From rookie to captain, Oliver Chau leads the Florida EverbladesReward increase of $5K for more information on Edison Mall shooter from 2011
ESTERO From rookie to captain, Oliver Chau leads the Florida Everblades From shy newcomer to team leader, one man’s journey with the Florida Everblades has been remarkable.
FORT MYERS Reward increase of $5K for more information on Edison Mall shooter from 2011 Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking more information on a suspect wanted for shooting someone at the Edison Mall.
CAPE CORAL Precautionary boil water notice issued for neighborhood in Cape Coral A precautionary boil water notice is in effect for residents in the area of Southwest 5th Avenue following a water main break that briefly halted potable water service.
Blue Sky Restaurant dawns at Magnolia Square in North Naples The family-owned Blue Sky Restaurant opened Dec. 7 in the former space of Franklin Social, a local bar with a limited food menu that closed earlier this year at Magnolia Square on the northeast corner of Goodlette-Frank and Pine Ridge roads.
American Airlines flights operational following brief grounding American Airlines said a “technical issue” disrupted flights nationwide early Tuesday but has since been cleared by the Federal Aviation Administration.
SANIBEL Bigger and better beaches; Sanibel gets fresh sand If you haven’t been to Sanibel lately you might not recognize it. Just in time for the holidays, the island is celebrating bigger, better and more beautiful beaches.
the weather authority Tracking morning fog and afternoon sunshine on Christmas Eve The Weather Authority says it’s Christmas Eve, and Southwest Florida is ushering in Santa with warmth and sunshine.
CAPE CORAL Homeowners bring Christmas cheer to Cape Coral with dazzling light displays We might not have snow but we do have some amazing Christmas lights. If you plan to hit the road with your family and check out the displays, WINK News has you covered.
ST. JAMES CITY Fire takes over trailer in St. James City Authorities responded to a fire in St. James City on Monday evening after flames engulfed a trailer near York Road and Dewberry Lane.
Charlotte County man arrested for shooting person with flare gun A man has been arrested after shooting someone with a flare gun.
SAN CARLOS PARK Lee County School District approves bus service after mother’s fight The school district said Shannan Santiago’s kids can have a school bus because they live more than two miles away from their school.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral twins together for holidays after congenital heart defect scare Everyone together at home for Christmas. That’s the wish for one Cape Coral family since they were blessed with twins in the spring.
PORT CHARLOTTE Meeting held for future of Beach Park in Port Charlotte Beach Park in Port Charlotte has been closed since hurricanes Helene and Milton. Last week county leaders held a special meeting to come up with a solution to finally reopen the park to neighbors.
PUNTA GORDA Downtown Punta Gorda restaurant rebuilding after back-to-back storms In downtown Punta Gorda, the back-to-back hurricanes spared no one. For one restaurant, it meant starting over, cutting up the walls and redoing the floors not once but twice.
Valerie’s House offers support to those grieving this holiday season Christmas is considered a magical time for many families, but many also struggle with the loss of a loved one this time of year. Valerie’s House is opening its doors for the holidays to help struggling families deal with that grief.
ESTERO From rookie to captain, Oliver Chau leads the Florida Everblades From shy newcomer to team leader, one man’s journey with the Florida Everblades has been remarkable.
FORT MYERS Reward increase of $5K for more information on Edison Mall shooter from 2011 Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking more information on a suspect wanted for shooting someone at the Edison Mall.
CAPE CORAL Precautionary boil water notice issued for neighborhood in Cape Coral A precautionary boil water notice is in effect for residents in the area of Southwest 5th Avenue following a water main break that briefly halted potable water service.
Blue Sky Restaurant dawns at Magnolia Square in North Naples The family-owned Blue Sky Restaurant opened Dec. 7 in the former space of Franklin Social, a local bar with a limited food menu that closed earlier this year at Magnolia Square on the northeast corner of Goodlette-Frank and Pine Ridge roads.
American Airlines flights operational following brief grounding American Airlines said a “technical issue” disrupted flights nationwide early Tuesday but has since been cleared by the Federal Aviation Administration.
