Isolated rain can impact your Valentine’s Day evening plansGov. DeSantis to hold news conference in Ponte Vedra Beach
the weather authority Isolated rain can impact your Valentine’s Day evening plans The Weather Authority is tracking isolated rain that may impact your Friday or Valentine’s Day outdoor plans.
Ponte Vedra Beach Gov. DeSantis to hold news conference in Ponte Vedra Beach Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference in Ponte Vedra Beach.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte woman accused of running over ex-boyfriend after condiment vandalism A Port Charlotte woman is accused of vandalizing her ex-boyfriend’s car by throwing eggs and condiments and then running him over with her car.
FORT MYERS Dog rescue in Fort Myers holds fundraiser as founder fights cancer A beloved dog rescue service in Fort Myers is facing uncertainty as its founder, Carey Kendzior, battles cancer.
Woman arrested for stealing $3,400 in goods from Target in Collier County More than 150 items worth thousands of dollars were reportedly stolen from a Target in Collier County. Deputies arrested Kimberly McDonnell, 36, on charges of grand theft.
Egg prices leading to some locals raising their own chickens High egg prices have some people considering raising their own chickens, but it’s not as simple as it sounds.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach Library to reopen following Hurricane Ian The Fort Myers Beach Library plans to reopen its doors to the public on March 16.
FORT MYERS Save This Life pet microchips closes down For many, protecting your pet is as important as keeping your kids safe.
Rosie, dog lost during I-75 crash, back home with family New information has been released about Rosie, the dog that went missing in a car crash last weekend and was found Wednesday.
Gatorama owner loses finger at feeding show The owner of Gatorama in Palmdale was bitten by one of his gators during a feeding show over the weekend and lost a finger.
WWII Veteran hits 100th birthday milestone Hundreds of people came to celebrate WWII veteran Vernon Nelson’s 100th birthday.
FORT MYERS Volunteers boost Harry Chapin Food Bank’s reach The Harry Chapin Food Bank relies heavily on its volunteers to make a significant impact in the community.
SOUTH FORT MYERS Twins’ superfan attends Spring Training for more than two decades Twins’ superfan Neil Pierce lives more than one thousand miles away from Hammond Stadium and never misses a game in Lee County.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers gears up for Edison Festival of Light with safety in focus The parade will begin at Fort Myers High School, travel up U.S. Highway 41, and conclude in downtown Fort Myers.
Byron Donalds accused of voter fraud U.S. Congressman Byron Donalds is being accused of voter fraud. A fellow lawmaker on Capitol Hill is making the allegations.
the weather authority Isolated rain can impact your Valentine’s Day evening plans The Weather Authority is tracking isolated rain that may impact your Friday or Valentine’s Day outdoor plans.
Ponte Vedra Beach Gov. DeSantis to hold news conference in Ponte Vedra Beach Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference in Ponte Vedra Beach.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte woman accused of running over ex-boyfriend after condiment vandalism A Port Charlotte woman is accused of vandalizing her ex-boyfriend’s car by throwing eggs and condiments and then running him over with her car.
FORT MYERS Dog rescue in Fort Myers holds fundraiser as founder fights cancer A beloved dog rescue service in Fort Myers is facing uncertainty as its founder, Carey Kendzior, battles cancer.
Woman arrested for stealing $3,400 in goods from Target in Collier County More than 150 items worth thousands of dollars were reportedly stolen from a Target in Collier County. Deputies arrested Kimberly McDonnell, 36, on charges of grand theft.
Egg prices leading to some locals raising their own chickens High egg prices have some people considering raising their own chickens, but it’s not as simple as it sounds.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach Library to reopen following Hurricane Ian The Fort Myers Beach Library plans to reopen its doors to the public on March 16.
FORT MYERS Save This Life pet microchips closes down For many, protecting your pet is as important as keeping your kids safe.
Rosie, dog lost during I-75 crash, back home with family New information has been released about Rosie, the dog that went missing in a car crash last weekend and was found Wednesday.
