Labor shortage

How bad is the labor shortage in SWFL?

On this Labor Day many people are not working but is there a labor shortage? Going out to eat chances are you’ve seen long wait times or slow service and considered the same question. The state of labor shortage in Southwest Florida is all over the place. Jill Bacus is a restaurant owner in Cape […]

Lovers Key

Lovers Key closed on Labor Day due to suspected water contamination

The Lovers Key State Park beach has been closed to swimming because the Health Department thinks the water there is contaminated with fecal matter. The latest test shows that the water is not contanimated. WINK News found out how closing the beach on Labor Day is affecting beachgoers. A “You-Gov” survey found just 11% of […]

Spending shortage affects SWFL businesses as much as worker shortage

Big companies like Uline and Tesla are moving into Southwest Florida, but some worry the area can’t sustain that level of growth due to a shortage of spending as much as a shortage of labor. Prices have gone up everywhere. That, paired with inflation, has fewer people going out to eat at restaurants or to […]

2 garbage trucks catch fire at Waste Pro facility in south Fort Myers

Two Waste Pro garbage trucks have been destroyed after they caught fire at Waste Pro’s south Fort Myers facility. The South Trail Fire Protection and Rescue Service District responded to the fire just after 12:30 Sunday afternoon. They say two garbage trucks were ‘fully involved’ when they arrived. A nearby Waste Pro pickup truck was […]

Lovers Key closed for swimming pending water testing

The Lovers Key State Park beach has been closed to swimming pending the results of testing from the Florida Department of Health. The beach was closed to swimming beginning on Saturday. The state has not said what they are testing the water for or if they have detected anything in the water. WINK News spoke […]

traffic

Labor Day expected to bring lots of visitors, traffic to Southwest Florida

Millions of Americans have plans this holiday weekend, whether it’s visiting family or enjoying a staycation on one of Southwest Florida’s beautiful beaches. AAA says around 137 million people, more than a third of all Americans, are expected to travel over Labor Day weekend, so Southwest Florida’s roads will likely be packed. People will be […]

murdered marine

Family of murdered Marine speaks out after non-guilty verdict

The family of a Marine Corps veteran murdered 25 years ago is speaking out after the non-guilty verdict on Friday. Keith Jones was staying at the former Tides Motel in downtown Fort Myers, when four men went into his room beat, robbed, and killed him. Michelle Ashley was accused of setting the stage for Jones’ […]

Michelle Ashley found not guilty for involvement in Marine Corps veteran murder

Michelle Ashley has been found not guilty of being involved in the murder of a marine 25 years ago. The jury deliberated for close to two hours before reading out that Ashley was not guilty. “I told you I was innocent,” were Ashley’s first words to reporters after hearing the verdict, changing the course of […]

fire hydrant

Water washes away road after a car crashes into fire hydrant in Lee County

A car crash into a fire hydrant along Galeana Drive, a service road running parallel to U.S. 41, and caused water to wash away part of the roadway. According to the South Trail Fire Department, the crash happened along the road in front of Dixie Buick in south Fort Myers. The crash on S. Tamiami […]

desmaret

Trial delayed for defendant in police officer’s death, new attorney assigned to case

The trial for a man accused of killing a Fort Myers police officer has been delayed. Jury selection was supposed to start on Tuesday for Wisner Desmaret, who is accused of killing Officer Adam Jobbers-Miller, but judge Robert Branning has granted a last-minute request to remove Desmaret’s attorneys. Instead, Attorney Lee Hollander has been assigned […]