the weather authority Sun and clouds with a stray shower possible The Weather Authority says sun and clouds overhead will lead to another day with above-average temperatures.
FORT MYERS LCSO offering youth boxing program The Lee County Sheriff’s Office youth boxing program is your kid’s golden ticket to mastering the art of self-defense.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral man speaks on helping apprehend armed 13-year-old The man who helped apprehend an armed 13-year-old spoke on the incident.
NAPLES Naples Cars on Fifth event fuels $2M for local charity efforts For over two decades, car enthusiasts in Southwest Florida have gathered on Fifth Avenue in Naples.
MARCO ISLAND Caxambas Park boat ramp on Marco Island set to reopen Collier County announced the reopening of the Caxambas Park boat ramp on Marco Island.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Animal Shelter to host Puppy Bowl 3 ahead of big game Ahead of the big game on Sunday, Cape Coral Animal Shelter will be featuring its very own Puppy Bowl III.
FORT MYERS From the ballpark to the beach: the Minnesota Twins are back for Spring Training 1700 miles later the Twins truck is here and the team from Minnesota is ready to spend the next six weeks here in Fort Myers.
the weather authority Warm stretch continues throughout this weekend The Weather Authority says if you are a fan of the warmer weather, you are going to love this weekend.
SANIBEL Sanibel’s red tide raises health alerts and wildlife concerns With great weather in the forecast, it’s shaping up to be a perfect beach weekend. However, visitors to the barrier islands should exercise caution.
NAPLES Naples Automotive Experience raises funds for St. Matthew’s House The Naples Automotive Experience brought excitement and philanthropy to the community, raising money for St. Matthew’s House.
MATLACHA Little Pine Island bridge work causes delays, FDOT promises progress Construction on the Little Pine Island Bridge has narrowed traffic to one lane, causing significant delays for drivers.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Support women’s heart health on National Wear Red Day The first Friday in February marks National Wear Red Day!
Ongoing repairs following Naples plane crash A deadly plane crash that occurred one year ago in Naples, Florida continues to impact lives in Southwest Florida. The tragic event involved two pilots who lost their lives on Interstate 75.
Naples jet crash, one year later: new details on emergency response Sunday marks one year since a jet crashed after its pilots attempted an emergency landing on I-75 just outside of Naples. “Your mind goes back to everything that happened that day,” said Heather Mazurkiewicz, public information officer with the North Collier Fire Rescue. “I think about the fact that there weren’t more lives lost.” At […]
the weather authority Sun and clouds with a stray shower possible The Weather Authority says sun and clouds overhead will lead to another day with above-average temperatures.
FORT MYERS LCSO offering youth boxing program The Lee County Sheriff’s Office youth boxing program is your kid’s golden ticket to mastering the art of self-defense.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral man speaks on helping apprehend armed 13-year-old The man who helped apprehend an armed 13-year-old spoke on the incident.
NAPLES Naples Cars on Fifth event fuels $2M for local charity efforts For over two decades, car enthusiasts in Southwest Florida have gathered on Fifth Avenue in Naples.
MARCO ISLAND Caxambas Park boat ramp on Marco Island set to reopen Collier County announced the reopening of the Caxambas Park boat ramp on Marco Island.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Animal Shelter to host Puppy Bowl 3 ahead of big game Ahead of the big game on Sunday, Cape Coral Animal Shelter will be featuring its very own Puppy Bowl III.
FORT MYERS From the ballpark to the beach: the Minnesota Twins are back for Spring Training 1700 miles later the Twins truck is here and the team from Minnesota is ready to spend the next six weeks here in Fort Myers.
the weather authority Warm stretch continues throughout this weekend The Weather Authority says if you are a fan of the warmer weather, you are going to love this weekend.
SANIBEL Sanibel’s red tide raises health alerts and wildlife concerns With great weather in the forecast, it’s shaping up to be a perfect beach weekend. However, visitors to the barrier islands should exercise caution.
NAPLES Naples Automotive Experience raises funds for St. Matthew’s House The Naples Automotive Experience brought excitement and philanthropy to the community, raising money for St. Matthew’s House.
MATLACHA Little Pine Island bridge work causes delays, FDOT promises progress Construction on the Little Pine Island Bridge has narrowed traffic to one lane, causing significant delays for drivers.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Support women’s heart health on National Wear Red Day The first Friday in February marks National Wear Red Day!
Ongoing repairs following Naples plane crash A deadly plane crash that occurred one year ago in Naples, Florida continues to impact lives in Southwest Florida. The tragic event involved two pilots who lost their lives on Interstate 75.
Naples jet crash, one year later: new details on emergency response Sunday marks one year since a jet crashed after its pilots attempted an emergency landing on I-75 just outside of Naples. “Your mind goes back to everything that happened that day,” said Heather Mazurkiewicz, public information officer with the North Collier Fire Rescue. “I think about the fact that there weren’t more lives lost.” At […]
Credit: WINK News. Attempting to end homelessness in Florida, but some people are questioning if the government going about it the right way. Governor Ron DeSantis just signed a bill into law on Wednesday that would get people off the streets. The general consensus is mixed, primarily based on who you ask. Groups that work with people experiencing homelessness told WINK News that people on the streets are scared of what the bill may mean for them. However, others are hopeful that the bill could also have a positive impact to helping those who are unsheltered. Sleeping on the streets or in public parks won’t be allowed in Florida. “Today, I’m signing HB 1365. It will help maintain and ensure that Florida streets are clean and that Florida streets are safe for our residents,” said Governor DeSantis. The Governor signed the bill on Wednesday prohibiting camping on city streets, sidewalks and parks. WINK News spoke with Bily and Julia through A Voice in the Wilderness, a local nonprofit working with our unhoused communities. They asked WINK News not to show their faces. “It’s the most devastating thing you can go to. I think it’s close to death… I mean, because you have nowhere to turn. You’re just out in the elements. It’s like you’re forgotten. Thrown away,” said Bill. WINK News asked some people experiencing homelessness about the bill DeSantis just signed. “Then the governor needs to open up some shelters,” said Julia, a woman experiencing homelessness. “First and foremost, that doesn’t resolve homelessness for anyone,” said Michael Overway, the executive director of the Lee County Homeless Coalition. Overway works with people experiencing homelessness every day, people like Mitch Watson, who was unhoused on and off for ten years. “I can tell you the psychological impact of being homeless is worse than the physical aspect. You get ignored. Nobody wants to be with you,” said Watson. “You’re using a bathroom in the woods. I mean, it is humiliating, very, very disturbing behavior. All it takes is the right person, the right time, and the right motivation to get out of that situation,” said Watson. The new law calls for designated camping locations, which some fear may lead to tent cities. “Nobody benefits from a tent city. First of all, again, primarily does not end homelessness. And secondarily, it’s extremely difficult to bring mental health and healthcare services into those locations,” said Overway. WINK News spoke with Kevin Anderson, the Mayor of Fort Myers, about the law. “People should not look at this as an effort to just try and hide the homeless. What’s really important with this bill is the services that it calls for being provided, especially the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services,” said Mayor Anderson. The bill calls for those designated camping locations to include mental health services. The state will also provide $10 million for counties to implement the law. However, it’s unclear how that money will distributed.