Genesis of Naples breaking ground on new car dealershipEmails show beginnings, contradictions of South Seas resort amendment
Genesis of Naples breaking ground on new car dealership A genesis—or new beginning—is under way for Genesis of Naples. The local franchise plans to break ground this summer on a new and expanded luxury auto dealership in North Naples.
Emails show beginnings, contradictions of South Seas resort amendment South Seas resort ownership group’s engineer proposed a land-use amendment for Lee County’s government at least six months before the first public discussions and at least seven weeks before the county’s official timeline began, emails between the resort’s representatives and county show.
CAPE CORAL 13-year-old arrested for allegedly getting involved in hit-and-run with stolen car, fleeing from Cape Coral police A teen was arrested on multiple charges after allegedly getting involved in a hit-and-run with a stolen car and then fleeing from police.
NORTH FORT MYERS Caloosahatchee River Bridge to close overnight for construction The Caloosahatchee River Bridge from First Street to North Key Drive in North Fort Myers will close so crews can perform bridge work.
CAPE CORAL Accused Cape Coral double murderer, Wade Wilson, will be in court to try to get death penalty off the table Wade Wilson, the man who allegedly murdered two women, will be in court to try to persuade the court to get the death penalty off the table.
Jupiter DeSantis announces funding for developmentally disabled individuals Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke on education for children with developmental disabilities at the Els Center of Excellence in Jupiter.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY Bradenton man arrested after allegedly masturbating inside Charlotte County Walmart A man from Bradenton has been arrested after he was allegedly masturbating inside a Walmart in Charlotte County.
LEHIGH ACRES Lehigh Acres work trailer explosion injures 1 The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District responded to a work trailer explosion that injured one person.
CBS News Trump and DeSantis, once GOP rivals, meet in South Florida to talk about 2024 election Florida Governor Ron DeSantis met privately with former President Donald Trump for several hours on Sunday morning to talk, in part, about fundraising ahead of the 2024 general election, several sources familiar with the meeting tell CBS News.
WINK NEWS Florida Prepaid open enrollment deadline approaches All parents fear the expense of college for their children; however, the state offers a great option in the Florida Prepaid Plan.
The Weather Authority Few showers this Monday afternoon after a pleasant and dry morning The Weather Authority is tracking a cool and pleasant Monday morning start with the possibility of afternoon rain showers.
NORTH FORT MYERS 1 dead, 1 arrested after North Fort Myers shooting The Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested one person following an evening shooting that killed a man in North Fort Myers.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Bishop of the Diocese of Venice releases statement following sexual abuse allegations by SWFL priest The Bishop of the Diocese of Venice is speaking out after Charlotte County Reverend Leo Riley was arrested on five counts of sexual battery stemming from his past work as a priest in Iowa.
NEW YORK (AP) Biden officials indefinitely postpone ban on menthol cigarettes amid election-year pushback President Joe Biden’s administration is indefinitely delaying a long-awaited menthol cigarette ban, a decision that infuriated anti-smoking advocates but could avoid a political backlash from Black voters in November.
FORT MYERS Gone but not forgotten: Traveling Vietnam Memorial pays tribute to veterans A powerful symbol of honor and remembrance is standing proudly here in Southwest Florida. The Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall is open to the public, a reminder of those we lost who served our country.
Genesis of Naples breaking ground on new car dealership A genesis—or new beginning—is under way for Genesis of Naples. The local franchise plans to break ground this summer on a new and expanded luxury auto dealership in North Naples.
Emails show beginnings, contradictions of South Seas resort amendment South Seas resort ownership group’s engineer proposed a land-use amendment for Lee County’s government at least six months before the first public discussions and at least seven weeks before the county’s official timeline began, emails between the resort’s representatives and county show.
CAPE CORAL 13-year-old arrested for allegedly getting involved in hit-and-run with stolen car, fleeing from Cape Coral police A teen was arrested on multiple charges after allegedly getting involved in a hit-and-run with a stolen car and then fleeing from police.
NORTH FORT MYERS Caloosahatchee River Bridge to close overnight for construction The Caloosahatchee River Bridge from First Street to North Key Drive in North Fort Myers will close so crews can perform bridge work.
CAPE CORAL Accused Cape Coral double murderer, Wade Wilson, will be in court to try to get death penalty off the table Wade Wilson, the man who allegedly murdered two women, will be in court to try to persuade the court to get the death penalty off the table.
Jupiter DeSantis announces funding for developmentally disabled individuals Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke on education for children with developmental disabilities at the Els Center of Excellence in Jupiter.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY Bradenton man arrested after allegedly masturbating inside Charlotte County Walmart A man from Bradenton has been arrested after he was allegedly masturbating inside a Walmart in Charlotte County.
LEHIGH ACRES Lehigh Acres work trailer explosion injures 1 The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District responded to a work trailer explosion that injured one person.
CBS News Trump and DeSantis, once GOP rivals, meet in South Florida to talk about 2024 election Florida Governor Ron DeSantis met privately with former President Donald Trump for several hours on Sunday morning to talk, in part, about fundraising ahead of the 2024 general election, several sources familiar with the meeting tell CBS News.
WINK NEWS Florida Prepaid open enrollment deadline approaches All parents fear the expense of college for their children; however, the state offers a great option in the Florida Prepaid Plan.
The Weather Authority Few showers this Monday afternoon after a pleasant and dry morning The Weather Authority is tracking a cool and pleasant Monday morning start with the possibility of afternoon rain showers.
