MANASOTA KEY Cleaning up Manasota Key after Helene Hurricane Helene caused severe flooding that seemed to spare no one on Manasota Key. Two families share their cleanup stories with WINK News.
PUNTA GORDA Historic District in Punta Gorda recovering after Helene So much of Southwest Florida continues to recover in the aftermath of Helene, especially in areas on the coast.
Florida Blue says negotiations with NCH are still ongoing Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) and Florida Blue have until midnight on Monday to reach a deal on a new contract.
Fort Myers Beach cleans up after Helene For many, Fort Myers Beach has been the epicenter of hope and recovery after Ian. Now people are looking back at the island town again after Hurricane Helene.
NORTH PORT New details emerge confirming state investigation into Heritage Insurance WINK News is breaking new details on a criminal investigation into an insurance company where customers claim they were left with wrecked homes after Ian and no money to rebuild.
LABELLE Linemen get superhero sendoff as they help with Helene recovery Local linemen get superhero sendoff as they head North to help with Helene recovery efforts in other states
FORT MYERS Man arrested after Fort Myers police confiscate nearly $1M and almost 700g of fentanyl The Fort Myers police department has arrested a man in connection with a large-scale drug operation.
PORT CHARLOTTE Animal shelter in Charlotte Harbor devastated by Helene is seeking support Dogs looking for homes have had their temporary home taken away by the storm surge of Hurricane Helene.
FORT MYERS Dean Park residents continue dealing with flooding issues after Helene Dean Park in Fort Myers looks different than it did a week ago. Couches, tables, mattresses, and an assortment of people’s possessions litter the neighborhood leftover from Hurricane Helene.
LEE COUNTY Heritage Farms community recovering from Hurricane Helene Just like Hurricane Ian, Hurricane Helene sent water into homes in the Heritage Farms community, sending people back into clean up mode.
FORT MYERS BEACH Cleaning up after Helene on Fort Myers Beach Hurricane Helene brought havoc to Florida, especially on Fort Myers Beach. Residents were forced to evacuate, and homes even flooded. It also triggered anxiety from Hurricane Ian.
SANIBEL Blind Pass Condominiums struggling after Helene It’s being considered a punch in the gut. Neighbors were almost finished recovering from Hurricane Ian when Hurricane Helene rolled by the coast.
Verizon customers affected by service outage Verizon Wireless is experiencing a widespread outage across the country that is affecting customers in Southwest Florida.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) Supplies arrive by plane and mule to North Carolina as Helene death toll reaches 130 Desperate residents isolated by washed-out roads and the lack of power and cellular service in western North Carolina lined up Monday for fresh water and a chance to message loved ones that they were alive, days after Hurricane Helene tore through the Southeastern U.S. and killed more than 130 people.
FORT MYERS $1 billion RSW expansion project to begin Tuesday The Lee County Port Authority will begin Southwest Florida International Airport’s Terminal Expansion Phase 2, a more than $1 billion project.
MANASOTA KEY Cleaning up Manasota Key after Helene Hurricane Helene caused severe flooding that seemed to spare no one on Manasota Key. Two families share their cleanup stories with WINK News.
PUNTA GORDA Historic District in Punta Gorda recovering after Helene So much of Southwest Florida continues to recover in the aftermath of Helene, especially in areas on the coast.
Florida Blue says negotiations with NCH are still ongoing Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) and Florida Blue have until midnight on Monday to reach a deal on a new contract.
Fort Myers Beach cleans up after Helene For many, Fort Myers Beach has been the epicenter of hope and recovery after Ian. Now people are looking back at the island town again after Hurricane Helene.
NORTH PORT New details emerge confirming state investigation into Heritage Insurance WINK News is breaking new details on a criminal investigation into an insurance company where customers claim they were left with wrecked homes after Ian and no money to rebuild.
LABELLE Linemen get superhero sendoff as they help with Helene recovery Local linemen get superhero sendoff as they head North to help with Helene recovery efforts in other states
FORT MYERS Man arrested after Fort Myers police confiscate nearly $1M and almost 700g of fentanyl The Fort Myers police department has arrested a man in connection with a large-scale drug operation.
PORT CHARLOTTE Animal shelter in Charlotte Harbor devastated by Helene is seeking support Dogs looking for homes have had their temporary home taken away by the storm surge of Hurricane Helene.
FORT MYERS Dean Park residents continue dealing with flooding issues after Helene Dean Park in Fort Myers looks different than it did a week ago. Couches, tables, mattresses, and an assortment of people’s possessions litter the neighborhood leftover from Hurricane Helene.
LEE COUNTY Heritage Farms community recovering from Hurricane Helene Just like Hurricane Ian, Hurricane Helene sent water into homes in the Heritage Farms community, sending people back into clean up mode.
