Lee County begins to clear trash pile on San Carlos Island The trash pile that accumulated on San Carlos Island after hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton is now being cleared by Lee County.
FORT MYERS 1 dead after crash on Colonial Blvd According to the Fort Myers Police Department, one person is dead after a crash on Colonial Blvd at around 7:30 p.m.
SANIBEL Air quality concerns keep Sanibel School temporarily closed The Sanibel School will remain temporarily closed following indoor air quality (IAQ) tests that did not meet the standards required for safe occupancy.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral honors Veterans Day with annual parade Veterans Day is a couple of days away, but why wait until then to celebrate our veterans here in southwest Florida?
southwest florida Warm Veterans Day weekend ahead with a stray shower possible The Weather Authority is tracking pleasant but warm weather with temperatures above normal into the afternoon.
NORTH FORT MYERS 66-year-old North Fort Myers man to attempt planking world record A 66-year-old North Fort Myers Man will attempt the world record for being the oldest person to perform a plank.
Understanding the federal agencies involved in Alfie Oakes’ investigation All eyes are on Alfie Oakes after federal agents raided two of his properties on Thursday, the Oakes farm’s packing warehouse and his north Naples home.
21 SWFL teams heading to high school football playoffs 21 high school football teams in Southwest Florida are playoff bound. Check out the breakdown of the bracket to see who your team is playing.
FGCU FGCU men’s soccer player honors late childhood friend FGCU men’s soccer player Sebastian Soriano’s outlook on the game changed when his childhood friend and teammate passed away.
CAPE CORAL School bus blows through stop sign in Cape Coral A school bus driver in Cape Coral ignores the rules of the road. A concerned parent caught video of the bus on camera.
Oakes Farms $238 million dollar contract with the Department of Defense could have caused federal agents to swarm warehouse and home A man known for his role in our community has once again found himself right in the middle of another controversy.
Man arrested after traffic stop turned Fentanyl bust in Collier County The Collier County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man who stands accused of Fentanyl possession, among other illegal drugs.
FORT MYERS SHORES Final streets need debris cleanup on Fort Myers Shores There’s not a lot, but some piles of storm debris left after Hurricane Milton are still on the side of the road in Fort Myers Shores.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda man actively searches for missing service dog A Punta Gorda man who lost almost everything following hurricanes Milton and Helene is now searching for his missing service dog.
Army veteran to honor fallen soldiers during Veterans Day weekend A local retired Army staff sergeant was one of just four selected to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia.
Lee County begins to clear trash pile on San Carlos Island The trash pile that accumulated on San Carlos Island after hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton is now being cleared by Lee County.
FORT MYERS 1 dead after crash on Colonial Blvd According to the Fort Myers Police Department, one person is dead after a crash on Colonial Blvd at around 7:30 p.m.
SANIBEL Air quality concerns keep Sanibel School temporarily closed The Sanibel School will remain temporarily closed following indoor air quality (IAQ) tests that did not meet the standards required for safe occupancy.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral honors Veterans Day with annual parade Veterans Day is a couple of days away, but why wait until then to celebrate our veterans here in southwest Florida?
southwest florida Warm Veterans Day weekend ahead with a stray shower possible The Weather Authority is tracking pleasant but warm weather with temperatures above normal into the afternoon.
NORTH FORT MYERS 66-year-old North Fort Myers man to attempt planking world record A 66-year-old North Fort Myers Man will attempt the world record for being the oldest person to perform a plank.
Understanding the federal agencies involved in Alfie Oakes’ investigation All eyes are on Alfie Oakes after federal agents raided two of his properties on Thursday, the Oakes farm’s packing warehouse and his north Naples home.
21 SWFL teams heading to high school football playoffs 21 high school football teams in Southwest Florida are playoff bound. Check out the breakdown of the bracket to see who your team is playing.
FGCU FGCU men’s soccer player honors late childhood friend FGCU men’s soccer player Sebastian Soriano’s outlook on the game changed when his childhood friend and teammate passed away.
CAPE CORAL School bus blows through stop sign in Cape Coral A school bus driver in Cape Coral ignores the rules of the road. A concerned parent caught video of the bus on camera.
