NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County residents wait hours for D-SNAP assistance The supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) is at the Lee Civic Center all weekend, ready to help southwest Florida.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA First eaglet hatches in famous SWFL eagle nest Welcome E24! The third eaglet from the nest of M15 and F23 has hatched according to the Southwest Florida eagle camera.
lehigh acres LCSO: Lehigh Acres shooting investigation underway The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
Rock for Equality: SWFL non-profit hosts benefit concert for Palestine A Southwest Florida non-profit hosted a benefit concert on Friday night to help with humanitarian aid in Palestine.
Warm, breezy Saturday with a few showers possible The Weather Authority is forecasting a breezy, warm weekend in store across Southwest Florida, with the chance of a few showers, particularly on Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Active investigation underway in South Cape Coral Cape Coral police are investigating at a home on Southwest 49th Terrace in South Cape Coral early Saturday morning.
16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier County According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two airboats crashed south of U.S. 41 east between mile markers 74 and 75, leaving well over a dozen people injured.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes There could be new detectives on the block, located in your nearest auto shop. A new state bill aims at trying to stop hit-and-run drivers from getting away.
CAPE CORAL New leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans A drug now being studied in human trials to kill cancerous tumors, is already approved and helping animals.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral planning a new interchange with I-75 The city of Cape Coral is in the early stages of planning a new interchange with I-75, an idea that has been discussed for more than a decade.
Tracking invasive species after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton didn’t just bring wind and rain, they brought new threats to southwest Florida’s ecosystem.
PUNTA GORDA Woman in Punta Gorda shooting charged with 2nd degree murder A woman in a homicide investigation on Nasturtium Drive in Punta Gorda has been charged with 2nd-degree murder.
Lee County mother continuing fight to get children a bus stop The school district already told her she lives too close to the school to qualify for a bus route but she has not given up.
NORTH NAPLES Grant Thornton Invitational returns to Tiburon Golf Club Stars on the PGA and LPGA Tours are back in Southwest Florida for the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club.
FORT MYERS Black Flag brings classic punk energy to The Ranch in Fort Myers Legendary punk band Black Flag made their mark in Southwest Florida during the Fort Myers stop of their “First Four Years” tour.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County residents wait hours for D-SNAP assistance The supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) is at the Lee Civic Center all weekend, ready to help southwest Florida.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA First eaglet hatches in famous SWFL eagle nest Welcome E24! The third eaglet from the nest of M15 and F23 has hatched according to the Southwest Florida eagle camera.
lehigh acres LCSO: Lehigh Acres shooting investigation underway The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
Rock for Equality: SWFL non-profit hosts benefit concert for Palestine A Southwest Florida non-profit hosted a benefit concert on Friday night to help with humanitarian aid in Palestine.
Warm, breezy Saturday with a few showers possible The Weather Authority is forecasting a breezy, warm weekend in store across Southwest Florida, with the chance of a few showers, particularly on Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Active investigation underway in South Cape Coral Cape Coral police are investigating at a home on Southwest 49th Terrace in South Cape Coral early Saturday morning.
16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier County According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two airboats crashed south of U.S. 41 east between mile markers 74 and 75, leaving well over a dozen people injured.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes There could be new detectives on the block, located in your nearest auto shop. A new state bill aims at trying to stop hit-and-run drivers from getting away.
CAPE CORAL New leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans A drug now being studied in human trials to kill cancerous tumors, is already approved and helping animals.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral planning a new interchange with I-75 The city of Cape Coral is in the early stages of planning a new interchange with I-75, an idea that has been discussed for more than a decade.
Tracking invasive species after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton didn’t just bring wind and rain, they brought new threats to southwest Florida’s ecosystem.
PUNTA GORDA Woman in Punta Gorda shooting charged with 2nd degree murder A woman in a homicide investigation on Nasturtium Drive in Punta Gorda has been charged with 2nd-degree murder.
Lee County mother continuing fight to get children a bus stop The school district already told her she lives too close to the school to qualify for a bus route but she has not given up.
NORTH NAPLES Grant Thornton Invitational returns to Tiburon Golf Club Stars on the PGA and LPGA Tours are back in Southwest Florida for the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club.
FORT MYERS Black Flag brings classic punk energy to The Ranch in Fort Myers Legendary punk band Black Flag made their mark in Southwest Florida during the Fort Myers stop of their “First Four Years” tour.
FILE – In this July 31, 2018, file photo, President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Florida then-Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis during a rally in Tampa. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara, File) Former President Donald Trump’s campaign called Gov. Ron DeSantis’ track record in Florida “one of misery and despair” in a lengthy statement released before Trump’s speech in Fort Myers. The statement went on to bash Trump’s potential presidential rival and his ability to lead. “The real DeSantis record is one of misery and despair. He has left a wake of destruction all across Florida and people are hurting because he has spent more time playing public relations games instead of actually doing the hard-work needed to improve the lives of the people he represents,” said Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung. The campaign email titled “The Real Ron DeSantis Playbook,” contains a list of almost 30 claims on issues related to taxes, education, housing, and healthcare in Florida. “While Ron DeSantis engages in a weeks-long shadow campaign for president boasting his playbook, Florida continues to tumble into complete and total delinquency and destruction,” the Trump campaign said. The release references various news reports and studies claiming that Florida is one of the least affordable states to live in the country, one of the worst states in the nation to raise a family, the third-worst state for fair taxes in the nation, and more. “One of the things that Trump is trying to do, he’s trying to define Governor DeSantis, before he defines himself,” said Dr. Peter Bergerson, a political science expert and professor at Florida Gulf Coast University. According to the Federation of Tax Administrators, Florida has a low tax burden compared with other U.S. states. However, WINK’s partner PolitiFact found that Florida is also a highly unequal tax state, meaning low-income people pay a much higher share of their income in taxes than their wealthier peers. Bergerson believes Trump is smart for taking aim at complex issues like fair taxes in Florida. “Governor DeSantis is running on a campaign of his accomplishments here in Florida as governor for six years, and the fact that he had won an overwhelming victory two years ago,” Bergerson said. “And so what Trump wants to point out is the deficits or the things that have been neglected, or the problems that Florida has.” Trump then brings up recent gas shortages in South Florida, claiming that nearly half of the gas stations in Miami and Fort Lauderdale are without fuel. He cites an article from The Hill. “While nearly half of the gas stations in Miami and Fort Lauderdale are without fuel, those Floridians lucky enough to find a gas station with fuel will be paying a stiff premium,” the Trump campaign said. While that might have been the case in the days immediately following April’s widespread flooding, it’s not the case anymore. According to the Florida Petroleum Marketers Association, about 1% of gas stations are out at this point, and panic-buying has settled. A spokesperson also told WINK News that their team is unaware of any premiums. Taxes and gas availability are just two of the 27 topics that Trump hit on in his recent campaign statement. Ultimately, Bergerson believes this is just the start of what’s going to unfold between the former president and DeSantis in the next six months. “You are going to see a lot more direct personal attacks by both,” he said. “I think that the advertisement or the political promotion that you’ve pointed out, is going to go verbal and we will see these now as part of campaign commercials. You’ll see it as part of Trump’s campaign stock speech…I also think that Governor DeSantis has to make a decision. Is he going to respond in kind?” DeSantis has still not publicly announced a run for president. However, he did hint that he will make a decision after the state’s legislative session ends in May. ‘WINK Investigates’ reporter Kellie Miller reached out to DeSantis’ campaign team for a response to Trump’s statements but has not heard back.