WINK Neighborhood Watch: Deadly shooter, home invasion and drug traffickingPedestrian dead after crash on McGregor Boulevard
WINK Neighborhood Watch: Deadly shooter, home invasion and drug trafficking This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features deadly shootings, home invasions and drug trafficking.
FORT MYERS Pedestrian dead after crash on McGregor Boulevard The Fort Myers Police Department is investigating a crash that left at least one person dead Saturday night.
Sunday brings sun and clouds with chance for a stray shower The Weather Authority forecasts another seasonal day across Southwest Florida, with temperatures reaching the upper 70s to low 80s this afternoon.
Family of Eagles: FGCU volleyball star graduates with Master’s Degree Saturday marked a special day for Florida Gulf Coast University as more than 1,800 students graduated. For one student-athlete, graduating from FGCU runs in the family.
lehigh acres LCSO: Man shot by car owner protecting property The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County residents wait hours for D-SNAP assistance The supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) is at the Lee Civic Center all weekend, ready to help southwest Florida.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA First eaglet hatches in famous SWFL eagle nest Welcome E24! The third eaglet from the nest of M15 and F23 has hatched according to the Southwest Florida eagle camera.
Rock for Equality: SWFL non-profit hosts benefit concert for Palestine A Southwest Florida non-profit hosted a benefit concert on Friday night to help with humanitarian aid in Palestine.
Warm, breezy Saturday with a few showers possible The Weather Authority is forecasting a breezy, warm weekend in store across Southwest Florida, with the chance of a few showers, particularly on Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Active investigation underway in South Cape Coral Cape Coral police are investigating at a home on Southwest 49th Terrace in South Cape Coral early Saturday morning.
16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier County According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two airboats crashed south of U.S. 41 east between mile markers 74 and 75, leaving well over a dozen people injured.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes There could be new detectives on the block, located in your nearest auto shop. A new state bill aims at trying to stop hit-and-run drivers from getting away.
CAPE CORAL New leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans A drug now being studied in human trials to kill cancerous tumors, is already approved and helping animals.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral planning a new interchange with I-75 The city of Cape Coral is in the early stages of planning a new interchange with I-75, an idea that has been discussed for more than a decade.
Tracking invasive species after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton didn’t just bring wind and rain, they brought new threats to southwest Florida’s ecosystem.
WINK Neighborhood Watch: Deadly shooter, home invasion and drug trafficking This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features deadly shootings, home invasions and drug trafficking.
FORT MYERS Pedestrian dead after crash on McGregor Boulevard The Fort Myers Police Department is investigating a crash that left at least one person dead Saturday night.
Sunday brings sun and clouds with chance for a stray shower The Weather Authority forecasts another seasonal day across Southwest Florida, with temperatures reaching the upper 70s to low 80s this afternoon.
Family of Eagles: FGCU volleyball star graduates with Master’s Degree Saturday marked a special day for Florida Gulf Coast University as more than 1,800 students graduated. For one student-athlete, graduating from FGCU runs in the family.
lehigh acres LCSO: Man shot by car owner protecting property The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County residents wait hours for D-SNAP assistance The supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) is at the Lee Civic Center all weekend, ready to help southwest Florida.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA First eaglet hatches in famous SWFL eagle nest Welcome E24! The third eaglet from the nest of M15 and F23 has hatched according to the Southwest Florida eagle camera.
Rock for Equality: SWFL non-profit hosts benefit concert for Palestine A Southwest Florida non-profit hosted a benefit concert on Friday night to help with humanitarian aid in Palestine.
Warm, breezy Saturday with a few showers possible The Weather Authority is forecasting a breezy, warm weekend in store across Southwest Florida, with the chance of a few showers, particularly on Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Active investigation underway in South Cape Coral Cape Coral police are investigating at a home on Southwest 49th Terrace in South Cape Coral early Saturday morning.
16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier County According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two airboats crashed south of U.S. 41 east between mile markers 74 and 75, leaving well over a dozen people injured.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes There could be new detectives on the block, located in your nearest auto shop. A new state bill aims at trying to stop hit-and-run drivers from getting away.
CAPE CORAL New leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans A drug now being studied in human trials to kill cancerous tumors, is already approved and helping animals.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral planning a new interchange with I-75 The city of Cape Coral is in the early stages of planning a new interchange with I-75, an idea that has been discussed for more than a decade.
Tracking invasive species after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton didn’t just bring wind and rain, they brought new threats to southwest Florida’s ecosystem.
Cimarron, the Florida Panther at the Shy Wolf Sanctuary. CREDIT: Paul Dolan For the fourth time in two weeks, a dead endangered Florida panther was reported by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. According to FWC’s Panther Pulse, a 10-year-old male Florida panther, identified as FP255, was struck by a vehicle on County Road 850, about a half-mile south of State Road 82 in Lee County. This is the fourth dead Florida panther FWC has reported in 2024. In 2023, FWC reported the fourth dead panther on May 26. The previous three deaths occurred in Hendry County, FP255 is the first reported death in Lee County in 2024. This is also the first reported death in Lee County since Aug. 23, 2022, when the panther was also struck by a vehicle. RELATED: Fifth endangered Florida panther struck by vehicle in November; deadliest month of 2023 RELATED: Third endangered Florida panther death reported in 8 days “Moving forward, the greatest hurdle to recovery for the Florida panther remains the conservation of sufficient habitat to allow the population to increase in size and expand beyond south Florida,” says FWC. “Our genetic management success with panthers also should prove useful to other conservation projects worldwide that deal with small, inbred, isolated populations.” According to FWC, some of the biggest threats facing Florida panthers are the conservation of sufficient habitats, vehicles, and genetic viability. Still image of a female Florida panther captured on FWC video surveillance in Charlotte County. Experts believe she likely lives in the are; although, it is uncommon for Florida panthers to be spotted north of the Caloosahatchee River. Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Since 2020, there have been 20 dead panthers discovered in the month of January. The most reported deaths occurred in 2020, when FWC reported six deaths. Following Monday’s reported death, 27 reported panther deaths in a row can be attributed to vehicle collisions. Vehicle strikes account for 57 of the last 60 reported panther deaths dating back to early 2021. “Young males in search of their own territories have been documented in other parts of Florida, but most of the breeding population remains restricted to south Florida, below the Caloosahatchee River,” says FWC. FP255 is the oldest panther death reported by FWC since Sept. 28, 2021, when a panther between 10 and 12 years old was the victim of another vehicle collision. Interestingly, that panther was also struck in Lee County, and neither was far from State Road 82. A lost panther kitten being reunited with her mother by FWC biologists in Naples. Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Typically, FWC reports between 22 and 27 panther deaths annually. However, in 2023, FWC reported 13 total deaths. Nevertheless, it’s unclear if this is an ominous sign or if it is meaningful at all. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Florida panther was officially listed as endangered in 1967. “A common misconception held by some people is the 1995 genetic restoration with Texas pumas has eliminated the “pure” Florida panther,” says FWC. “However, before becoming artificially isolated through unregulated hunting and habitat loss, the Florida panther interbred with the eastern cougar to the north and Texas puma to the west. This mixing of genes is what kept all the panther populations healthy, including the original pre-Columbian Florida panther.” CREDIT: LSCO FWC reports there are between 120 and 230 adult panthers remaining in the population. The state animal of Florida has seen far grimmer circumstances in the past. The species, teetering on extinction, was estimated to be ten panthers at one point says U.S. Fish & Wildlife. FWC says, “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.” Click here to learn more about Florida panthers from FWC. Click here to learn how you can help protect the species from Panther Crossing. Click here to learn about living with Florida panthers.