Sanibel residents recovering from Helene two years after IanFort Myers Beach seeking to avoid unnecessary traffic after Helene
SANIBEL Sanibel residents recovering from Helene two years after Ian Due to Helene, The City of Sanibel has postponed a two-year Ian celebration and turned the event into a cleanup.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach seeking to avoid unnecessary traffic after Helene The town of Fort Myers Beach is asking some people not to visit the island.
CHARLOTTE HARBOR Historic home and lives upended in Charlotte Harbor flooding While Hurricane Helene was not expected to cause a life-threatening storm surge in the county, the residents were walloped by rising flood water.
Dekle Beach Gov. DeSantis reviews the damage done by Hurricane Helene Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference in Dekle Beach.
Tracking power outages after Helene There are still several thousand neighbors in southwest Florida without power as of Saturday.
The Weather Authority The Weather Authority: Scattered rain and storms throughout your Saturday The Weather Authority is tracking scattered rain and storms throughout your Saturday afternoon.
Southwest Florida remembers Hurricane Ian 2 years later; what happened before and after the storm The storm that had devastated Southwest Florida, Hurricane Ian, has now reached its 2nd anniversary of landfall.
High School Football Scoreboard Week 6 Hurricane Helene couldn’t keep all the Friday night lights off in Southwest Florida. Week 6 was a loaded slate included a classic in the WINK News Game of the Week.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs begins clean up operations On Friday, the Department of Transportation pushed sand off the road on Hickory Island after Hurricane Helene ripped through
MANASOTA KEY Manasota woman recovers after home destroyed by Helene Whipping winds – the sound of Hurricane Helene ripping through Manasota Key, as swells smashed into the island. Even so, Marsha Viglianco stayed to watch from her back porch.
El Jobean residents fighting to recover from Helene In Charlotte County, people living in El Jobean are in recovery mode Friday night. Many were flooded out of their homes, and now they’re figuring out their next steps.
NAPLES Restoration efforts begin in the aftermath of Helene in Collier County Helene gave Naples Beach flash flooding a debris Thursday night.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda couple deals with flooding after Helene A Punta Gorda couple is recovering as the storm surge from Helene went through their dream home.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Flooding affects business in downtown Fort Myers In downtown Fort Myers, the streets may be drying up, but for one business owner on Bay Street, the true struggle is just getting started.
BONITA SPRINGS Damage in Bonita Springs from Helene It seems like nearly every place on the water was left with significant damage. In Bonita Springs, storm surge pushed into the city.
SANIBEL Sanibel residents recovering from Helene two years after Ian Due to Helene, The City of Sanibel has postponed a two-year Ian celebration and turned the event into a cleanup.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach seeking to avoid unnecessary traffic after Helene The town of Fort Myers Beach is asking some people not to visit the island.
CHARLOTTE HARBOR Historic home and lives upended in Charlotte Harbor flooding While Hurricane Helene was not expected to cause a life-threatening storm surge in the county, the residents were walloped by rising flood water.
Dekle Beach Gov. DeSantis reviews the damage done by Hurricane Helene Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference in Dekle Beach.
Tracking power outages after Helene There are still several thousand neighbors in southwest Florida without power as of Saturday.
The Weather Authority The Weather Authority: Scattered rain and storms throughout your Saturday The Weather Authority is tracking scattered rain and storms throughout your Saturday afternoon.
Southwest Florida remembers Hurricane Ian 2 years later; what happened before and after the storm The storm that had devastated Southwest Florida, Hurricane Ian, has now reached its 2nd anniversary of landfall.
High School Football Scoreboard Week 6 Hurricane Helene couldn’t keep all the Friday night lights off in Southwest Florida. Week 6 was a loaded slate included a classic in the WINK News Game of the Week.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs begins clean up operations On Friday, the Department of Transportation pushed sand off the road on Hickory Island after Hurricane Helene ripped through
MANASOTA KEY Manasota woman recovers after home destroyed by Helene Whipping winds – the sound of Hurricane Helene ripping through Manasota Key, as swells smashed into the island. Even so, Marsha Viglianco stayed to watch from her back porch.
El Jobean residents fighting to recover from Helene In Charlotte County, people living in El Jobean are in recovery mode Friday night. Many were flooded out of their homes, and now they’re figuring out their next steps.
NAPLES Restoration efforts begin in the aftermath of Helene in Collier County Helene gave Naples Beach flash flooding a debris Thursday night.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda couple deals with flooding after Helene A Punta Gorda couple is recovering as the storm surge from Helene went through their dream home.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Flooding affects business in downtown Fort Myers In downtown Fort Myers, the streets may be drying up, but for one business owner on Bay Street, the true struggle is just getting started.
BONITA SPRINGS Damage in Bonita Springs from Helene It seems like nearly every place on the water was left with significant damage. In Bonita Springs, storm surge pushed into the city.
