WINK NEWS Citizens Property Insurance depopulation program This is a sign our insurance crisis in Florida is recovering. Citizens, designed to be Floridian’s last resort insurer, is shrinking.
WINK NEWS Warmer temperatures build in for your Thursday plans The Weather Authority is tracking increased temperatures. Thursday is in the 50s, and the warming trend is continuing into the weekend.
WINK NEWS Smoke from prescribed burns this Thursday The Weather Authority is tracking smoke in the air Thursday morning. If you notice smoke, it’s likely from recent prescribed burns.
LEHIGH ACRES Firefighters break open submerged car in Lehigh Acres Firefighters break open a submerged car and appear to rescue someone stuck inside in Lehigh Acres overnight.
FORT MYERS Stem donor meets recipient at Florida Gulf Coast University An FGCU student is giving the gift of life this holiday season. FGCU senior Zoe Horowitz met the person who received her stem cell donation.
PORT CHARLOTTE CCSO ‘Shop with a Cop’ event spreads holiday cheer Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office deputies spent time helping kids pick out gifts for their families during the annual Shop with a Cop event.
CLEWISTON Caught on camera: Explosion in hotel parking lot in Clewiston There was an explosion in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn in Clewiston on Wednesday.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda leaders outline plans for Gilchrist Park repairs Gilchrist Park is closed, and Punta Gorda city leaders have been discussing possibly restoring the park.
NORTH NAPLES Airman surprises 6-year-old daughter at school for the holidays after ten months of service in Kuwait After almost a year of service in Kuwait, one airman came home for the holidays and surprised his daughter.
FORT MYERS Breaking down the Lee County Sheriff’s Office budget The Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Carmine Marceno have been under scrutiny since a federal investigation on potential money laundering began. Many have questioned LCSO’s spending, so we broke down the budget.
How to protect yourself from thieves this holiday season On Cyber Monday, Americans spent $13 billion, which will translate into many packages on doorsteps this holiday season.
FORT MYERS Bishop Verot QB Carter Smith signs with Wisconsin Bishop Verot quarterback Carter Smith signs to play college football for the Wisconsin Badgers on early Signing Day.
WINK NEWS SWFL stars ink with Power 4 programs during Early Signing Period Several Southwest Florida football standouts are taking their talents to the Power 4 gridirons after signing during the Early Signing Period.
Beloved Charlotte County man killed outside home, investigation ongoing A man loved by his peers and his community was taken away from them in the middle of the night at his own home.
FORT MYERS BEACH The Lani Kai Resort reopens on Fort Myers Beach An iconic spot on Fort Myers Beach is back open and taking reservations for the first time since Hurricane Ian.
WINK NEWS Citizens Property Insurance depopulation program This is a sign our insurance crisis in Florida is recovering. Citizens, designed to be Floridian’s last resort insurer, is shrinking.
WINK NEWS Warmer temperatures build in for your Thursday plans The Weather Authority is tracking increased temperatures. Thursday is in the 50s, and the warming trend is continuing into the weekend.
WINK NEWS Smoke from prescribed burns this Thursday The Weather Authority is tracking smoke in the air Thursday morning. If you notice smoke, it’s likely from recent prescribed burns.
LEHIGH ACRES Firefighters break open submerged car in Lehigh Acres Firefighters break open a submerged car and appear to rescue someone stuck inside in Lehigh Acres overnight.
FORT MYERS Stem donor meets recipient at Florida Gulf Coast University An FGCU student is giving the gift of life this holiday season. FGCU senior Zoe Horowitz met the person who received her stem cell donation.
PORT CHARLOTTE CCSO ‘Shop with a Cop’ event spreads holiday cheer Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office deputies spent time helping kids pick out gifts for their families during the annual Shop with a Cop event.
CLEWISTON Caught on camera: Explosion in hotel parking lot in Clewiston There was an explosion in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn in Clewiston on Wednesday.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda leaders outline plans for Gilchrist Park repairs Gilchrist Park is closed, and Punta Gorda city leaders have been discussing possibly restoring the park.
