ESTERO ISLAND Precautionary boil water notice issued for parts of Estero Island A precautionary water boil notice has been issued for Estero Island on Friday.
SANIBEL Helene aftermath in Sanibel While much of the water has receded, the Sanibel Causeway was closed for several hours Friday morning because city crews were trying to clean up the flooding and debris.
LEE COUNTY WINK News Player of the Week: Riverdale RB Cole Hayes Riverdale running back Cole Hayes rushed for 336 yards and five touchdowns against Cypress Lake to be named the WINK News Player of the Week.
Matlacha resident on difficult road to recovery after Helene Matlacha residents are recovering from Helene’s storm surge on Thursday.
FORT MYERS BEACH Neighbors begin to clean up after flooding on Fort Myers Beach Waking up Friday morning, Fort Myers Beach neighbors had deja vu. The site of debris, the sound of alarms and the unmistakable smell of mud brought back memories of Hurricane Ian.
PUNTA GORDA Fire erupts in Charlotte County home Authorities are responding to a fire in a Punta Gorda home on Friday afternoon.
FLORIDA Rescuers race to free people trapped by Hurricane Helene after storm kills at least 40 in 4 states Hurricane Helene left an enormous path of destruction across Florida and the entire southeastern U.S. on Friday, killing at least 40 people in four states, snapping trees like twigs, tearing apart homes and sending rescue crews on desperate missions to save people from floodwaters.
FORT MYERS Parts of Island Hopper Songwriter Festival to continue While Hurricane Helene has caused disruptions to the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest schedule, one show will continue as planned on Friday.
Downtown Fort Myers businesses reopen after Hurricane Helene Only the businesses and restaurants along Bay Street, Dean Street and Lee Street flooded—and that was with a few inches of water, not a few feet like two years ago.
Charlotte County officials: stay out as crews assess Helene’s impact Charlotte County officials are set to hold a news conference discussing the damage caused by Hurricane Helene.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach homeowners cleaning up damage left by Helene Homeowners are cleaning up their homes on Fort Myers Beach after Hurricane Helene passed through Florida Thursday night.
Perry Gov. DeSantis to hold news conference in Perry Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference in Perry.
Blackbird Asian restaurant begins construction at Naples Bay Resort Blackbird Modern Asian waterfront restaurant began its interior buildout Sept. 23 at Naples Bay Resort & Marina in the former longtime space of Bonefish Grill, which was flooded by Hurricane Ian’s storm surge two years ago.
TALLAHASSEE DeSantis confirms 2 dead following Helene’s impact on Florida’s Big Bend Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis presented another unfortunate update on then Hurricane Helene, as another death was confirmed.
Lee County provides updates post Hurricane Helene Lee County has provided updates regarding then Hurricane Helene, and what services are available.
ESTERO ISLAND Precautionary boil water notice issued for parts of Estero Island A precautionary water boil notice has been issued for Estero Island on Friday.
SANIBEL Helene aftermath in Sanibel While much of the water has receded, the Sanibel Causeway was closed for several hours Friday morning because city crews were trying to clean up the flooding and debris.
LEE COUNTY WINK News Player of the Week: Riverdale RB Cole Hayes Riverdale running back Cole Hayes rushed for 336 yards and five touchdowns against Cypress Lake to be named the WINK News Player of the Week.
Matlacha resident on difficult road to recovery after Helene Matlacha residents are recovering from Helene’s storm surge on Thursday.
FORT MYERS BEACH Neighbors begin to clean up after flooding on Fort Myers Beach Waking up Friday morning, Fort Myers Beach neighbors had deja vu. The site of debris, the sound of alarms and the unmistakable smell of mud brought back memories of Hurricane Ian.
PUNTA GORDA Fire erupts in Charlotte County home Authorities are responding to a fire in a Punta Gorda home on Friday afternoon.
FLORIDA Rescuers race to free people trapped by Hurricane Helene after storm kills at least 40 in 4 states Hurricane Helene left an enormous path of destruction across Florida and the entire southeastern U.S. on Friday, killing at least 40 people in four states, snapping trees like twigs, tearing apart homes and sending rescue crews on desperate missions to save people from floodwaters.
FORT MYERS Parts of Island Hopper Songwriter Festival to continue While Hurricane Helene has caused disruptions to the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest schedule, one show will continue as planned on Friday.
Downtown Fort Myers businesses reopen after Hurricane Helene Only the businesses and restaurants along Bay Street, Dean Street and Lee Street flooded—and that was with a few inches of water, not a few feet like two years ago.
Charlotte County officials: stay out as crews assess Helene’s impact Charlotte County officials are set to hold a news conference discussing the damage caused by Hurricane Helene.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach homeowners cleaning up damage left by Helene Homeowners are cleaning up their homes on Fort Myers Beach after Hurricane Helene passed through Florida Thursday night.
Perry Gov. DeSantis to hold news conference in Perry Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference in Perry.
Blackbird Asian restaurant begins construction at Naples Bay Resort Blackbird Modern Asian waterfront restaurant began its interior buildout Sept. 23 at Naples Bay Resort & Marina in the former longtime space of Bonefish Grill, which was flooded by Hurricane Ian’s storm surge two years ago.
TALLAHASSEE DeSantis confirms 2 dead following Helene’s impact on Florida’s Big Bend Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis presented another unfortunate update on then Hurricane Helene, as another death was confirmed.
Lee County provides updates post Hurricane Helene Lee County has provided updates regarding then Hurricane Helene, and what services are available.
CREDIT: FWC It’s taken wildlife officials just over five and a half months to report finding more dead endangered Florida panthers than in all of 2023. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Panther Pulse, a 2-year-old female Florida panther was found on private land East of Dupree Grade in Collier County on Friday. 8 out of the 14 deaths in 2024 happened in Collier County. Coincidentally, In 2023, eight out of the 13 dead Florida panthers were found in Collier County. It’s unknown what caused the Florida panther to die, marking the second panther with an unknown cause of death in 2024. It’s noteworthy that the dead panther discovered on Friday was identified as FP265. That means the Florida panther had a collar. In contrast, when an uncollared dead Florida panther is discovered, authorities identify the animal as UCFP. Florida panther standing outside of a wildlife crossing. CREDIT: florida-panther-east-collier.jpg, fStop Foundation, Copyrighted, All Rights Reserved – Used by Permission, https://www.fws.gov/banner/florida-panther-east-collierjpg It’s unclear when FP 265 was collared. Friday’s discovery marks the 14th dead panther found in 2024, surpassing the 13 deaths reported in 2023. RELATED: April: 2024’s deadliest month for Florida panthers with 5 roadkill victims RELATED: Florida panther caught on camera: cars narrowly miss endangered cat on busy road RELATED: FWC cites 39 drivers in Florida panther protection operation “Vehicle collisions are the primary cause of death for Florida panthers,” said FWC. Dating back to the start of 2023, 24 of the last 27 dead Florida panthers reported by FWC died due to vehicle strikes. An injured Florida panther. CREDIT: WINK News If you go back to the start of 2022, 49 of the last 54 reported deaths were from vehicle strikes. Four of the five other deaths were due to unknown causes, and one was from a train strike. “The FWC encourages motorists to slow down and observe all posted speed limits, especially in panther zones, which are in place in several counties across South Florida and coincide with areas where panthers are known to cross. These panther speed zones help ensure the survival of the endangered Florida panther and protect motorists from personal injury,” said FWC. Click here to learn more about Florida panthers from FWC. Click here to learn how FWC says you can help the endangered Florida panther.