working homeless that you showcase. I mean, they’re demonstrating that they have some skills and some ability to get an entry-level job, and they’re showing up to work on time. They’re working hard.” Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, (D): “But the wages are low, combined with the fact that affordable housing is sometimes totally unattainable in Florida. And that’s left them with a very frustrating and desperate situation where many more Floridians simply can’t afford Florida, which is why it’s important for local and state governments to continue to put forward solutions to this.” Neither State Representative Spencer Roach nor Carlos Guillermo Smith are currently working on legislation to specifically make it easier for the working homeless. There are homeless assistance services offered in Lee County. We’re taking a closer look, to see what works and what needs work. MORE: Click here for continuing coverage in The Working Homeless series 57-year-old Brent Grayson says his job in the kitchen at The Oasis Restaurant in Fort Myers brings him one step closer to getting his life back on track. “I feel like I’m getting a second chance now,” says Grayson. But his job isn’t helping him get a roof over his head. Despite the steady paycheck, he can’t find a place to live. Celine: “How much do you think you can afford? Brent: “Me personally, myself, about eight $900.” But as a non-violent convicted felon, Grayson says he fails the background checks at apartment complexes. “I’ve called rooming houses. I’ve called hotel rooms like weeklies, monthlies booked. Booked!” So, it’s back to the streets until his next shift. “I try to go there where I know I’m safe, and I just lay my head,” says Grayson. “I put cardboard down and I got a blanket, and then I fold everything up in the morning.” Life as the working homeless is a struggle. Grayson feels it’s dangerous and demoralizing. “I get frustrated because I look at other people. And you know, they go home to loved ones, family. And then I’m like, I just walked around and I said man, I wish I was in that predicament,” says Grayson. In early December, when we first met Grayson, Fort Myers Police Officer Ryan Beiner with the Homeless Outreach Team, offered him a potential lifeline. “With that situation, you’re on right now, it’s kind of the perfect opportunity for the homeless prevention application,” says Beiner. On December 16th, Beiner signed Grayson up for housing assistance from Lee County Human and Veterans Services. Days pass, then weeks. No word if or when that help is coming. “Nobody has called me,” says Grayson. “Nobody has even attempted to email me and I checked every day. All-day. The only one that I get is from you, WINK News” “Have faith, have hope, have trust in the network,” says Roger Mercado, Executive Director of Lee County Human and Veteran Services. Mercado says the homeless need to be patient since there are more than 500 people on the waitlist for housing. “On average, we’re looking probably from the time they enter coordinated entry and get into housing, on average, it’s about 70 days,” says Mercado. Celine: “That’s a long time on the streets.” Mercado: “It is, it is.” And the services aren’t first come, first served.”They will assess the situation and look at certain vulnerabilities of that household,” says Mercado. Grayson hopes his small victories—like finding and keeping a job—doesn’t keep him at the back of the helpline for too long. “I can’t give up. You know what I’m saying? I can’t give up,” says Grayson. “I can’t do it.” Mercado says he’s willing to let us follow Grayson through the process of getting housing, so you can see how it works and what needs work. You can follow our coverage—and join in on the conversation— on the WINK News app and on our Facebook page.