Milton strengthens to Category 5, winds at 180 mphCity of Cape Coral isn’t offering sandbags, but one Cape Coral local is
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral isn’t offering sandbags, but one Cape Coral local is One Cape Coral resident saw a need during Hurricane Milton and decided to do something about it.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach braces for Hurricane Milton after Helene WINK News’ team coverage brings us to Fort Myers Beach, an area prone to storm surge and still recovering from Helene.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral holds press conference; here are 10 takeaways Cape Coral held a press conference Monday morning to discuss Hurricane Milton. Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter says storm surge is the biggest threat of Hurricane Milton to the city. His message to his neighbors Monday morning is to make a plan and execute it now.
NORTH FORT MYERS Charlotte County man prepares what he can ahead of Milton Hurricane Helene ravaged many homes in Charlotte County, and now locals are getting ready for a potentially stronger Hurricane Milton.
SWFL Florida evacuation orders ahead of Milton There are now mandatory evacuation orders for some barrier islands in Southwest Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton.
What’s open and closed as Hurricane Milton looms As Hurricane Milton strengthens in the Gulf of Mexico, services and businesses in Southwest Florida are adjusting their hours or closing temporarily.
Punta Gorda residents, businesses brace for Hurricane Milton With Hurricane Milton expected to make landfall somewhere along Florida’s Gulf Coast on Oct. 9, some Punta Gorda hotels stopped taking reservations, flight disruptions are expected and residents and business owners spent Oct. 7 prepping.
Lee County coastal businesses evacuate merchandise as Hurricane Milton approaches As Hurricane Milton began making its way across the Gulf of Mexico to a precise destination yet unknown on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Lee County business owners on Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island and other coastal areas weren’t waiting around to find out.
WINK NEWS List of shelters in SWFL ahead of Milton As Hurricane Milton approaches, shelters are opening across Southwest Florida to provide safety and refuge for residents.
Know your zone: Evacuation zones ahead of Milton As Hurricane Milton approaches, get familiar with your evacuation zone.
SWFL schools affected due to Milton Southwest Florida schools are responding ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival.
NAPLES Collier County Board of Commissioners provide updates for Milton Collier County Board of County Commissioners is holding a meeting for Hurricane Milton.
FORT MYERS BEACH Bus routes onto Fort Myers Beach to stop, water to be cut off ahead of Milton The Lee County government announced that LeeTran will stop running routes onto Fort Myers Beach and cut off water to the island as Hurricane Milton approaches.
TALLAHASSEE DeSantis announces that tolls will be suspended in Western Florida, Central Florida and Alligator Alley Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that the state has suspended all tolls in West Florida, Central Florida and Alligator Alley ahead of Hurricane Milton.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral isn’t offering sandbags, but one Cape Coral local is One Cape Coral resident saw a need during Hurricane Milton and decided to do something about it.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach braces for Hurricane Milton after Helene WINK News’ team coverage brings us to Fort Myers Beach, an area prone to storm surge and still recovering from Helene.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral holds press conference; here are 10 takeaways Cape Coral held a press conference Monday morning to discuss Hurricane Milton. Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter says storm surge is the biggest threat of Hurricane Milton to the city. His message to his neighbors Monday morning is to make a plan and execute it now.
NORTH FORT MYERS Charlotte County man prepares what he can ahead of Milton Hurricane Helene ravaged many homes in Charlotte County, and now locals are getting ready for a potentially stronger Hurricane Milton.
SWFL Florida evacuation orders ahead of Milton There are now mandatory evacuation orders for some barrier islands in Southwest Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton.
What’s open and closed as Hurricane Milton looms As Hurricane Milton strengthens in the Gulf of Mexico, services and businesses in Southwest Florida are adjusting their hours or closing temporarily.
Punta Gorda residents, businesses brace for Hurricane Milton With Hurricane Milton expected to make landfall somewhere along Florida’s Gulf Coast on Oct. 9, some Punta Gorda hotels stopped taking reservations, flight disruptions are expected and residents and business owners spent Oct. 7 prepping.
