FORT MYERS Gulf Coast Humane Society dangerous low on pet food The Gulf Coast Humane Society needs help from the community, as food supplies for the pet pantry are dangerously low.
The Weather Authority Hot and breezy with a few showers this afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a hot and breezy Tuesday, with temperatures climbing into the mid-90s this afternoon.
WINK NEWS How to be aware of Fin-fluencers and their money-saving tips Instead of stepping into a financial office, many are logging onto social media for money-saving tips.
WINK NEWS How the social media warning may affect your children Just like how alcohol and tobacco are presented with warning labels, so too may social media as the US Surgeon General calls for tighter restrictions.
Mosquito invasion after multi-day downpour in Southwest Florida There is a spike in the mosquito population in Southwest Florida, especially after the recent multiple-day downpour.
PUNTA GORDA Fire destroys Punta Gorda home A large fire tore through a house in Punta Gorda on Monday afternoon, sending huge clouds of dark smoke into the sky.
SEBRING Sebring killer’s mother takes stand in murder trial Zephen Xaver’s defense presented opening statements in the courtroom Monday. One of the key people to take the stand was Xaver’s mother.
NAPLES Not lovin’ it; McDonald’s employee allegedly pulls gun on customer Imagine this: It’s 3 a.m. on a Sunday, and you go to a 24-hour McDonald’s for your go-to order.
Massive Wall of Wind machine mimics real hurricanes to better protect the community To those of us living in Southwest Florida, talking about a “wall of wind” might bring up memories of Hurricane Irma or Ian– or even a bad rain storm.
NORTH FORT MYERS North Fort Myers businesses struggling Many are focused on the declining foot traffic in downtown Fort Myers because of the bridge closure, but this collection of businesses said they are struggling just as much.
FORT MYERS $700K original estimate more than triples for Edison Restaurant repairs All eyes were on the Edison Restaurant Monday night as the city council decided to spend $2.62 million on repairs.
BUCKINGHAM Buckingham community works to stop flooding The community is telling us that this could have all been prevented, and they are going to get something done.
SANIBEL Sanibel Historical Museum and Village bell to be reinstalled The bell at the Sanibel Historical Museum and Village is scheduled to be reinstalled after its destruction by Hurricane Ian in 2022.
AVE MARIA Neighbors want answers after child drowns in Ave Maria Dozens watched as six-year-old Abigail Pineda was pulled from the water here at the Ave Maria water park two weeks ago. Many called 911 or tried to help, but the girl did not make it.
LEHIGH ACRES 2 Southwest Florida gas stations trying to fix water contamination Why are two gas stations that are miles apart dealing with water contamination in their fuel? WINK News reported the Sunoco gas station in Lehigh Acres and the Chevron in North Naples both had water in their fuel.
FORT MYERS Gulf Coast Humane Society dangerous low on pet food The Gulf Coast Humane Society needs help from the community, as food supplies for the pet pantry are dangerously low.
The Weather Authority Hot and breezy with a few showers this afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a hot and breezy Tuesday, with temperatures climbing into the mid-90s this afternoon.
WINK NEWS How to be aware of Fin-fluencers and their money-saving tips Instead of stepping into a financial office, many are logging onto social media for money-saving tips.
WINK NEWS How the social media warning may affect your children Just like how alcohol and tobacco are presented with warning labels, so too may social media as the US Surgeon General calls for tighter restrictions.
Mosquito invasion after multi-day downpour in Southwest Florida There is a spike in the mosquito population in Southwest Florida, especially after the recent multiple-day downpour.
PUNTA GORDA Fire destroys Punta Gorda home A large fire tore through a house in Punta Gorda on Monday afternoon, sending huge clouds of dark smoke into the sky.
SEBRING Sebring killer’s mother takes stand in murder trial Zephen Xaver’s defense presented opening statements in the courtroom Monday. One of the key people to take the stand was Xaver’s mother.
NAPLES Not lovin’ it; McDonald’s employee allegedly pulls gun on customer Imagine this: It’s 3 a.m. on a Sunday, and you go to a 24-hour McDonald’s for your go-to order.
Massive Wall of Wind machine mimics real hurricanes to better protect the community To those of us living in Southwest Florida, talking about a “wall of wind” might bring up memories of Hurricane Irma or Ian– or even a bad rain storm.
NORTH FORT MYERS North Fort Myers businesses struggling Many are focused on the declining foot traffic in downtown Fort Myers because of the bridge closure, but this collection of businesses said they are struggling just as much.