Gatorama owner loses finger at feeding show The owner of Gatorama in Palmdale was bitten by one of his gators during a feeding show over the weekend and lost a finger.
WWII Veteran hits 100th birthday milestone Hundreds of people came to celebrate WWII veteran Vernon Nelson’s 100th birthday.
FORT MYERS Volunteers boost Harry Chapin Food Bank’s reach The Harry Chapin Food Bank relies heavily on its volunteers to make a significant impact in the community.
SOUTH FORT MYERS Twins’ superfan attends Spring Training for more than two decades Twins’ superfan Neil Pierce lives more than one thousand miles away from Hammond Stadium and never misses a game in Lee County.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers gears up for Edison Festival of Light with safety in focus The parade will begin at Fort Myers High School, travel up U.S. Highway 41, and conclude in downtown Fort Myers.
Byron Donalds accused of voter fraud U.S. Congressman Byron Donalds is being accused of voter fraud. A fellow lawmaker on Capitol Hill is making the allegations.
FILE: Exam room with contraceptive imagery on the wall. (Credit: WINK News) A new bill to shorten the amount of time women have to get an abortion was introduced by lawmakers on the first day of the Florida legislative session. Some reports claim vast support for the bill; others, vast outrage. WINK News looked directly at the fine print. There are two abortion bills introduced by Florida Republicans. They are nearly identical. One was filed in the House, the other in the Senate. If either passes, abortions would be prohibited after six weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions. Right now, abortions are banned after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Under this new legislation, anyone getting or performing an abortion after six weeks could face felony charges. Abortions would be allowed in cases of rape and incest up to the 15th week. That’s as long as the woman provides evidence, such as a police report. Abortions would also be allowed in severe medical emergencies. Here’s what Governor Ron DeSantis had to say about the proposed bill. “I think those exceptions are sensible, and like I said, we welcome pro-life legislation.” WINK News dug a little deeper and pulled out another significant change. The bills would require that abortion-inducing drugs be provided only by a doctor in-person. Doctors would be prevented from using telehealth services for abortion-related matters. No matter what happens with this bill, it wouldn’t take effect until the Florida Supreme Court rules on the 15-week abortion ban passed last year. If the six-week timetable was to become law, Alyx Carrasquel, with Florida Access Network, says some women won’t even know they’re pregnant “I was 5.6 weeks by the time I found out I was pregnant. And so not everybody’s cycle is, you know, the same. Sometimes it takes longer for people to find out that they’re pregnant than for a person that has a regular cycle. That means that you are finding out after two weeks of a missed period,” said Carrasquel Carrasquel said when she got an abortion, she felt immediate relief, along with clients she helps at Florida Access Network. Yvette Benarroach says she also got an abortion when she was 16, a decision she says haunts her to this day “It’s something that stays with you for the rest of your life. You think about that child. And then, especially after you have other children, which I have now, I’m blessed enough to have our two boys, teenagers. You realize when you think about that dark time in your life that that shouldn’t be an option,” said Benarroach. The bill explains that the exception to this six-week ban would be extended to 15 weeks if the woman’s life is at risk or she was a victim of rape or incest. Stephanie Fraim, president & CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, says the exceptions are too narrow. “We have stories of women being turned away from the er, women whose water broke way too early in their pregnancy, but they weren’t sick enough for the er to treat them. We have stories where they are having to go into sepsis before they can actually get the life-saving care they need,” Fraim said. The Community Pregnancy Clinic says they support the bill and offer enough resources for women to ensure they know abortion isn’t their only option. “The forgotten option is the adoption option. And with so many families out there that want to adopt children, and it’s so expensive and so costly, but when we open up those avenues, there’s, you know, obviously open adoptions now and other opportunities that women who don’t feel like they can, you know, bring that child, you know, to life of whatever they think is going to be necessary. There are families out there who are going to be available,” said Scott Baier, CEO of Community Pregnancy Clinics. Regardless of your stance or the outcome of this bill. These organizations say they are here to offer help and support for women expecting.