Huge warm up as we head into the 70s this WednesdayHeavy police presence reported in Cape Coral neighborhood
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Huge warm up as we head into the 70s this Wednesday The Weather Authority is tracking increased temperatures, as Wednesday afternoon highs are expected to be in the lower 70s.
CAPE CORAL Heavy police presence reported in Cape Coral neighborhood The Cape Coral Police Department deployed police and forensics to a scene located on Southeast 5th Place.
FORT MYERS Advocates urge safety measures for retention ponds after boy drowns The tragic drowning of a little boy in Fort Myers is starting a conversation.
NAPLES Naples Winter Wine Festival kicks off Wine, music and making a difference! On Tuesday evening 40 couples joined together to kick off the 25th annual Naples Winter Wine Festival.
PUNTA GORDA Blue Angels returning for 2025 Florida International Air Show The Blue Angels will finally return for the first time in over 12 years to next year’s Florida International Air Show at Punta Gorda Airport.
Lee County Commissioners discuss LCSO Budget and Sheriff Marceno federal investigation In light of recent investigations into Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno, a Lee County Commissioner proposed a change at Tuesday’s commissioner’s meeting that would separate the county budget from the sheriff’s. This potential change is a long way from being implemented because it isn’t necessarily a proposal, but more like the beginning steps of one. […]
NORTH FORT MYERS North Fort Myers cheerleaders push for Nationals with community’s help The North Fort Myers Pop Warner cheer team has the talent to compete on the biggest stage but lacks the money.
Victim identified in Charlotte County shooting A victim has been identified after a shooting on Nasturtium Drive early Monday morning.
Advanced care for lung cancer patients in Lee County The outlook for lung cancer is typically not good, mostly because it’s often picked up in late stages. However, Lee Health hopes to change that trajectory by launching a new advanced care center focusing on lung disease.
CHARLOTTE PARK After the storm: Harbor Belle RV Resort faces a slow path to recovery Here on WINK News, we have told you about the devastation at the Harbor Belle RV Resort in Charlotte Park and how, for months, many people did not have power.
New K-9 honors fallen Fort Myers officer A Fort Myers police officer who made the ultimate sacrifice serving southwest Florida gets a unique honor.
Websites to help you avoid charity rip-offs The holiday season is a popular time for people to open their wallets and make donations to charities, but how can you be sure your money is going to the right place?
Southwest Florida celebrates Giving Tuesday It’s a day of giving to the ones who need it the most. Giving Tuesday is the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving.
FORT MYERS BEACH Pink Shell developers plead their case against Fort Myers Beach To build up and out or to not. That is the debate going on right now on Fort Myers Beach. The Pink Shell wants to expand on the island.
NAPLES Naples football set for first state semifinal appearance in six years The Naples Golden Eagles are the lone Southwest Florida football team still standing in the drive to the 305.
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Huge warm up as we head into the 70s this Wednesday The Weather Authority is tracking increased temperatures, as Wednesday afternoon highs are expected to be in the lower 70s.
CAPE CORAL Heavy police presence reported in Cape Coral neighborhood The Cape Coral Police Department deployed police and forensics to a scene located on Southeast 5th Place.
FORT MYERS Advocates urge safety measures for retention ponds after boy drowns The tragic drowning of a little boy in Fort Myers is starting a conversation.
NAPLES Naples Winter Wine Festival kicks off Wine, music and making a difference! On Tuesday evening 40 couples joined together to kick off the 25th annual Naples Winter Wine Festival.
PUNTA GORDA Blue Angels returning for 2025 Florida International Air Show The Blue Angels will finally return for the first time in over 12 years to next year’s Florida International Air Show at Punta Gorda Airport.
Lee County Commissioners discuss LCSO Budget and Sheriff Marceno federal investigation In light of recent investigations into Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno, a Lee County Commissioner proposed a change at Tuesday’s commissioner’s meeting that would separate the county budget from the sheriff’s. This potential change is a long way from being implemented because it isn’t necessarily a proposal, but more like the beginning steps of one. […]
NORTH FORT MYERS North Fort Myers cheerleaders push for Nationals with community’s help The North Fort Myers Pop Warner cheer team has the talent to compete on the biggest stage but lacks the money.
