Local artist AHZUWOP to hold fashion show at tattoo shopIdentity released of body found in Collier County retention pond
FORT MYERS Local artist AHZUWOP to hold fashion show at tattoo shop A local artist is throwing a fashion show at a tattoo shop, an event that will also feature music performances and an art exhibition.
NAPLES Identity released of body found in Collier County retention pond According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, a body was found in a retention pond on Sunday. The body was found on Lindsey Lane.
FORT MYERS City leaders looking to improve Fort Myers infrastructure with AI When people think of artificial intelligence (AI), they typically think of online apps like Chat GPT but the City of Fort Myers wants to use it to make a real-world difference.
SAINT JAMES CITY Saint James City neighbors create art from hurricane destruction Many who pass through Saint James City see this as just leftovers from a hundred-year storm but not Floyd Cornett.
FORT MYERS Miracle Moment: Children starting the year cancer free Several youngsters are celebrating starting 2025 cancer-free.
FORT MYERS Flood insurance discount up to 20% in Fort Myers Anyone who lives in the City of Fort Myers will be getting a bigger flood insurance discount.
Message from LCEC raises red flag for customers A push from one of Southwest Florida’s power providers to not use your heater as the temperatures drop has raised a red flag for some customers.
FORT MYERS Cutting down on truck traffic on McGregor Boulevard Giant trucks are rumbling on roads meant to connect neighborhoods, and now city leaders want to eliminate trucks from the roads completely.
Exercise: an instant health boost Did you know that just 30 minutes of exercise can start helping your body right away?
State attorney removes herself from Lee County Sheriff’s Office case A source sent WINK News anchor Claire Galt an executive order saying the state is investigating Ken Romano, a consultant who was on the sheriff’s office payroll.
Collier County woman arrested twice for operating illicit massage parlor The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman accused of operating an illicit massage parlor, her second time arrested on this charge.
Mother accused of killing 4-month-old baby pleads not guilty A woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby has pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child and aggravated child abuse.
NAPLES Family of bears caught on camera in the Winding Cypress community You never know what you’ll see when you open the door in Florida, and for one WINK News viewer, it was a family of bears.
SOUTH FORT MYERS Former Uber driver who raped passenger sentenced to life in prison Justice has been served after a former Uber driver was sentenced to life in prison for raping his passenger.
CAPE CORAL Single boat crashes into Cape Coral home dock injuring 3 The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating a boat crash in Cape Coral that injured three people.
FORT MYERS Local artist AHZUWOP to hold fashion show at tattoo shop A local artist is throwing a fashion show at a tattoo shop, an event that will also feature music performances and an art exhibition.
NAPLES Identity released of body found in Collier County retention pond According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, a body was found in a retention pond on Sunday. The body was found on Lindsey Lane.
FORT MYERS City leaders looking to improve Fort Myers infrastructure with AI When people think of artificial intelligence (AI), they typically think of online apps like Chat GPT but the City of Fort Myers wants to use it to make a real-world difference.
SAINT JAMES CITY Saint James City neighbors create art from hurricane destruction Many who pass through Saint James City see this as just leftovers from a hundred-year storm but not Floyd Cornett.
FORT MYERS Miracle Moment: Children starting the year cancer free Several youngsters are celebrating starting 2025 cancer-free.
FORT MYERS Flood insurance discount up to 20% in Fort Myers Anyone who lives in the City of Fort Myers will be getting a bigger flood insurance discount.
Message from LCEC raises red flag for customers A push from one of Southwest Florida’s power providers to not use your heater as the temperatures drop has raised a red flag for some customers.
FORT MYERS Cutting down on truck traffic on McGregor Boulevard Giant trucks are rumbling on roads meant to connect neighborhoods, and now city leaders want to eliminate trucks from the roads completely.
Exercise: an instant health boost Did you know that just 30 minutes of exercise can start helping your body right away?
State attorney removes herself from Lee County Sheriff’s Office case A source sent WINK News anchor Claire Galt an executive order saying the state is investigating Ken Romano, a consultant who was on the sheriff’s office payroll.
Collier County woman arrested twice for operating illicit massage parlor The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman accused of operating an illicit massage parlor, her second time arrested on this charge.
Mother accused of killing 4-month-old baby pleads not guilty A woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby has pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child and aggravated child abuse.
