What we learned about Cape Coral’s water crisis after a ride alongThe Weather Authority: A wet Saturday evening as storms move through Southwest Florida
CAPE CORAL What we learned about Cape Coral’s water crisis after a ride along On Friday, WINK News got to ride along to see just what people are doing that could be wasting water.
The Weather Authority: A wet Saturday evening as storms move through Southwest Florida A rainy Saturday evening across much of southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Lee Health Touch-A-Truck event educates families on Trauma Awareness On Saturday morning, sirens were ringing to celebrate Lee Health Trauma Center’s 30 years of service and to provide the public with trauma education and prevention methods.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (CBS) CDC says bird flu viruses “pose pandemic potential,” cites major knowledge gaps Bird flu continues to appear to pose a “low risk to the general public” for now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. But the agency’s scientists ran into roadblocks investigating a human case of this “pandemic potential” virus this year, they said in a new report.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Bay Street Yard set to open in late May A new place to hang out in Downtown Fort Myers is opening this spring.
Aetna agrees to settle lawsuit over fertility coverage for LGBTQ+ customers Aetna has agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused the health insurer of discriminating against LGBTQ+ customers in need of fertility treatment.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINK Neighborhood Watch: Robbery, Pawn Shops, and Child Porn This week’s segment of Wink Neighborhood Watch features an armed robber, fraud at a pawn shop, and possession of child pornography.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Sun, clouds, humidity, rain – it’s all in your weekend forecast Saturday afternoon will be hot and humid, with a mix of sun and clouds.
LEHIGH ACRES Chaotic lake getting fence and security Now, with all the negative attention it has gotten, some think putting up a fence is a great way to keep that bad activity out.
FORT MYERS Students affected by COVID-19 able to graduate for the first time For many young people, COVID stripped away one of their greatest rites of passage: graduation.
Deadly crash on State Road 29 in Hendry County Authorities are at the scene of a deadly crash on State Road 29 in Hendry County on Friday afternoon.
Celebrating Free Comic Book Day in SWFL JP Sports store manager Jonathan Powell said this is a generational event that brings families together to reminisce on comics and other hobby-related knickknacks.
FORT MYERS Group rescues dogs before getting put down in Lee County Our animal shelters are packed with amazing puppies who have the sole desire to be loved.
FORT MYERS FGCU student beats all odds and is able to graduate Nearly four years ago, Marisa Manning had her heart set on going to Florida Gulf Coast University but never thought she’d find her passion for studying parasites.
FORT MYERS Victim in MLK Blvd. shooting identified as social media influencer The victim of the Martin Luther King Boulevard shooting has been identified as a local social media influencer.
CAPE CORAL What we learned about Cape Coral’s water crisis after a ride along On Friday, WINK News got to ride along to see just what people are doing that could be wasting water.
The Weather Authority: A wet Saturday evening as storms move through Southwest Florida A rainy Saturday evening across much of southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Lee Health Touch-A-Truck event educates families on Trauma Awareness On Saturday morning, sirens were ringing to celebrate Lee Health Trauma Center’s 30 years of service and to provide the public with trauma education and prevention methods.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (CBS) CDC says bird flu viruses “pose pandemic potential,” cites major knowledge gaps Bird flu continues to appear to pose a “low risk to the general public” for now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. But the agency’s scientists ran into roadblocks investigating a human case of this “pandemic potential” virus this year, they said in a new report.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Bay Street Yard set to open in late May A new place to hang out in Downtown Fort Myers is opening this spring.
Aetna agrees to settle lawsuit over fertility coverage for LGBTQ+ customers Aetna has agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused the health insurer of discriminating against LGBTQ+ customers in need of fertility treatment.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINK Neighborhood Watch: Robbery, Pawn Shops, and Child Porn This week’s segment of Wink Neighborhood Watch features an armed robber, fraud at a pawn shop, and possession of child pornography.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Sun, clouds, humidity, rain – it’s all in your weekend forecast Saturday afternoon will be hot and humid, with a mix of sun and clouds.
LEHIGH ACRES Chaotic lake getting fence and security Now, with all the negative attention it has gotten, some think putting up a fence is a great way to keep that bad activity out.
