Wade Wilson’s automatic death penalty appeal beginsPhoto shows SWFL teens hit in New Orleans terrorist attack reunited in hospital
FORT MYERS Wade Wilson’s automatic death penalty appeal begins The man convicted and sentenced to death for the killing of two Cape Coral women has begun his first of many appeals to the death sentence he got last year.
Photo shows SWFL teens hit in New Orleans terrorist attack reunited in hospital The grandfather of one of the teens struck by a truck in a New Orleans terrorist attack has released a picture of the teens sharing an emotional moment in the hospital.
FORT MYERS Goodbye mocking bird, hello flamingo? A bill to change the official state bird has been filed in the Florida House of Representatives.
Charlotte County projects $362M cost from Hurricane Ian As Charlotte County officials await cost estimates from the impacts of 2024 hurricanes Helene and Milton, the county is already reeling from the $362,021,150 cost of Hurricane Ian in 2022.
CAPE CORAL Final report reveals cause of February airplane crash in Cape Coral The National Transportation Safety Board has released the cause of the airplane crash that occurred in Cape Coral in February.
VANDERBILT BEACH Collier County issues red tide alert for beaches If you’re thinking of heading to the beach in Collier County, heed this warning.
LCSO nonprofit plans to rezone 10 acres of North Fort Myers riverfront for deputy homes The story of Home Front Heroes so far spans three years and has connections to tens of thousands of dollars in political donations.
Final day approaches to apply for FEMA hurricane assistance Those affected by the 2024 hurricane season have until Tuesday to apply for assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
San Carlos Park Lee County students ride school bus for first time after lengthy district battle For the first time this school year, a local mother can put her children on an actual school bus to get to class.
LEHIGH ACRES 2 women wanted for theft at Family Dollar in Lehigh Acres According to Crime Stoppers, two women entered Bell Boulevard on Dec. 18 and requested to purchase a $490 digital gift card.
NAPLES St. Matthew’s House continues to open shelters due to cold weather St. Matthew’s House announced it will continue to keep its two emergency shelters open tonight and through the week.
Southwest Florida International Airport Cancellations and delays at RSW amid US winter storm Southwest Florida International Airport travelers are bracing against delays and cancelations due to dangerous winter conditions throughout the United States.
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Warm, breezy before a cold front brings isolated rain this evening The Weather Authority is tracking warmer conditions ahead of a cold front, bringing lower temperatures and isolated rain this Monday evening.
wink news Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads-Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox-Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
FORT MYERS Charity hockey game to be held for family of Sgt. Elio Diaz The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office will take on LCSO in a charity hockey game to benefit the family of Elio Diaz.
FORT MYERS Wade Wilson’s automatic death penalty appeal begins The man convicted and sentenced to death for the killing of two Cape Coral women has begun his first of many appeals to the death sentence he got last year.
Photo shows SWFL teens hit in New Orleans terrorist attack reunited in hospital The grandfather of one of the teens struck by a truck in a New Orleans terrorist attack has released a picture of the teens sharing an emotional moment in the hospital.
FORT MYERS Goodbye mocking bird, hello flamingo? A bill to change the official state bird has been filed in the Florida House of Representatives.
Charlotte County projects $362M cost from Hurricane Ian As Charlotte County officials await cost estimates from the impacts of 2024 hurricanes Helene and Milton, the county is already reeling from the $362,021,150 cost of Hurricane Ian in 2022.
CAPE CORAL Final report reveals cause of February airplane crash in Cape Coral The National Transportation Safety Board has released the cause of the airplane crash that occurred in Cape Coral in February.
VANDERBILT BEACH Collier County issues red tide alert for beaches If you’re thinking of heading to the beach in Collier County, heed this warning.
LCSO nonprofit plans to rezone 10 acres of North Fort Myers riverfront for deputy homes The story of Home Front Heroes so far spans three years and has connections to tens of thousands of dollars in political donations.
Final day approaches to apply for FEMA hurricane assistance Those affected by the 2024 hurricane season have until Tuesday to apply for assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
San Carlos Park Lee County students ride school bus for first time after lengthy district battle For the first time this school year, a local mother can put her children on an actual school bus to get to class.
LEHIGH ACRES 2 women wanted for theft at Family Dollar in Lehigh Acres According to Crime Stoppers, two women entered Bell Boulevard on Dec. 18 and requested to purchase a $490 digital gift card.
NAPLES St. Matthew’s House continues to open shelters due to cold weather St. Matthew’s House announced it will continue to keep its two emergency shelters open tonight and through the week.
Southwest Florida International Airport Cancellations and delays at RSW amid US winter storm Southwest Florida International Airport travelers are bracing against delays and cancelations due to dangerous winter conditions throughout the United States.
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Warm, breezy before a cold front brings isolated rain this evening The Weather Authority is tracking warmer conditions ahead of a cold front, bringing lower temperatures and isolated rain this Monday evening.
wink news Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads-Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox-Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
FORT MYERS Charity hockey game to be held for family of Sgt. Elio Diaz The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office will take on LCSO in a charity hockey game to benefit the family of Elio Diaz.
Credit: WINK News According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, a Punta Gorda man has been arrested for sending over thirty threatening emails to senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott and a Punta Gorda police officer. Before making those threats, Charles Bentley allegedly sent over a hundred a day to employees at the Jewish Family and Children Service (JFCS), a nonprofit in Port Charlotte. Court records state the ways Bentley allegedly threatened to kill those employees, including cremation, shooting, or driving his truck through their office. Those threats even led to the closure of the JFCS center for their safety. Bentley allegedly sent similar threats to a Punta Gorda police officer and senators Rubio and Scott. Authorities said he threatened to drive through every congressman’s office 777 times and even demanded $500 million. WINK News safety and security expert Kristen Ziman, a former police chief, said this case speaks to the harsh reality of online threats. “This case really highlights the growing concern over threats made through digital platforms where we can almost foreshadow what’s to come,” said Ziman. “We see that there is what we call leakage in any kind of act of violence where these individuals will post it somewhere, and in this case, he made overt threats. These have far-reaching impacts on public safety and mental health and trust in community institutions.” Bentley remains in the Charlotte County Jail, held without bond. He is charged with written threats to kill, cyber-intimidation threatening bodily harm, and obstruction. According to court documents, the U.S. Capitol police and Senator Rick Scott plan on pressing charges in connection with the threats made toward the senators. “He may face additional federal charges as well for using interstate communications, which means it goes across jurisdictional lines,” explained Ziman. “And then, of course, on top of that, you have potential hate crime enhancements.” The fact that Bentley resisted arrest, even needing to be tasered, does not help. “His explicit threats to harm individuals and his obstructive behavior during his arrest solidified the case for both state and federal charges,” said Ziman. But, Ziman also pointed out their could be another issue at play. “His irrational demands, his escalating language, the voluminous amount of messages that were sent to these entities, they do point to an underlying mental health issue which may become a factor during prosecution,” said Ziman. Bentley was arrested at the Pilot Travel Center on Jones Loop in Punta Gorda on New Year’s Eve.