FORT MYERS $700K original estimate more than triples for Edison Restaurant repairs All eyes were on the Edison Restaurant Monday night as the city council decided to spend $2.62 million on repairs.
BUCKINGHAM Buckingham community works to stop flooding The community is telling us that this could have all been prevented, and they are going to get something done.
SANIBEL Sanibel Historical Museum and Village bell to be reinstalled The bell at the Sanibel Historical Museum and Village is scheduled to be reinstalled after its destruction by Hurricane Ian in 2022.
AVE MARIA Neighbors want answers after child drowns in Ave Maria Dozens watched as six-year-old Abigail Pineda was pulled from the water here at the Ave Maria water park two weeks ago. Many called 911 or tried to help, but the girl did not make it.
LEHIGH ACRES 2 Southwest Florida gas stations trying to fix water contamination Why are two gas stations that are miles apart dealing with water contamination in their fuel? WINK News reported the Sunoco gas station in Lehigh Acres and the Chevron in North Naples both had water in their fuel.
Mention car insurance to almost anyone, and the response is the same – “Mine has gone up!” WINK News Traffic Anchor Rachel Cox-Rosen set out to take a deeper look at what’s driving costs up. We are all supposed to have car insurance. Whether you have a quick five-minute commute, a daily hours-plus slog, or barely drive, it’s legally required. In 2024, that means raking out thousands of dollars a year in Florida. According to Bank Rate, Florida is the third most expensive state in the U.S. for car insurance, with prices 51% higher than the national average. Joe Fantozzi left his 2014 Ford Mustang in Estero when he and his wife returned to Canada for the summer. His insurance just went up another $250 bucks since they left. His yearly bill is now over $2,000 dollars. “I mean, I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s disgusting to see this sort of an increase,” said Fantozzi. He’s retired and on a fixed income. He tried to shop around. “I’ve checked out rates on the computer with other companies, and I’m coming up with similar amounts of money,” said a frustrated Fantozzi. Douglas Stevens hasn’t had any luck, either. “I immediately started shopping around for cheaper insurance. However, come to find out there is none,” explained Stevens. For his 2022 Chevy Equinox, Stevens is stuck paying over $2,600 a year—$218 a month—almost double what he paid when he first moved to Florida in 2015. “Now I have to choose. Do I do the things that I would like to do or want to do? Or do I pay my car insurance and continue to be responsible as an insured motorist? I choose to remain insured,” said the Lehigh Acres man. However, in Florida, 14.1% of drivers choose to go uninsured. That’s above the national average of 12%. Skyrocketing insurance rates mean that could tick up even more. “That puts all of us at risk. And that will always, basically, keep us in a position where those rates are going to be high in order to anticipate the risk that these uninsured drivers may place on the industry as a whole,” warned Tasha Carter, Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate. Uninsured drivers are just one thing that is making premiums shoot up. “Key factors include high accident frequency and severity, congested roadways, costly repairs. Those have escalated 45% Over the past four years for both parts and labor, escalating medical expenses to treat accident victims, vehicle theft rates. And another big factor is litigated claims,” added Mark Friedlander, spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute. All that, plus severe weather events like Hurricane Ian. “Hurricane Ian was one of the generators of rate increases in Florida over the last couple of years because we saw more than 100,000 vehicles damaged from the storm, and most of those are totaled,” explained Friedlander. “And it’s not just hurricanes. While the hurricanes get the big headlines for good reason, we have significant storm activity all year round in Florida.” Another worry for insurance companies? Windshield replacement and other scams. So, what can be done with all these factors driving up insurance costs? “I think a major overhaul of the system is really the only way to make changes. We are starting to see some rate moderation, meaning the rate increases we’ve been seeing in the last few years are starting to slow down,” said Friedlander. “At this point, we’re not seeing rates decrease actually where you’ll see a net gain in terms of what you’re paying less.” It is not a comfort to drivers like Fantozzi, Stevens, and many others. Saving on car insurance There are a few ways you might be able to cut your costs. Shop around. According to BankRate.com, “Car insurance companies each have their own methods for calculating rates, and your own individual rating factors play a significant role.” Ask your company what discounts it offers. Some examples include low mileage, safety features, good student and multi-policy discounts. Check your policy. Only pay for what you need. Increase your deductibles. Improve your credit score. BankRate.com reported research shows that the worse your credit score is, the more likely you are to file a claim.