Kerry heading to Europe, Middle East, Asia next week

WASHINGTON (AP) – Secretary of State John Kerry will be heading back to Europe next week at the start of an around-the-world diplomatic mission that will also take him to the Middle East and Asia. The State Department said Friday that Kerry plans to leave early in the week for Switzerland, where he will meet […]

Spacewalk aborted after water leaks into astronaut’s helmet

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) – Two astronauts aborted their spacewalk Friday and hurried back into the International Space Station after water leaked into one of the men’s helmets in a scary repeat of a near-drowning 2½ years ago. The trouble cropped up after the astronauts – including Britain’s 1st spacewalker – successfully restored full power […]

Worker dies after wall collapses at water treatment plant

VENICE, Fla. (AP) – Police say a worker died after a concrete wall collapsed on top of him at a southwest Florida wastewater treatment plant. Interim Venice Police Chief Thomas Mattmuller says the 35-year-old man was involved in demolition work at the City of Venice Eastside Water Reclamation Facility. Mattmuller tells the Herald Tribune (http://bit.ly/1KhmtNR […]

Florida Legislature passes measure to aid disabled

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – A measure to aid those with disabilities gain jobs is heading to Gov. Rick Scott. The Florida Senate unanimously approved the bill Friday. Senate President Andy Gardiner has a son with Down syndrome and has pushed several bills this year to help those with disabilities. The final bill in the package […]

Rare January hurricane weakens to tropical storm

MIAMI (AP) – A rare January hurricane in the Atlantic weakened to a tropical storm Friday morning after moving over the Azores. Tropical Storm Alex’s maximum sustained winds had decreased to near 70 mph (110 kph) Friday morning and was moving away from the Azores, where it brought rain, high waves and wind. The storm […]

Biden sees politics of cancer world as obstacle to a cure

WASHINGTON (AP) – Four weeks after announcing he wouldn’t run for president, Joe Biden returned to the world-renowned cancer center in Texas where doctors had tried to save his son’s life. Officially, the vice president was in Houston to speak about infrastructure spending and raise money for Democrats. Left off of his public schedule was […]

Should lottery winners’ names be secret? States debate issue

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Even a jackpot isn’t enough to buy anonymity for many lottery winners, whose names are often made public by state law. But now it’s becoming increasingly possible for big winners to hide their identity, and lottery executives are trying to strike a balance between ensuring privacy and safety while still […]

Family of slain American gather for funeral

FLORENCE, Italy (AP) – Friends and family of an American woman killed in her Florence apartment gathered Friday for a funeral and burial in her adopted Tuscan homeland as authorities prepared to present their case to a judge against the prime suspect in her slaying. Friends carrying red, white and pink roses joined relatives of […]

94.5 The Arrow Bacon Jam: Bruno’s of Brooklyn

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Local restaurants in Southwest Florida are perfecting their best bacon-themed dishes in preparation for the 94.5 The Arrow Bacon Jam. The event will take place Saturday, January 16 in Centennial Park in Fort Myers. Cal Bruno from Bruno’s of Brooklyn joined us in the WINK News studio to give us a […]

Celebrating our heroes

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – A local dermatologist office is stopping to recognize our local heroes. Florida Skin Center of Cape Coral is offering free skin screenings for veterans and first-responders on Saturday, January 16th and they want you to get involved. Jesmarie Roldan stopped into the WINK News studio to tell us more.