8 dead, at least 40 hurt after bus transporting farm workers from Immokalee overturns near OrlandoBurn ban in effect in Hendry County after 9 fires break out from lightning storm
WINK NEWS 8 dead, at least 40 hurt after bus transporting farm workers from Immokalee overturns near Orlando At least eight people were killed in a bus crash near Orlando after leaving from Immokalee Tuesday morning, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
HENDRY COUNTY Burn ban in effect in Hendry County after 9 fires break out from lightning storm A burn ban is now in effect for unregulated fires for all of Hendry County as dry weather conditions impact the area.
Punta Gorda could extend deadline for Fishermen’s Village improvements If Council doesn’t provide additional time for receivers to complete improvements agreed to in 2018, Punta Gorda could take steps to have the property transferred back to the city, Punta Gorda Assistant City Manager Melissa Reichert said.
Tim Aten Knows: Old Naples Pub closing after 35 years The owners of the popular local hangout at 255 13th Ave. S., off Third Street South near the Naples Pier, have announced their retirement.
NAPLES Man arrested following Naples Manor shooting that injured 3 The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man suspected of shooting three people Sunday in Naples Manor.
Developers of Arches Bayfront push for rezoning Ben Freeland said he will return to Town Council and the Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency with his request to change the land-use designation and with his detailed plans for the project.
FORT MYERS Lee County Sheriff’s Office to hold memorial service for deputies The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is set to hold a memorial service to honor the deputies who had died in the line of duty.
FORT MYERS Traffic signals down at Edison Avenue and Veronica Shoemaker Traffic signals are currently down at Edison Avenue and Veronica Shoemaker in Fort Myers on Tuesday morning.
NAPLES Naples Winter Wine Festival to mark 25 years in 2025 There is a special milestone for the next Naples Winter Wine Festival. It will mark 25 years of helping at-risk and underprivileged children in Collier County.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers man accused of fatally shooting neighbor and his dog set to stand trial after years of delay A man from Fort Myers who allegedly fatally shot his neighbor and his dog in Lee County is set to stand trial today after years of delay.
WINK NEWS I-75N vehicle crash on Alligator Alley causes major congestion A vehicle crash on I-75 North near a toll booth on Alligator Alley has created a major backup for motorists entering Collier County.
WINK NEWS Scheduled maintenance on SR 90 northbound in Collier County will close lanes The Florida Department of Transportation announced a temporary lane closure on SR 90 northbound in Collier County.
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Hot and breezy afternoon with isolated storms this afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a hot and breezy Tuesday with isolated storms expected for the afternoon.
WINK News Collier County School District to vote on rezoning changes The Collier County School District is set to vote on boundary changes in 32 schools, possibly affecting which school your child will attend.
WASHINGTON (AP) Biden blocks Chinese-backed crypto mining firm from land ownership near Wyoming missile base President Joe Biden on Monday issued an order blocking a Chinese-backed cryptocurrency mining firm from owning land near a Wyoming nuclear missile base, calling its proximity to the base a “national security risk.”
WINK NEWS 8 dead, at least 40 hurt after bus transporting farm workers from Immokalee overturns near Orlando At least eight people were killed in a bus crash near Orlando after leaving from Immokalee Tuesday morning, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
HENDRY COUNTY Burn ban in effect in Hendry County after 9 fires break out from lightning storm A burn ban is now in effect for unregulated fires for all of Hendry County as dry weather conditions impact the area.
Punta Gorda could extend deadline for Fishermen’s Village improvements If Council doesn’t provide additional time for receivers to complete improvements agreed to in 2018, Punta Gorda could take steps to have the property transferred back to the city, Punta Gorda Assistant City Manager Melissa Reichert said.
Tim Aten Knows: Old Naples Pub closing after 35 years The owners of the popular local hangout at 255 13th Ave. S., off Third Street South near the Naples Pier, have announced their retirement.
NAPLES Man arrested following Naples Manor shooting that injured 3 The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man suspected of shooting three people Sunday in Naples Manor.
Developers of Arches Bayfront push for rezoning Ben Freeland said he will return to Town Council and the Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency with his request to change the land-use designation and with his detailed plans for the project.
FORT MYERS Lee County Sheriff’s Office to hold memorial service for deputies The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is set to hold a memorial service to honor the deputies who had died in the line of duty.
FORT MYERS Traffic signals down at Edison Avenue and Veronica Shoemaker Traffic signals are currently down at Edison Avenue and Veronica Shoemaker in Fort Myers on Tuesday morning.