Victim identified in Charlotte County shooting A victim has been identified after a shooting on Nasturtium Drive early Monday morning.
Advanced care for lung cancer patients in Lee County The outlook for lung cancer is typically not good, mostly because it’s often picked up in late stages. However, Lee Health hopes to change that trajectory by launching a new advanced care center focusing on lung disease.
CHARLOTTE PARK After the storm: Harbor Belle RV Resort faces a slow path to recovery Here on WINK News, we have told you about the devastation at the Harbor Belle RV Resort in Charlotte Park and how, for months, many people did not have power.
New K-9 honors fallen Fort Myers officer A Fort Myers police officer who made the ultimate sacrifice serving southwest Florida gets a unique honor.
Websites to help you avoid charity rip-offs The holiday season is a popular time for people to open their wallets and make donations to charities, but how can you be sure your money is going to the right place?
Southwest Florida celebrates Giving Tuesday It’s a day of giving to the ones who need it the most. Giving Tuesday is the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving.
FORT MYERS BEACH Pink Shell developers plead their case against Fort Myers Beach To build up and out or to not. That is the debate going on right now on Fort Myers Beach. The Pink Shell wants to expand on the island.
NAPLES Naples football set for first state semifinal appearance in six years The Naples Golden Eagles are the lone Southwest Florida football team still standing in the drive to the 305.
First Street restaurant and bar has been accused of discriminating against Black customers. (CREDIT: WINK News) The Lee County NAACP is accusing a Fort Myers restaurant of discriminating against Black customers. The owner of First Street Restaurant and Bar said what happened at his restaurant is unfortunate, but not “white supremacy” as the NAACP described it. “I am the furthest thing from being a racist that you can probably find in this town,” said the owner Bill Babamov. But his accuser disagrees and said she has evidence staff treats whites differently than Blacks, and put that evidence on social media and brought it to the Lee County NAACP. “I have experienced racism in my life but never at this magnitude,” said Nora Potts. Babamov and Potts started off as partners. Babamov was looking to increase business and Potts said she could help with that. Together, they held a party at the restaurant on March 13. The deal was to hold them every Sunday thereafter. But that second Sunday party never happened. Potts said things turned ugly when she followed up with a First Street manager on Monday. “She says, ‘I am from Virginia and I have never seen this many Black people at one time,’ so I am like OK and so I said, ‘Did we scare you?’ And she was like no and then she was like ‘And honestly I didn’t want you guys here,'” Potts said. On Wednesday the 16th, Potts said Babamov called to cancel. “Because my staff said if you guys come they will not work. They will not serve you, so I’m thinking no this can’t be real like you did not just say this to me,” Potts said. Babamov said the initial party was overcrowded. “It wasn’t well organized and I needed more staff to do it right,” he said. Babamov said he didn’t know about what his manager reportedly said but admitted she suddenly quit. He is adamant the cancelation has nothing to do with race. But Potts doesn’t buy it. She took to social media and got a group to do a sit-in at the restaurant on Sunday. They ordered to see if they would be served. The video shows t least part of the group got light refreshments, but Potts claims as the morning went on, the service stopped. “They came up to our tables, just us. Just the African-American tables and said real quietly but nice, very nice,” Potts said, adding that “She said well our kitchen is broke down or some thing with the kitchen but we won’t be able to serve you guys and I said OK thank you but I watched her as she walked away and she didn’t say anything to the Caucasians around us. Nothing! So I sat there probably about a minute and food came to the table right next to me, a fresh plate of food.” Babamov said that is not true. He sent WINK News surveillance video to prove it. There is not sound but Babamov said the video showed his manager going to every table to tell them about the broken kitchen. “Why would I not serve paying customers? It doesn’t make any sense,” Babamov said. Potts stands by what she saw, heard and how it made her feel. “I was embarrassed,” she said. “I was ashamed. I felt like, is this really 2022?” Fort Myers police confirmed officers went to the restaurant on Sunday for patrons who refused to leave after the business closed. The Lee County NAACP wants the city of Fort Myers to revoke the restaurant’s business license.