Tracking Tropical Storm Rafael; expected to become hurricaneScattered rain and storms on this Election Day
The Weather Authority Tracking Tropical Storm Rafael; expected to become hurricane The Weather Authority Meteorologists are watching the Caribbean as Tropical Storm Rafael will strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane later Tuesday night.
The Weather Authority Scattered rain and storms on this Election Day The Weather Authority is tracking scattered rain and storms along with warm temperatures throughout this Election Day Tuesday.
Where to drop off your mail-in ballots on Election Day Those who still have their mail-in ballots in Southwest Florida have two options on Election Day: vote in person or drop them off at a specified location.
WINK NEWS Lee County race for Sheriff It is now Election Day, and two candidates for the Lee County Sheriff are vying for the position.
WINK NEWS Floridians to vote on legalizing recreational marijuana With Election Day in full swing, WINK News is monitoring the results of the most controversial amendments on the ballot, including Florida’s Amendment 3.
Know where your voting precinct is in Southwest Florida Election Day is only one day away, so it is important to know where to go and if you qualify to vote in Southwest Florida.
WINK NEWS How Floridians are voting on Consitutional right to abortions As Election Day ramps up, WINK News is monitoring the results of the most controversial amendments on the ballot, including Florida’s Amendment 4.
Collier County commission race As the 2024 general election gets underway, WINK News is monitoring the election results in several local races, including the Collier County Commission race.
Cape Coral 5 seats in Cape Coral City Council to be decided on Election Day The Cape Coral City Council election will be decided on Tuesday. Five seats are up for grabs.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers City Council race for 2 wards The 2024 elections are looking to be a tense battle that will have every American on the edge of their seats. In Southwest Florida, the feeling is no different.
Lee County Superintendent election; School Board District 7 Voters in Lee County are going to the polls to fill some crucial seats in the school district.
PUNTA GORDA The race for Punta Gorda City Council November 5 is election day, as politicians across the country compete for office, with Southwest Florida being no different.
Lee County commission race for districts 3 and 5 The 2024 elections include several local Southwest Florida races, among them are races for two districts on the Lee County Board of County Commissioners.
Election Day crowds expected despite record early voting Election Day is nearly upon us. At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, the polls will be closed, and our team will bring you the results.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Voters in Downtown Fort Myers ready for 2024 Election A lot can change in four years. During the 2020 election, many voters masked up as they cast their ballots, and the pandemic was at the top of many voters’ minds.
The Weather Authority Tracking Tropical Storm Rafael; expected to become hurricane The Weather Authority Meteorologists are watching the Caribbean as Tropical Storm Rafael will strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane later Tuesday night.
The Weather Authority Scattered rain and storms on this Election Day The Weather Authority is tracking scattered rain and storms along with warm temperatures throughout this Election Day Tuesday.
Where to drop off your mail-in ballots on Election Day Those who still have their mail-in ballots in Southwest Florida have two options on Election Day: vote in person or drop them off at a specified location.
WINK NEWS Lee County race for Sheriff It is now Election Day, and two candidates for the Lee County Sheriff are vying for the position.
WINK NEWS Floridians to vote on legalizing recreational marijuana With Election Day in full swing, WINK News is monitoring the results of the most controversial amendments on the ballot, including Florida’s Amendment 3.
Know where your voting precinct is in Southwest Florida Election Day is only one day away, so it is important to know where to go and if you qualify to vote in Southwest Florida.
WINK NEWS How Floridians are voting on Consitutional right to abortions As Election Day ramps up, WINK News is monitoring the results of the most controversial amendments on the ballot, including Florida’s Amendment 4.
Collier County commission race As the 2024 general election gets underway, WINK News is monitoring the election results in several local races, including the Collier County Commission race.
Cape Coral 5 seats in Cape Coral City Council to be decided on Election Day The Cape Coral City Council election will be decided on Tuesday. Five seats are up for grabs.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers City Council race for 2 wards The 2024 elections are looking to be a tense battle that will have every American on the edge of their seats. In Southwest Florida, the feeling is no different.
Lee County Superintendent election; School Board District 7 Voters in Lee County are going to the polls to fill some crucial seats in the school district.
PUNTA GORDA The race for Punta Gorda City Council November 5 is election day, as politicians across the country compete for office, with Southwest Florida being no different.
