Biden signs Water Resources Development Act, its effect on SWFLTurning business travel into a vacation
EVERGLADES Biden signs Water Resources Development Act, its effect on SWFL President Biden recently signed into law the Water Resources Development Act with an aim to improve rivers and harbors across the country and provide for the conservation of water. Southwest Florida was included in that act. Putting the 240-page plan together took a lot of work, not just from state and federal lawmakers, but also […]
Turning business travel into a vacation Would work travel seem a little easier if you could turn it into a vacation? Two professors say they have proof that would help business travel.
The future of biometrics: Safer security or new AI risks? In 2021, the Transportation Service Agency (TSA) launched its new touchless identity solution in the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County airport.
CAPE CORAL Pelican Elementary resource officer saves infant A school resource officer at Pelican Elementary saved an infants’ life at a traffic stop in Cape Coral.
FORT MYERS Progress being made on City View Park in Dunbar More promises made by a city that has not kept its promises for the last six years have some neighbors concerned about the future of their community.
COLLIER COUNTY Seacrest hoops player hits a full court buzzer beater Seacrest Country Day School boys basketball player Hayden Fuller hits full court buzzer beater against Aubrey Rogers.
NAPLES Cutting-edge ACL surgery reducing reinjury risk by 80% Known for its game-changing orthopedic repair options, Naples-based Arthrex has done it again.
NAPLES MacStrength FL offers sport and lifestyle training for young athletes In 2025, MacStrength FL is swinging for success with their current players and for a wider reach in its community.
You can appeal FEMA’s decision on your claim – Here’s how Now a week after the deadline for FEMA hurricane assistance has closed, the federal agency says you can appeal their decision on your claim if you don’t agree.
Naples selects city CFO as next city manager, averts national search Naples Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Gary Young will become the next city manager, averting a lengthy, expensive national search for a replacement.
Charlotte County’s Mid-County Regional Library to reopen in 2026 After about $6.9 million in repairs and renovations to Mid-County Regional Library in Port Charlotte, the library is expected to reopen in 2026.
MATLACHA Man accused of deadly Matlacha DUI crash takes plea deal A man accused of driving drunk and crashing into the patio of a Matlacha restaurant, killing a woman and injuring others, has taken a plea deal with the state.
Opera Naples set to make land offer with seven-figure gift A seven-figure gift has provided the base for Opera Naples, Theater in the Garden and the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation to build an international center for the arts.
ENGLEWOOD Englewood Chamber distributes over $167K in hurricane relief funding The Englewood Chamber of Commerce announced over $167,000 in critical funding has been provided to individuals affected by Helene and Milton.
Cyclist group riding 500 miles for charity to pass through LaBelle Thirty-six Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure cyclist members participating in the annual 500-mile Tour de Florida charity ride will be passing through LaBelle next week.
EVERGLADES Biden signs Water Resources Development Act, its effect on SWFL President Biden recently signed into law the Water Resources Development Act with an aim to improve rivers and harbors across the country and provide for the conservation of water. Southwest Florida was included in that act. Putting the 240-page plan together took a lot of work, not just from state and federal lawmakers, but also […]
Turning business travel into a vacation Would work travel seem a little easier if you could turn it into a vacation? Two professors say they have proof that would help business travel.
The future of biometrics: Safer security or new AI risks? In 2021, the Transportation Service Agency (TSA) launched its new touchless identity solution in the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County airport.
CAPE CORAL Pelican Elementary resource officer saves infant A school resource officer at Pelican Elementary saved an infants’ life at a traffic stop in Cape Coral.
FORT MYERS Progress being made on City View Park in Dunbar More promises made by a city that has not kept its promises for the last six years have some neighbors concerned about the future of their community.
COLLIER COUNTY Seacrest hoops player hits a full court buzzer beater Seacrest Country Day School boys basketball player Hayden Fuller hits full court buzzer beater against Aubrey Rogers.
NAPLES Cutting-edge ACL surgery reducing reinjury risk by 80% Known for its game-changing orthopedic repair options, Naples-based Arthrex has done it again.
