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.
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.
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.
NAPLES Collier County Republican Committeeman Alfie Oakes fails to file for reelection Alfie Oakes, one of the wealthiest men in Southwest Florida, will not be on Collier County’s Republican primary ballot in August.
MARCO ISLAND Crash on Jolley Bridge causes traffic delays; 1 injured The Collier County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene of a vehicle crash with injuries shortly before 4 p.m. on Monday.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS ‘They need to do more’ downtown business owners react to parking fees potentially being suspended Blu Sushi is just the latest restaurant in downtown Fort Myers to announce it is closing its doors after 10 years, but for the downtown businesses that remain, they fear what could be next for them, even after leaders discussed potentially suspended downtown parking fees.
NAPLES Naples para table tennis player reaches career high ranking ahead of Paralympics With a career high ranking of third in the world Van Emburgh is going for gold at the Paris Paralympics this summer.
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.
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.
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.
NAPLES Collier County Republican Committeeman Alfie Oakes fails to file for reelection Alfie Oakes, one of the wealthiest men in Southwest Florida, will not be on Collier County’s Republican primary ballot in August.
MARCO ISLAND Crash on Jolley Bridge causes traffic delays; 1 injured The Collier County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene of a vehicle crash with injuries shortly before 4 p.m. on Monday.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS ‘They need to do more’ downtown business owners react to parking fees potentially being suspended Blu Sushi is just the latest restaurant in downtown Fort Myers to announce it is closing its doors after 10 years, but for the downtown businesses that remain, they fear what could be next for them, even after leaders discussed potentially suspended downtown parking fees.
NAPLES Naples para table tennis player reaches career high ranking ahead of Paralympics With a career high ranking of third in the world Van Emburgh is going for gold at the Paris Paralympics this summer.
The Nature Conservancy in Florida is celebrating a recent conservation easement through which they were given 876 acres of land to protect panthers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service and G Road Grove Citrus Grove and Tree Nursery have teamed up. The Florida panther is in need of help and most of the panthers left are found in Southwest Florida. With only around 200 adults left in the wild, how can people help? “By being able to protect land and increase wildlife corridors and connectivity. That’s the best way that we can help panthers and other wildlife benefit from that as well,” said Wendy Mathews, a senior conservation projects manager. Development in our area is spreading at a record pace, and that’s why the Nature Conservancy partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and bought 876 acres as a conservation easement. Florida Panther. Credit: FWC This land is on an agricultural piece of property south of LaBelle in Hendry County. “The landowner still owns the land, but we purchased the development rights so that it’ll never be developed, but he can continue doing his agricultural operation,” said Mathews. RELATED: Endangered Florida panther deaths surpass 2023 total in 5 months RELATED: Caught on camera: 3 endangered Florida panthers take late-night walk near Naples country club Buying the land is giving panthers a better chance to survive, where they can migrate from south to north. However, Mathews told WINK News they are not done yet. “There’s still about one-third of that 30,000 acres in the dispersal zone that need to be protected,” said Mathews. So they plan to continue purchasing conservation easements or buying land outright to make sure it happens. The Nature Conservancy said that in the last 10 years, more than 230 panthers have been killed on the road. The more land that’s protected allows panthers to stay on that land versus going into the more developed areas.