ESTERO 1 injured after shooting at Coconut Point Mall According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, one person has been injured after a shooting at the Coconut Point Mall on Friday.
CAPE CORAL CCPD cruiser damaged after officer involved crash An officer-involved crash leaves a Cape Coral police cruiser smashed.
PORT CHARLOTTE Sweet’s Diner in Port Charlotte reopens After months of fundraising and rebuilding, this diner, which had a car fly-through it, is back open.
FWC pushing to protect Florida’s endangered manatees Florida Fish and Wildlife is pushing to protect endangered manatees. One danger that animals face is when boats bash into them, leaving deep scars across their backs.
FORT MYERS The Fort Myers Fire Department looks towards new year Fighting fires is always top of mind for the Fort Myers Fire Department. The Fort Myers Fire Department leads the way when it comes to protecting your property when a fire breaks out.
WINK NEWS Palisades Wildfire devastates SWFL family Just hours after evacuating their Malibu home, the Wohl family learned they would never go back.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral expands with development The Cove at 47th The Cove sits in south Cape Coral between Cape Coral Parkway and Southeast 47th Terrace right next to Cork Soakers.
FORT MYERS ‘Operation Ghost Buster’: 16 arrested in Fort Myers drug operation The Fort Myers Police Department Narcotics Unit conducted an operation targeting drug traffickers and individuals unlawfully selling and possessing firearms in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS ‘A Distinctive Honor’: Bank of America award benefits FSW Nursing Program Bank of America has been awarded Florida Southwestern State College the 2024 Neighborhood Champion Award.
CAPTIVA One step closer to decision on South Seas building density After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge said he stood by his earlier decision in favor of the Captiva Civic Association.
Governor signs death warrant for man accused of 1997 killing of 2 in Charlotte County Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the death warrant for a man accused of killing two people in Charlotte County in 1997.
Community input needed for renaming Challenger Boulevard While Lee Health continues construction on the area’s newest hospital, there are decisions to be made.
ESTERO SWFL Lady Hammerheads find community through rugby The southwest Florida Lady Hammerheads are the Florida Women’s Rugby Union’s newest team.
Heavy law enforcement presence near Arcadia Popeyes According to the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, there is a heavy law enforcement presence near a Popeyes restaurant.
Punta Gorda City Council searches for new home Punta Gorda City Council sought a temporary solution when it was unable to meet Jan. 9 at the Military Heritage Museum because elevators weren’t working, which would have been a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
ESTERO 1 injured after shooting at Coconut Point Mall According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, one person has been injured after a shooting at the Coconut Point Mall on Friday.
CAPE CORAL CCPD cruiser damaged after officer involved crash An officer-involved crash leaves a Cape Coral police cruiser smashed.
PORT CHARLOTTE Sweet’s Diner in Port Charlotte reopens After months of fundraising and rebuilding, this diner, which had a car fly-through it, is back open.
FWC pushing to protect Florida’s endangered manatees Florida Fish and Wildlife is pushing to protect endangered manatees. One danger that animals face is when boats bash into them, leaving deep scars across their backs.
FORT MYERS The Fort Myers Fire Department looks towards new year Fighting fires is always top of mind for the Fort Myers Fire Department. The Fort Myers Fire Department leads the way when it comes to protecting your property when a fire breaks out.
WINK NEWS Palisades Wildfire devastates SWFL family Just hours after evacuating their Malibu home, the Wohl family learned they would never go back.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral expands with development The Cove at 47th The Cove sits in south Cape Coral between Cape Coral Parkway and Southeast 47th Terrace right next to Cork Soakers.
FORT MYERS ‘Operation Ghost Buster’: 16 arrested in Fort Myers drug operation The Fort Myers Police Department Narcotics Unit conducted an operation targeting drug traffickers and individuals unlawfully selling and possessing firearms in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS ‘A Distinctive Honor’: Bank of America award benefits FSW Nursing Program Bank of America has been awarded Florida Southwestern State College the 2024 Neighborhood Champion Award.
CAPTIVA One step closer to decision on South Seas building density After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge said he stood by his earlier decision in favor of the Captiva Civic Association.
Governor signs death warrant for man accused of 1997 killing of 2 in Charlotte County Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the death warrant for a man accused of killing two people in Charlotte County in 1997.
Community input needed for renaming Challenger Boulevard While Lee Health continues construction on the area’s newest hospital, there are decisions to be made.
ESTERO SWFL Lady Hammerheads find community through rugby The southwest Florida Lady Hammerheads are the Florida Women’s Rugby Union’s newest team.
Heavy law enforcement presence near Arcadia Popeyes According to the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, there is a heavy law enforcement presence near a Popeyes restaurant.
Punta Gorda City Council searches for new home Punta Gorda City Council sought a temporary solution when it was unable to meet Jan. 9 at the Military Heritage Museum because elevators weren’t working, which would have been a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Chabad Jewish Center damage. (Credit: WINK News) A rabbi is stepping up security after a man threw bricks at the Chabad Jewish Center in Cape Coral and smashed a car in the parking lot. A member who was inside at the time said it sounded like gunshots. The guy who did it is still on the run. The suspect is described as a man in his 50s, six feet tall, and roughly 200 pounds. He is described as having glasses and is nearly bald. Witnesses say they would recognize him if they saw him again. One was even able to snap a photo of the suspect’s car, an older model Ford Edge. “I was just standing over here. What is it? 10 feet? 10 feet from the door?” said Chabad Jewish Center Rabbi Yossi Labkowski. He was just 10 feet from where a man threw a brick at the door. “I see this gentleman picking up a brick and just throwing it out the door once, twice, three times, four times trying to break the glass trying to get in,” said Rabbi Labkowski. Chabad Jewish Center damage. (Credit: WINK News) Rabbi Labkowski said the violence didn’t start at the door. It began at a painted menorah that has sat outside of the Chabad Jewish Center since Hanukkah. “We hear this loud, loud noise. We were just about to go outside to see what happened. It was the menorah outside he knocked down,” Rabbi Labkowski said. Chabad Jewish Center menorah painting. (Credit: WINK News) Then the still unidentified man moved to the door, throwing brick after brick where shabbos services had just ended. A few congregants, including Jacob Ben-Haim, were still in the building. “I thought for a moment, this is a gunshot,” said Ben-Haim. The bricks didn’t break through the hurricane-impact glass, so the man moved to the rabbi’s car and smashed the windshield. “People from nearby heard that loud noise was like a real loud noise that was so they came they came they were pulling into the driveway,” said Rabbi Labkowski. Chabad Jewish Center vandalism suspect. (Credit: Cape Coral Police Department) That’s how they ended up with a picture of the suspect’s car. Above is a view of the driver’s side front end of an older model Ford Edge. Witnesses say it had Florida plates. This act of violence does not shy Jewish people away from their faith because love will always be stronger than hate. “Seek God and get the hate. Just remove the hate from you. People are out there to help. People are out there… there’s a lot of love—a lot of good. A lot of kindness,” Rabbi Labkowski said. Kindness goes a long way, and security helps too. Rabbi Labkowski said there would be a sheriff’s office watch tower placed in addition to increased police patrols. The Chabad Center is also installing cameras on the outside of the building, so if anyone tries this again, it won’t be as easy to get away.