NAPLES MacStrength FL offers sport and lifestyle training for young athletes In 2025, MacStrength FL is swinging for success with their current players and for a wider reach in its community.
You can appeal FEMA’s decision on your claim – Here’s how Now a week after the deadline for FEMA hurricane assistance has closed, the federal agency says you can appeal their decision on your claim if you don’t agree.
Naples selects city CFO as next city manager, averts national search Naples Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Gary Young will become the next city manager, averting a lengthy, expensive national search for a replacement.
Charlotte County’s Mid-County Regional Library to reopen in 2026 After about $6.9 million in repairs and renovations to Mid-County Regional Library in Port Charlotte, the library is expected to reopen in 2026.
MATLACHA Man accused of deadly Matlacha DUI crash takes plea deal A man accused of driving drunk and crashing into the patio of a Matlacha restaurant, killing a woman and injuring others, has taken a plea deal with the state.
Opera Naples set to make land offer with seven-figure gift A seven-figure gift has provided the base for Opera Naples, Theater in the Garden and the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation to build an international center for the arts.
ENGLEWOOD Englewood Chamber distributes over $167K in hurricane relief funding The Englewood Chamber of Commerce announced over $167,000 in critical funding has been provided to individuals affected by Helene and Milton.
Cyclist group riding 500 miles for charity to pass through LaBelle Thirty-six Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure cyclist members participating in the annual 500-mile Tour de Florida charity ride will be passing through LaBelle next week.
It’s rare that a serious heart condition is a blessing, but that was the case for a Naples man. The surgery he received at NCH saved his life in more ways than one. Robert Perez and his wife Nancy Reyes’s path to Florida and freedom was long and complicated. Born in Cuba, he came to the U.S. in 1989 and moved back to his homeland in 2015. “I decided to go to Cuba and buy a house and a car, and that was illegal, being Cuban-American, so they got me there, and they put me in jail,” he told WINK News health and medical reporter Amy Oshier. The charges that landed Perez in prison were money laundering and tax evasion. For those crimes, he was sentenced to 15 years. About seven years in, Perez started experiencing chest pain. “They had no medicine. They got nothing, so the chest pain kept going and going,” Perez said. Tests showed he needed major surgery to fix blockages in his heart—something the prison system in Cuba couldn’t provide. His life was in the balance, but Perez found himself in no-man’s land, stuck between Cuban and U.S. policies. He hoped the U.S. government would get him out of jail so that he could come back to the states for an operation. “They agreed with the certificate, saying that I do need open heart surgery, but they wanted the medical institution in Cuba to write a letter saying that this kind of procedure can’t be done in Cuba,” he said A spokesperson from the U.S. State Department sent WINK News an email stating that due to privacy concerns they “don’t discuss individual cases of U.S. citizens.” Paperwork shows that after nine years in prison, Cuba’s Supreme Court granted Perez a conditional release allowing him to take a freedom flight to American for open heart surgery. Five days after landing on U.S. soil, he went to the emergency room at NCH. “His disease developed over a year and certainly got to a critical point,” said cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Robert Pascotto. “So critical that really, at any time, he could have had a pretty massive heart attack.” He went on to say Perez’ case was not particularly complicated. It was a standard three-vessel bypass. While a triple bypass operation isn’t uncommon in this country, it is still complex. “We get a vein from the leg artery, from the forearm and use an artery from the chest wall to do the bypasses,” said Dr. Pascotto, “and so the bypasses go around the blockages onto the heart and provide strong blood flow.” Perez sailed through surgery at NCH, his newly repaired heart full of gratitude. “He saved my life. He really saved my life,” said Perez about his surgeon. “First of all, this is a very unique situation. And again, it’s just an honor to be able to take care of someone like him,” said Dr. Pascotto. In his argument for the Cuban court system, attorneys for Perez cited language the Cuban government made to the United Nations, claiming that U.S. sanctions negatively impacted their ability to get medical supplies and ultimately provide care. That public claim made the difference in getting him out of prison.