ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
When you donate money, how do you know it’s going where you intended? That’s a common question. And, after Hurricane Ian many people have opened their hearts and wallets. Sixty-six thousand people have donated to the Florida Disaster Fund. The Fund was established in 2004 and reactivated after Ian. Hurricane Ian storm surge. (Credit: WINK News) WINK News viewer Carol Kerr emailed us to ask, “Florida Disaster Fund that Casey DeSantis was overseeing – $60 million in donations; how much of that money has been given out for relief?” WINK Investigates reporter Kellie Miller went looking for that answer and learned $63,740,283 has been raised as of Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Of that, $53,354,500 has been awarded. Harry Chapin Food Bank. Where did the money go? The Volunteer Florida Foundation administers the Fund, and first lady Casey DeSantis helps oversee it. The money gets distributed to state service organizations focusing on disaster response and recovery. The group provided WINK News with this list: Save the Children The Salvation Army Team Rubicon Catholic Charities Feeding Florida Midwest FoodBank ToolBank Operation BBQ Relief United Way Collier County Florida Sheriff’s Association Police Benevolent Association Fraternal Order of Police Professional Firefighters Lee County Local Education Foundation Charlotte County Local Education Foundation Sarasota County Local Education Foundation Collier County Local Education Foundation Desoto County Local Education Foundation Hardee County school district support Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Better Together Samaritan’s Purse Lee BIA Builders Care Florida National Guard Foundation Florida Emergency Preparedness Association Collier County Community Foundation Charlotte County Community Foundation Collaboratory Housing organizations Feeding Florida Harry Chapin Food Bank Hope Hospice Safe Children Coalition Senior Connection Center Senior Friendship Centers Senior Resource Alliance Mothers Helping Mothers NU-HOPE Elder Care Services Inc. One More Child Osceola Council on Aging All Faiths Food bank of Sarasota Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida Bridge a Life Children’s Network of Southwest Florida Community Legal Services of Mid Florida Elder-Source – Area Agency on Aging for Northwest Florida Lee County school district support organization Collier County school district support organization Sarasota County school district support organization Hardee County school district support organization DeSoto County school district support organization 17 long-term recovery groups Adventist Community Services Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association nonprofit arm Small Business Recovery Impact program If you’d like WINK Investigates reporter Kellie Miller to get answers for you, email her at tips@winknews.com or click on the link below. How to check out a charity Before you give, contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services toll-free hotline at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352). You can also use the state’s online Check-A-Charity tool.