NAPLES Family of bears caught on camera in the Winding Cypress community You never know what you’ll see when you open the door in Florida, and for one WINK News viewer, it was a family of bears.
SOUTH FORT MYERS Former Uber driver who raped passenger sentenced to life in prison Justice has been served after a former Uber driver was sentenced to life in prison for raping his passenger.
CAPE CORAL Single boat crashes into Cape Coral home dock injuring 3 The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating a boat crash in Cape Coral that injured three people.
Year after year, WINK News makes a focused effort to fight an issue that impacts many people in Southwest Florida: hunger. At the end of January, WINK News put the word out. Letting the community know it was almost time to start our March to a Million Meals. RELATED: March to a Million Meals: Harry Chapin helps families overcome impossible choices Starting the Campaign WINK News anchor Lois Thome spearheads the March to a Million Meals campaign. “It renews my faith in people and how they love each other,” said Thome about being part of the campaign. “As a news anchor, we often read stories that show how divided we can be. This campaign shows that at the core of ourselves, we care about one another.” The goal of the March to a Million Meals campaign is to feed 1,000,000 people by March 1 with community-based donations. RELATED: March to a Million Meals begins at WINK News, helping food-insecure families Every dollar raised is $2 in meals to the Harry Chapin Food Bank. That means donating $6 feeds a family of four for a day or donating $60 feeds 10 families. Teaming up with the Harry Chapin Food Bank, WINK News set out to help feed local families. They are the largest hunger relief nonprofit in SWFL. They’re also the only Feeding America member that serves Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties. Off to a Powerful Start Southwest Florida was ready. It didn’t take long for the donations to start pouring in. Quickly, donations led to more than 77,000 meals provided to hungry SWFL families. Thome explained what it meant to be involved in WINK Feeds Families again in 2024. “It means you’re part of something great,” said Thome. “A true community effort of neighbor helping neighbor. Personally, it makes me proud to be a part of it because it shows how caring my community is.” RELATED: March to a Million Meals: Moore Haven gifted meals Hour after hour, day after day, the donations didn’t stop coming. Donations ranged from just a couple of dollars to more than $1,000. By Feb. 7, WINK News was more than halfway to its goal and raised enough money for more than 567,000 meals. CREDIT: WINK News Throughout the 2024 WINK Feeds Families campaign Thome witnessed many moments that were moving. She explained the most moving moment came down to meeting those in the community who benefit from the donations. “I have met many seniors on fixed incomes and working families struggling to feed themselves,” said Thome. “It is so heartwarming to see the relief on their faces when someone hands them a box or bag of food. The stress just melts away. Our viewers did that, and that’s truly touching.” Goal met but Campaign Continued Ten days later, just a little after the halfway mark on Saturday morning, Feb. 17, WINK News reached the goal of 1,000,000 meals donated. But just because the goal was reached didn’t mean the mission was over. RELATED: March to a Million Meals reaches goal More and more donations were made to feed hungry SWFL families. The effort made by those donating to continue doing so even after reaching the goal is part of what makes this so special to Thome. Bags of food for March to a Million Meals. CREDIT: WINK News Thome explained how people can continue to help feed those in need in the community. “They can continue to support the Harry Chapin Food Bank of SWFL. Make a donation, donate non-perishable food items or volunteer. All of those things will make a difference,” said Thome. RELATED: Harry Chapin partner agency’s Care and Share senior feeding program: A beacon of hope for seniors As of 11 p.m., on Feb. 29, WINK Feeds Families has helped raise enough money to provide more than 1,341,000 meals. More than a quarter of a million more meals than the original goal. Thanks to more than 4,300 supporters, WINK News reached more than 129% of the original goal. We Can Always Raise More! For Thome and all of WINK News, it doesn’t mean just a job well done but a hope for more. Thome noted one memory that particularly sticks out. “A few years ago, my friend Billy Fuccillo, the owner of the Kia dealerships at the time, called me up when we were short of our goal … and showed up the next day with a $100,000 check to ensure we met our goal,” said Thome. “I believe that gift set off a chain reaction of giving that was wonderfully contagious.” There is still time to donate. Donations will end at midnight on Thursday. Click here to find out more information on how to donate to the WINK Feeds Families campaign.