NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County residents wait hours for D-SNAP assistance The supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) is at the Lee Civic Center all weekend, ready to help southwest Florida.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA First eaglet hatches in famous SWFL eagle nest Welcome E24! The third eaglet from the nest of M15 and F23 has hatched according to the Southwest Florida eagle camera.
lehigh acres LCSO: Lehigh Acres shooting investigation underway The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
Rock for Equality: SWFL non-profit hosts benefit concert for Palestine A Southwest Florida non-profit hosted a benefit concert on Friday night to help with humanitarian aid in Palestine.
Warm, breezy Saturday with a few showers possible The Weather Authority is forecasting a breezy, warm weekend in store across Southwest Florida, with the chance of a few showers, particularly on Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Active investigation underway in South Cape Coral Cape Coral police are investigating at a home on Southwest 49th Terrace in South Cape Coral early Saturday morning.
16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier County According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two airboats crashed south of U.S. 41 east between mile markers 74 and 75, leaving well over a dozen people injured.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes There could be new detectives on the block, located in your nearest auto shop. A new state bill aims at trying to stop hit-and-run drivers from getting away.
CAPE CORAL New leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans A drug now being studied in human trials to kill cancerous tumors, is already approved and helping animals.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral planning a new interchange with I-75 The city of Cape Coral is in the early stages of planning a new interchange with I-75, an idea that has been discussed for more than a decade.
Tracking invasive species after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton didn’t just bring wind and rain, they brought new threats to southwest Florida’s ecosystem.
PUNTA GORDA Woman in Punta Gorda shooting charged with 2nd degree murder A woman in a homicide investigation on Nasturtium Drive in Punta Gorda has been charged with 2nd-degree murder.
Lee County mother continuing fight to get children a bus stop The school district already told her she lives too close to the school to qualify for a bus route but she has not given up.
NORTH NAPLES Grant Thornton Invitational returns to Tiburon Golf Club Stars on the PGA and LPGA Tours are back in Southwest Florida for the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club.
FORT MYERS Black Flag brings classic punk energy to The Ranch in Fort Myers Legendary punk band Black Flag made their mark in Southwest Florida during the Fort Myers stop of their “First Four Years” tour.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County residents wait hours for D-SNAP assistance The supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) is at the Lee Civic Center all weekend, ready to help southwest Florida.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA First eaglet hatches in famous SWFL eagle nest Welcome E24! The third eaglet from the nest of M15 and F23 has hatched according to the Southwest Florida eagle camera.
lehigh acres LCSO: Lehigh Acres shooting investigation underway The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
Rock for Equality: SWFL non-profit hosts benefit concert for Palestine A Southwest Florida non-profit hosted a benefit concert on Friday night to help with humanitarian aid in Palestine.
Warm, breezy Saturday with a few showers possible The Weather Authority is forecasting a breezy, warm weekend in store across Southwest Florida, with the chance of a few showers, particularly on Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Active investigation underway in South Cape Coral Cape Coral police are investigating at a home on Southwest 49th Terrace in South Cape Coral early Saturday morning.
16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier County According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two airboats crashed south of U.S. 41 east between mile markers 74 and 75, leaving well over a dozen people injured.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes There could be new detectives on the block, located in your nearest auto shop. A new state bill aims at trying to stop hit-and-run drivers from getting away.
CAPE CORAL New leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans A drug now being studied in human trials to kill cancerous tumors, is already approved and helping animals.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral planning a new interchange with I-75 The city of Cape Coral is in the early stages of planning a new interchange with I-75, an idea that has been discussed for more than a decade.
Tracking invasive species after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton didn’t just bring wind and rain, they brought new threats to southwest Florida’s ecosystem.
PUNTA GORDA Woman in Punta Gorda shooting charged with 2nd degree murder A woman in a homicide investigation on Nasturtium Drive in Punta Gorda has been charged with 2nd-degree murder.
Lee County mother continuing fight to get children a bus stop The school district already told her she lives too close to the school to qualify for a bus route but she has not given up.
NORTH NAPLES Grant Thornton Invitational returns to Tiburon Golf Club Stars on the PGA and LPGA Tours are back in Southwest Florida for the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club.
FORT MYERS Black Flag brings classic punk energy to The Ranch in Fort Myers Legendary punk band Black Flag made their mark in Southwest Florida during the Fort Myers stop of their “First Four Years” tour.
Sheriff Carmine Marceno giving out an award for saving a deputy’s life. (Credit: WINK News) Deputies and troopers were honored for putting their lives at risk to save others on Wednesday. In March, Deputy Rafael Jaquez was shot after deputies stopped a car with the wrong tags in Lehigh Acres, and the suspect opened fire. Days later, Jaquez was released from the hospital and given a promotion to detective. Detective Jaquez is released from the hospital. (Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office) Detective Jaquez remembers the people who saved his life, and on Wednesday, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno rewarded them for their heroic efforts. The Florida Highway Patrol troopers involved received life-saving awards, and the Lee County Sheriff’s deputies were awarded combat crosses. Detective Jaquez was handed the wounded deputy award. Award handed out during Wednesday’s ceremony. (Credit: WINK News) Detective Jaquez will never forget the scene from March 17, 2022. “I remember being in pain. I remember. You know, everyone responding to me, I remember seeing several deputies that I’m familiar with,” said Jaquez. That was the day Jaquez encountered a do-or-die situation. A grandmother driving a blue Chevy Equinox ran through a stop sign. Eventually, the driver pulled over at SR-82 and Gunnery Road. Jaquez said he immediately recognized the passenger as Tyler James Phillips, who was involved in several crimes. It turns out that the vehicle he was in had stolen tags. Tyler James Phillips (Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office) “I can guarantee you he wasn’t thinking he was going to be in a shooting two minutes later. That business changes so fast. And we train and train and train because how you train is how you perform,” said Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno. Marceno said when Jaquez and another deputy tried to get Phillips out of the car to investigate, he refused, cursed, and told his grandmother to drive away. Shooting scene on SR-82 and Gunnery Road. (Credit: WINK News) Phillips then reached underneath his passenger seat, grabbed a handgun, and fired at least two times in Jaquez’s direction. Then he swung open the car door and ran to the sidewalk, pointing his weapon at Jaquez again and firing. This time, the first round struck Jaquez’s elbow. Jaquez met deadly force with deadly force and fired back. “I’ve never been in that type of situation. I’ve been in other situations, but not me, you know, being shot and shooting back and all that, but it was tough. You know, I got through it. And I learned from it, you know, and I’m moving forward,” said Jaquez. “Thank God that suspect is no longer with us and can’t commit any deadly force against anyone else,” said Marceno. Deputies watched Phillips collapse near a sloped embankment. He did not survive. His grandmother, who was in the car, was not injured. WINK News called Phillips’ grandmother. She said she doesn’t remember much from that day. As for Jaquez, FHP troopers rushed in to help him, wrapped him in a tourniquet, and got him to Gulf Coast Medical Center. Jaquez is officially back at work and testing out his new title; detective.