NAPLES Veterans hit the water in Naples Every September, a local group of captains and anglers hosts an event to take soldiers on the water. More than 130 troops and 65 captains were at the Naples Take a Soldier Fishing event.
Collier County teachers reach contract agreement Collier County teachers have come to an agreement with the school district in their contract negotiations.
NORTH PORT North Port Police searching for man who struck officer with car The North Port Police Department is on the search for a man who committed battery on an officer, among other charges.
FORT MYERS Victim of childhood sexual abuse speaks out after abuser receives 3 life sentences A survivor of childhood sexual abuse finally feels free after her abuser receives three life sentences.
No bond for Tice man accused of kidnaping and sexual assault A man accused of kidnapping and sexual assault will be held without bond.
CAPE CORAL 13th annual 239 Fest to showcase 16 local punk, ska and reggae bands The 13th edition of 239 Fest is coming next month and will feature 16 local punk, ska and reggae bands.
FORT MYERS BEACH Witnesses react to boat getting stuck under Matanzas Pass Bridge While the boat has since gotten out from underneath the bridge, it’s raised some questions about safety for onlookers.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Splash the otter, the unlikely hero bringing families closure Mike Hadsell has trained many animals in his lifetime, but the newest member of Peace River K9 Search and Rescue dive team, Splash the Asian small-clawed otter, is a first, even for him.
FORT MYERS Scrolling on your cell phone may be bad for your health; FGCU professor weighs in Scrolling through your phone might seem like a fun way to pass the time, but new research shows it can actually make you feel even more bored and unhappy.
WEST PALM BEACH DeSantis launches investigation into 2nd assassination attempt on Trump Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he will personally oversee the investigation into the second assassination attempt on former President Trump.
FHP reveals details behind crash that killed 4 young people A mangled car is all that remains from a crash that took the lives of four young people.
FORT MYERS 2 fires in 24 hours displace families in Fort Myers Two vicious fires left families’ homes and lives in ruins. Now, we are learning what help they are getting until their lives can be put back together.
Trump assassination attempt suspect removed serial number from gun Law enforcement is holding a press conference on the attempt of former President Donald Trump’s life at his West Palm Beach golf course.
FORT MYERS BEACH Matanzas Pass Bridge reopens after boat crashes into it, closing it for hours The Matanzas Pass Bridge has reopened to traffic after it was shut down for hours when a boat crashed into it.
MATLACHA Little Pine Island Bridge in Matlacha to temporarily close The Florida Department of Transportation has announced the temporary closure of the Little Pine Island Bridge.
NAPLES Veterans hit the water in Naples Every September, a local group of captains and anglers hosts an event to take soldiers on the water. More than 130 troops and 65 captains were at the Naples Take a Soldier Fishing event.
Collier County teachers reach contract agreement Collier County teachers have come to an agreement with the school district in their contract negotiations.
NORTH PORT North Port Police searching for man who struck officer with car The North Port Police Department is on the search for a man who committed battery on an officer, among other charges.
FORT MYERS Victim of childhood sexual abuse speaks out after abuser receives 3 life sentences A survivor of childhood sexual abuse finally feels free after her abuser receives three life sentences.
No bond for Tice man accused of kidnaping and sexual assault A man accused of kidnapping and sexual assault will be held without bond.
CAPE CORAL 13th annual 239 Fest to showcase 16 local punk, ska and reggae bands The 13th edition of 239 Fest is coming next month and will feature 16 local punk, ska and reggae bands.
FORT MYERS BEACH Witnesses react to boat getting stuck under Matanzas Pass Bridge While the boat has since gotten out from underneath the bridge, it’s raised some questions about safety for onlookers.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Splash the otter, the unlikely hero bringing families closure Mike Hadsell has trained many animals in his lifetime, but the newest member of Peace River K9 Search and Rescue dive team, Splash the Asian small-clawed otter, is a first, even for him.
FORT MYERS Scrolling on your cell phone may be bad for your health; FGCU professor weighs in Scrolling through your phone might seem like a fun way to pass the time, but new research shows it can actually make you feel even more bored and unhappy.
WEST PALM BEACH DeSantis launches investigation into 2nd assassination attempt on Trump Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he will personally oversee the investigation into the second assassination attempt on former President Trump.
FHP reveals details behind crash that killed 4 young people A mangled car is all that remains from a crash that took the lives of four young people.
FORT MYERS 2 fires in 24 hours displace families in Fort Myers Two vicious fires left families’ homes and lives in ruins. Now, we are learning what help they are getting until their lives can be put back together.
Trump assassination attempt suspect removed serial number from gun Law enforcement is holding a press conference on the attempt of former President Donald Trump’s life at his West Palm Beach golf course.
FORT MYERS BEACH Matanzas Pass Bridge reopens after boat crashes into it, closing it for hours The Matanzas Pass Bridge has reopened to traffic after it was shut down for hours when a boat crashed into it.
MATLACHA Little Pine Island Bridge in Matlacha to temporarily close The Florida Department of Transportation has announced the temporary closure of the Little Pine Island Bridge.
It’s time for a miracle moment: a young man probably more excited to return to school today than most kids. Eleven-year-old Bensin Gaff was delivering goodie bags at Golisano Children’s Hospital. The only sign of what Bensin has been through is a slender surgical scar slightly visible through his jet-black hair. “After my baseball game, I went home and went to sleep. I was trying to turn my music down, and then I couldn’t talk,” said Bensin. He was trying to tell Alexa to turn his music down, but he couldn’t get the words out. Bensin told WINK News something similar happened again at school the next day. “I could move, but my eyes went blurry, and then I couldn’t really talk, and I made noises,” said Bensin. His parents, Jason and Kristin, brought him to the emergency room. It turned out that Bensin was having seizures. “I never thought on Thursday night, when Bensin was playing a baseball game with his team standing on second base, he threw somebody out at first. I never thought within a matter of 12 hours, we would be getting, you know, the worst news of our life, that our son had a large brain tumor that didn’t look good,” said Kristin Gaff, Bensin’s mom. Bensin had what’s called a cavernous malformation or cavernoma. As his neurosurgeon explained, they’re benign but serious. “It’s a mass that grows by small amounts of bleeding instead of cells reproducing themselves like a tumor,” said Dr. TJ Spinks, a neurosurgeon. “Because his tumor was near the motor strip and right next to the motor strip, it was causing him weakness and causing some seizures as well.” Dr. Spinks removed it, and Bensin came through surgery like a champ, getting to go home just 72 hours later. He had to re-learn to walk, but just one month after the operation, he threw out the first pitch at a Mighty Mussels game. His big sister Gracelin still gets emotional thinking about it. “Oh, I’m very proud. He got through it easier than I expected him to. I expected it to be a longer journey than it was,” said Gracelin Gaff, Bensin’s sister. He’s had a lot of support. The whole family has. “Bensin’s definitely a miracle. Bensin was the strongest through all of it. The support from the community and his school and the prayers got us through this whole process,” said Jason Gaff, Bensin’s dad. Another blessing for Bensin and the family is having surgery at home in Southwest Florida. A few years ago, they would have had to travel to Tampa, which is not easy for anyone, especially a couple with 11 kids. And since they couldn’t all be here, we’ll leave it to Gracelin, Bensin’s miracle and our miracle. The Pediatric Neurosurgery Program is covered entirely by donations. The surgeon’s salary, all the equipment that made this possible is all paid for by our generous community. And in case you’re wondering what was in the goodie bags, Bensin said it’s “the good stuff.” Good soap and other toiletries, because he remembers how good those felt during the eleven days he spent in the pediatric intensive care unit.