Justice Department formally moves to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug in historic shiftPunta Gorda, YMCA inch closer to New Operation Cooper Street lease
WASHINGTON (AP) Justice Department formally moves to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug in historic shift The Justice Department on Thursday formally moved to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug in a historic shift in generations of U.S. drug policy.
Punta Gorda, YMCA inch closer to New Operation Cooper Street lease Punta Gorda City Council and representatives of the YMCA of Southwest Florida approached a lease agreement for New Operation Cooper Street during a special session May 14 where members of the public commented on the matter.Â
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral ranked 3rd worst city for commuters Cape Coral drivers, has your work commute worsened? It’s not just your imagination, as a study ranked the worst cities for commuters.
BOSTON (AP) Teen died from eating a spicy chip as part of social media challenge, autopsy report concludes A teen who participated in a spicy tortilla chip challenge on social media died from ingesting a high amount of a chili pepper extract.
CAPE CORAL Former Cape Coral teacher accused of sending nudes to student will be in court A former Cape Coral teacher accused of sending a photo of his genitals to a student is scheduled to be in court.
The Weather Authority Strong storms moving through SWFL Minor flooding in low-lying and poor-draining areas is expected in Southwest Florida due to stormy conditions.
BOKEELIA Waterspout spotted near the Bokeelia Fishing Pier A WINK News viewer spotted a water spout near the Bokeelia Fishing Pier on Thursday morning.
NORTH FORT MYERS Man accused of groping woman in North Fort Myers Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on a man accused of groping a woman of 65 years or older in North Fort Myers.
WINK NEWS Disease affecting avocado growth impacts Florida farmers The citrus industry has suffered due to Greening Disease, and now the avocado industry is experiencing issues of its own.
NORTH FORT MYERS LCSO investigating possible connection between shooting and fire in North Fort Myers Deputies are investigating the alleged shooting of a family’s camper home, which was then burned down by a fire in North Fort Myers.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral approves grant funding for Utilities Extension Project The City of Cape Coral voted unanimously to provide $25 million in funding for the Utilities Extension Project.
downtown fort myers The downtown Fort Myers post office is set to reopen Monday The long-awaited return of the downtown Fort Myers post office is soon to be over, as the location is expected to reopen on Monday.
NAPLES Naples-based fashion designer supports teen who was denied entrance to prom Sophie Savidge is getting some swanky bow ties from Naples-based fashion designer Peter Jean-Marie.
FORT MYERS BEACH Staying safe against rip currents Mother Nature is throwing us for a loop. Right now, most of our beaches are at high risk for rip currents.
FORT MYERS Football officials work to keep the ‘Friday’ in Friday night lights Whether you think they are making good calls or bad ones, without officials there would be no Friday night lights.
WASHINGTON (AP) Justice Department formally moves to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug in historic shift The Justice Department on Thursday formally moved to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug in a historic shift in generations of U.S. drug policy.
Punta Gorda, YMCA inch closer to New Operation Cooper Street lease Punta Gorda City Council and representatives of the YMCA of Southwest Florida approached a lease agreement for New Operation Cooper Street during a special session May 14 where members of the public commented on the matter.Â
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral ranked 3rd worst city for commuters Cape Coral drivers, has your work commute worsened? It’s not just your imagination, as a study ranked the worst cities for commuters.
BOSTON (AP) Teen died from eating a spicy chip as part of social media challenge, autopsy report concludes A teen who participated in a spicy tortilla chip challenge on social media died from ingesting a high amount of a chili pepper extract.
CAPE CORAL Former Cape Coral teacher accused of sending nudes to student will be in court A former Cape Coral teacher accused of sending a photo of his genitals to a student is scheduled to be in court.
The Weather Authority Strong storms moving through SWFL Minor flooding in low-lying and poor-draining areas is expected in Southwest Florida due to stormy conditions.
BOKEELIA Waterspout spotted near the Bokeelia Fishing Pier A WINK News viewer spotted a water spout near the Bokeelia Fishing Pier on Thursday morning.
NORTH FORT MYERS Man accused of groping woman in North Fort Myers Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on a man accused of groping a woman of 65 years or older in North Fort Myers.
WINK NEWS Disease affecting avocado growth impacts Florida farmers The citrus industry has suffered due to Greening Disease, and now the avocado industry is experiencing issues of its own.
