Man charged in Phoenix-area shootings appears before judge

MESA, Ariz. (AP) – An ex-convict accused of shooting and killing one person and wounding five others in a Phoenix suburb has a history of substance abuse and police run-ins, according to court records. Ryan Giroux, 41, made his first court appearance Thursday as authorities tried to figure out what triggered the rampage that led […]

Lee County deputy on leave after failing to show up at 911 call

LEE COUNTY, Fla.- Sheriff Mike Scott says one of his deputies should be fired after he did not show up at a 911 call. Officials say a woman is now dead. Neighbors say they found her lying on the ground with ants crawling over her body, her phone in one hand, and medication in the […]

Myakka Pines golfing gator gets a name

ENGLEWOOD, Fla.-  The gator spotted at the Myakka Pines Golf Club now has a name! You voted and the official name of the gator gone viral is Goliath. The golf club now plans to make t-shirts in its honor. Last week, pictures featuring the huge gator made international headlines.

Former Lee County teacher pleads guilty to sending student racy pictures

LEE COUNTY, Fla.- A 29-year-old former elementary school teacher pleaded guilty to sending racy pictures to a student. Tara Roberts was fired in November from her job at River Hall Elementary School in Alva. The former teacher will only get five years of probation for pleading guilty, but she will be a registered sex offender. […]

Cape Coral police investigate stranger danger incident

CAPE CORAL, Fla.- Police are investigating a report of a suspicious man trying to pick up a high school student. The teen was walking near the corner of Country Club Boulevard and Southeast 7th Place when she says a man pulled up in a red truck and offered her a ride. She repeatedly refused and […]

Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office looking to make upgrades

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla- Moldy buildings, expensive rent and an exploding population are forcing the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office to consider major changes. CCSO says it even needs a new headquarters. “We’re starting to grow out of a lot of our facilities I know over the next few years. If they’re right, they’re predicting that Charlotte […]

Bonita Springs approves $3.5 million loan for Everglades Wonder Gardens

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla.- The City of Bonita Springs will spend $3.5 million to save the Everglades Wonder Gardens. The money will allow the current tenant to purchase the botanical garden. There was concern that the land could be sold to a developer, so this loan will keep that from happening. The loan will be repaid […]

Lee Memorial Health System to add more than 200 beds to local hospital

LEE COUNTY, Fla.- Overcrowding, hour-long wait times, patients lining the hallways. WINK News has reported on problems at Southwest Florida hospitals for months. WINK News confirms Lee Memorial Health System plans to add 275 beds to Gulf Coast Medical Center to help with the unprecedented growth and demand for services. Hospital president Jim Nathan will […]

For sale: Florida island with mansion, guest house

LITTLE BOKEELIA ISLAND, Fla. (AP) – The owners of an island in the mouth of Charlotte Harbor want to sell. So real estate agent Klaus Lang is asking potential buyers to “present your best offers” on the 104-acre island with a mansion and guest house. In Internet advertisements, he notes that the sellers have owned […]

Kraft recalls 6.5 million boxes of mac and cheese

NEW YORK (AP) – Kraft Foods is recalling about 6.5 million boxes cases of original flavor Kraft Macaroni & Cheese because some of the boxes contain small pieces of metal. The boxes have “best when used by” dates ranging from Sept. 18, 2015 through Oct. 11, 2015 and are marked with the code “C2.” They […]