Neighbors frustrated with car noises in Port CharlotteCharlotte County provides update on boat ramp closures
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors frustrated with car noises in Port Charlotte A battle intensifies on Oceanside Avenue in Port Charlotte between neighbors and an endless bombardment of car noises.
Charlotte County provides update on boat ramp closures The Charlotte County Community Services has provided an update regarding the boat ramp closures brought about by hurricanes Milton and Helene.
LEE COUNTY Man found guilty of 1st-degree murder in fentanyl-overdose death of Lee County woman A man has been convicted of first-degree murder of unlawful distribution of fentanyl for the overdose death of a Lee County woman.
SANIBEL Sanibel to celebrate 50th anniversary of city’s incorporation The City of Sanibel announced its 50th-anniversary celebration of the city’s incorporation to prevent overdevelopment.
the weather authority Tropical Depression 18 forms; expected to become Tropical Storm Rafael The Weather Authority meteorologists are monitoring the Caribbean as Tropical Depression 18 is forecast to become Tropical Storm Rafael.
The Weather Authority Warm and breezy with a few showers for your Monday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a warm start to the workweek with breezy conditions and a chance of showers this afternoon.
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.
NAPLES Humane Society of Naples looking to give homes to 2 dogs Two months ago, WINK News introduced you to Yogi, a pup who had been at the Humane Society of Naples for 797 days due to his shyness.
Democrats and Republicans preparing for Presidential Election The 2024 Presidential Election is on Tuesday. Now that early voting has ended, Southwest Florida political parties are making their final push to voters to vote.
southwest florida WINK Neighborhood Watch: fatal shooting, criminal mischief, and a drug sting This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a fatal shooting, criminal mischief and a drug sting.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral firefighters rescue dog from canal, reunited with owner Firefighters with Engine 3 of the Cape Coral Fire Department rescued a dog from a canal early Sunday morning but have yet to locate its owner.
Early voting ends Sunday in Charlotte County; here’s where to cast your ballot Sunday is the final day for early voting if you are a resident of Charlotte County, with just two days to go until the 2024 presidential election.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA The Weather Authority: First cone out for potential Tropical Storm Rafael It’s the final month of hurricane season, and while typically, we start to see things quiet down, the Weather Authority is tracking three areas in the tropics.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Warm, breezy Sunday on tap with rain chances increasing this week The Weather Authority is tracking another warm day with temperatures in the upper 80s.
ENGLEWOOD Englewood Chamber of Commerce donates $88,000 to hurricane relief fund The Englewood Chamber of Commerce announced that they are making a significant donation to the chamber’s community hurricane relief fund.
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors frustrated with car noises in Port Charlotte A battle intensifies on Oceanside Avenue in Port Charlotte between neighbors and an endless bombardment of car noises.
Charlotte County provides update on boat ramp closures The Charlotte County Community Services has provided an update regarding the boat ramp closures brought about by hurricanes Milton and Helene.
LEE COUNTY Man found guilty of 1st-degree murder in fentanyl-overdose death of Lee County woman A man has been convicted of first-degree murder of unlawful distribution of fentanyl for the overdose death of a Lee County woman.
SANIBEL Sanibel to celebrate 50th anniversary of city’s incorporation The City of Sanibel announced its 50th-anniversary celebration of the city’s incorporation to prevent overdevelopment.
the weather authority Tropical Depression 18 forms; expected to become Tropical Storm Rafael The Weather Authority meteorologists are monitoring the Caribbean as Tropical Depression 18 is forecast to become Tropical Storm Rafael.
The Weather Authority Warm and breezy with a few showers for your Monday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a warm start to the workweek with breezy conditions and a chance of showers this afternoon.
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.
NAPLES Humane Society of Naples looking to give homes to 2 dogs Two months ago, WINK News introduced you to Yogi, a pup who had been at the Humane Society of Naples for 797 days due to his shyness.
Democrats and Republicans preparing for Presidential Election The 2024 Presidential Election is on Tuesday. Now that early voting has ended, Southwest Florida political parties are making their final push to voters to vote.
southwest florida WINK Neighborhood Watch: fatal shooting, criminal mischief, and a drug sting This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a fatal shooting, criminal mischief and a drug sting.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral firefighters rescue dog from canal, reunited with owner Firefighters with Engine 3 of the Cape Coral Fire Department rescued a dog from a canal early Sunday morning but have yet to locate its owner.
Early voting ends Sunday in Charlotte County; here’s where to cast your ballot Sunday is the final day for early voting if you are a resident of Charlotte County, with just two days to go until the 2024 presidential election.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA The Weather Authority: First cone out for potential Tropical Storm Rafael It’s the final month of hurricane season, and while typically, we start to see things quiet down, the Weather Authority is tracking three areas in the tropics.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Warm, breezy Sunday on tap with rain chances increasing this week The Weather Authority is tracking another warm day with temperatures in the upper 80s.
ENGLEWOOD Englewood Chamber of Commerce donates $88,000 to hurricane relief fund The Englewood Chamber of Commerce announced that they are making a significant donation to the chamber’s community hurricane relief fund.
Credit: MGN A high-profile trial is about to get underway in Lee County, but defense attorneys are worried because there is a shortage of court reporters. Kierra Russ is one of five people accused in the 2016 Club Blu shooting that killed Stef’An Strawder, 18, and 14-year-old Sean Archilles as well as injured dozens. Tajze Battle, Derrick Church, Don Loggins and Demetrius O’Neal also were arrested for the crime. Russ is the first to face trial for second-degree murder charges and conspiracy. The trial is legally allowed to proceed without a court reporter, but today in court, the judge said the shortage of court reporters has been an ongoing problem. It’s an issue locally and across the nation. In Lee County, one court reporting services owner has offered to pay for any new hires’ tuition, but there haven’t been any takers. Court reporters type fast, up to 250 words per minute, writing precise transcripts of the entire trial. “Their profession, the numbers are dwindling. And this is not just a Lee County problem, not just Florida problem, but a national problem. But now it’s striking home,” said Douglas Molloy, who is representing Russ. Russ will likely go on trial without a court reporter next week. “This is a disaster waiting to happen in terms of the record,” Molloy said. In Lee County, only a capital trial must have a court reporter. The courthouse does feature electronic court reporting of every criminal trial, and according to Lee County court, there has never been an issue accurately recording a court event. “You can’t do a murder case without a court reporter. I don’t know how else to put that. It’s like breathing air to have that person there,” said Chrissy Mikulice, owner of Martina-Mikulice Reporting Services. Mikulice said she noticed a shortage years ago that got worse when the pandemic hit. Before the pandemic, she said she had 20 court reporters. Now she has 8. Molloy said he worries that without a court reporter, justice will not be fairly served. “It’s for both sides, both for the state and for the defense to have somebody trained to get all important information on a record. You don’t have a person doing that. And you got trouble,” Molloy said. Mikulice said it’s extremely serious. “You want somebody there to be the official record,” she said. “You don’t want an audio recording.” Unless a court reporter becomes available on Tuesday, Russ’s trial will likely proceed without one.