the weather authority Tropical Storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean The Weather Authority meteorologists are monitoring the Caribbean as Tropical Storm Rafael has formed.
CAPE CORAL JROTC cadets prepare for Cape Coral Veterans Day Parade Cape Coral High School JROTC students will march to honor our veterans.
FORT MYERS Walmart truck involved in Fort Myers crash, blocking EB lanes on Palm Beach Blvd. at Dixie Lane A Walmart truck has been involved in a crash in Fort Myers on Monday afternoon.
Nonprofit provides office space to local businesses displaced by hurricanes The staff of Valerie’s House knows what it’s like to be without a place of its own. After learning about some local businesses’ offices being destroyed by recent hurricanes, the nonprofit organization that helps grieving children offered space at its Punta Gorda center.
CAPE CORAL NB lanes of Burnt Store Rd. and EB lanes of Embers Pkwy. closed near intersection due to crash Cape Coral Police Department officers are investigating a major crash at Burnt Store Road Embers Parkway.
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 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.
the weather authority Tropical Storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean The Weather Authority meteorologists are monitoring the Caribbean as Tropical Storm Rafael has formed.
CAPE CORAL JROTC cadets prepare for Cape Coral Veterans Day Parade Cape Coral High School JROTC students will march to honor our veterans.
FORT MYERS Walmart truck involved in Fort Myers crash, blocking EB lanes on Palm Beach Blvd. at Dixie Lane A Walmart truck has been involved in a crash in Fort Myers on Monday afternoon.
Nonprofit provides office space to local businesses displaced by hurricanes The staff of Valerie’s House knows what it’s like to be without a place of its own. After learning about some local businesses’ offices being destroyed by recent hurricanes, the nonprofit organization that helps grieving children offered space at its Punta Gorda center.
CAPE CORAL NB lanes of Burnt Store Rd. and EB lanes of Embers Pkwy. closed near intersection due to crash Cape Coral Police Department officers are investigating a major crash at Burnt Store Road Embers Parkway.
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 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.
Lindsay Scott Garza is running for Lee County Judge. Lindsay Scott Garza is a Lee County native. She is a prosecutor in the State Attorney’s Office. And now she is running against incumbent Archie B. Hayward for the Lee County judge seat. Scott Garza, a graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University, earned her law degree from St. Thomas University in Miami. Scott Garza is married, lives in North Fort Myers and is a mom to a 1-½-year-old little girl. While she is not a known name, her father is Mike Scott, the former leader of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. MORE: TalkingPoints: One-on-one with Lee County Court Judge Archie B. Hayward, running for reelection TalkingPoints: Understanding the Lee County court judge race So why does Scott Garza want to be a county judge? “This community has given so much to me,” Scott Garza said. “Running for judge is a way to elevate my ability to continue to serve the community. I’ve been serving the community for the last eight years as a prosecutor, and so I feel like this is the next step, that I can reach broader members of our community.” Scott Garza said she understands how law and order works in Lee County. “Knowing some of the players, I think, always helps. And I mean, all players, so other firms, attorneys, and law enforcement agencies, things of that nature. So I definitely think it can be helpful, and obviously, just the inner workings of the court systems,” she said. Since she is not a household name, she featured her dad former Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott in her campaign ad to try and change that. “Someone recently told me, politics is a contact sport. It’s name ID, it’s recognition. And he has that. I don’t, you know, so part of it was strategic, of course, to let folks know that I was his daughter and make that connection,” Scott Garza said. The Florida Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys endorsed Scott Garza for county judge. She said that is a big deal. “Those are my opposition, and I think that’s a testament to the fair judge I will be. Even though I am a prosecutor, that’s my background, every case, is case-by-case. I’m not deciding something as a prosecutor just because maybe who is on the other side. It is looking at the law and the facts that I have thought, and so that is what I believe I bring to the table—a higher level of efficiency, professionalism and respect,” Scott Garza said. Scott Garza said she also has the work ethic needed to succeed on the bench. She prides herself in always being ready for court. “Preparation is a huge thing,” Scott Garza said. When I come, I’m prepared. And so to see that the judge has reviewed my motion, the judge has done the research already for my motion, and perhaps the counter motion that the other side has filed. Those are things that I appreciate as an attorney. And so those are things that I have taken note of over the years.” Under the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct, Scott Garza can’t weigh in on disputed legal or political issues, including the ongoing criminal case against 10-year-old Daniel Marquez. Daniel is accused of threatening violence at his school and was perp-walked by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office within hours of his arrest and charged by a crime by State Attorney Amira Fox, Scott Garza’s boss. WINK News asked Scott Garza, in broader terms, of law enforcement videos and the impact they could have on “innocent until proven guilty.” “Any type of bias that is created by the public, those are not people that would be, that would be jurors,” she said. “Now, juveniles are different, though. They don’t have jury trials. They have a bench trial in front of a judge. And so again, as a judge, listening to facts and evidence, the fact that a perp walk was done does not have any evidentiary value to me as a judge. So if I’m presiding over that case, what I’m really looking for is the witnesses, any photographic or text messages or different things, screenshots from something, any evidence that’s introduced in the trial, whether it be through materials or witness testimony, and then what the law is on that particular crime.” Garza also can’t weigh in on Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to suspend Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren. DeSantis said the elected leader ignored his duty to enforce state laws when he pledged not to prosecute people who seek or provide abortions. WINK News asked what she would do if she doesn’t believe in the law. “Then you shouldn’t be running for judge. You should be running for a House of Representatives or for Congress or for the Senate, or be a lobbyist and try to change the law,” Scott Garza said. “That’s not my job, as a judicial candidate, same with as a prosecutor, it was not my job to change the law, it was my job to enforce it. So same thing with a judge.” So why should voters pick her? “The fresh energy that I bring in and the passion that I have to do this job and do it well,” Garza Scott said. If you have a story you want us to cover on TalkingPoints, email us at talkingpoints@winknews.com. Connect with Céline McArthur on Twitter or on Facebook. You can also reach Céline via email at celine.mcarthur@winknews.com.