Precautionary boil water notice in effect for Fort Myers BeachLee Commissioners accept $22.7M state grant for water management project at Larry Kiker Preserve
FORT MYERS BEACH Precautionary boil water notice in effect for Fort Myers Beach A Precautionary boil water notice is in effect for all residents of Fort Myers Beach due to a water main break on Estero Boulevard.
LEE COUNTY Lee Commissioners accept $22.7M state grant for water management project at Larry Kiker Preserve The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted on Tuesday to accept a $22.7 million Resilient Florida Grant for a water management project.
LEE COUNTY Lee Commissioners vote to adopt Lee County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to approve a resolution adopting the Lee County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.
FORT MYERS Accused prowler arrested after deputies find cell phone and ID at Lee County crime scene Deputies have arrested a man after discovering his cell phone and driver’s license at the scene where they responded to calls about a suspicious person.
FORT MYERS Precautionary lockdowns for 2 Fort Myers schools have been lifted The Lee County School District has lifted its precautionary lockdowns on two Fort Myers schools early Tuesday morning.
Car engulfed in flames on West Villages Parkway in Sarasota A head-on collision that ended in a fire occurred on River Road, south of West Villages Parkway, in Sarasota County.
Caloosahatchee Bridge faces traffic delays due to FDOT project Motorists on the Caloosahatchee Bridge in Fort Myers faced severe traffic delays due to the Florida Department of Transportation pedestrian walkway project.
31 endangered Florida panthers killed in 2024; breaks record for most deaths in a year A grim record has been broken, as another endangered Florida panther has been slain by a vehicle on Interstate 75 in Collier County.
CAPE CORAL “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign underway in Cape Coral The Cape Coral Fire Department has launched its 12th annual “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign.
the weather authority Cool weather with abundant sunshine this Tuesday The Weather Authority is tracking cooler temperatures, with abundant sunshine expected this Tuesday afternoon.
Better Business Bureau alerts public to rise in fake pet ads The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about the rise of fraudulent pet adoption schemes during the holiday season.
FORT MYERS Boy with autism drowns in Fort Myers pond A Fort Myers family is heartbroken they will never get see their little boy running around smiling again after he drowned in Lee County.
NAPLES Man arrested for sex crimes with underage girl on Naples Pier A Naples man has been arrested for allegedly having sex with a minor on the Naples Pier.
Page Field Opportunities await in Lee County’s Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program Lee County will soon have a new civil air patrol squadron, but they need people interested in joining to make this happen.
Southwest Florida leaders react to President Biden’s pardon of Hunter Biden Southwest Florida leaders are weighing in Monday evening on President Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter.
FORT MYERS BEACH Precautionary boil water notice in effect for Fort Myers Beach A Precautionary boil water notice is in effect for all residents of Fort Myers Beach due to a water main break on Estero Boulevard.
LEE COUNTY Lee Commissioners accept $22.7M state grant for water management project at Larry Kiker Preserve The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted on Tuesday to accept a $22.7 million Resilient Florida Grant for a water management project.
LEE COUNTY Lee Commissioners vote to adopt Lee County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to approve a resolution adopting the Lee County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.
FORT MYERS Accused prowler arrested after deputies find cell phone and ID at Lee County crime scene Deputies have arrested a man after discovering his cell phone and driver’s license at the scene where they responded to calls about a suspicious person.
FORT MYERS Precautionary lockdowns for 2 Fort Myers schools have been lifted The Lee County School District has lifted its precautionary lockdowns on two Fort Myers schools early Tuesday morning.
Car engulfed in flames on West Villages Parkway in Sarasota A head-on collision that ended in a fire occurred on River Road, south of West Villages Parkway, in Sarasota County.
Caloosahatchee Bridge faces traffic delays due to FDOT project Motorists on the Caloosahatchee Bridge in Fort Myers faced severe traffic delays due to the Florida Department of Transportation pedestrian walkway project.