NORTH NAPLES Airman surprises 6-year-old daughter at school for the holidays after ten months of service in Kuwait After almost a year of service in Kuwait, one airman came home for the holidays and surprised his daughter.
FORT MYERS Breaking down the Lee County Sheriff’s Office budget The Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Carmine Marceno have been under scrutiny since a federal investigation on potential money laundering began. Many have questioned LCSO’s spending, so we broke down the budget.
How to protect yourself from thieves this holiday season On Cyber Monday, Americans spent $13 billion, which will translate into many packages on doorsteps this holiday season.
FORT MYERS Bishop Verot QB Carter Smith signs with Wisconsin Bishop Verot quarterback Carter Smith signs to play college football for the Wisconsin Badgers on early Signing Day.
WINK NEWS SWFL stars ink with Power 4 programs during Early Signing Period Several Southwest Florida football standouts are taking their talents to the Power 4 gridirons after signing during the Early Signing Period.
Beloved Charlotte County man killed outside home, investigation ongoing A man loved by his peers and his community was taken away from them in the middle of the night at his own home.
FORT MYERS BEACH The Lani Kai Resort reopens on Fort Myers Beach An iconic spot on Fort Myers Beach is back open and taking reservations for the first time since Hurricane Ian.
This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a fatal shooting, criminal mischief and a drug sting. Robert Dean Lawrence. Credit: The Lee County Sheriff’s Office The Fort Myers Police Department has arrested a man accused of being connected to a fatal Sunday shooting on Colonial Boulevard and Ortiz Avenue. Police arrested Robert Dean Lawrence, 45, on Monday after a report of a man being shot on Colonial Boulevard and Ortiz Avenue the day before. Upon arrival, police discovered the dead victim, stripped down to his underwear, lying in the grassy area by the road with a gunshot wound to his chest. FMPD interviewed a female witness driving westbound at Colonial who noticed a black SUV swerving on the roadway. According to the witness, the vehicle abruptly swerved in front of her vehicle, causing her vehicle to brake immediately and slamming into the rear of the SUV. Before the witness exited her vehicle to assess the damage, a man allegedly dragged a man from the driver’s seat of the SUV. Other witnesses of the scene said that they saw the victim stumble out from the passenger side of the SUV, where he later fell into the grassy area. The witnesses then mentioned seeing a man take off the clothing of the shooting victim before returning to the SUV. Authorities in Lehigh Acres located the SUV, which reportedly had a matte or flat black finish and distinct stickers on the rear driver and passenger sides. The female witness on the scene later identified Lawrence through a police photo lineup, where he was arrested. Lawrence has been charged with drug possession and robbery with a weapon. RELATED: Man arrested in connection to fatal shooting on Colonial Blvd. and Ortiz Ave. Aaron Sucraymundo Credit: The Lee County Sheriff’s Office A Bonita Springs man was arrested early Sunday after allegedly breaking into a cell phone store and stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise. According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, shortly after midnight on Oct. 20, deputies responded to the Pronto Giros. Surveillance footage showed a man shattering a front window, gaining entry, and running around the business. The man then proceeds to smash multiple display cases and throw computer monitors. The LCSO K-9 Unit tracked from the store to a residence located a block away. At the home, deputies found a blood trail to a back window. Inside the home, deputies found 19-year-old Aaron Sucraymundo wearing the same clothing as the suspect in the surveillance video. Deputies also recovered eight stolen iPhones and an assortment of charging cords hidden in the room. Sucraymundo is being charged with burglary of a business, grand theft, and criminal mischief. He also had an outstanding warrant for a traffic infraction. RELATED: Bonita Springs man accused of breaking into and trashing business Michael Banks Credit: The Lee County Sheriff’s Office A Lee County Sheriff’s Office clerk has been caught in a major drug sting after allegedly sharing confidential information. According to LCSO, Savannah Georges told the wife of an accused drug dealer that investigators were going to search their home. Deputies arrested the accused drug dealer, 35-year-old Michael Banks. They found fentanyl, cocaine, meth and guns inside his Fort Myers home. Banks was already facing separate charges for drug trafficking in Lee County. RELATED: LCSO employee accused of sharing confidential information to alleged drug dealer