Amazon pays $66.5M for 143 acres in Fort Myers to build new warehouse2024 Thanksgiving may break records; around 4.5M Floridians expected to travel
Amazon pays $66.5M for 143 acres in Fort Myers to build new warehouse Even the scaled-back version of a planned Amazon warehouse and distribution facility, the first to be located within Fort Myers city limits, will be a record-setter.
WINK NEWS 2024 Thanksgiving may break records; around 4.5M Floridians expected to travel Thanksgiving travel is a stressful endeavor, as AAA predicts nearly 4.5 million Floridians are forecast to travel 50 miles or more for the holiday.
the weather authority Clouds and humidity increase throughout your Tuesday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking higher humidity along with more clouds throughout your Tuesday afternoon.
estero Upcoming Estero council meeting to discuss land development Estero leaders are set to meet and discuss the usage of nearly 200 acres of land located north and west of Williams Road and via Coconut Point.
Pedestrian killed in crash on Ortiz Ave in Fort Myers Authorities are investigating a crash that killed a pedestrian Monday night in Fort Myers.
Victim in Collier house party shooting identified, killer still at large WINK News is learning the victim of a fatal house party shooting was a Collier County public school student.
ESTERO Hello Kitty Café truck coming to Estero Calling all Sanrio fans! The Hello Kitty Cafe truck will make its way to Estero in December.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral residents react as Tropicana Park construction starts Crews broke ground at Tropicana Park in Cape Coral on Monday, the first step toward the park’s future.
Body camera footage released of deputy involved crash A driver not paying attention to the road slams into several deputy patrol cars.
PUNTA GORDA Tow company denies access to boat owner after Hurricane Milton A woman’s boat sank during Hurricane Milton while she was in Michigan, but the company allegedly will not let her collect her belongings.
CAPE CORAL New billboard asks for help in solving Cape Coral cold case A new billboard towering over a busy Cape Coral intersection asks for your help in solving a 10 year old cold case.
FORT MYERS BEACH FEMA’s deadline forces tough choices for Fort Myers Beach businesses FEMA’s deadline is Monday for temporary structures like shipping containers or trailers to get off the island.
NAPLES Naples tops the U.S. News & World Report list for places to retire in 2025 at number 1 spot If you could pick a place to retire, what city would you choose?
What are the impacts to southwest Florida if the U.S. Department of Education gets eliminated? A lot of changes are in store when President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. One of those changes is the possible dismantlement of the U.S. Department of Education.
Southwest Florida International Airport How is Spirit’s bankruptcy announcement affecting RSW travelers? Spirit Airlines is heading to bankruptcy court right as we head into the busy holiday travel season, so how would this impact Southwest Florida travelers?
Amazon pays $66.5M for 143 acres in Fort Myers to build new warehouse Even the scaled-back version of a planned Amazon warehouse and distribution facility, the first to be located within Fort Myers city limits, will be a record-setter.
WINK NEWS 2024 Thanksgiving may break records; around 4.5M Floridians expected to travel Thanksgiving travel is a stressful endeavor, as AAA predicts nearly 4.5 million Floridians are forecast to travel 50 miles or more for the holiday.
the weather authority Clouds and humidity increase throughout your Tuesday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking higher humidity along with more clouds throughout your Tuesday afternoon.
estero Upcoming Estero council meeting to discuss land development Estero leaders are set to meet and discuss the usage of nearly 200 acres of land located north and west of Williams Road and via Coconut Point.
Pedestrian killed in crash on Ortiz Ave in Fort Myers Authorities are investigating a crash that killed a pedestrian Monday night in Fort Myers.
Victim in Collier house party shooting identified, killer still at large WINK News is learning the victim of a fatal house party shooting was a Collier County public school student.
ESTERO Hello Kitty Café truck coming to Estero Calling all Sanrio fans! The Hello Kitty Cafe truck will make its way to Estero in December.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral residents react as Tropicana Park construction starts Crews broke ground at Tropicana Park in Cape Coral on Monday, the first step toward the park’s future.
Body camera footage released of deputy involved crash A driver not paying attention to the road slams into several deputy patrol cars.
PUNTA GORDA Tow company denies access to boat owner after Hurricane Milton A woman’s boat sank during Hurricane Milton while she was in Michigan, but the company allegedly will not let her collect her belongings.
CAPE CORAL New billboard asks for help in solving Cape Coral cold case A new billboard towering over a busy Cape Coral intersection asks for your help in solving a 10 year old cold case.
FORT MYERS BEACH FEMA’s deadline forces tough choices for Fort Myers Beach businesses FEMA’s deadline is Monday for temporary structures like shipping containers or trailers to get off the island.
NAPLES Naples tops the U.S. News & World Report list for places to retire in 2025 at number 1 spot If you could pick a place to retire, what city would you choose?
What are the impacts to southwest Florida if the U.S. Department of Education gets eliminated? A lot of changes are in store when President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. One of those changes is the possible dismantlement of the U.S. Department of Education.
Southwest Florida International Airport How is Spirit’s bankruptcy announcement affecting RSW travelers? Spirit Airlines is heading to bankruptcy court right as we head into the busy holiday travel season, so how would this impact Southwest Florida travelers?
Students in a Lee County classroom. Credit: WINK News CLAIM: A Florida law allowing military veterans without a bachelor’s degree to teach in Florida also extends to their spouses. AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis approved a bill making veterans without a bachelor’s degree eligible to receive a temporary five-year teaching certificate. However, that privilege does not extend to family members or spouses, according to the Florida Department of Education and an aide to the state senator who introduced the bill. THE FACTS: DeSantis signed several bills on June 9 that were meant to help veterans find jobs. One was Florida Senate Bill 896, which allows veterans to apply for a five-year temporary teaching certificate without first earning a bachelor’s degree, as is otherwise required to teach in the state. But false information has spread online in the wake of the new law. “A new program in Florida aims to make up for a shortage in teachers (wonder what could possibly be causing that in Florida?) by issuing temporary teaching certificates to allow military veterans and their spouses to teach in schools,” said an Instagram post circulating on Wednesday, with a video of DeSantis discussing the new policy. According to Natalie Brown, a legislative aide for Republican state Sen. Danny Burgess, only military veterans are eligible for the teaching certificates. Cassandra Palelis, a Florida department of education spokesperson, also confirmed that spouses and family members of veterans do not qualify for the program. Veterans must also have at least some college credits to obtain a temporary certificate, and would need to complete their bachelor’s degree within five years to obtain a permanent teaching certificate. Temporary certificates can’t be renewed once they expire, according to Florida’s education department. The program was designed to address a teacher shortage in the state, Brown said. However, to receive the certification, veterans must meet additional requirements, and Brown noted that it is a selective process. To be eligible for the program, veterans must have completed a minimum of 48 months of active military service with an honorable or medical discharge, according to the state education department website. In addition, they must have a minimum of 60 college credits with a 2.5 grade point average, pass a subject matter exam, clear a background screening and meet other criteria. Once accepted, the law states that the veteran must be assigned a teaching mentor chosen by the school district they are working in for a minimum of two years. Veterans and their spouses, as well as other military personnel, can apply for waivers for fees associated with regular teaching certificates, according to Brown.