Police respond to shots fired at Clewiston WalmartWINK Investigates: Everything we know so far about Beattie Development
CLEWISTON Police respond to shots fired at Clewiston Walmart According to the Clewiston Police Department, an active shooter was present at the Walmart in Clewiston Friday night.
WINK Investigates: Everything we know so far about Beattie Development A southwest Florida developer has now surrendered his six different contracting licenses, which include general contracting, plumbing and roofing. Paul Beattie, owner of Beattie Development cannot build homes anymore. It’s not a permanent situation, but part of a settlement agreement with the state says he’d need to pay $300,000 before he could get a new […]
Florida Attorney General speaks out following lawsuit against FEMA Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has spoken out following the filing of a lawsuit alleging that a FEMA supervisor directed aid workers to avoid going to homes in Lake Placid that had yard signs supporting Trump.
FORT MYERS BEACH How to increase odds of getting your hurricane insurance claim paid When Hurricane Helene hit Southwest Florida in September followed by Milton, many people’s lives were affected.
lehigh acres 25 students treated for heat exhaustion on Lehigh Sr. High School football field The Tice Fire Department treated around 25 students for heat exhaustion on the Lehigh Senior High School football field.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda pilots speak out on Allegiant Air strike Allegiant Air pilots said they want a new contract, one that’s amendable, fair and, in their words, what they should be paid.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach couple sues insurance over Hurricane Ian claim In the last two months, southwest Florida experienced a hurricane double punch with Helene and Milton, but for many people out there, it’s still all about Hurricane Ian from 2022.
CAPE CORAL Couple struggling after hurricanes receives $10K from Cape Coral High students A couple who lost everything to Hurricane Milton has received a blessing in more ways than one.
FORT MYERS BEACH FEMA denies extension for business trailers on Fort Myers Beach FEMA has denied an extension for business trailers on Fort Myers Beach.
Mistrial declared in case of former Hendry County deputy A mistrial has been called in the trial of Tyler Williams, a former Hendry County deputy. The court declared the mistrial after the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on either count in the indictment. Williams was charged with two felonies in federal court in early April 2024, after knocking a handcuffed man unconscious. […]
Examining healthy breast tissue to understand how cancer starts A new approach being researched by scientists has led to the examination of healthy breast tissue to better understand how cancer develops.
Analysts: Charlotte County’s rapid population growth calls for more services Charlotte County’s population has shown unprecedented growth, increasing 5.2% from June 2023 to March 2024.
FORT MYERS Man accused of attempted burglary while nude in Fort Myers; covers head with white cloth The Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man who stands accused of attempted burglary while wearing nothing but a white cloth over his head.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral man accused of breaking into 6 different businesses A man has been arrested after allegedly breaking into six different businesses in Southeast Cape Coral this month.
COLLIER COUNTY DOH-Collier issues blue-green algae health alert for Lake Avalon It’s official: the Florida Department of Health in Collier County (DOH-Collier) has issued a health alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algae toxins in Lake Avalon.
CLEWISTON Police respond to shots fired at Clewiston Walmart According to the Clewiston Police Department, an active shooter was present at the Walmart in Clewiston Friday night.
WINK Investigates: Everything we know so far about Beattie Development A southwest Florida developer has now surrendered his six different contracting licenses, which include general contracting, plumbing and roofing. Paul Beattie, owner of Beattie Development cannot build homes anymore. It’s not a permanent situation, but part of a settlement agreement with the state says he’d need to pay $300,000 before he could get a new […]
Florida Attorney General speaks out following lawsuit against FEMA Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has spoken out following the filing of a lawsuit alleging that a FEMA supervisor directed aid workers to avoid going to homes in Lake Placid that had yard signs supporting Trump.
FORT MYERS BEACH How to increase odds of getting your hurricane insurance claim paid When Hurricane Helene hit Southwest Florida in September followed by Milton, many people’s lives were affected.
lehigh acres 25 students treated for heat exhaustion on Lehigh Sr. High School football field The Tice Fire Department treated around 25 students for heat exhaustion on the Lehigh Senior High School football field.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda pilots speak out on Allegiant Air strike Allegiant Air pilots said they want a new contract, one that’s amendable, fair and, in their words, what they should be paid.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach couple sues insurance over Hurricane Ian claim In the last two months, southwest Florida experienced a hurricane double punch with Helene and Milton, but for many people out there, it’s still all about Hurricane Ian from 2022.
CAPE CORAL Couple struggling after hurricanes receives $10K from Cape Coral High students A couple who lost everything to Hurricane Milton has received a blessing in more ways than one.
FORT MYERS BEACH FEMA denies extension for business trailers on Fort Myers Beach FEMA has denied an extension for business trailers on Fort Myers Beach.
