Students at Diplomat Middle happy to return, despite school damage

Children at Diplomat Middle School returned to their classrooms for the first time in over a month Tuesday morning, but the buildings they returned to did not look like they did before Hurricane Ian. Diplomat Middle, located at 1039 NE 16th Terrace, had a cracked exterior, missing ceiling tiles and ripped-up flooring. Principal Maura Bennington […]

Making Strides: Collier County woman details family’s breast cancer history

One family-owned business in Collier County is close to raising $100,000 for breast cancer awareness. STOCK Luxury Homes got involved because its staff has a firsthand understanding of the battle against the disease. Six women on the company’s team shared stories and worked hard these last few weeks to raise money. One of them is […]

Talking to children after Hurricane Ian

Lee County’s public school students are all finally back to class; most are attending school in person, and some are learning virtually. It’s been many tough weeks since Hurricane Ian destroyed many of their homes and disrupted their lives. What do our kids need right now? “We have no idea how we are going to […]

Florida Board of Education OKs strict bathroom, locker room policy

County school boards and charter schools will have to follow new requirements for notifying parents about policies involving access to bathrooms and locker rooms, under a rule unanimously approved on Wednesday by the Florida Board of Education. During a heated meeting, the state board signed off on a separate rule that could lead to teachers […]

Students, staff from schools ruined by Ian reunite at San Carlos Park Elementary

On Thursday morning, students and staff from two Lee County schools damaged beyond repair by Hurricane Ian headed back to class at San Carlos Park Elementary. Lee County School Superintendent Christopher Bernier vowed to keep the students from the Sanibel School and Fort Myers Beach Elementary together, even though it’s impossible for them to return […]

Lee County public schools aim to reopen Oct. 17

Lee County public schools aim to reopen on Oct. 17 but will remain closed through Oct. 14. According to Lee County School Superintendent Christopher Bernier, the School District of Lee County is still dealing with campuses that require repairs after Hurricane Ian and utility and transit issues that may prevent students and staff from safely […]

Lee County schools’ head of security on keeping students safe after threats

WINK News spoke to the man in charge of safety and security for the School District of Lee County after doing a back-to-school survey of parents, teachers and students and what is important to them. As Southwest Florida parents get their children ready for school Monday morning, many are probably thinking of the images from […]

Talking to kids about stress, gun safety after multiple SWFL school threats

Southwest Florida has seen eight school threats in only five weeks, and those are just the ones we know about. What’s going on with our children, and what can we do to help them? Experts say stress is a major factor in a lot of cases they’re seeing. WINK News spoke with Ariella VanHara, the […]

Florida professor, student challenge controversial ‘Stop WOKE’ law

A professor, a student and an organization at the University of South Florida have filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a new state law that restricts the way race-related concepts can be taught in classrooms — a law Gov. Ron DeSantis dubbed the “Stop WOKE Act.” The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in federal court in […]

Laces of Love nonprofit giving free shoes to hundreds of SWFL students

With the costs of rent and utilities going up and forcing parents to make tough choices, the nonprofit group Laces of Love is trying to help by providing free shoes for hundreds of Lee County children on Wednesday morning. Laces of Love will be donating 300 pairs of new shoes at around 8:45 a.m. These […]