FORT MYERS BEACH Closer look at rescue operations during Helene All across Southwest Florida, we saw stories of bravery and selflessness during Helene.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Neighbors hit with flooding in Dean Park community On Friday, roads in downtown Fort Myers were fairly dry. It’s a stark contrast to Thursday night’s storm surge caused by the outer bands of Hurricane Helene.
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 travels around Florida in the aftermath of Helene Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis traveled across Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
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.
FORT MYERS BEACH Closer look at rescue operations during Helene All across Southwest Florida, we saw stories of bravery and selflessness during Helene.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Neighbors hit with flooding in Dean Park community On Friday, roads in downtown Fort Myers were fairly dry. It’s a stark contrast to Thursday night’s storm surge caused by the outer bands of Hurricane Helene.
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 travels around Florida in the aftermath of Helene Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis traveled across Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
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.
The Florida Panthers have a chance to win the state’s third Stanley Cup in five years on Tuesday. Between the Tampa Bay Lightning’s back-to-back Stanley Cup wins, the Panthers second straight appearance and the Everblades Kelly Cup three-peat the passion for ice hockey is spreading among southwest Florida youth. “Every year with all the success of all the pro programs down here we’re getting more and more kids to try outs,” RzR Edge Academy and Florida Warriors hockey coach Chris Polino said. Polino moved to Fort Myers from Philadelphia in 2018. “Coming down here, I had no expectations to be involved with hockey,” Polino said. “I didn’t think it was down here.” To Polino’s pleasant surprise hockey is here and it’s interest is growing. Warriors’ President Rich Dantona told WINK News the youth hockey program has grown five percent each year since 2019. Warriors’ 18U player James Cannon told WINK News what kids are saying about the increased interest and success of professional teams. “I talked to a couple kids at my school who were thinking about starting hockey soon just because of what they’ve seen the Everblades do and the Panthers and Lightning,” Cannon said. Cannon has been on skates since he was four years old because of his father. He got his love for the Philadelphia Flyers from his dad too, but right now he’s cheering for the hometown team. “I’m rooting for the Panthers right now,” Cannon said. “It’s the home team and they lost last year so it’s good for them to get a win this year.” Florida is the first state to make five consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances since the New York Islanders run in the 1980s.