Mistrial declared in case of former Hendry County deputy A mistrial has been called in the trial of Tyler Williams, a former Hendry County deputy. The court declared the mistrial after the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on either count in the indictment. Williams was charged with two felonies in federal court in early April 2024, after knocking a handcuffed man unconscious. […]
Examining healthy breast tissue to understand how cancer starts A new approach being researched by scientists has led to the examination of healthy breast tissue to better understand how cancer develops.
Analysts: Charlotte County’s rapid population growth calls for more services Charlotte County’s population has shown unprecedented growth, increasing 5.2% from June 2023 to March 2024.
FORT MYERS Man accused of attempted burglary while nude in Fort Myers; covers head with white cloth The Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man who stands accused of attempted burglary while wearing nothing but a white cloth over his head.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral man accused of breaking into 6 different businesses A man has been arrested after allegedly breaking into six different businesses in Southeast Cape Coral this month.
COLLIER COUNTY DOH-Collier issues blue-green algae health alert for Lake Avalon It’s official: the Florida Department of Health in Collier County (DOH-Collier) has issued a health alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algae toxins in Lake Avalon.
Mason Classical Academy in Collier County. (Credit: WINK News) A Southwest Florida charter school is fighting back against what it calls years of “abuse of power.” Two school board members filed a lawsuit against 11 separate parties, including the wife of a prominent elected official. Kelly Lichter and David Bolduc are board members at Mason Classical Academy in Collier County. They paint the picture of an entire system working to take MCA away from them, pointing fingers at former employees, a nonprofit that helps determine Florida’s educational curriculum, and Erika Donalds, a former MCA board member and the wife of Congressman Byron Donalds. Mason Classical Academy describes itself as “a traditional education with a constant view towards developing exceptional American citizens.” MCA ranked as the second-best school in Collier County according to grades posted by the Florida Department of Education a few months ago. In a 274-page complaint filed earlier this month, Lichter and Bolduc say problems began in May of 2016. They claim that’s when board vice president Byron Donalds began working with former board member Matthew Mathias to “take over” the charter school. According to the lawsuit, Congressman Donalds was a member of the governing board when the school first opened in 2014, and his wife Erika was an advisory board member. Neither is currently involved with the school. WINK News has reported on MCA in the past. In 2019, Collier County Public Schools released a report that accused MCA of Sunshine Law violations and financial mismanagement. The school responded by hiring an independent law firm, which published its report, claiming MCA had not committed wrongdoing. The two sides eventually agreed on a corrective action plan. As a result, MCA expanded its school board and hired a new principal. Issues continued, though. The new lawsuit lays out years’ worth of emails, text messages and social media posts. It’s a recreation of events that Lichter and Bolduc say show an effort to take away control at the high-performing charter. It also cites Hillsdale College, a Michigan nonprofit whose charter school initiative works with the state to create educational programs and charter schools across Florida. The suit claims Hillsdale helped launch MCA starting in 2013, but the two sides ended their relationship over the summer of 2019. It also states that Hillsdale officials worked “hand in hand” with other defendants “against MCA’s best interests.” In total, the suit lays out 18 counts, including conspiracy, racketeering, and libel. It also demands damages in an amount to be established at trial. Once the defendants are served, they have 21 days to respond to the lawsuit. WINK News attempted to reach out to every defendant named in this lawsuit, including Byron and Erika Donalds. Erika Donalds spoke with WINK News, saying: “This is a frivolous lawsuit that is a waste of taxpayer dollars.” Lichter and MCA are actively involved in several other lawsuits with some of the defendants in this case, although none have been resolved yet. WINK News also reached out to Lichter and Bolduc. Their attorney released the following statement: Mason Classical Academy’s (“MCA”) students, staff, and leadership abide by the same Pillars of Virtue—among them Honesty, Integrity, and Courage. We teach our students to always do what is right despite fear, hardship, and opposition and to defend their rights and the rights of others regardless of the circumstances or consequences. These lessons are meaningless if MCA does not stand up for itself and the MCA family against people with personal agendas who have abused their power and bullied MCA for years without any consequences. Enough is enough. This lawsuit will expose the truth about the hostile takeover and put a stop to the relentless harassment Collier County’s highest performing public school has endured over the past several years. Our students and the citizens of Collier County are entitled to nothing less. Congressman Donalds also responded to WINK News’s request for comment, saying: This lawsuit against my wife, Erika Donalds, is nothing more than a frivolous vendetta by a self-serving former colleague looking to taint my wife’s good name and many accomplishments in the community. Mrs. Lichter should answer why she thinks it’s appropriate to use taxpayer dollars to fund another one of her baseless legal antics. As a candidate for the local School Board, children and parents deserve better than a woman who puts personal animosity over the priorities of families looking to better than children’s education. WINK News has not heard back from anyone else involved in the lawsuit.