Cape Coral to discuss purchasing land for burrowing owlsAlva residents fear losing rural lifestyle as Lee County plan advances
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral to discuss purchasing land for burrowing owls Cape Coral is taking steps to protect its burrowing owls.
Gladiolus Food Pantry in Lee County: A lifeline for those in need The Gladiolus Food Pantry in Lee County is playing a crucial role in the fight against food insecurity.
ALVA Alva residents fear losing rural lifestyle as Lee County plan advances Lee County commissioners have approved amendments to the county’s comprehensive plan that could lead to redevelopment in a rural community.
ch South Gulf Cove to host benefit for family of slain Charlotte deputy The South Gulf Cove Homeowner Association will host a fundraising event to honor the late Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office deputy Sgt. Elio Diaz.
FORT MYERS Local doctors working to speed up biopsy process Waiting to find out if a suspicious lump is cancerous can be incredibly stressful. Anything that speeds up the process and leads to faster treatment, if needed, is a huge help.
Punta Gorda keeps its own 911 dispatch center Punta Gorda City Council on Feb. 19 voted unanimously to keep its 911 dispatch center under city control in a move that blocks the county from consolidating the city’s dispatch center with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers man sentenced to 2 years in prison for possessing marijuana, firearm A Fort Myers man has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison for possessing marijuana with intent to distribute and a firearm as a person with felony convictions.
ICE activity confirmed in Hendry County WINK News has confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is in Hendry County.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers woman sentenced to 1 year in prison for forging late mother’s signature to claim benefits A Fort Myers woman has been sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for acts of wire fraud involving her dead mother dating back to 2005.
TALLAHASSEE Streaming Now: Gov. DeSantis holds news conference at Florida Capitol Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference at the state capitol, 400 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee.
City of Fort Myers to keep fluoride in drinking water City of Fort Myers won’t be joining other local governments in removing fluoride from its drinking water, council members decided.
WINK NEWS President Trump signs Executive Order aimed at expanding access to IVF President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order Tuesday to try to reduce the costs of in vitro fertilization (IVF) for Americans.
Warm and breezy afternoon with scattered rain this evening The Weather Authority is tracking a warm and breezy Wednesday, and scattered rain is expected this evening.
WINK NEWS Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
SANIBEL Sanibel Church rebuilds after Hurricane Ian The Sanibel Community Church has completed its remarkable rebuild after Hurricane Ian devastated their place of worship over two years ago.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral to discuss purchasing land for burrowing owls Cape Coral is taking steps to protect its burrowing owls.
Gladiolus Food Pantry in Lee County: A lifeline for those in need The Gladiolus Food Pantry in Lee County is playing a crucial role in the fight against food insecurity.
ALVA Alva residents fear losing rural lifestyle as Lee County plan advances Lee County commissioners have approved amendments to the county’s comprehensive plan that could lead to redevelopment in a rural community.
ch South Gulf Cove to host benefit for family of slain Charlotte deputy The South Gulf Cove Homeowner Association will host a fundraising event to honor the late Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office deputy Sgt. Elio Diaz.
FORT MYERS Local doctors working to speed up biopsy process Waiting to find out if a suspicious lump is cancerous can be incredibly stressful. Anything that speeds up the process and leads to faster treatment, if needed, is a huge help.
Punta Gorda keeps its own 911 dispatch center Punta Gorda City Council on Feb. 19 voted unanimously to keep its 911 dispatch center under city control in a move that blocks the county from consolidating the city’s dispatch center with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers man sentenced to 2 years in prison for possessing marijuana, firearm A Fort Myers man has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison for possessing marijuana with intent to distribute and a firearm as a person with felony convictions.
ICE activity confirmed in Hendry County WINK News has confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is in Hendry County.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers woman sentenced to 1 year in prison for forging late mother’s signature to claim benefits A Fort Myers woman has been sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for acts of wire fraud involving her dead mother dating back to 2005.
TALLAHASSEE Streaming Now: Gov. DeSantis holds news conference at Florida Capitol Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference at the state capitol, 400 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee.
City of Fort Myers to keep fluoride in drinking water City of Fort Myers won’t be joining other local governments in removing fluoride from its drinking water, council members decided.
WINK NEWS President Trump signs Executive Order aimed at expanding access to IVF President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order Tuesday to try to reduce the costs of in vitro fertilization (IVF) for Americans.
Warm and breezy afternoon with scattered rain this evening The Weather Authority is tracking a warm and breezy Wednesday, and scattered rain is expected this evening.
WINK NEWS Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
SANIBEL Sanibel Church rebuilds after Hurricane Ian The Sanibel Community Church has completed its remarkable rebuild after Hurricane Ian devastated their place of worship over two years ago.
JonesEz BBQ in Fort Myers. (Credit: WINK News) Black-owned businesses are now speaking up against the Florida travel advisory proposed by the NAACP. On Wednesday, WINK News told you the NAACP of Florida voted unanimously to seek permission to issue a travel advisory for the state over laws it says are excessively harsh for black people. NAACP of Florida believes that the black community is under attack in Florida. They want permission from national headquarters to issue a travel advisory, hoping black people looking to come to Florida will choose someplace else. WINK News spoke with local business owner Vickie Jones, who thinks the decision depends on each person’s situation. JonesEz BBQ is a staple in Fort Myers Shores. Vickie Jones owns the place and has served people along Palm Beach Boulevard since 2007. “We’re well known in the area. We’re known for giving back to the community. We’re known for donating. We’re known for the restaurant. We have food trucks, so we’re just trying to be more community to anything,” said Jones. JonesEz BBQ is not a member of the NAACP. Still, Jones knows how the Florida chapter unanimously voted to ask the national headquarters for permission to issue a travel advisory to Florida. “To warn other blacks across the country to not come to Florida, not send your children to Florida, not vacation in Florida,” said James Muwakkil, the president of the Lee County NAACP. Muwakkil said the travel advisory is necessary in the wake of what he called “Draconian” laws targeting African Americans, supported by Governor Ron DeSantis. Muwakkil said if the travel advisory hurts black business owners like Jones, it will be a “Sacrifice.” “Yeah, it’s new. And I just, I don’t have an opinion right now about it. The only thing I would say is that us, as blacks, we need to sit together. Everybody needs to be together as a community,” Jones said. “This is a stunt to try to do that. It’s a pure stunt,” said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. On Thursday, the governor got the question about what he thinks of the NAACP’s plan to ask its national headquarters for permission to issue a travel advisory to Florida. “It’s ridiculous. And we’re proud to be leading the nation in tourism,” said DeSantis. If the NAACP does issue that travel advisory, it could hurt the people the organization says it represents. Jones said she’s living the American dream here in Florida. “I’m established, I have a family business, I have, you know, pretty big business going on for myself and for my family.” That does not mean she’s against any kind of travel advisory. She hasn’t made up her mind yet. “As a black-owned business? I can’t say don’t come to Florida, because I am in Florida. And I like unity. I like community. I like for us to be together and have a voice,” said Jones. As for the governor? He’s not worried. “We had huge, huge numbers of people coming, and it was really, really good. And so I think that that’s going to continue.”