Know where your voting precinct is in Southwest FloridaTracking Tropical Storm Rafael; expected to become hurricane
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.
The Weather Authority Tracking Tropical Storm Rafael; expected to become hurricane The Weather Authority Meteorologists are watching the Caribbean as Tropical Storm Rafael will strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane later Tuesday night.
The Weather Authority Scattered rain and storms on this Election Day The Weather Authority is tracking scattered rain and storms along with warm temperatures throughout this Election Day Tuesday.
Where to drop off your mail-in ballots on Election Day Those who still have their mail-in ballots in Southwest Florida have two options on Election Day: vote in person or drop them off at a specified location.
WINK NEWS Lee County race for Sheriff It is now Election Day, and two candidates for the Lee County Sheriff are vying for the position.
WINK NEWS Floridians to vote on legalizing recreational marijuana With Election Day in full swing, WINK News is monitoring the results of the most controversial amendments on the ballot, including Florida’s Amendment 3.
WINK NEWS How Floridians are voting on Consitutional right to abortions As Election Day ramps up, WINK News is monitoring the results of the most controversial amendments on the ballot, including Florida’s Amendment 4.
Collier County commission race As the 2024 general election gets underway, WINK News is monitoring the election results in several local races, including the Collier County Commission race.
Cape Coral 5 seats in Cape Coral City Council to be decided on Election Day The Cape Coral City Council election will be decided on Tuesday. Five seats are up for grabs.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers City Council race for 2 wards The 2024 elections are looking to be a tense battle that will have every American on the edge of their seats. In Southwest Florida, the feeling is no different.
Lee County Superintendent election; School Board District 7 Voters in Lee County are going to the polls to fill some crucial seats in the school district.
PUNTA GORDA The race for Punta Gorda City Council November 5 is election day, as politicians across the country compete for office, with Southwest Florida being no different.
Lee County commission race for districts 3 and 5 The 2024 elections include several local Southwest Florida races, among them are races for two districts on the Lee County Board of County Commissioners.
Election Day crowds expected despite record early voting Election Day is nearly upon us. At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, the polls will be closed, and our team will bring you the results.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Voters in Downtown Fort Myers ready for 2024 Election A lot can change in four years. During the 2020 election, many voters masked up as they cast their ballots, and the pandemic was at the top of many voters’ minds.
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.
The Weather Authority Tracking Tropical Storm Rafael; expected to become hurricane The Weather Authority Meteorologists are watching the Caribbean as Tropical Storm Rafael will strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane later Tuesday night.
The Weather Authority Scattered rain and storms on this Election Day The Weather Authority is tracking scattered rain and storms along with warm temperatures throughout this Election Day Tuesday.
Where to drop off your mail-in ballots on Election Day Those who still have their mail-in ballots in Southwest Florida have two options on Election Day: vote in person or drop them off at a specified location.
WINK NEWS Lee County race for Sheriff It is now Election Day, and two candidates for the Lee County Sheriff are vying for the position.
WINK NEWS Floridians to vote on legalizing recreational marijuana With Election Day in full swing, WINK News is monitoring the results of the most controversial amendments on the ballot, including Florida’s Amendment 3.
WINK NEWS How Floridians are voting on Consitutional right to abortions As Election Day ramps up, WINK News is monitoring the results of the most controversial amendments on the ballot, including Florida’s Amendment 4.
Collier County commission race As the 2024 general election gets underway, WINK News is monitoring the election results in several local races, including the Collier County Commission race.
Cape Coral 5 seats in Cape Coral City Council to be decided on Election Day The Cape Coral City Council election will be decided on Tuesday. Five seats are up for grabs.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers City Council race for 2 wards The 2024 elections are looking to be a tense battle that will have every American on the edge of their seats. In Southwest Florida, the feeling is no different.
Lee County Superintendent election; School Board District 7 Voters in Lee County are going to the polls to fill some crucial seats in the school district.
PUNTA GORDA The race for Punta Gorda City Council November 5 is election day, as politicians across the country compete for office, with Southwest Florida being no different.
Lee County commission race for districts 3 and 5 The 2024 elections include several local Southwest Florida races, among them are races for two districts on the Lee County Board of County Commissioners.
Election Day crowds expected despite record early voting Election Day is nearly upon us. At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, the polls will be closed, and our team will bring you the results.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Voters in Downtown Fort Myers ready for 2024 Election A lot can change in four years. During the 2020 election, many voters masked up as they cast their ballots, and the pandemic was at the top of many voters’ minds.
A teacher in front of her class in Lee County. Credit: WINK News The new school year starts in only four weeks, and Lee County, like so much of Florida, is dealing with a massive teacher shortage. In Lee County, there are 285 open teaching positions on top of a severe bus driver shortage. This January, state education officials reported more than 9,500 vacancies in schools across the state. More than 4,300 were identified as teaching jobs, the remaining 5,222 were non-instructional positions like teachers’ aides, bus drivers and custodians. As parents are checking their kids’ back-to-school lists and looking ahead to the back-to-school tax-free holiday beginning on July 25, several state education leaders have concerns about just how many teacher vacancies there will be this year. “My daughter, who’s now going into eighth grade, did not have a science teacher from the third week of January till the end of the school year,” said Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union. “Half of the school year she did not have a science teacher, because her science teacher, after the winter break, said, ‘I’ve had enough, I’m not going to continue to sacrifice my health and my family and not be able to do what I know is best for kids.’ And she walked away from the profession she loved.” According to FEA data, more than an estimated 450,000 Florida students may have started last school year without full-time certified teachers due to the number of teacher vacancies. “There is no doubt, we are in a crisis mode,” Spar said. “Right now, the number one issue facing our public schools is the lack of teachers and staff. If kids get to school late because there aren’t enough bus drivers, they’re missing out on the education they deserve and need. If children don’t have teachers in the classroom, they’re missing out on the education they deserve and need.” WINK News reached out to local school districts for an updated count on their current vacancies: Besides Lee County’s 285 vacancies, Charlotte County has 196 open positions. 56 are classroom teachers. They hired a little more than 200 new teachers for this upcoming school year. Collier County currently has 156 instructional, 78 non-instructional and 25 bus driver vacancies. Collier County Public Schools say these numbers are changing daily, and they hope to reduce them in the next two weeks. State education leaders say one of the main issues leading to this shortage is the pay educators receive in Florida. Gov. Ron DeSantis did include $800 million for teacher pay raises in the 2022-2023 budget, an increase of $250 million from last year. Leaders with the School District of Lee County sent WINK News this statement: “Our most current number on teacher vacancies is 285. While high for this time of year, our recruiting efforts will not stop. We have a plan in place to make sure every classroom has a certified teacher to lead instruction on the first day of school. “As you heard earlier this week, we are in need of 69 bus drivers, with the anticipation of that number growing closer to 100 as Aug. 10 approaches. To attract drivers, we have raised starting pay to $17.50 an hour, which is third highest in the state of Florida for public school bus drivers. We also cover all upfront costs, paid training and full benefits as soon as eligible. “The most recent listing of open positions is on our website. Many of the casual positions listed are for supplemental contracts that have to be advertised but [will likely be] filled by staff that held the positions last year. “Our next recruitment event is on Tuesday, July 12. It’s a virtual connection where anyone interested in teaching or support staff positions can meet with principals looking to hire. Here is the link to register.”