31 endangered Florida panthers killed in 2024; breaks record for most deaths in a year A grim record has been broken, as another endangered Florida panther has been slain by a vehicle on Interstate 75 in Collier County.
CAPE CORAL “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign underway in Cape Coral The Cape Coral Fire Department has launched its 12th annual “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign.
the weather authority Cool weather with abundant sunshine this Tuesday The Weather Authority is tracking cooler temperatures, with abundant sunshine expected this Tuesday afternoon.
Better Business Bureau alerts public to rise in fake pet ads The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about the rise of fraudulent pet adoption schemes during the holiday season.
FORT MYERS Boy with autism drowns in Fort Myers pond A Fort Myers family is heartbroken they will never get see their little boy running around smiling again after he drowned in Lee County.
NAPLES Man arrested for sex crimes with underage girl on Naples Pier A Naples man has been arrested for allegedly having sex with a minor on the Naples Pier.
Page Field Opportunities await in Lee County’s Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program Lee County will soon have a new civil air patrol squadron, but they need people interested in joining to make this happen.
Southwest Florida leaders react to President Biden’s pardon of Hunter Biden Southwest Florida leaders are weighing in Monday evening on President Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter.
Patients who see Lee Health and NCH primary care doctors and have Florida Blue’s and Cigna’s Medicare Advantage plans will have to adjust to what could be a costly change. A Lee Health Spokesperson told WINK News that in September, Lee Health and Florida Blue agreed that primary care physicians would no longer be in Florida Blue’s Medicare Advantage plan network. Lee Health hospitals and specialists are still fully covered under the network, and this change affects less than 3,000 patients at Lee Health with Florida Blue. Starting Jan. 1, NCH patients who are part of the Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plan network will no longer have access to their primary care physicians, affecting around 6,000 patients. Like Lee Health, NCH hospitals and specialists are still fully covered under the network. This change affects Florida Blue’s PPO and HMO Medicare Advantage plans. Florida Blue is not the only health insurance company making this change. Cigna is also making the change starting Jan. 1. A Cigna representative spoke with WINK News reporter Sommer Senne, mentioning that the company will discontinue its individual PPO Medicare Advantage plan in Florida while still offering its individual HMO plan. The spokesperson says impacted customers were notified of their options for the upcoming year, and they are providing support that includes considering a Medicare Advantage HMO plan or a Medicare Supplement plan. NCH told WINK News that 600 patients with the Cigna PPO Medicare Advantage plan will be affected. To help those impacted by the change, NCH is hosting an open house for regional insurance brokers and Medicare Advantage members on Nov. 4 at 3 p.m. at the NCH Telford Auditorium in Naples. WINK News is working to determine how many physicians at NCH and Lee Health will become out-of-network due to these changes. NCH responded by saying that 35 doctors will now be out-of-network. We’re also asking Florida Blue and Cigna if patients’ co-pays will increase and by how much if they have to switch plans. Read the full statement from Florida Blue below: We value our relationship with Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH). While their specialists, hospitals, and other facilities will remain in our network for our Medicare Advantage members, Florida Blue Medicare and NCH have mutually agreed that NCH’s primary care physicians will exit our Medicare Advantage network beginning January 1, 2025. Members with Florida Blue Medicare Supplement plans can continue seeing their NCH primary care doctor. Individuals who have Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans based in other states should contact their home plan to verify their coverage. Some plans may include out-of-network benefits that could allow them to access NCH primary care doctors. Florida Blue Medicare will continue to offer Medicare Advantage plans in Collier and surrounding counties. In Collier County, Medicare beneficiaries have the option to choose from five Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plans. NCH and Florida Blue Medicare are working to support those who are impacted through this transition. Members who have questions, concerns, or need help finding a new doctor can call Florida Blue Medicare Member services at 1-800-926- 6565 (TTY: 1-800-955-8770). Correction: an earlier headline said “Florida Blue and Cigna cancelling Medicare Advantage Plans.”