Lee County coastal businesses evacuate merchandise as Hurricane Milton approaches As Hurricane Milton began making its way across the Gulf of Mexico to a precise destination yet unknown on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Lee County business owners on Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island and other coastal areas weren’t waiting around to find out.
WINK NEWS List of shelters in SWFL ahead of Milton As Hurricane Milton approaches, shelters are opening across Southwest Florida to provide safety and refuge for residents.
Know your zone: Evacuation zones ahead of Milton As Hurricane Milton approaches, get familiar with your evacuation zone.
SWFL schools affected due to Milton Southwest Florida schools are responding ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival.
NAPLES Collier County Board of Commissioners provide updates for Milton Collier County Board of County Commissioners is holding a meeting for Hurricane Milton.
FORT MYERS BEACH Bus routes onto Fort Myers Beach to stop, water to be cut off ahead of Milton The Lee County government announced that LeeTran will stop running routes onto Fort Myers Beach and cut off water to the island as Hurricane Milton approaches.
TALLAHASSEE DeSantis announces that tolls will be suspended in Western Florida, Central Florida and Alligator Alley Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that the state has suspended all tolls in West Florida, Central Florida and Alligator Alley ahead of Hurricane Milton.
Voters in Miami-Dade County. Credit: CBS Miami Since Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the arrest of 20 felons who illegally voted in the 2020 elections, it’s come to light that some didn’t know they were ineligible to vote. Some even had help to sign up. Now, it’s casting a cloud of doubt over communities that have historically been disenfranchised. Dawn Obiediebube remembers thinking of her brother shortly after hearing the governor’s announcement. “I said to him did you see what happened to the ex-felons and he said yes I have my voter’s registration card, but now I’m afraid to go and vote,” she said. She believes he’s been clear for years but can’t help feeling worried. “It just frightens me to even think that if he just goes and casts a vote that he’ll be put in jail.” Obiediebube came out of the Miami-Dade County Black Affairs Advisory Board to voice her concerns. “My brother has been contributing to society for the last 10-15 years, he has a CDL license. He’s a driver, so he’s providing a very well-needed service. He’s married now, he has children, he has grandchildren,” she told CBS4. Under Florida law, a person is eligible to vote again once they have served their sentence, except in cases of murder or a sexual offense. Stephen Hunter Johnson an attorney on the board says, some don’t even realize they have to pay back money to complete their sentence. “When I tell you that your rights are automatically restored once you have finished your sentence but I leave out the part that says your sentence includes paying the fines, court costs, attorney fees and interests, we’re talking interests now at the point. We’re not making it so that people readily understand,” he explained. CBS4 reached out to the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections about why some felons who could not vote were able to get a voting card in the first place. The office wrote, “All 67 counties in the State of Florida receive and process voter registration applications.” The voter registration applications are sent from the County to the Florida Department of State Division of Elections for verification of identity. The state uses a number of databases to confirm a person’s identity including Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and Florida Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics, among others. After the verification process has been completed, the state notifies the county that the person’s eligibility has been confirmed. Finally, the county issues a voter registration card to the elector. If a person has been convicted of a felony, the state notifies the county and the county removes the person from their voter roll.” Looking at recent statistics from Pew Research, Black people disproportionately make up a percentage of those incarcerated, so casting doubt over voter eligibility could have a chilling effect. “Now, they a question mark, if I do, will I get arrested again? And violate my probation, end up back where I want to forget that I’ve ever been, I think that really preys on the feelings and emotions of a community,” Pierre Rutledge, board chair said. Rutledge wants a database that shows election officials who are eligible from the point of registry so there is no confusion; that is, no one gets a card who isn’t able to vote. “It saddens me to my core, it’s really targeted at a certain group of people, people that like me and it’s unfortunate,” Obiediebube concluded.