Tim Aten Knows: Naples welcomes colorful new brewpubScattered rain and storms Friday afternoon and evening
Tim Aten Knows: Naples welcomes colorful new brewpub The Naples taproom for Riptide Brewing Co. changed hands in early September and is now the family owned and operated Kaleidoscope Beer at 987 Third Ave. N.
The Weather Authority Scattered rain and storms Friday afternoon and evening The Weather Authority is tracking more scattered rain and storms that may impact your Friday afternoon and evening plans.
Charlotte County in need of volunteers for hurricane clean-up The Community Organizations Active in a Disaster in Charlotte County need volunteers to help clear debris following Hurricane Helene.
El Jobean autoshop reopens after Helene A man is determined to keep his business open after facing Helene’s wrath.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda man accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of marijuana products When they reviewed the security footage they saw 23-year-old Tyrese Jackson wearing a mask, gloves, and carrying tools with tags still on them to pry open that door.
CHARLOTTE HARBOR 1.6 Million gallons of raw sewage released in Charlotte County The Department of Environmental Protection is investigating how southwest Florida will be impacted after 1.6 million gallons of raw sewage seeped into the Charlotte Harbor over the weekend.
NORTH PORT North Port man accuses insurance carrier of fraud A North Port man went on 60 Minutes to accuse his home insurance carrier, Hertigate Insurance of fraud and worse.
Adopt a Mangrove event helps protect Sanibel’s shoreline Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation invited you to adopt your very own mangrove tree. The program allows volunteers to adopt and grow mangrove seedlings to help the island’s storm surge defense.
BOKEELIA Community comes together to help Bokeelia fish house The owner of Capt’n Con’s Fish House recently said she didn’t think they would be able to keep their doors open.
Fort Myers Beach couple remains positive ahead of heavy rain Fort Myers Beach is projected to receive inches of rain on Saturday, a little over a week after Helene. A Fort Myers Beach couple remains positive despite losing so much during Helene.
Lee County School District announces Helene makeup days Hurricane Helene canceled school days across Southwest Florida, and now schools are making up for the lost days.
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors worried about future rain in Port Charlotte Flooded streets and road closure signs. These aren’t from a hurricane. Just an afternoon rain shower.
Charlotte Sheriff opposes Amendment 3 A highly debated topic that is going to be on the ballot in the state of Florida this November is Amendment 3, which would legalize recreational marijuana.
CAPTIVA Sanibel and Captiva picking back up after Helene It’s a race against the clock for all of Southwest Florida as communities pick up from Hurricane Helene. Rain is in the forecast again.
FORT MYERS BEACH A village helps a man rebuild on Fort Myers Beach With Helene on our minds, it’s hard to miss the impact Hurricane Ian still has on so many people two years later.
Tim Aten Knows: Naples welcomes colorful new brewpub The Naples taproom for Riptide Brewing Co. changed hands in early September and is now the family owned and operated Kaleidoscope Beer at 987 Third Ave. N.
The Weather Authority Scattered rain and storms Friday afternoon and evening The Weather Authority is tracking more scattered rain and storms that may impact your Friday afternoon and evening plans.
Charlotte County in need of volunteers for hurricane clean-up The Community Organizations Active in a Disaster in Charlotte County need volunteers to help clear debris following Hurricane Helene.
El Jobean autoshop reopens after Helene A man is determined to keep his business open after facing Helene’s wrath.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda man accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of marijuana products When they reviewed the security footage they saw 23-year-old Tyrese Jackson wearing a mask, gloves, and carrying tools with tags still on them to pry open that door.
CHARLOTTE HARBOR 1.6 Million gallons of raw sewage released in Charlotte County The Department of Environmental Protection is investigating how southwest Florida will be impacted after 1.6 million gallons of raw sewage seeped into the Charlotte Harbor over the weekend.
