Neighbors frustrated with car noises in Port CharlotteCharlotte County provides update on boat ramp closures
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 Tropical Depression 18 forms; expected to become Tropical Storm Rafael The Weather Authority meteorologists are monitoring the Caribbean as Tropical Depression 18 is forecast to become Tropical Storm Rafael.
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.
Early voting ends Sunday in Charlotte County; here’s where to cast your ballot Sunday is the final day for early voting if you are a resident of Charlotte County, with just two days to go until the 2024 presidential election.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA The Weather Authority: First cone out for potential Tropical Storm Rafael It’s the final month of hurricane season, and while typically, we start to see things quiet down, the Weather Authority is tracking three areas in the tropics.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Warm, breezy Sunday on tap with rain chances increasing this week The Weather Authority is tracking another warm day with temperatures in the upper 80s.
ENGLEWOOD Englewood Chamber of Commerce donates $88,000 to hurricane relief fund The Englewood Chamber of Commerce announced that they are making a significant donation to the chamber’s community hurricane relief fund.
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 Tropical Depression 18 forms; expected to become Tropical Storm Rafael The Weather Authority meteorologists are monitoring the Caribbean as Tropical Depression 18 is forecast to become Tropical Storm Rafael.
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.
Early voting ends Sunday in Charlotte County; here’s where to cast your ballot Sunday is the final day for early voting if you are a resident of Charlotte County, with just two days to go until the 2024 presidential election.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA The Weather Authority: First cone out for potential Tropical Storm Rafael It’s the final month of hurricane season, and while typically, we start to see things quiet down, the Weather Authority is tracking three areas in the tropics.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Warm, breezy Sunday on tap with rain chances increasing this week The Weather Authority is tracking another warm day with temperatures in the upper 80s.
ENGLEWOOD Englewood Chamber of Commerce donates $88,000 to hurricane relief fund The Englewood Chamber of Commerce announced that they are making a significant donation to the chamber’s community hurricane relief fund.
Maleena Valdez, 4, died a year ago after a stolen Jeep crashed into a playground at an Arcadia daycare. CREDIT: Valdez family Thursday marked one year since a driver went off the road and into a daycare killing 4-year-old Maleena Valdez. It happened at an Arcadia daycare called Imagination Station. Kiara Morant, the driver, was arrested after crashing into the playground while children were outside playing. One year later, the heartbreaking screams still ring in the community’s memory. 911 caller: “I need somebody now! Now!”911 dispatcher: “You said the Imagination Station?”911 caller: “Yes, yes, yes, yes! A car has hit a child! Hurry up!” Valdez’s grandmother said Imagination Station is just as responsible for the death of her granddaughter as the driver. Scene of the crash at the Arcadia playground. CREDIT: WINK News She used the term ‘hate’ when describing the daycare. When you look at the Imagination Station now, they’ve tried to do everything imaginable to prevent this from happening again. They can’t change the traffic flow, but they reinforced the flimsy chainlink fence with guardrails. Big concrete blocks now barricade the front entrance, and the turn warning signs that 19-year-old Kiara Morant, the woman behind the SUV’s wheel that crashed into the daycare, knocked down are all replaced. One year after a deadly crash, Valdez’s pain remains sharp while her anger only deepens. “It still feels so unreal. Every day it feels so unreal. Like, I still feel like I’m gonna get that phone call from her and say what, grandma? You know, like, I would call her every day,” Maleena said. The 4-year-old died when police say Morant drove a Jeep into a chain-linked fence. Police then say that Morant was driving without a license. Kiara Morant. Credit: DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office In 2022, when WINK News spoke with Savannah Valdez, Maleena Valdez’s mother, she said she wants Morant behind bars and the daycare held accountable. “I really thought my daughter was safe there, you know, she’s been there for almost a year. She was going to graduate, and they got all that stuff donated, and you know it took for my daughter to lose her life,” Savannah said. “Why did this happen? You know, I mean, it’s just, I mean, I don’t understand. You know, I’m trying to understand. I’m trying to cope with it still, but I can’t,” Maleena said. Maleena’s family members are expected to gather at the daycare Thursday to release balloons in her memory. Morant has her next court appearance for the crash on April 4. Since the crash, she’s been in the DeSoto County Jail.