Oakes Farms $238 million dollar contract with the Department of Defense could have caused federal agents to swarm warehouse and home A man known for his role in our community has once again found himself right in the middle of another controversy.
Man arrested after traffic stop turned Fentanyl bust in Collier County The Collier County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man who stands accused of Fentanyl possession, among other illegal drugs.
FORT MYERS SHORES Final streets need debris cleanup on Fort Myers Shores There’s not a lot, but some piles of storm debris left after Hurricane Milton are still on the side of the road in Fort Myers Shores.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda man actively searches for missing service dog A Punta Gorda man who lost almost everything following hurricanes Milton and Helene is now searching for his missing service dog.
Army veteran to honor fallen soldiers during Veterans Day weekend A local retired Army staff sergeant was one of just four selected to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia.
Credit: WINK News Florida manatees have spent the last few years struggling to survive, but just days ago, one state park saw a more uplifting update from the species. Blue Springs State Park, just a few dozen miles north of Orlando, saw its largest-ever manatee count. “Record-breaking morning at Blue Spring State Park,” the park wrote on Facebook on Jan. 21, revealing that park officials counted 932 manatees in the area, nearly 200 more than their previous record of 736 that was counted on New Year’s Day this year. Park officials posted a photo of one area in the park, where dozens of manatees can be seen huddled together in the water. Blue Spring State Park sees as many as 400 manatees a day! Check out this park in Central Florida #ManateeMonday — Florida State Parks (@FLStateParks) February 6, 2017 The record number was counted on what the Save the Manatee Club says was the “coldest morning of the season yet.” According to the group, the river temperature was 58.8 degrees Fahrenheit. Manatees are sensitive to the cold, which is why during the winter they are often seen huddling together in areas where the water is warmer. According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Blue Spring State Park is “one of the largest winter gathering sites” for manatees in the state, as the water stays at a “constant” 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Featured manatee adoptee: Flash!Flash is a large male manatee first identified in 1977 at Blue Spring State Park. He is shy of human contact and will take off in a “flash” when disturbed. Learn more about Flash and adopt him at https://t.co/PD2ekBKylL pic.twitter.com/OQYHDdnIqC — Save the Manatee (@savethemanatee) January 22, 2024 If exposed to colder water for too long, the mammals can develop a disorder that the site is comparable to “hypothermia, pneumonia or frostbite in humans and can make them very sick.” “Manatees depend on the warm water for survival, as they cannot tolerate water temperatures colder than 68 degrees for long periods of time,” Florida State Parks says on its website. ” Although manatees look “fat” or “blubbery,” they only have about an inch of fat and a very slow metabolism, meaning they cannot easily stay warm. This biology makes sanctuaries such as Blue Spring vital for their survival.” Florida manatees have been experiencing an unusual mortality event – a period of time in which a population of marine mammals is suddenly and unexpectedly dying off – since 2020. Last year, more than 550 manatees died, according to state data, with watercraft and disease being the leading causes of death for the animals. Latest #Manatee Update from Blue Spring State Park!The river was down to 60.1F (15.6C). We counted 501 manatees today. The adoptees in were Lily, Howie, Phillip, Una, Aqua, Floyd, Merlin, Deep Dent & Moo Shoo & calf. pic.twitter.com/8jGzGCNsQa — Save the Manatee (@savethemanatee) January 19, 2024 The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission found that roughly 20% of those deaths were attributed to a “significant red tide bloom” that hit the state’s southwest. Red tide is a bloom of algae known as Karenia brevis that produces natural toxins, and when those toxins reach large amounts, it can be deadly for dolphins, turtles, birds and manatees, as well as cause humans to experience skin irritation and respiratory issues. Exposed manatees can get hit with a neurotoxin that weakens or paralyzes them and, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife, even causes seizures. The agency says that manatees will often struggle to surface and breathe and can experience facial tremors, weakness and beaching. Manatees have also been struggling to find enough adequate food, with the state saying seagrass and macroalgae sources have “declined significantly.” In recent years, the state has been providing supplemental food to the mammals, which they said “significantly reduced” the number of starving manatees. Although the unusual mortality event is not over, the state ended the supplemental feeding program at the end of 2023.