Naples police rescue injured owl outside station2 arrested for $1,500 vape theft at Port Charlotte gas station
NAPLES Naples police rescue injured owl outside station Naples police officers took on an unusual task when they rescued an injured owl outside the police department.
PORT CHARLOTTE 2 arrested for $1,500 vape theft at Port Charlotte gas station Two suspects were arrested early Sunday morning after allegedly stealing approximately $1,500 worth of vape products from a gas station in Port Charlotte.
WINK Neighborhood Watch: knife attack, robbery at gunpoint and hit-and-run This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a knife attack, a robbery at gunpoint and a hit-and-run on a bicyclist.
FORT MYERS Former Uber driver convicted of rape to be sentenced Monday Felix Torres, a former Uber driver, was found guilty in December of raping one of his passengers and will be sentenced Monday.
the weather authority Sunnier, less humid day in store with highs in the low 70s The Weather Authority says a pleasant day is in store for Southwest Florida, with much more sunshine than we saw on Saturday.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads-Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox-Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Police department hosts annual Cops and Joggers 5K FMPD hosted the Cops and Joggers 5K event on Saturday. This unique experience takes attendees through the heart of Downtown Fort Myers.
Purple Heart Army veteran receives new home thanks to charity A Purple Heart Army veteran and his family entered their new accessible home on Saturday, thanks to the charity “Homes for Our Troops.”
CAPE CORAL Rain doesn’t stop crowds at 40th Annual Cape Coral Arts Festival For 40 years, the Cape Coral Arts Festival has drawn crowds from across Southwest Florida, showcasing a blend of small businesses from the region.
CAPE CORAL Sports trading card collecting going through “a generational reboot” The hobby of sports trading card collecting has been on the rise since 2020, especially in Southwest Florida with more card shows.
PUNTA GORDA 11th annual short film festival coming to Punta Gorda The Punta Gorda Englewood Beach Visitor Convention Bureau will host its 11th annual short film festival.
the weather authority Mild, breezy day on tap with more clouds than sun The Weather Authority says a brief line of showers, associated with a cold front, is moving through Southwest Florida Saturday morning.
ESTERO 1 injured after shooting at Coconut Point Mall According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, one person has been injured after a shooting at the Coconut Point Mall on Friday.
CAPE CORAL CCPD cruiser damaged after officer involved crash An officer-involved crash leaves a Cape Coral police cruiser smashed.
PORT CHARLOTTE Sweet’s Diner in Port Charlotte reopens After months of fundraising and rebuilding, this diner, which had a car fly-through it, is back open.
NAPLES Naples police rescue injured owl outside station Naples police officers took on an unusual task when they rescued an injured owl outside the police department.
PORT CHARLOTTE 2 arrested for $1,500 vape theft at Port Charlotte gas station Two suspects were arrested early Sunday morning after allegedly stealing approximately $1,500 worth of vape products from a gas station in Port Charlotte.
WINK Neighborhood Watch: knife attack, robbery at gunpoint and hit-and-run This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a knife attack, a robbery at gunpoint and a hit-and-run on a bicyclist.
FORT MYERS Former Uber driver convicted of rape to be sentenced Monday Felix Torres, a former Uber driver, was found guilty in December of raping one of his passengers and will be sentenced Monday.
the weather authority Sunnier, less humid day in store with highs in the low 70s The Weather Authority says a pleasant day is in store for Southwest Florida, with much more sunshine than we saw on Saturday.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads-Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox-Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Police department hosts annual Cops and Joggers 5K FMPD hosted the Cops and Joggers 5K event on Saturday. This unique experience takes attendees through the heart of Downtown Fort Myers.
Purple Heart Army veteran receives new home thanks to charity A Purple Heart Army veteran and his family entered their new accessible home on Saturday, thanks to the charity “Homes for Our Troops.”
CAPE CORAL Rain doesn’t stop crowds at 40th Annual Cape Coral Arts Festival For 40 years, the Cape Coral Arts Festival has drawn crowds from across Southwest Florida, showcasing a blend of small businesses from the region.
CAPE CORAL Sports trading card collecting going through “a generational reboot” The hobby of sports trading card collecting has been on the rise since 2020, especially in Southwest Florida with more card shows.
