FORT MYERS Residents react to Winkler apartment complex fire Residents of the Retreat at Vista Lakes Apartment Complex were forced to evacuate due to a fire Saturday morning.
FORT MYERS Structure fire at Fort Myers apartment complex Authorities responded to the scene of a fire at The Retreat at Vista Lakes apartment complex Saturday afternoon.
NAPLES Deadly crash leaves 4 dead and 1 with serious injuries in Collier County The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly crash in Collier County that left 3 dead and 2 with serious injuries.
ESTERO Fatal crash leaves motorcyclist dead on I-75 in Estero The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal crash that has left at least one motorcyclist dead.
SOUTH FORT MYERS Box truck crashes into drainage canal in South Fort Myers According to South Trail Fire Protection & Rescue Service District, a box truck crashed into multiple vehicles and landed in a drainage canal in South Fort Myers early Saturday morning.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Feel-like temps in the triple digits leading to a warm Saturday in Southwest Florida The Weather Authority says to expect another warm day across Southwest Florida with temperatures reaching the low 90s by the afternoon, but feeling like the triple digits when factoring in the humidity.
WINK NEWS SWFL Scoreboard: High School Football Week 4 Check out the scores and highlights from week four of high school football action in southwest Florida.
Safety and Security specialist weighs in on Tice child sexual assault The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said Raymond De Jesus approached a girl as she walked to her bus stop Thursday morning.
FMPD searching for juveniles accused of trespassing in Fort Myers apartment complex The Fort Myers Police Department is asking for public assistance in identifying four juveniles accused of trespassing in an apartment complex on 2250 McGregor Blvd. FMPD said the incident occurred on the evening of Sep., 7. The juveniles are alleged to have had a party in the common area of the complex which resulted in […]
FDOT in the process of renovating the Pine Island Causeway The Pine Island Causeway is getting major improvements. Crews are working to make the roads safer and smoother.
IMMOKALEE 2 dead, several injured after SUV crashes into Immokalee building The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash after an SUV collided with another car before it slammed into an Immokalee building.
CAPE CORAL Jaycee Park memorial benches to be relocated Memorial benches, plaques and trees will be relocated at Jaycee Park, and some parkgoers are not happy with the decision.
CAPE CORAL Harry Chapin Food Bank hands out food in Cape Coral The Harry Chapin Food Bank, along with volunteers from LCEC went to Ocean Church in Cape Coral to feed families on Friday.
Neighbors react after Tice man arrested for child sexual assault A Lee County Sheriff’s Office chopper and drones searched two massive scenes on the ground Thursday looking for a man wanted for sexually assaulting a young girl.
Truck hits school bus on College Parkway and Queen Elizabeth Way; 1 child transported According to Lee County Public Schools a dump truck hit the back of a school bus that was at a complete stop on College Parkway and Queen Elizabeth Way.
FORT MYERS Residents react to Winkler apartment complex fire Residents of the Retreat at Vista Lakes Apartment Complex were forced to evacuate due to a fire Saturday morning.
FORT MYERS Structure fire at Fort Myers apartment complex Authorities responded to the scene of a fire at The Retreat at Vista Lakes apartment complex Saturday afternoon.
NAPLES Deadly crash leaves 4 dead and 1 with serious injuries in Collier County The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly crash in Collier County that left 3 dead and 2 with serious injuries.
ESTERO Fatal crash leaves motorcyclist dead on I-75 in Estero The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal crash that has left at least one motorcyclist dead.
SOUTH FORT MYERS Box truck crashes into drainage canal in South Fort Myers According to South Trail Fire Protection & Rescue Service District, a box truck crashed into multiple vehicles and landed in a drainage canal in South Fort Myers early Saturday morning.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Feel-like temps in the triple digits leading to a warm Saturday in Southwest Florida The Weather Authority says to expect another warm day across Southwest Florida with temperatures reaching the low 90s by the afternoon, but feeling like the triple digits when factoring in the humidity.
WINK NEWS SWFL Scoreboard: High School Football Week 4 Check out the scores and highlights from week four of high school football action in southwest Florida.
Safety and Security specialist weighs in on Tice child sexual assault The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said Raymond De Jesus approached a girl as she walked to her bus stop Thursday morning.