FORT MYERS Students affected by COVID-19 able to graduate for the first time For many young people, COVID stripped away one of their greatest rites of passage: graduation.
Deadly crash on State Road 29 in Hendry County Authorities are at the scene of a deadly crash on State Road 29 in Hendry County on Friday afternoon.
Celebrating Free Comic Book Day in SWFL JP Sports store manager Jonathan Powell said this is a generational event that brings families together to reminisce on comics and other hobby-related knickknacks.
FORT MYERS Group rescues dogs before getting put down in Lee County Our animal shelters are packed with amazing puppies who have the sole desire to be loved.
FORT MYERS FGCU student beats all odds and is able to graduate Nearly four years ago, Marisa Manning had her heart set on going to Florida Gulf Coast University but never thought she’d find her passion for studying parasites.
FORT MYERS Victim in MLK Blvd. shooting identified as social media influencer The victim of the Martin Luther King Boulevard shooting has been identified as a local social media influencer.
Florida panther (Credit: CBS News) About 48 hours after the first endangered Florida panther was reported dead by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in the new year, another has been added to the list. According to FWC’s Panther Pulse, a second male Florida panther was killed in Hendry County after a vehicle struck the feline on County Road 832, east of Wild Cow Grade, near LaBelle. Florida panther. (Credit: WINK News) The panther, between 3 and 5 years old, was reported dead on Thursday. The oldest endangered panther death reported in 2023 was 5 years old. The second reported death of 2024 extends the unfortunate streak of reported endangered panthers dying from vehicle collisions to 25. “Prior to the year 2000, yearly panther roadkills were four or fewer. But beginning in 2000, these numbers have ranged from six to 34 annually,” said FWC. RELATED: Florida Panthers are falling victim to a rare disease RELATED: 2 dead endangered Florida panthers found on the same day, first time since 2021 2023 was the first year the endangered state animal of Florida didn’t record new panther litters from adult female panthers wearing radio collars. In 2022 and 2021, only one new litter, both with three cubs in total, was produced. New litters may have been born to females without radio collars, so it’s unclear if the trend is concerning. Another odd trend shows the last five panther deaths reported were males. It’s noteworthy that nine of the last 15 reported deaths were male panthers, all from vehicle collisions. A lost panther kitten being reunited with her mother by FWC biologists in Naples. Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission In 2023, three panthers reportedly died in Hendry County. Both of the reported panther deaths in 2024 happened in Hendry County. The majority of reported deaths for the endangered state animal of Florida happen in Collier County. In 2023, eight out of the 13 reported deaths were in Collier County. “As the Florida panther population increases, the number of panthers killed by collisions with vehicles also has increased,” FWC said. Wildlife officials aren’t sure if the precipitous decline in deaths in 2023 indicates something concerning. Vehicle strikes have been the cause of 54 out of the last 57 reported panther deaths, an alarming 95%. “The core population, however, is found south of Lake Okeechobee. Panthers are listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act, and it is illegal to harm or harass them in any way,” said FWC. Panther Crossing traffic signs are important to follow when driving at night. Panther Crossing traffic signs let drivers know to reduce their speed from 60 mph to 45 mph because panthers may be in the area. If drivers break the law, they could be fined more than $200. The first wildlife crossing was installed along Alligator Alley in Collier County when it became Interstate 75. FILE: The Florida panther via a file photo from the U.S. Geological Survey/ photo by Larry Richardson/FILE. “The planning for these crossings began with the 1972 Environmental Impact Statement for creating I-75 between Naples and Fort Lauderdale,” said FWC. “Twenty-four wildlife crossings and 12 other bridges modified for panther use were completed in the early 1990s.” In 2023, there were two reported deaths of the endangered species in January. Now, 2024 has met that mark less than halfway into the month. Authorities say as many as 230 wild adults remain in the population. Click here to learn more about endangered Florida panthers. Click here to learn ways to help Florida panthers. If you see a sick, injured or dead Florida panther, or if you experience a panther depredation, you can report online or call 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922). Cell phone users can also call #FWC, or send a text to Tip@MyFWC.com.