NORTH FORT MYERS LCSO investigating possible connection between shooting and fire in North Fort Myers Deputies are investigating the alleged shooting of a family’s camper home, which was then burned down by a fire in North Fort Myers.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral approves grant funding for Utilities Extension Project The City of Cape Coral voted unanimously to provide $25 million in funding for the Utilities Extension Project.
downtown fort myers The downtown Fort Myers post office is set to reopen Monday The long-awaited return of the downtown Fort Myers post office is soon to be over, as the location is expected to reopen on Monday.
NAPLES Naples-based fashion designer supports teen who was denied entrance to prom Sophie Savidge is getting some swanky bow ties from Naples-based fashion designer Peter Jean-Marie.
FORT MYERS BEACH Staying safe against rip currents Mother Nature is throwing us for a loop. Right now, most of our beaches are at high risk for rip currents.
FORT MYERS Football officials work to keep the ‘Friday’ in Friday night lights Whether you think they are making good calls or bad ones, without officials there would be no Friday night lights.
Collier County Sheriff’s Office said that an Uber driver was choked and beaten by Hunter Cook after the driver picked him up and drove him home. However, Uber’s response to safety concerns is now facing scrutiny. The rideshare giant claims to prioritize driver safety, and has implemented several security features over the years. But significant concerns persist, from victim Tanya Blazquez and many others. “We have no voice. The drivers have no voice with Uber whatsoever,” said Venice resident Kim Haber, now a former Uber driver. Kim Haber reached out to WINK News after Wednesday’s coverage. She said there were times she felt unsafe and threatened by passengers, and expressed frustration with Uber’s response. “They need to back us up and call and continue to investigate any of the problems that we report,” Haber said. Haber’s journey with Uber started off strong, but over the course of ten months, she encountered numerous troubling incidents. For example, Haber said she experienced a violent encounter with a passenger that resulted in damage to her car. She said she’s also been verbally assaulted, and wishes Uber would take more responsibility. As a result of these incidents, Haber said she was released from the company, though WINK News has not verified the details at this time. The bottom line is that anyone can hop into an Uber as a passenger, regardless of their criminal background. Plus, there’s no physical barrier separating the driver from the passenger. But Haber believes there are solutions. For example, she suggested Uber needs to do more thorough background checks on both drivers and passengers. She also discussed the idea of cameras found in most taxis, but doesn’t think Uber would be willing to invest in them. “That’s too much of an expense. They don’t even hand out the lighted signs anymore. If you want one, you have to buy one,” Haber said. According to Uber, drivers may choose to install and use a dashcam. However, the company did not mention their plans regarding the implementation of cameras. Additionally, Haber believes Uber needs to change its policy that allows passengers to call for rides on behalf of others. “You have to have the actual account, and it’s got to be in your name,” Haber said. “And you’ve got to be that person getting in the Uber, no more calling Ubers for friends, family, boyfriends, girlfriends, because those are the people that are the ones who always cause the problem.” WINK News also stopped by Bluebird Taxi in Fort Myers and spoke to the owner, who said all of their taxis have cameras inside for everyone’s safety. Despite the popularity of Uber, their ridership has skyrocketed thanks to the cameras. WINK News reached out to Uber and asked if a representative would be available to discuss these proposals. Uber denied the request but sent our team extensive background information, stating Uber is deeply committed to the safety of drivers on the Uber app. According to Uber, drivers and riders can report any incident or accident via the app or through Uber’s Safety Incident Reporting line. The company also has developed a number of safety features in the app for drivers over the past several years: Emergency button: Uber users are able to reach out to 911 directly by tapping on the emergency assistance button found in the safety toolkit. Calling 911 is available nationwide. The ability to text 911 discreetly is available across 60% of the US. 911 integration in 1800+ jurisdictions: If a rider or driver uses the emergency button in one of these cities, our tech and partnership with Rapid SOS enables key trip details to be digitally sent to 911 dispatchers including the caller’s name, make and model of the Uber car, license plate, and GPS. Read more about it HERE. RideCheck helps make sure drivers and riders are OK in the event of a possible crash or unexpected long stop, which was activated in this situation. Follow My Ride feature available in the app for drivers enables them to share their trip route in real time with family or loved ones. “Live Help” from a Safety Agent: In August 2022, we announced Live Help from an ADT safety agent. For situations that don’t require police, fire or medical, Uber users can request a call or text from an ADT agent who can stay on the phone for the duration of the trip and can reach out to 911 if necessary.