Deadly motorcycle crash on Hancock Bridge Pkwy and Moody Rd. temporarily closes roadsAmendment 3 fails; Florida marijuana legislation remains the same
NORTH FORT MYERS Deadly motorcycle crash on Hancock Bridge Pkwy and Moody Rd. temporarily closes roads The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a deadly motorcycle crash that occurred at the intersection of Hancock Bridge Parkway and Moody Road.
Trump flips Georgia and moves closer to reclaiming the White House Donald Trump has won the battleground state of Georgia, the onetime Republican stronghold that had voted for Democrats four years ago.
WINK NEWS Amendment 3 fails; Florida marijuana legislation remains the same With Election Day in full swing, WINK News is monitoring the results of the most controversial amendments on the ballot, including Florida’s Amendment 3.
WINK NEWS Amendment 4 fails; current 6-week abortion ban remains Besides Amendment 3, another of the more controversial amendments on the ballot is Amendment 4, which would limit government interference in abortions.
Republican Denise Carlin elected as Lee County Schools superintendent Republican Denise Carlin has been elected as the Lee County Superintendent of Schools, and Vanessa Chaviano won her seat in the Lee County School Board for District 7.
WINK NEWS Sheriff Carmine Marceno wins reelection It is now Election Day, and two candidates for the Lee County Sheriff are vying for the position.
3 Florida republicans win reelection in House of Representatives Three local incumbent Republicans have won re-election for the House of Representatives race.
LABELLE Fatal crash on State Road 29 in LaBelle According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a fatal crash occurred on State Road 29 on Tuesday evening.
NAPLES Naples on alert but staying calm ahead of potential storm It’s understandable to get anxious whenever we hear about the possibility of severe weather with Tropical Storm Rafael gaining strength in the Caribbean.
BONITA SPRINGS Florida’s Rick Scott reelected to US Senate Florida incumbent Rick Scott has been reelected to the U.S. Senate.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda RV residents concerned about hurricane damage The people at the Harbor Belle RV Resort had concerns about their homes before hurricanes Helene and Milton.
WINK NEWS How Hispanic voters in SWFL are casting their ballots The Hispanic community in Southwest Florida is seemingly divided as they cast their votes for the next president of the United States.
WEST PALM BEACH Trump and supporters gear up for election night in West Palm Beach All eyes are on the presidential election between Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump.
SANIBEL City of Sanibel opens time capsule for 50th anniversary It’s a chance to see what the past was like. 41 years ago, the city of Sanibel put items in a time capsule to be opened on the 50th anniversary of the city’s incorporation. On Tuesday, WINK News was there to see what people had to say about the island decades ago.
FORT MYERS BEACH Lee Commission approves contract to restore 2 waterfront parks on Fort Myers Beach The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted to award a contract for the design of the restoration of two waterfront parks on Fort Myers Beach.
NORTH FORT MYERS Deadly motorcycle crash on Hancock Bridge Pkwy and Moody Rd. temporarily closes roads The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a deadly motorcycle crash that occurred at the intersection of Hancock Bridge Parkway and Moody Road.
Trump flips Georgia and moves closer to reclaiming the White House Donald Trump has won the battleground state of Georgia, the onetime Republican stronghold that had voted for Democrats four years ago.
WINK NEWS Amendment 3 fails; Florida marijuana legislation remains the same With Election Day in full swing, WINK News is monitoring the results of the most controversial amendments on the ballot, including Florida’s Amendment 3.
WINK NEWS Amendment 4 fails; current 6-week abortion ban remains Besides Amendment 3, another of the more controversial amendments on the ballot is Amendment 4, which would limit government interference in abortions.
Republican Denise Carlin elected as Lee County Schools superintendent Republican Denise Carlin has been elected as the Lee County Superintendent of Schools, and Vanessa Chaviano won her seat in the Lee County School Board for District 7.