FMPD searching for juveniles accused of trespassing in Fort Myers apartment complex The Fort Myers Police Department is asking for public assistance in identifying four juveniles accused of trespassing in an apartment complex on 2250 McGregor Blvd. FMPD said the incident occurred on the evening of Sep., 7. The juveniles are alleged to have had a party in the common area of the complex which resulted in […]
FDOT in the process of renovating the Pine Island Causeway The Pine Island Causeway is getting major improvements. Crews are working to make the roads safer and smoother.
IMMOKALEE 2 dead, several injured after SUV crashes into Immokalee building The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash after an SUV collided with another car before it slammed into an Immokalee building.
CAPE CORAL Jaycee Park memorial benches to be relocated Memorial benches, plaques and trees will be relocated at Jaycee Park, and some parkgoers are not happy with the decision.
CAPE CORAL Harry Chapin Food Bank hands out food in Cape Coral The Harry Chapin Food Bank, along with volunteers from LCEC went to Ocean Church in Cape Coral to feed families on Friday.
Neighbors react after Tice man arrested for child sexual assault A Lee County Sheriff’s Office chopper and drones searched two massive scenes on the ground Thursday looking for a man wanted for sexually assaulting a young girl.
Truck hits school bus on College Parkway and Queen Elizabeth Way; 1 child transported According to Lee County Public Schools a dump truck hit the back of a school bus that was at a complete stop on College Parkway and Queen Elizabeth Way.
Since the 2020 Florida Python Challenge, 743 invasive Burmese pythons have been captured and removed from the Florida ecosystem. That is a considerable amount despite not knowing how many are slithering through the Florida Everglades. Nevertheless, hunters are ready to help Florida’s native species fend off an animal they were never supposed to be competing with. Invasive Burmese pythons, beware; the hunters are coming. Friday marks the start of the 2024 Florida Python Challenge. After quickly scaling to the top of the Florida food chain in a few decades, pythons will be in unfamiliar territory starting Friday. For 10 days, hunters will descend into the murky swamp for the annual Florida Python Challenge. “They’re capable of eating just about any native wildlife,” said Mike Kirkland from the South Florida Water Management District. “We are seeing significant declines in native wildlife populations in Everglades National Park and radiating out, in some cases, 90 to 95%.” Biologist Ian Bartoszek, Board Member Jon Kukk and Julie Kukk holding a female Burmese python. CREDIT: CONSERVANCY OF SWFL But if you’ve had the itch to catch some massive serpents, you can participate. That’s because the event is not just for specialized hunters. The Florida Python Challenge is open to everyone as long as you meet certain requirements. RELATED: Hunters prevent 76 Burmese pythons and their 17-foot mother from devastating Everglades ecosystem RELATED: Burmese python hunter gets upper hand on 14-foot snake by sitting on it RELATED: 2024 Florida Python Challenge registration begins In doing so, the event turns local Floridians into environmental heroes. “That is essentially an ecosystem collapse,” said Kirkland. “The Burmese python is safe to say one of the most destructive invasive species in Florida.” Before registering, you must take a required online training course, which is available on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website. Even if you did the online training for the 2023 hunt, you have to take it again for the event this year. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, center, holds a Burmese python at a media event, Thursday, June 16, 2022, where he announced that registration for the 2022 Florida Python Challenge has opened for the annual 10-day event to be held Aug 5-14, , in Miami. The Python Challenge is intended to engage the public in participating in Everglades conservation through invasive species removal of the Burmese python. Also pictured are Ron Bergeron, left, McKayla Spencer, second from left, Rodney Barreto, third from right, and Jan Fore, second from right. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) It’s also important to know the rules for the specific area you are looking for pythons. Rules vary depending on if you are hunting in Big Cypress National Preserve, Southern Glades Wildlife and Environmental Area, or the Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area. The people who go out hunting these snakes are why Kirkland has hope for the future of native wildlife in Florida. “I am optimistic for the future. I’m hoping in another 10 or 15 years to start seeing a rebound our native wildlife populations,” said Kirkland. Burmese Python eggs. CREDIT: TheCritterCult The 10-day Florida Python Challenge begins just after midnight on Friday. There is a $10,000 award for whoever catches the most invasive Burmese pythons during the hunt. And while it’s unknown how many invasive pythons plague the Florida ecosystem, it is a reminder that our native species need help. Over the last 24 years, FWC says more than 21,000 Burmese pythons have been removed from the wild and reported to the agency. Click here to learn more about how to register for the Florida Python Challenge. Click here to learn more about Burmese python removal efforts from the South Florida Water Management District. Click here to learn more about Burmese python’s impact on Florida wildlife.