BONITA SPRINGS Massive fire severely damages Bonita Springs home Multiple fire crews responded to a massive fire that damaged a home located near Thornbury Lane in Bonita Springs.
WINK NEWS 9/11 remembrance events across Southwest Florida Commemorating 9/11 honors those who died, celebrates the unity that followed, and reminds us of the lasting effects on global security.
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump face off at the presidential debate Former president Trump and vice president Harris just wrapped up their first and likely only debate before Americans go to the polls.
CAPE CORAL Voters react to presidential debate The voters WINK News spoke to said they had their minds made up before the first question could drop, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t still excited to watch.
NORTH FORT MYERS Caught on Video: man ignites North Fort Myers house on fire We spoke with the mother of the family that lives in the home. She said both her husband and her 6-year-old son were in bed when she saw an orange glow coming from the front window; then, she saw flames.
Siblings left homeless after fire in Collier County A family is recovering from the flames after a lawnmower fire in Collier County left three siblings homeless.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral says they’ll help neighbors forced to vacate but community still has questions We’ve reported on the plans by Cape Coral to acquire 19 acres east of Bimini Basin, and how it will force the families currently living in those properties out.
Collier County commissioners oppose Amendment 3 This comes less than 24 hours after former President Donald Trump told the world he would vote for Amendment 3.
PHILADELPHIA Florida political analyst weighs in ahead of presidential debate Tonight may be the only chance viewers will get to see Kamala Harris and Donald Trump together on the debate stage.
LEHIGH ACRES Renewed call for guardrails following fatal Lehigh Acres canal crash A car flying into a canal, killing a 47-year-old man, has many raising the question of how it can be stopped from happening again.
Charlotte County Schools reflects on Guardian program 1 year later Charlotte County is getting a better idea of how armed people in its schools are doing. Last school year was the first entire year Charlotte County Schools had the guardian program in place.
PUNTA GORDA Public notice of pollution submitted for the Peace River There are reports of chemicals, oils and contaminants polluting the Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Garden.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers neighbors work to stop parking lot A city sees a warehouse just south of Palm Beach Boulevard as a spot they can use for a brand new parking lot, but the people who live in the neighborhood are telling the city to think twice.
NAPLES Collier middle school student arrested for carrying knife A Manatee Middle School student has been arrested after a knife was found in his backpack at school.
FORT MYERS Suspect arrested in Papa Johns armed robbery A man has been arrested in connection with a robbery of a Fort Myers pizza shop.
BONITA SPRINGS Massive fire severely damages Bonita Springs home Multiple fire crews responded to a massive fire that damaged a home located near Thornbury Lane in Bonita Springs.
WINK NEWS 9/11 remembrance events across Southwest Florida Commemorating 9/11 honors those who died, celebrates the unity that followed, and reminds us of the lasting effects on global security.
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump face off at the presidential debate Former president Trump and vice president Harris just wrapped up their first and likely only debate before Americans go to the polls.
CAPE CORAL Voters react to presidential debate The voters WINK News spoke to said they had their minds made up before the first question could drop, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t still excited to watch.
NORTH FORT MYERS Caught on Video: man ignites North Fort Myers house on fire We spoke with the mother of the family that lives in the home. She said both her husband and her 6-year-old son were in bed when she saw an orange glow coming from the front window; then, she saw flames.
Siblings left homeless after fire in Collier County A family is recovering from the flames after a lawnmower fire in Collier County left three siblings homeless.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral says they’ll help neighbors forced to vacate but community still has questions We’ve reported on the plans by Cape Coral to acquire 19 acres east of Bimini Basin, and how it will force the families currently living in those properties out.
Collier County commissioners oppose Amendment 3 This comes less than 24 hours after former President Donald Trump told the world he would vote for Amendment 3.
PHILADELPHIA Florida political analyst weighs in ahead of presidential debate Tonight may be the only chance viewers will get to see Kamala Harris and Donald Trump together on the debate stage.
LEHIGH ACRES Renewed call for guardrails following fatal Lehigh Acres canal crash A car flying into a canal, killing a 47-year-old man, has many raising the question of how it can be stopped from happening again.
Charlotte County Schools reflects on Guardian program 1 year later Charlotte County is getting a better idea of how armed people in its schools are doing. Last school year was the first entire year Charlotte County Schools had the guardian program in place.
PUNTA GORDA Public notice of pollution submitted for the Peace River There are reports of chemicals, oils and contaminants polluting the Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Garden.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers neighbors work to stop parking lot A city sees a warehouse just south of Palm Beach Boulevard as a spot they can use for a brand new parking lot, but the people who live in the neighborhood are telling the city to think twice.
NAPLES Collier middle school student arrested for carrying knife A Manatee Middle School student has been arrested after a knife was found in his backpack at school.
FORT MYERS Suspect arrested in Papa Johns armed robbery A man has been arrested in connection with a robbery of a Fort Myers pizza shop.
Trailers and campers designated for Hurricane Ian victims (CREDIT: WINK News) Nearly a year after Hurricane Ian, hundreds of trailers are waiting with nobody inside. Driving past Airport Road in Punta Gorda, you’ll see trailers staring back at you. Now, four people are sitting in jail, and are accused of stealing resources from Hurricane Ian victims. Nineteen campers and other equipment valued at over $1M were stolen and sold to the highest bidders. But one of the suspects is still on the run. The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office said Yosmel Betancourt helped steal from Hurricane Ian victims. FEMA said the area the trailers are in is a staging lot for the State of Florida’s inventory, and it might look like the lot stays the same, but trailers and campers rotate as needed. A chain link fence and a no trespassing sign weren’t enough to keep five thieves from breaking in. Determined to make a buck taking from people down on their luck. People like Karen Coburn, whose home was destroyed by Hurricane Ian, are sleeping in a FEMA trailer in Englewood. This ends up as just another gut punch. “I literally makes me sick to my stomach because people are counting on that they need that they’ve been living, topsy turvy since the hurricane, unsure of what they’re going to do or how they’re going to make it and they were relying on that,” said Coburn. WINK News learned FEMA the staging lot is for state-owned trailers only. It is to make it easier for families in need to get housing quickly. The arrest warrant details how the suspects were able to steal trailers in the early morning or late evening hours without being noticed. Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office says approximately 15 of the 19 trailers were stolen from the lot. “We’re still out searching for the remaining trailers. So hopefully in the end of this, we’ll be able to recover some more,” said Sergeant Christopher James Kearney from CCSO. Four suspects are in jail and will be back in court in October.