NORTH FORT MYERS 1 dead, 1 arrested after North Fort Myers shooting The Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested one person following an evening shooting that killed a man in North Fort Myers.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Bishop of the Diocese of Venice releases statement following sexual abuse allegations by SWFL priest The Bishop of the Diocese of Venice is speaking out after Charlotte County Reverend Leo Riley was arrested on five counts of sexual battery stemming from his past work as a priest in Iowa.
NEW YORK (AP) Biden officials indefinitely postpone ban on menthol cigarettes amid election-year pushback President Joe Biden’s administration is indefinitely delaying a long-awaited menthol cigarette ban, a decision that infuriated anti-smoking advocates but could avoid a political backlash from Black voters in November.
FORT MYERS Gone but not forgotten: Traveling Vietnam Memorial pays tribute to veterans A powerful symbol of honor and remembrance is standing proudly here in Southwest Florida. The Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall is open to the public, a reminder of those we lost who served our country.
Officer Jason Jackson (CREDIT: WINK News) The family of a fired Fort Myers police officer is speaking publicly for the first time in years. Henry Jackson said he prefers not to talk about his son’s case, but said his family can’t get away from it. His son, Jason Jackson, was fired from the Fort Myers Police Department in the fall after returning to active duty in April of 2021 after being on paid administrative leave for four years. All of it is tied to the Freeh report, a critical audit of the police department that led to allegations of corruption when it was released in 2017. The audit, a 72-page report, included an appendix that was never released publicly. The paid leave lasted four years while documents show the FBI investigated the claims of corruption. Jason Jackson never faced charges and returned to work in April of 2021 only to be placed on administrative leave again after Fort Myers police opened an internal affairs investigation. The internal affairs investigation found he interfered with an internal affairs investigation, associated with convicted felons and maintained a sexual relationship with a former informant. That decision still pains and confuses Henry Jackson. “It tears at me, what’s going on,” Henry Jackson said. “If I’m going to be accused of something, show me what I’ve done wrong.” Jason Jackson and the police union that represents him immediately appealed his termination. Union President Matt Sellers calls it unfair. “It’s deeply concerning when a bureau that’s responsible for investigating officers are not following their own procedures,” Sellers said. For five months, the Jacksons have waited through the appeals process but the Jackson name keeps getting brought up. Most recently, records show, Fort Myers police terminated officers Sarah Hodakoski and Evelyn Roberts after investigating their “alleged inappropriate personal relationship with Jason Jackson.” But eventually, the officers were terminated for “having an inappropriate relationship with a confidential informant,” which had nothing to do with Jason Jackson. “I call that Jason Jackson syndrome. Everything seems to bring him up. But that’s all I can comment at this time,” Henry Jackson said. Henry Jackson, the father of Officer Jason Jackson in Fort Myers. Credit: WINK News. Sellers said: “They had a working relationship like I would have a working relationship with any other officer at the police department.” There is a reason frustrations are bubbling over now. In late February, Fort Myers man Robert Ward was found guilty of killing former FBI informant Kristopher Smith. FMPD’s internal affairs investigation connected Jason Jackson to Ward, claiming he warned Ward the police were watching him and that Ward had paid Jason Jackson for information. But Jason Jackson never faced charges and his name did not come up during Ward’s trial. “I testified at the trial. I was never asked any questions under direct or cross-examination about these officers’ involvements. There’s never been a shred of evidence,” Sellers said. According to Sellers, Jason Jackson is exonerated and every piece of the Freeh report should be made public. “It’s puzzling,” Sellers said. “It’s disappointing to know that in 2017, suddenly there was this cloud of suspicion and still today, I see it as a complete exoneration of these officers.” Henry Jackson said after Ward’s conviction he tried to obtain an unredacted copy of the Freeh report appendix A but was denied access. WINK News also requested the appendix but was denied by Fort Myers police which claims “the documents are related to pending, threatened or ongoing litigation.” “The taxpayers paid for that report,” Henry Jackson said. “I’m a city taxpayer. I think I should be allowed to see what’s in there.” “Just release the information,” he added. Sellers said the police union has also had problems getting documents and looks to Fort Myers Police Chief Derrick Diggs for answers. “These situations come up. Why they do, that’s a better question for the Chief of Police,” Sellers said. But it’s easier said than done to question Diggs. Diggs has declined every interview request made by WINK News and is hard to reach even for organizations he’s involved with. Multiple members of the Fort Myers Police Citizens Review Board said it’s been years since Diggs attended a meeting in person. “Transparency is key to everything we do,” said Board member Steven Brown-Cestero. Brown-Cestero said it would be nice to see Diggs make an appearance to that he could answer tough questions and shed light on crucial issues. “It doesn’t hurt to show up sometimes, especially for a case that we’re spending a lot of time investigating,” Brown-Cestero said. “He’s hiding behind the Freeh Report,” Henry Jackson said. “He’s a public servant. He should be available to the public.” It would have been easier for Henry Jackson and his family to accept his son’s termination and move on, but still, they stay patient, focusing on the light at the end of the tunnel. “I want his name cleared, my name cleared,” Henry Jackson said. “That would be a great day. It’s a lot of pressure that would be relieved.” Jason Jackson’s case is still working through the appeals process. WINK News was told it could be another three to six months before there is any resolution. Hodakoski and Roberts are also appealing their terminations. WINK News reached out to FMPD and Chief Diggs for this story. We were told the department would see what they could arrange, but we haven’t heard back since. WINK News has reached out separately to Jason Jackson, Hodakoski and Roberts. Jason Jackson has declined to comment until the conclusion of his appeals process. We were unable to reach Hodakoski and Roberts.