FILE – Members of the Florida House of Representatives work during a legislative session at the Florida State Capitol, March 8, 2022, in Tallahassee, Fla. The Florida Legislature has started a special session focused on fixing the state’s turbulent property insurance market. Lawmakers on Monday, May 23, 2022 began considering sweeping legislation to create a $2 billion reinsurance fund and place new rules around attorney fees and coverage denials as lawmakers attempt to stabilize a market plagued by rising rates and insurer insolvencies. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis traveled throughout the state during the 2024 legislative session to announce and sign dozens of bills. More than 150 bills have been signed into law, taking effect on July 1; here are some of the more notable laws. Chief Financial Officer House Bill 989 enhances protections for Florida consumers, protecting them from a social credit system or discrimination based on beliefs. Patriotic Organizations in Schools House Bill 1317 authorizes school districts to allow patriotic figures to enter public school buildings and speak to the student population. House Bill 931 which establishes state-wide school chaplains to offer voluntary services to support individual student needs. This will allow chaplains and patriotic figures to hand out paraphernalia while on-premises and provide opportunities for some displays regarding patriotic organizations. READ MORE: Gov. DeSantis signs bills allowing chaplains at schools and ‘patriotic’ organizations History of Communism Senate Bill 1264 will incorporate the history of communism into Florida public school programs. DeSantis stated that the purpose of teaching the history of communism is to portray accurately the tactics used by communist activists and movements. Universities will incorporate courses, symposiums and conferences to promote the importance of economic and individual freedoms as a measure of advancing human progress. READ MORE: Gov. DeSantis signs bill to teach communism history in Florida schools Impeding, Threatening, or Harassing First Responders Senate Bill 184 will prohibit a person, after receiving a warning not to approach from a first responder who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty, from violating such warning and approaching or remaining within a specified distance of the first responder with specified intent. House Bill 601 will authorize county sheriffs to establish civilian oversight boards to review the policies and procedures of the sheriff’s office and its subdivisions. READ MORE: Gov. DeSantis signs 2 bills to prevent interference with law enforcement Individual Wine Containers House Bill 583 will revise the exception to the maximum allowable capacity for individual containers of wine sold in this state. The new limit for purchasable wine in retail stores will be upwards of 15 liters. READ MORE: DeSantis lifts wine regulations in Florida Under the new law, the wine will be allowed for purchase in many commonly used sizes, including: Methuselah (6 liters) Salmanazar (9 liters) Balthazar (12 liters) Nebuchadnezzar (15 liters) Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Senate Bill 1084 will prohibit the manufacture for sale, sale, holding or offering for sale, or distribution of cultivated meat in Florida. READ MORE: Florida lawmakers beef with cultivated meat Here is the remaining list of laws set to go into effect on July 1. Note: Several bills on the list are pending approval by DeSantis; those bills, if signed, will be added to the list. HB 21: Dozier School for Boys and Okeechobee School Victim Compensation Program SB 46: Reading Achievement Initiative for Scholastic Excellence Program HB 49: Employment HB 59: Provision Of Homeowners’ Association Rules and Covenants HB 73: Supported Decisionmaking Authority HB 85: Pub. Rec./New State Banks and New State Trust Companies HB 87: Taking of Bears HB 103: Pub. Rec./County and City Attorneys HB 113: Tax Collections and Sales HB 117: Disclosure of Grand Jury Testimony HB 141: Economic Development HB 149: Continuing Contracts HB 151: Florida Retirement System SB 158: Value of Motor Vehicles Exempt from Legal Process HB 159: HIV Infection Prevention Drugs SB 168: Congenital Cytomegalovirus Screenings HB 179: Towing and Storage SB 186: Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases Policy Committee HB 187: Antisemitism HB 197: Health Care Practitioners and Massage Therapy HB 201: Emergency Refills of Insulin and Insulin-related Supplies or Equipment HB 215: Risk Retention Groups HB 217: College Campus Facilities in Areas of Critical State Concern HB 241: Coverage for Skin Cancer Screenings HB 271: Motor Vehicle Parking on Private Property SB 276: Review of Advisory Bodies HB 287: Transportation HB 303: Rabies Vaccinations SB 304: Household Moving Services HB 305: Offenses Involving Children HB 321: Release of Balloons SB 330: Behavioral Health Teaching Hospitals HB 353: Alternative Headquarters for District Court Judges HB 357: Special Observances SB 364: Public Service Commission Rules SB 366: Civil Penalties Under the Gas Safety Law of 1967 HB 377: License or Permit to Operate a Vehicle for Hire HB 379: Pub. Rec./Financial Information Regarding Competitive Bidding SB 382: Continuing Education Requirements HB 385: Safe Exchange of Minor Children HB 405: Regulation of Commercial