FGCU women’s basketball clinches 8th straight ASUN ChampionshipPolice Explorer Marcus Freeman remembered 14 years after North Port crash
FGCU FGCU women’s basketball clinches 8th straight ASUN Championship The FGCU women’s basketball team beat Central Arkansas to win its eighth consecutive ASUN Conference Championship.
NORTH PORT Police Explorer Marcus Freeman remembered 14 years after North Port crash The North Port Police Department is remembering a young life lost too soon.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach celebrates early St. Patrick’s Day with lively parade Fort Myers Beach celebrated St. Patrick’s Day early with a lively parade, bringing the island to life with Irish spirit.
the weather authority A breezy Saturday with near-record high heat in store The Weather Authority says a warm Saturday with near-record high heat is in store with sun and clouds overhead.
SANIBEL Sanibel Beach shines as a top 2025 destination for shelling Southwest Florida’s beaches are a major draw for visitors from around the world.
911 calls save two kayakers in distress on Caloosahatchee River After strong winds left them stranded, two kayakers were rescued from the Caloosahatchee River.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral woman tricked into romance scam, police seek recovery Cape Coral police are working to recover more than $250,000 from a bank account that may be tied to criminal activity.
Captiva’s Mucky Duck plans reopening after hurricane damage The Mucky Duck, a beloved restaurant on Captiva Island, is determined to clear up any rumors about its closure.
PORT CHARLOTTE Tampa Bay Rays’ future in Port Charlotte raises business concerns The Tampa Bay Rays are planning to stay at Tropicana Field for the 2026 season while they repair damage from Hurricane Milton.
Red tide health alert lifted in certain Lee County areas The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has lifted the red tide health alerts issued in certain areas.
Charlotte Sheriff elected as chair of Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell is stepping into a new role as chair of the Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranches.
NAPLES Naples groups unite to protect endangered Florida Panthers The third Saturday in March marks the official Save the Florida Panther Day.
New housing development in Collier County raises environmental concerns Instead of fields of oranges fueling the local economy, rows of homes could soon take their place in the region.
NAPLES La Gondola: Venice experience in Southwest Florida Imagine cruising down the Southwest Florida waterways in your very own gondola, bringing a touch of Italy to Naples.
FORT MYERS Bubbles for Bug; Carwash raising funds for furry friend A Southwest Florida dog named Bug needs help. His owner, Lex Montanaro, is hosting a carwash fundraiser to raise the $10,000 Bug needs for surgery.
FGCU FGCU women’s basketball clinches 8th straight ASUN Championship The FGCU women’s basketball team beat Central Arkansas to win its eighth consecutive ASUN Conference Championship.
NORTH PORT Police Explorer Marcus Freeman remembered 14 years after North Port crash The North Port Police Department is remembering a young life lost too soon.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach celebrates early St. Patrick’s Day with lively parade Fort Myers Beach celebrated St. Patrick’s Day early with a lively parade, bringing the island to life with Irish spirit.
the weather authority A breezy Saturday with near-record high heat in store The Weather Authority says a warm Saturday with near-record high heat is in store with sun and clouds overhead.
SANIBEL Sanibel Beach shines as a top 2025 destination for shelling Southwest Florida’s beaches are a major draw for visitors from around the world.
911 calls save two kayakers in distress on Caloosahatchee River After strong winds left them stranded, two kayakers were rescued from the Caloosahatchee River.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral woman tricked into romance scam, police seek recovery Cape Coral police are working to recover more than $250,000 from a bank account that may be tied to criminal activity.
Captiva’s Mucky Duck plans reopening after hurricane damage The Mucky Duck, a beloved restaurant on Captiva Island, is determined to clear up any rumors about its closure.
PORT CHARLOTTE Tampa Bay Rays’ future in Port Charlotte raises business concerns The Tampa Bay Rays are planning to stay at Tropicana Field for the 2026 season while they repair damage from Hurricane Milton.
Red tide health alert lifted in certain Lee County areas The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has lifted the red tide health alerts issued in certain areas.
Charlotte Sheriff elected as chair of Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell is stepping into a new role as chair of the Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranches.
NAPLES Naples groups unite to protect endangered Florida Panthers The third Saturday in March marks the official Save the Florida Panther Day.
New housing development in Collier County raises environmental concerns Instead of fields of oranges fueling the local economy, rows of homes could soon take their place in the region.
NAPLES La Gondola: Venice experience in Southwest Florida Imagine cruising down the Southwest Florida waterways in your very own gondola, bringing a touch of Italy to Naples.
FORT MYERS Bubbles for Bug; Carwash raising funds for furry friend A Southwest Florida dog named Bug needs help. His owner, Lex Montanaro, is hosting a carwash fundraiser to raise the $10,000 Bug needs for surgery.
A Naples construction supervisor faces serious allegations after being accused of using his position to sexually assault employees. Jose Guadalupe Contreras Cruz, 60, was arrested twice in as many months on sexual assault charges. Naples police first arrested Cruz in February for allegedly forcing himself on an employee. He was released on bail but back in custody on Wednesday after another employee accused him. “She gave herself her voice, and she went and reported it,” said Eileen Wesley, CEO of Project HELP, a rape recovery and victims service center in Naples. The second victim reported that Cruz groped her multiple times at a job site in the Moorings Park community. A witness reportedly captured a photo of the unwanted advances in July 2024. “It is traumatic. It’s not something you can just brush off,” said Wesley. “It stays with you. You might want to quit your job. You might feel uncomfortable going back to work. So we want people want to help.” Wesley emphasized the importance of victims coming forward and noted that Cruz’s repeated accusations suggest a pattern of behavior. “In a case like this, you’re caught, and then you’re caught again. It kind of tells the public this guy is not innocent from what he’s doing,” she said. “Bravo, that they stepped up. They may have kept it a secret if they thought they were the only one.” According to one of the arrest reports, there may be more victims who are afraid to speak up for fear of losing their jobs. Wesley assured that there are resources available for those in need. “We can maybe take you to a workforce center and help you get your resume written so you can go find that other job because you refuse to go back, and you can’t blame them,” she said, highlighting that every county in Florida has a rape crisis center. Project HELP’s 24/7 crisis hotline is available, and walk-ins are welcome at their Naples office. For more resources, visit WINK News online. Cruz is expected to appear in court in the coming weeks for both cases.