SANIBEL Bigger and better beaches; Sanibel gets fresh sand If you haven’t been to Sanibel lately you might not recognize it. Just in time for the holidays, the island is celebrating bigger, better and more beautiful beaches.
the weather authority Tracking morning fog and afternoon sunshine on Christmas Eve The Weather Authority says it’s Christmas Eve, and Southwest Florida is ushering in Santa with warmth and sunshine.
CAPE CORAL Homeowners bring Christmas cheer to Cape Coral with dazzling light displays We might not have snow but we do have some amazing Christmas lights. If you plan to hit the road with your family and check out the displays, WINK News has you covered.
ST. JAMES CITY Fire takes over trailer in St. James City Authorities responded to a fire in St. James City on Monday evening after flames engulfed a trailer near York Road and Dewberry Lane.
Charlotte County man arrested for shooting person with flare gun A man has been arrested after shooting someone with a flare gun.
SAN CARLOS PARK Lee County School District approves bus service after mother’s fight The school district said Shannan Santiago’s kids can have a school bus because they live more than two miles away from their school.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral twins together for holidays after congenital heart defect scare Everyone together at home for Christmas. That’s the wish for one Cape Coral family since they were blessed with twins in the spring.
PORT CHARLOTTE Meeting held for future of Beach Park in Port Charlotte Beach Park in Port Charlotte has been closed since hurricanes Helene and Milton. Last week county leaders held a special meeting to come up with a solution to finally reopen the park to neighbors.
PUNTA GORDA Downtown Punta Gorda restaurant rebuilding after back-to-back storms In downtown Punta Gorda, the back-to-back hurricanes spared no one. For one restaurant, it meant starting over, cutting up the walls and redoing the floors not once but twice.
Valerie’s House offers support to those grieving this holiday season Christmas is considered a magical time for many families, but many also struggle with the loss of a loved one this time of year. Valerie’s House is opening its doors for the holidays to help struggling families deal with that grief.
FILE: Gov. Ron DeSantis speaking at Doc Ford’s near Fort Myers Beach. Credit: WINK News Gov. Ron DeSantis visited Doc Ford’s on San Carlos Island on Wednesday to highlight a $1.2 billion investment for water quality and Everglades restoration. DeSantis spoke near Fort Myers Beach on Wednesday to talk about the passage of the recent state budget. Businesses hope the investment will help them avoid another year like 2018 when they were plagued by water quality issues. DeSantis was joined at Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grill by Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Shawn Hamilton and Chief Resilience Officer Dr. Wes Brooks. The influx of cash will also be spent on Florida’s springs, state parks, infrastructure after major storms, blue-green algae and red tide prevention. “I remember coming here before I was governor 2018, some of these communities, you know, and you got hit, it hurt the tourism, it hurt the restaurants, it hurt the overall economy,” DeSantis said. That was in the aftermath of Irma. Local conservation group Captains for Clean Water joined the governor at the podium. “The shrimpers, the restaurants, the hotels, our whole economy here. It’s, it has a bright future because we’re gonna have clean water,” said Capt. Daniel Andrews. But as much money as the governor’s pumped into Southwest Florida water, it’s still not completely clean. There are polluted rivers, septic tank and fertilizer runoff and discharges from Lake Okeechobee and more. Captains for Clean Water’s Chris Wittman said with continued funding from the state and the feds, he believes all of Southwest Florida’s water will improve. “That’s where we’re really going to see progress. Everglades restoration is a 50/50 cost share between the state and the federal government,” Wittman said. “We need to fund these projects as soon as possible.” Water advocates also celebrated DeSantis’ decision to veto SB 2508 Environmental Resources bill passed by the legislature. Those in favor of the bill demanded the South Florida Water Management District get special certifications before spending state dollars. But opponents, like Captains for Clean Water, said the bill would essentially sacrifice coastal communities and undo years of Everglades restoration progress. “It’s probably the best news I’ve heard since my baby Tuck was born,” Wittman said. “His veto today sends a very strong message to the legislature that the citizens are watching, and the governor is listening.” Watch again in the player below or click here.