FORT MYERS BEACH Cleaning up after Helene on Fort Myers Beach Hurricane Helene brought havoc to Florida, especially on Fort Myers Beach. Residents were forced to evacuate, and homes even flooded. It also triggered anxiety from Hurricane Ian.
SANIBEL Blind Pass Condominiums struggling after Helene It’s being considered a punch in the gut. Neighbors were almost finished recovering from Hurricane Ian when Hurricane Helene rolled by the coast.
Verizon customers affected by service outage Verizon Wireless is experiencing a widespread outage across the country that is affecting customers in Southwest Florida.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) Supplies arrive by plane and mule to North Carolina as Helene death toll reaches 130 Desperate residents isolated by washed-out roads and the lack of power and cellular service in western North Carolina lined up Monday for fresh water and a chance to message loved ones that they were alive, days after Hurricane Helene tore through the Southeastern U.S. and killed more than 130 people.
FORT MYERS $1 billion RSW expansion project to begin Tuesday The Lee County Port Authority will begin Southwest Florida International Airport’s Terminal Expansion Phase 2, a more than $1 billion project.
COLLIER COUNTY Collier County schools community reacts to ousting of Superintendent Kamela Patton The vote was unanimous. The result was Collier County school’s Superintendent Kamela Patton was stripped of her title. The board voted Tuesday night to remove Patton from office shortly before she was scheduled to step down. Parents of kids in the Collier County school system said they saw this coming as soon as voters elected […]
COLLIER COUNTY Salvation Army daycare in Naples working to recover from fire, temporarily relocating A daycare filled with kids catches fire, sending their parents into a panic. Fifty kids were inside the Salvation Army building in Naples when it caught fire on Monday. All of the kids that were inside got out safely. Now, the question is where the kids are meant to go to school with their building […]
NAPLES Albino boa constrictor found and caught in Naples A rare albino boa constrictor was lying in the bushes outside of a Naples home, so naturally, the people that found it called for help. The 9-and-a-half-foot boa was hard to miss and caused a lot of excitement. Taylor and Rhett Stanberry love wildlife, calling themselves venomous keepers and re-locators. “And at first, he thought […]
COLLIER COUNTY Dr. Kamela Patton out as Collier County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kamela Patton, the Collier County Superintendent of Schools, is officially out. After a unanimous vote from the school board Tuesday night, Patton was released from her duties earlier than anticipated. There was a bit of confusion about how exactly her departure was first brought up. Nevertheless, Patton made one thing clear; she wants […]
EAST NAPLES Swamp Axe Co. reopens after storm surge damage in East Naples People are back to throwing axes for sport after Hurricane Ian, and Swamp Axe Co. in East Naples has reopened after the storm damaged the building. The sport of axe-throwing is here to stay in Southwest Florida. But in East Naples, Swamp Axe Co. just came back after the damage caused by Ian. Chris Jones […]
NAPLES Youth Haven helping kids and teens during the holidays Youth Haven in Naples provides homes, hope, and healing to abused and neglected children and teenagers in Southwest Florida during the holidays. Linda Goldfield, the CEO of Youth Haven, said many children at the shelter aren’t used to the customary cheer, lights, and trees during the holidays. “As they’re celebrating Christmas here on our campus, […]
EAST NAPLES Structural damage to Salvation Army building from a fire in East Naples A Salvation Army in Collier County is closed Monday night just 12 days before Christmas after a fire broke out. Greater Naples Fire told WINK News the fire started outside the building around 2:30 p.m. on Monday and began moving inside. They put it out quickly, but there was a lot of smoke and structural […]
GOLDEN GATE FHP looking for driver who killed biker in Golden Gate hit-and-run A car slammed into the back of a bike, sending the man riding it off and killing him immediately in Golden Gate over the weekend. WINK News learned Monday afternoon that troopers have recovered the 2021 Toyota Camry that hit the bike. But, Florida Highway Patrol won’t answer who was driving the car when he […]
NAPLES Lawsuit against Fortnite and identifying video game addiction Parents are suing the creators of Fortnite since many kids have stopped eating, showering, and even sleeping to play more. Fortnite, an online interactive combat game with non-stop action, appeals to so many of its more than 250,000,000 registered users. Parents are saying that their children’s dedication to Fortnite is beyond obsessive and might be […]
MARCO ISLAND How to protect your mail after 2 are arrested for mail theft on Marco Island Letters to families, postcards, and annual Christmas cards were stolen directly out of mailboxes, and earlier this week, Marco Island Police arrested two people for the crime. Police say 24-year-old Aldriel Cepero-Vazquez and 20-year-old Lisandra Herrera De La Cruz hit 16 different streets in one day. Thankfully, the mail was recovered and will be returned […]