Sex offender trespassing in Golden Gate home found by deputies on toilet

A registered sex offender was arrested Tuesday afternoon after deputies say he broke into a man’s Golden Gate home and was found using the toilet before being detained. According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, James Hobby, 43, was arrested after deputies went to a home on 45th Terrace Southwest at around 3:30 p.m. in […]

3 months after Ian, Vanderbilt Beach continues to rebuild

Much of Vanderbilt Beach was swallowed in Hurricane Ian’s storm surge. Wednesday, three months after Ian roared ashore, there is progress. One neighborhood has gone from destruction to construction. “We’re looking forward, you know, to getting it rebuilt,” said Maha Ghazzi, of Vanderbilt Beach. “We’re seeing improvement daily, with the cleanup efforts and some of […]

East Naples artist restarts career with help of anonymous WINK viewers

An artist in East Naples who lost all her supplies during Hurricane Ian and no longer had a way to make a living received much-needed help from anonymous strangers who saw her plight on WINK News. Kaata Mrachek’s life work was destroyed by the floodwaters that swept through her mobile home in Moorhead Manor. Her […]

Most Wanted Wednesday: Featuring some of SWFL’s most wanted suspects; Dec. 28

This weekly WINK News segment features fugitives from justice right here in Southwest Florida. This is your chance to help out the community and give the tip that gets these people off the street. These suspects need to be found – and you can help. If you have seen them, reach out to Crime Stoppers […]

Construction begins at Habitat for Humanity Kaicasa subdivision in Collier County

One of the largest affordable communities built by Habitat for Humanity is in Southwest Florida. After many years in development, construction at the long-anticipated Habitat Collier subdivision of Kaicasa is officially underway. The neighborhood had its first wall-raising. The home will soon be occupied by a family. Volunteers, staff and people from the community came […]

2 suspects face drug charges after Immokalee arrest

A man and a woman face drug charges after Collier County deputies pulled them over in Immokalee and said the suspects possessed amphetamines. According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, James Robert Pender, 36, a convicted felon wanted on a warrant out of Hendry County, was arrested after a deputy recognized him driving near Immokalee […]

Overturned box truck leads to backup on Alligator Alley

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a crash on Alligator Alley in which a box truck overturned, leading to at least one injury and a severe traffic backup. The crash occurred near mile marker 63, next to Big Cypress National Preserve. Someone was seen being airlifted from the scene of the crash. This is a […]

Collier County children’s Tylenol shortage

Health experts predict that Covid, the flu, and RSV will make a strong comeback right after the new year. Consequently, the demand for children’s medicine is up and could continue to rise. And with increased demand, the medication on some Southwest Florida pharmacy shelves is either sparse or all gone. In Collier County, WINK News […]

360 families fed during St. Matthews House final food distribution of 2022

At St. Matthew’s House, families in need are lining up for hours for their final food distribution of the year. Tuesday morning’s food distribution at Naples Alliance Church was supposed to begin at 10:30 a.m. But since people started lining up at 7 a.m., St. Matthews also began early. They were handing out food, diapers, […]

Firefighters rescue 2 dogs from Golden Gate house fire

Fire crews rescued two dogs while responding to a Tuesday afternoon house fire on 48th Terrace Southwest in Golden Gate. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Greater Naples Fire Rescue District. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.