Fort Myers City council faces backlash over ICE partnershipCollier County teen hospitalized after protecting friend from dating violence incident
FORT MYERS Fort Myers City council faces backlash over ICE partnership The Fort Myers City Council’s partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been a point of contention
NAPLES Collier County teen hospitalized after protecting friend from dating violence incident A 17-year-old hero is fighting for his life in the hospital after a violent incident in Collier County.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers fire officials urge honesty to aid investigations, ensure safety The Fort Myers Fire Department is urging the community to be open and honest during fire investigations.
WWII veteran recalls life as a woman in war While many are familiar with the stories of men who served in World War II, the women who served also played a crucial role in shaping history.
Most Wanted Wednesday: Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for March 26, 2025 WINK News is back with Most Wanted Wednesday, spotlighting some of Southwest Florida’s most sought-after criminals. This initiative, in collaboration with Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, aims to aid law enforcement by sharing crucial information about individuals they are trying to locate. This week, authorities are searching for Arquesha Brown in Fort Myers. The 47-year-old was […]
Florida Panther caught on camera mimicking house cat behavior A new video of a Florida Panther shows that these wild animals have more in common with house cats than you might think.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers councilman proposes cameras for McGregor Blvd school zones Fort Myers may soon see new traffic cameras installed in school zones along McGregor Boulevard.
AI in Florida insurance: New bill demands human review Lawmakers have proposed a bill to ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) cannot be the sole factor in denying insurance claims. This includes claims for home, auto, or health insurance.
ESTERO Estero teen to play in third Augusta National Women’s Amateur Estero 17-year-old Gianna Clemente is making her third appearance in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach timeshare owners await answers on delayed repairs Two and a half years after Hurricane Ian, timeshare owners at Mariners Boathouse and Windward Passage Resort on Fort Myers Beach are still unable to access their properties.
Lake Okeechobee water ruling favors clean water advocates in Florida Water quality advocates celebrated a victory after a lawsuit from three Florida sugar companies was rejected in court.
NAPLES Naples actors help Collier deputies train for high-stakes crisis scenarios The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is taking innovative steps to prepare its deputies for unpredictable situations.
FORT MYERS BEACH New traffic plan seeks to improve Fort Myers Beach fire response A new traffic plan on the Matanzas Pass Bridge seeks to get first responders to Fort Myers Beach faster.
SANIBEL SCCF weather stations destroyed by Hurricane Ian, operational again The powerful storm had swept away all three weather stations of the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation. After nearly two and a half years, the RECON Weather System is back online, bringing vital information to the community.
CAPE CORAL Mariner’s Maximus Brady achieves historic fourth state wrestling title Mariner High School wrestler Maximus Brady won his fourth straight state championship, becoming just the second in Lee County to do so.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers City council faces backlash over ICE partnership The Fort Myers City Council’s partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been a point of contention
NAPLES Collier County teen hospitalized after protecting friend from dating violence incident A 17-year-old hero is fighting for his life in the hospital after a violent incident in Collier County.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers fire officials urge honesty to aid investigations, ensure safety The Fort Myers Fire Department is urging the community to be open and honest during fire investigations.
WWII veteran recalls life as a woman in war While many are familiar with the stories of men who served in World War II, the women who served also played a crucial role in shaping history.
Most Wanted Wednesday: Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for March 26, 2025 WINK News is back with Most Wanted Wednesday, spotlighting some of Southwest Florida’s most sought-after criminals. This initiative, in collaboration with Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, aims to aid law enforcement by sharing crucial information about individuals they are trying to locate. This week, authorities are searching for Arquesha Brown in Fort Myers. The 47-year-old was […]
Florida Panther caught on camera mimicking house cat behavior A new video of a Florida Panther shows that these wild animals have more in common with house cats than you might think.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers councilman proposes cameras for McGregor Blvd school zones Fort Myers may soon see new traffic cameras installed in school zones along McGregor Boulevard.
AI in Florida insurance: New bill demands human review Lawmakers have proposed a bill to ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) cannot be the sole factor in denying insurance claims. This includes claims for home, auto, or health insurance.
ESTERO Estero teen to play in third Augusta National Women’s Amateur Estero 17-year-old Gianna Clemente is making her third appearance in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach timeshare owners await answers on delayed repairs Two and a half years after Hurricane Ian, timeshare owners at Mariners Boathouse and Windward Passage Resort on Fort Myers Beach are still unable to access their properties.
Lake Okeechobee water ruling favors clean water advocates in Florida Water quality advocates celebrated a victory after a lawsuit from three Florida sugar companies was rejected in court.
NAPLES Naples actors help Collier deputies train for high-stakes crisis scenarios The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is taking innovative steps to prepare its deputies for unpredictable situations.
FORT MYERS BEACH New traffic plan seeks to improve Fort Myers Beach fire response A new traffic plan on the Matanzas Pass Bridge seeks to get first responders to Fort Myers Beach faster.
SANIBEL SCCF weather stations destroyed by Hurricane Ian, operational again The powerful storm had swept away all three weather stations of the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation. After nearly two and a half years, the RECON Weather System is back online, bringing vital information to the community.
CAPE CORAL Mariner’s Maximus Brady achieves historic fourth state wrestling title Mariner High School wrestler Maximus Brady won his fourth straight state championship, becoming just the second in Lee County to do so.
Gunshot victim identified by family members as Ava Chruniak, 9, as she was being released from hospital on April 14, 2022. CBS LOS ANGELES A Southern California shoe store owner accused of shooting and wounding a 9-year-old girl when he opened fire at shoplifters agreed Thursday to be returned from Nevada to face charges in the case. The girl says she’ll “never forgive” him. Police have said that Marqel Cockrell, 20, fled from the California desert city of Victorville in his car just after the girl, identified by family members as Ava Chruniak, was mistakenly hit by bullets on Tuesday as she waited to have her picture taken with a mall Easter bunny. Cockrell, 20, stood in court and told a Las Vegas judge that he understood that California authorities had 30 days to extradite him. He wasn’t represented by an attorney because Nevada doesn’t provide lawyers for extradition cases. Marqel Cockrell, 20, in Las Vegas court on April 14, 2022. Cockrell co-owns the shoe store Sole Addicts at the Mall of Victor Valley and was chasing two shoplifters at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday when he fired shots that “instead hit the 9-year-old female victim,” Victorville police said in a statement. The girl suffered three gunshot wounds, including two in one arm, her grandmother, Moraga-Saldarelli said. One of the bullets fractured an arm bone. She was released from the hospital on Thursday but will require another operation to repair nerve damage, CBS Los Angeles reported. “I will never forgive him. What he did to me is not OK,” Ava told the station from her bed at home. “No one should have a gun in the mall.” “I want to know why they shot me,” she said. “Why was I the one who got shot?” “Nobody in their right state of mind would run out in a crowded mall and pop shots,” Ava’s father Charles Chruniak, Jr., told CBS L.A. “I just want her to be a normal kid,” said Chruniak. “I want her to have that normal life.” “She’s a trooper,” Ava’s grandmother said while speaking with CBS reporters Wednesday. Police have said that Cockrell drove from the mall before responding officers arrived after receiving reports of gunfire and that he was arrested in Nevada’s Clark County, about a three-hour drive from Victorville. Cockrell is being held at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas. Authorities have said he faces at least one attempted murder charge. Records do not indicate if he has a lawyer who could speak on his behalf.