Lee County commission race for districts 3 and 5 The 2024 elections include several local Southwest Florida races, among them are races for two districts on the Lee County Board of County Commissioners.
Election Day crowds expected despite record early voting Election Day is nearly upon us. At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, the polls will be closed, and our team will bring you the results.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Voters in Downtown Fort Myers ready for 2024 Election A lot can change in four years. During the 2020 election, many voters masked up as they cast their ballots, and the pandemic was at the top of many voters’ minds.
Sign outside of a Center for Covid Control test site. (Credit: WINK News) The company that has been at the center of an investigation by WINK News is now facing a lawsuit in another state. Since WINK News began investigating, multiple states have opened investigations into the Center for Covid Control. The Center for Covid Control boasts 275 testing sites across the country. A 25-page lawsuit by the Minnesota attorney general filed against the Center for Covid Control used the words misleading, deceptive, and fraudulent. Minnesota’s Attorney General Keith Ellison said, “this is new. This is unprecedented.” WINK News spoke with Jeff Connelly, the Director of Operations at Eliza Medical, specializing in medical testing. Connelly said, “the first impression was, the scope of it, how large it was, to be honest with you. This was on a much wider scale than I’ve ever seen or heard.” Connelly said it is the largest accusation of fraud he’s ever seen against a testing company. The Illinois-based company is accused of collecting samples for COVID-19 testing and delivering test results that were inaccurate. In addition to Minnesota’s lawsuit, Colorado ordered the Center for Covid Control to cease operations. “There are people out there who have used these sites, and my first response is ‘I am so sorry,” said Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. Oregon, Michigan, Illinois, and Massachusetts are also investigating the Center for Covid Control A person tested at a Center for Covid Control site in Massachusetts said, “it certainly didn’t look like anything that I want to go in to get tested. It was just very… I wouldn’t say dirty. I think it just didn’t look like there was a lot of protocols in place.” Another person tested at a site in Seattle, Washington, said, “the guy giving me my test was wearing just like a hoodie and jeans and sneakers. And his mask, I’m going to be honest with you, not on his nose half the time.” The observations are similar to what WINK News found during its investigation of the Center for Covid Control sites in Southwest Florida. WINK News spoke with some people in line at the Bonita Springs location who got test results before taking the test, something the Center for Covid Control blamed on a computer glitch. WINK News also learned that the guy handing out the testing had no training. WINK News Reporter Michael Hudak asked, “you don’t know the name of the company that you just work for right now?” Tyler Blackwell, the man administering the tests in Bonita Springs, said, “all I can tell you is that the man that should be able to answer all the questions should be back anytime.” Blackwell looked the part but told WINK News that he is not a registered nurse. He said he was able to buy scrubs at a major retailer, just like anyone else can. The Center for Covid Control still has time before it must respond to the lawsuit in Minnesota. The Center for Covid Control paused all operations across the country on Jan. 14. The company said in an email that the shutdown happened so they could retrain management and staff and roll out new procedures. The email promised the sites will re-open this Saturday, Jan. 22. It is unknown if the three Southwest Florida locations will be re-opening. WINK News has tried to contact someone from the Center for Covid Control to provide a comment for this story but has not heard back. Dr. Lee Fleisher, Chief Medical Officer and Director of Center for Clinical Standards and Quality for the government agency, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said in a statement: “We take seriously any allegations of fraud or misbehavior by COVID-19 testing sites. CMS’s Center for Clinical Standards and Quality investigates these kinds of complaints and is aware of several alleged instances of misconduct by this company’s labs. We know that people want to feel confident that the testing sites they visit are reputable and the results they receive are accurate. CMS is actively investigating numerous complaints about multiple laboratories and testing sites associated with the Center for COVID Control. It is our understanding that the Center for COVID Control voluntarily suspended their operations through January 22. CMS continues our investigations and will take compliance and enforcement actions as appropriate.” Consumers may access the CMS CLIA Laboratory Demographic Information Tool then navigate to the S&C’s Quality, Certification and Oversight Reports (QCOR) to find a CLIA certified laboratory. You can search by laboratory name or geography (e.g., California). This website provides a listing of CLIA laboratories and other facilities that are certified to perform laboratory testing as of the Data Source Date listed.