‘It’s devastating’: Neighbor reflects on fatal fire in Port Charlotte‘The sound of death’ Neighbors concerned by amount of crashes on Joel Blvd
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘It’s devastating’: Neighbor reflects on fatal fire in Port Charlotte A devastating house fire Monday night in Port Charlotte has left one person dead and another hospitalized while neighbors mourn the possible loss of a beloved member of their community.
‘The sound of death’ Neighbors concerned by amount of crashes on Joel Blvd A woman is heartbroken from witnessing crash after crash outside her Lehigh Acres home.
Fort Myers get 15% increase on flood insurance discount WINK News is finding out what led to the city of Fort Myers going from just a 5% FEMA flood insurance discount to a 20% discount.
FORT MYERS Locals house California wildfire victims The effects of the California fires are being felt worldwide as people evacuate some are in southwest Florida.
LOVERS KEY Couple returns to Lovers Key condo post Ian While Hurricane Ian is long gone from Southwest Florida, many are still feeling its impacts.
EVERGLADES Biden signs Water Resources Development Act, its effect on SWFL President Biden recently signed into law the Water Resources Development Act with an aim to improve rivers and harbors across the country and provide for the conservation of water. Southwest Florida was included in that act. Putting the 240-page plan together took a lot of work, not just from state and federal lawmakers, but also […]
Turning business travel into a vacation Would work travel seem a little easier if you could turn it into a vacation? Two professors say they have proof that would help business travel.
The future of biometrics: Safer security or new AI risks? In 2021, the Transportation Service Agency (TSA) launched its new touchless identity solution in the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County airport.
CAPE CORAL Pelican Elementary resource officer saves infant A school resource officer at Pelican Elementary saved an infants’ life at a traffic stop in Cape Coral.
FORT MYERS Progress being made on City View Park in Dunbar More promises made by a city that has not kept its promises for the last six years have some neighbors concerned about the future of their community.
COLLIER COUNTY Seacrest hoops player hits a full court buzzer beater Seacrest Country Day School boys basketball player Hayden Fuller hits full court buzzer beater against Aubrey Rogers.
NAPLES Cutting-edge ACL surgery reducing reinjury risk by 80% Known for its game-changing orthopedic repair options, Naples-based Arthrex has done it again.
NAPLES MacStrength FL offers sport and lifestyle training for young athletes In 2025, MacStrength FL is swinging for success with their current players and for a wider reach in its community.
You can appeal FEMA’s decision on your claim – Here’s how Now a week after the deadline for FEMA hurricane assistance has closed, the federal agency says you can appeal their decision on your claim if you don’t agree.
Naples selects city CFO as next city manager, averts national search Naples Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Gary Young will become the next city manager, averting a lengthy, expensive national search for a replacement.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘It’s devastating’: Neighbor reflects on fatal fire in Port Charlotte A devastating house fire Monday night in Port Charlotte has left one person dead and another hospitalized while neighbors mourn the possible loss of a beloved member of their community.
‘The sound of death’ Neighbors concerned by amount of crashes on Joel Blvd A woman is heartbroken from witnessing crash after crash outside her Lehigh Acres home.
Fort Myers get 15% increase on flood insurance discount WINK News is finding out what led to the city of Fort Myers going from just a 5% FEMA flood insurance discount to a 20% discount.
FORT MYERS Locals house California wildfire victims The effects of the California fires are being felt worldwide as people evacuate some are in southwest Florida.
LOVERS KEY Couple returns to Lovers Key condo post Ian While Hurricane Ian is long gone from Southwest Florida, many are still feeling its impacts.
EVERGLADES Biden signs Water Resources Development Act, its effect on SWFL President Biden recently signed into law the Water Resources Development Act with an aim to improve rivers and harbors across the country and provide for the conservation of water. Southwest Florida was included in that act. Putting the 240-page plan together took a lot of work, not just from state and federal lawmakers, but also […]
Turning business travel into a vacation Would work travel seem a little easier if you could turn it into a vacation? Two professors say they have proof that would help business travel.