Motor Vehicles HB 415: Pregnancy and Parenting Resources Website HB 429: Real Property HB 433: Employment Regulations HB 437: Anchoring Limitation Areas HB 461: Excusal from Jury Service HB 463: Lights Displayed on Fire Department Vehicles HB 481: Building Construction Regulations and System Warranties HB 487: Lost and Abandoned Property HB 521: Equitable Distribution of Marital Assets and Liabilities SB 522: Tallahassee Community College HB 523: Florida Seal of Fine Arts Program HB 535: Low-voltage Alarm System Projects HB 537: Student Achievement SB 544: Swimming Lesson Voucher Program SB 564: Young Adult Aftercare Services HB 583: Individual Wine Containers HB 591: Hot Car Death Prevention SB 592: Historical Preservation Programs HB 601: Law Enforcement and Correctional Officers HB 613: Mobile Home Park Lot Tenancies HB 621: Property Rights HB 623: Builder Warranties SB 644: Rural Emergency Hospitals (Effective date July 1, 2025) SB 678: Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy Grant Program SB 692: Public Records/Florida Gaming Control Commission HB 705: Public Works Projects HB 707: State University Unexpended Funds HB 709: In-store Servicing of Alcoholic Beverages HB 725: Veterans’ Long-term Care Facilities Admissions HB 761: Interpersonal Violence Injunction Petitions HB 775: Surrendered Infants HB 781: Unsolicited Proposals for Public-private Partnerships SB 804: Gaming Licenses and Permits HB 813: Certified Public Accountants SB 818: Military Leave SB 832: Employment of Individuals with Disabilities HB 849: Veterinary Practices HB 855: Dental Services HB 865: Youth Athletic Activities HB 883: Short-acting Bronchodilator Use in Public and Private Schools HB 885: Coverage for Biomarker Testing HB 917: Career and Technical Education HB 919: Artificial Intelligence Use in Political Advertising HB 931: School Chaplains HB 935: Home Health Care Services HB 937: Purple Alert SB 938: Dentistry HB 939: Consumer Protection SB 958: Local Government Employees SB 968: Spaceport Territory HB 975: Background Screenings and Certifications (Effective July 1, 2025) HB 983: Pub. Rec./Clerks of the Circuit Court, Deputy Clerks, and Clerk Personnel SB 984: Judgment Liens SB 998: Sale of Liquefied Petroleum Gas HB 1021: Community Associations HB 1029: My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program HB 1031: Debt Relief Services HB 1065: Substance Abuse Treatment HB 1083: Permanency for Children SB 1084: Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services SB 1090: Unauthorized Sale of Alcoholic Beverages HB 1109: Security for Jewish Day Schools and Preschools HB 1113: Use of Lights and Sirens on Emergency Vehicles HB 1131: Online Sting Operations Grant Program SB 1136: Regulation of Water Resources SB 1142: Occupational Licensing HB 1161: Verification of Eligibility for Homestead Exemption HB 1181: Juvenile Justice SB 1198: Corporate Actions HB 1203: Homeowners’ Associations SB 1224: Protection of Children and Victims of Crime HB 1227: Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day HB 1259: Providers of Cardiovascular Services HB 1264: History of Communism HB 1267: Economic Self-sufficiency HB 1285: Education SB 1286: Return of Weapons and Arms Following an Arrest HB 1291: Educator Preparation Programs HB 1301: Department of Transportation HB 1317: Patriotic Organizations HB 1329: Veterans HB 1331: Commodities Produced by Forced Labor HB 1335: Department of Business and Professional Regulation HB 1337: Department of Corrections SB 1350: Salvage HB 1361: Education HB 1363: Traffic Enforcement HB 1403: School Choice SB 1420: Department of Commerce HB 1425: Juvenile Justice HB 1451: Identification Documents SB 1456: Counties Designated as Areas of Critical State Concern HB 1473: School Safety HB 1503: Citizens Property Insurance Corporation HB 1509: Pub. Rec./School Guardians SB 1512: Controlled Substances SB 1532: Mitigation HB 1555: Cybersecurity HB 1557: Department of Environmental Protection HB 1565: Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative HB 1567: Qualifications for County Emergency Management Directors HB 1569: Exemption from Regulation for Bona Fide Nonprofit Organizations SB 1582: Department of Health HB 1589: Driving Without a Valid Driver License HB 1611: Insurance SB 1616: Electronic Access to Official Records HB 1645: Energy Resources HB 1653: Duties and Prohibited Acts Associated with Death SB 1680: Advanced Technology SB 1688: Career-themed Courses SB 1704: Sheriffs in Consolidated Governments SB 1720: Marine Encroachment on Military Operations SB 1758: Individuals with Disabilities SB 1764: Car Racing Penalties SB 2518: Health and Human Services HB 5001: General Appropriations Act HB 5003: Implementing the 2024-2025 General Appropriations Act HB 5005: Collective Bargaining HB 5101: Education HB 5201: Trust Funds/Federal Law Enforcement Trust Fund/FGCC HB 5203: Property Seized by the Florida Gaming Control Commission HB 5401: Judges SB 7002: Deregulation of Public Schools SB 7004: Education HB 7011: Inactive Special Districts HB 7013: Special Districts HB 7021: Mental Health and Substance Abuse SB 7028: My Safe Florida Home Program SB 7032: Education HB 7063: Anti-human Trafficking SB 7072: Cancer Funding HB 7073: Taxation SB 7078: Public Records and Meetings/Cancer Research Grant Applications HB 7089: Transparency in Health and Human Services