NORTH PORT North Port man accuses insurance carrier of fraud A North Port man went on 60 Minutes to accuse his home insurance carrier, Hertigate Insurance of fraud and worse.
Adopt a Mangrove event helps protect Sanibel’s shoreline Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation invited you to adopt your very own mangrove tree. The program allows volunteers to adopt and grow mangrove seedlings to help the island’s storm surge defense.
BOKEELIA Community comes together to help Bokeelia fish house The owner of Capt’n Con’s Fish House recently said she didn’t think they would be able to keep their doors open.
Fort Myers Beach couple remains positive ahead of heavy rain Fort Myers Beach is projected to receive inches of rain on Saturday, a little over a week after Helene. A Fort Myers Beach couple remains positive despite losing so much during Helene.
Lee County School District announces Helene makeup days Hurricane Helene canceled school days across Southwest Florida, and now schools are making up for the lost days.
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors worried about future rain in Port Charlotte Flooded streets and road closure signs. These aren’t from a hurricane. Just an afternoon rain shower.
Charlotte Sheriff opposes Amendment 3 A highly debated topic that is going to be on the ballot in the state of Florida this November is Amendment 3, which would legalize recreational marijuana.
CAPTIVA Sanibel and Captiva picking back up after Helene It’s a race against the clock for all of Southwest Florida as communities pick up from Hurricane Helene. Rain is in the forecast again.
FORT MYERS BEACH A village helps a man rebuild on Fort Myers Beach With Helene on our minds, it’s hard to miss the impact Hurricane Ian still has on so many people two years later.
The Florida immigration law goes into effect Saturday, requiring all private employers with 25 or more employees to use the E-Verify system. Some feel this will lead to a mass exodus of our migrant population. Which in turn will lead to a shortage of workers. Southwest Floridians just recently survived Hurricane Ian and a good number of the people doing the rebuilding are immigrants. Some on a work visa and others do not, like Amilcar Cos and Marlon Miguel. Cos and Miguel install drywall, painting and carpentry. They say the workload has been heavier these days. As Florida begins to enforce its new immigration law, their friends and co-workers have left. Miguel said that they lost 20 workers, which has suddenly slowed down reconstruction. Due to this, many job sites are left undone. One provision of the law demand employers with 25 or more workers verifies whether everyone has the legal right to work in the United States. Although this law doesn’t talk about penalizing workers, Florida law can’t legally deport anyone. Some people without documentation say it’s not worth the risk to stay in Florida. Irma Bautista is a construction business employer who has noticed her work staff numbers dwindling. “We had 45 workers. From 45, now we have 20,” Bautista said. Bautista worries now that she’ll soon have fewer than that, which has her worried about the future of her business. Bautista doesn’t want to get too far ahead in thinking about closing her business, just like Cos and Miguel don’t want to think about having to leave Florida. Southwest Florida will still be rebuilt, but the process may be slower. The immigrant workers will wait and see what will happen starting Saturday. But two workers WINK News spoke to said they’ve already had about 10 people they know leave. Mario Martinez, born and raised in Immokalee, agrees people who aren’t legally permitted to be here shouldn’t be here. “Before the law takes, in effect, they’re afraid they’re actually leaving before, you know, the law actually took effect they were already leaving,” he said. But he believes the sweeping legislation is too aggressive. From slashing social services to making it more difficult to go to the hospital, to demanding every employer who has more than 25 employees verify each one has the legal right to work in the U.S. “What’s the problem with only singling out the Latino population? The Mexicans think that’s wrong,” Martinez said. For the most part, the employers and undocumented workers WINK News spoke to said it’s too early to say whether the law will force people out of Florida and create a worker shortage which could lead to price increases for everyone else. But most people in the community think that is what will happen. And even the ones that don’t think that will happen, do believe enforcing the law won’t matter because fear of the unknown will win out. “Losing friends and friends, that, that I’ve known that they they’re leaving somewhere else where, which I doubt I’ll see him again,” Martinez said.