The future of biometrics: Safer security or new AI risks? In 2021, the Transportation Service Agency (TSA) launched its new touchless identity solution in the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County airport.
CAPE CORAL Pelican Elementary resource officer saves infant A school resource officer at Pelican Elementary saved an infants’ life at a traffic stop in Cape Coral.
FORT MYERS Progress being made on City View Park in Dunbar More promises made by a city that has not kept its promises for the last six years have some neighbors concerned about the future of their community.
COLLIER COUNTY Seacrest hoops player hits a full court buzzer beater Seacrest Country Day School boys basketball player Hayden Fuller hits full court buzzer beater against Aubrey Rogers.
NAPLES Cutting-edge ACL surgery reducing reinjury risk by 80% Known for its game-changing orthopedic repair options, Naples-based Arthrex has done it again.
NAPLES MacStrength FL offers sport and lifestyle training for young athletes In 2025, MacStrength FL is swinging for success with their current players and for a wider reach in its community.
You can appeal FEMA’s decision on your claim – Here’s how Now a week after the deadline for FEMA hurricane assistance has closed, the federal agency says you can appeal their decision on your claim if you don’t agree.
Naples selects city CFO as next city manager, averts national search Naples Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Gary Young will become the next city manager, averting a lengthy, expensive national search for a replacement.
Charlotte County deputies say Salim Qadir was running an illegal gambling ring at the Tiffany Square Bingo Hall in Englewood. READ MORE: Man accused of owning illegal gambling businesses in Englewood In December 2023, deputies obtained a search warrant and collected 196 slot machines hidden in plain sight from the illegal establishment. The simple way to put it is games that require skill are legal, while games that require chance are not. Slot machines are a game of chance. Illegal gambling establishments have a lot of money, said a gambling law professor at NOVA Southeastern University, Bob Jarvis. “We know that nationwide, these businesses take in something like $36 billion a year. By 2029, they’re expected to bring in $54 billion a year,” Jarvis said. WINK News Reporter Olivia Jean spoke with a Captain of the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, John Heck. They make a lot, but they also take a lot. “When you have retirees that are going in there and spending their fixed income, [it] becomes a problem. When the machines are set up to make it more profitable for the operator, it doesn’t work out well,” Captain Heck said. Salim Qadir, the accused owner of Tiffany Square Bingo Hall in Englewood, was found in Georgia and arrested. “The charges are pretty serious. Most of them are first-degree felony,” Captain Heck said. In 2021, the Gambling Compact gave almost exclusive rights of gambling activities to the Seminole Tribe of Florida. It then led to the creation of the Florida Gaming Control Commission, Daniel Wallach, founder of a gaming law firm said. “With this new gaming agency has come along significant assets and resources that have been devoted to the burgeoning problem of illegal gambling, which is not unique to Florida, but it has really been then part of the debate around the country’s gambling landscape,” Wallach said. The Florida Gaming Control Commission told WINK News these establishments are regularly connected to organized crime. “We’re seeing a period of enhanced law enforcement because of the new Florida Gambling Commission,” Jarvis said. “They’re taking people’s money; there’s a large amount of money going in, it’s not going into taxes are not paying taxes. There’s other crimes that are associated with these things sometimes. So really, at the end of the day, that’s why we enforce the laws that we had on his gambling businesses because we want to protect our citizens, and we want to make sure that no other crime follows it as well,” Captain Heck said. Experts argue that no matter how much work law enforcement does, these gambling establishments will never go away fully. That is because they are easy to set up. You can simply rent a space, move the machines in, and then, bam, you have an operational business. “Whenever a state clamps down on its gambling, arcade operators, the gambling arcade operators just move to another state or they move to another county,” Jarvis said. The inside of the building now sits empty. All that remains are a few bright led lights. Captain Heck said there are several people being held in Charlotte County for illegal gambling. And come Monday, charges will go from a misdemeanor to a felony.