WINK NEWS Sheriff Carmine Marceno wins reelection It is now Election Day, and two candidates for the Lee County Sheriff are vying for the position.
3 Florida republicans win reelection in House of Representatives Three local incumbent Republicans have won re-election for the House of Representatives race.
LABELLE Fatal crash on State Road 29 in LaBelle According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a fatal crash occurred on State Road 29 on Tuesday evening.
NAPLES Naples on alert but staying calm ahead of potential storm It’s understandable to get anxious whenever we hear about the possibility of severe weather with Tropical Storm Rafael gaining strength in the Caribbean.
BONITA SPRINGS Florida’s Rick Scott reelected to US Senate Florida incumbent Rick Scott has been reelected to the U.S. Senate.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda RV residents concerned about hurricane damage The people at the Harbor Belle RV Resort had concerns about their homes before hurricanes Helene and Milton.
WINK NEWS How Hispanic voters in SWFL are casting their ballots The Hispanic community in Southwest Florida is seemingly divided as they cast their votes for the next president of the United States.
WEST PALM BEACH Trump and supporters gear up for election night in West Palm Beach All eyes are on the presidential election between Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump.
SANIBEL City of Sanibel opens time capsule for 50th anniversary It’s a chance to see what the past was like. 41 years ago, the city of Sanibel put items in a time capsule to be opened on the 50th anniversary of the city’s incorporation. On Tuesday, WINK News was there to see what people had to say about the island decades ago.
FORT MYERS BEACH Lee Commission approves contract to restore 2 waterfront parks on Fort Myers Beach The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted to award a contract for the design of the restoration of two waterfront parks on Fort Myers Beach.
Florida helps to fund the campaigns of all statewide office candidates, including the governor, attorney general, chief financial officer, and agriculture commissioner. If passed, Amendment 6 will remove that funding. A candidate must meet several requirements and agree to campaign spending limits, and then that funding is theirs. Some of those requirements are: Agreeing to expenditure limits. Raise between $100,000-150,000, depending on what position you are running for. Submit a post-election financial audit. A vote for Amendment 6 means statewide candidates are now on their own without the help of funds. A vote against Amendment 6 means voting for campaign funding to stay. So why is the state funding political campaigns in the first place? The Executive Director of Common Cause Florida told WINK News that the money gives everyone interested in running for public office a chance they might not otherwise have. She fears what would happen if Amendment 6 passes. “It’s going to be harder for women, for people of color, and really for anybody from a middle-class background, or anybody who’s not independently wealthy to run for statewide office,” Amy Keith, the Executive Director of Common Cause Florida, said. Evan Power, the Chair of the Republican Party of Florida, argues using taxpayer dollars for any political campaign is not in the people’s best interest. “If your message is taking off, you’re going to find donors who are willing to participate in the process with you. If you’re not, you’re not going to do that,” Power said. Florida introduced taxpayer-financed campaigns in 1998. Power said it’s outdated in 2024. “Taxpayers don’t need to pay for people to campaign politically. People can raise their own money. It’s a refuge of an old system. And you know, at the end of the day, if people are popular and the voters want to hear their opinions and their thoughts, they’re going to be able to raise that money from donors,” Power said. Supporters say the amendment would save taxpayer money and help fund other government services. Critics say it will benefit candidates getting big-donor cash. “Amendment 6, if it passes, it’s going to make it harder for a more diverse group of new leaders to run for office in our state, and it’s going to decrease the influence of small-dollar donors and everyday Floridians,” Keith said. For Amendment 6 to pass, 60% percent of Florida voters must vote yes. “We’re taking taxpayer money, and we want to use it in the right way, not to help career politicians communicate with them,” Power said. “We are a state on the forefront of public campaign financing as part of the battle against money in politics, and if this were to pass in Florida this year, it would be a blow to that fight nationwide,” Keith said. A vote for Amendment 6 means candidates won’t have funding. A vote against Amendment 6 is voting for funding to stay. Read the full amendment here.