PUNTA GORDA 11th annual short film festival coming to Punta Gorda The Punta Gorda Englewood Beach Visitor Convention Bureau will host its 11th annual short film festival.
the weather authority Mild, breezy day on tap with more clouds than sun The Weather Authority says a brief line of showers, associated with a cold front, is moving through Southwest Florida Saturday morning.
ESTERO 1 injured after shooting at Coconut Point Mall According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, one person has been injured after a shooting at the Coconut Point Mall on Friday.
CAPE CORAL CCPD cruiser damaged after officer involved crash An officer-involved crash leaves a Cape Coral police cruiser smashed.
PORT CHARLOTTE Sweet’s Diner in Port Charlotte reopens After months of fundraising and rebuilding, this diner, which had a car fly-through it, is back open.
The Florida Capitol. CREDIT: WINK News A bill in Tallahassee has brought liberals and some conservatives together. Critics believe the bill could eliminate some of the voices you listen to, the people you read, and what you see on TV. House Bill 757 was introduced by Republicans, and liberal groups oppose it. People on conservative and Christian radio said this bill could silence them instead. “It’s an activist lawyer’s dream. I mean, almost certainly come after local folks like you and your station,” said a person who called into The Drive with Trey Radel on 92.5 FOX News. On 92.5 FOX News, which is owned by a company affiliated with WINK, callers are worried about what this GOP-sponsored measure could mean for conservative talk radio. “I just wanted to call, and I took the time, and I emailed all of the politicians that were on your list on Fox plus Governor DeSantis,” added a caller. The bill pushed by Pensacola Representative and lawyer Alex Andrade has critics, like host Trey Radel, worried. They believe the bill would make it easier for public figures to sue anyone for defamation. “Their thinking is that we’re gonna lower these thresholds or create these rules to make it easier for conservatives to sue these organizations that they believe are acting against their interests,” explained Radel. “But the reality is that this cuts both ways. You can’t just set up the rules to sue those organizations and not expose people who might report the news in a different way.” First Amendment Lawyer Jim Lake, who works for Thomas & LoCicero Law Firm, which represents us here at WINK, said this would make liberal, conservative, and Christian broadcasters targets. “Litigation is certainly something that’s being used against conservatives, and this would be another tool in the toolbox of folks who want to go after conservative voices,” added Lake. Why? He felt that this bill allows something called forum shopping, which means whoever brings the suit picks the court where it will be argued. “So a conservative broadcaster in your area might be dragged across Florida to answer for a conservative view in Broward County,” explained Lake. Andrade, the bill’s sponsor, faced off with Radel on 92-5 FOX News and disagreed with this analysis of what the bill would do. “There’s nothing that makes it easier to draft a defamation lawsuit,” stated Andrade. He pointed out that judges would still be able to deny forum shopping, and he denies that the other provisions of the bill would lead to more lawsuits. “But you’re calling it opening the gates for frivolous lawsuits,” added Andrade. Republican Byron Donalds, who as a U.S. Congressman wouldn’t directly work or vote on a state law, agreed on 92.5 FOX News that free speech shouldn’t be limited. “I’m an absolutist when it comes to free speech. I think that if you’re going to say something, you can be as stupid as you want to be. And it’s important for people to read how stupid you are or hear how stupid you are,” said the Congressman. The First Amendment Foundation, also fighting this bill, gave us an example of how it could work. “Hunter Biden would be a good target,” said Bobby Block. “Let’s say a religious broadcaster said he, it’s absolutely clear, he’s corrupt based on what’s coming out of Washington D.C., and he’s godless, and something like that. Well, if Hunter Biden’s legal team were listening to this, they could find the most liberal part of Florida and make sure those broadcasts were accessible from Broward County, which is blue. And, they could launch his lawsuit.” Andrade insisted the courts wouldn’t allow that. “If it’s a frivolous lawsuit being brought in Broward County about a topic being discussed in Duval County, every judge in America, not just Florida, every judge in America would be overturned on appeal.” But listeners on this conservative talk radio station, along with its hosts and owners, said their voice, and yours, are on the line. The Better Business Bureau opposed the bill. They said it would allow un-trustworthy businesses to claim defamation and sue more easily, costing the non-profit more to defend itself. WINK News Anchor Chris Cifatte asked Andrade and Governor Ron DeSantis for interviews and didn’t hear back. Click here to read the BBB letter to Peter Cuderman Click here to read the BBB letter to Speaker Paul Renner and Senator Passidomo Kathleen.