NAPLES Naples Winter Wine Festival to mark 25 years in 2025 There is a special milestone for the next Naples Winter Wine Festival. It will mark 25 years of helping at-risk and underprivileged children in Collier County.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers man accused of fatally shooting neighbor and his dog set to stand trial after years of delay A man from Fort Myers who allegedly fatally shot his neighbor and his dog in Lee County is set to stand trial today after years of delay.
WINK NEWS I-75N vehicle crash on Alligator Alley causes major congestion A vehicle crash on I-75 North near a toll booth on Alligator Alley has created a major backup for motorists entering Collier County.
WINK NEWS Scheduled maintenance on SR 90 northbound in Collier County will close lanes The Florida Department of Transportation announced a temporary lane closure on SR 90 northbound in Collier County.
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Hot and breezy afternoon with isolated storms this afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a hot and breezy Tuesday with isolated storms expected for the afternoon.
WINK News Collier County School District to vote on rezoning changes The Collier County School District is set to vote on boundary changes in 32 schools, possibly affecting which school your child will attend.
WASHINGTON (AP) Biden blocks Chinese-backed crypto mining firm from land ownership near Wyoming missile base President Joe Biden on Monday issued an order blocking a Chinese-backed cryptocurrency mining firm from owning land near a Wyoming nuclear missile base, calling its proximity to the base a “national security risk.”
A Charlotte County minor has been rescued from an accused human trafficking operation. Deputies in Hernando County arrested a man they say paid an Uber driver to take the girl to Spring Hill. “He stated to me multiple times that victims should be thankful for what he did to them,” a Florida law enforcement investigator said. According to the Hernando County Sheriff, 56-year-old James Houllis made contact with the Charlotte County girl on a social media dating app. Investigators won’t name the app that was used. Houllis forced a trafficking victim who was being held at his home to communicate with the girl from Charlotte County and build a relationship with her. Before the girl got into the Uber, she signed a sex-based “Dominant and submissive agreement” but she hadn’t read it. When she got to the Spring Hill home, north of Tampa, deputies said Houllis forced her into sex. “Many of them don’t realize they’re even victims. So there is a manipulation that happens between the trafficker who is grooming the victim for the purposes of sex trafficking,” Linda Oberhaus said, the CEO of the Shelter for Abused Women & Children. According to Oberhaus, parents should not let kids be alone with their devices. Children have to know that they can’t be sure who they’re communicating with online. “This person was violent, you might even say sadistic, and things can turn on a dime. And when you’re young, you don’t think about those things,” Sheriff Al Nienhuis said, of Hernando County. Deputies say Houllis has lived in 53 places over the years and likely victimized other young girls. The second victim being held at Houllis’ home was barely an adult. She was likely a juvenile when Houllis began grooming her. An investigation is taking place in Colorado where investigators said Houllis prostituted the young woman to a number of men. According to the Hernando County Sheriff, they were able to track the Charlotte County juvenile to Houllis’ home using her cell phone. The two girls are now in a safe place receiving treatment. “I’ve dealt with victims of human trafficking who are coming out of good homes, who are coming out of our communities here in Naples,” Oberhaus said, “the way that traffickers are able to get access to these young girls is they befriend them. They’re considered Romeo’s and they pretend to be this person’s boyfriend. These young girls actually think these traffickers are their boyfriends.” Investigators ask any victims of human trafficking tied to Houllis to come forward. Resources Below are anti-human trafficking and mental health resources available to Southwest Floridians at the national and local levels: The Shelter for Abused Women & Children: naplesshelter.org 1 (888) 373-7888 National Human Trafficking Hotline SMS: 233733 (Text “HELP” or “INFO”) Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week Languages: English, Spanish and 200 more languages Website: http://humantraffickinghotline.org What is Human Trafficking? https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/what-human-trafficking Human Trafficking in Florida: https://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/human-trafficking/ Path 2 Freedomhttps://www.path2freedom.org/ National Suicide Prevention Hotline1-800-273-8255suicidepreventionlifeline.org David Lawrence Center (Collier County)(239) 455-8500davidlawrencecenter.org National Alliance on Mental Illness – namicollier.org | namilee.org Local Support Groups: Anxiety and Depression Association of Americaadaa.org U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Mental Health and Addiction Insurance Help)hhs.gov/programs/topic-sites/mental-health-parity