3 new restaurants coming this fall to Coconut Point Cape Coral City Council salary, stipend won’t appear on November ballot
FORT MYERS BEACH Move forward or out? Many on Fort Myers Beach making tough choices amid Hurricane Ian recovery While waiting to see how much the fight to preserve most of Lee County’s 25% flood insurance discount will turn out, WINK News found that nowhere is the proximity of moving forward and moving out so intertwined as Fort Myers Beach. WINK NEWS LCSO announces dozens of drug-related arrests following months-long investigation Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno has announced many drug-related arrests made after an undercover operation that had lasted months. NAPLES 18-year-old charged with vehicular homicide for deadly Naples crash Police have arrested a young man involved in a crash where a 66-year-old woman died a week later after succumbing to her injuries. CAPE CORAL Cape Coral softball coach arrested for alleged inappropriate behavior with student A volunteer softball coach at Oasis High School has been arrested on multiple charges due to inappropriate behavior with a student. PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte man accused of shooting and killing barber pleads not guilty A Port Charlotte man who allegedly shot and killed a barber has been arrested on second-degree murder charges and pleaded not guilty for the incident. SANIBEL Leatherback sea turtle nesting season begins in Sanibel The Leatherback Sea turtles have begun to nest in Sanibel, marking the return of nesting season in Southwest Florida. GLADES COUNTY Deputies: Glades County man caught disguised as woman accused of trying to steal boat A man has been arrested after allegedly stealing a boat and trying to elude deputies by disguising himself in women’s clothing and a wig in Glades County. PORT CHARLOTTE Centennial Park Recreation Center and pool closures The Centennial Park Recreation Center gymnasium will close for the Florida Friendly Garden Fest this weekend. The Weather Authority A warmer Thursday start with stray showers this afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a warm Thursday morning start with the potential of stray rain showers for the afternoon. WINK NEWS FTC issues refunds of over $5M to Ring customers; are you eligible? The Federal Trade Commission will refund Ring customers following a 2023 settlement that allowed employees and contractors to access cameras. Gulfshore Business View all 3 new restaurants coming this fall to Coconut Point Fresh Catch Bistro, PJK Neighborhood Chinese Restaurant and Real Seafood Co. are launching upscale casual restaurants in units previously home to TGI Fridays, The Saloon and Bokamper’s Sports Bar & Grill, respectively. Cape Coral City Council salary, stipend won’t appear on November ballot After being presented with four proposals at an April 24 committee of the whole meeting, Council couldn’t come to a legitimate consensus for City Attorney Aleksandr Boksner to formulate a referendum for the November ballot. Evangelical Christian School completes $28.6M purchase of Hodges campus The property consisting of two buildings at 4501 Colonial Blvd. and 4445 Winkler Ave., at the northeast corner of Colonial and Winkler, will continue to serve as Hodges’ home through June. Burnt Store Road area residents ask for stakeholder meeting Members of the Burnt Store Corridor Coalition urged Charlotte County commissioners on April 23 to host a stakeholder meeting to help solve problems related to the area’s increasing growth. Sanibel Captiva Trust Co. opens two new offices Sanibel Captiva Trust Co. finished navigating its aftermath of Hurricane Ian, moving into two new office buildings to better serve its clients. El Gaucho Trattoria to open in North Naples After opening three Peruvian and Argentinian restaurants inspired by owners Rocio Navarrete and Mariano Maldonado’s heritage, the couple is departing from their usual concept and diving into Maldonado’s Italian heritage for their new restaurant. Babcock Ranch, FPL unveil Solar Ranch Eco-Discovery Center The 2,500-square-foot Eco-Discovery Center, 8500 State Road 31 in Punta Gorda, opens to the public May 1 and showcases advantages of clean and solar energy. Join our Newsletter for the latest news right to your inbox Sign up for e-mail alerts from WINK News Investigations The Lee County School District proposes changes to address safety and discipline on school grounds Lee Schools changing the rules to improve safety and discipline. Sheriff Carmine Marceno addresses incident after deputy pulled over, taken home Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno sat down exclusively with Investigative Reporter Peter Fleischer to provide answers about why an off-duty deputy was driven home instead of to jail. More green space needed in Fort Myers; Parks ‘Master plan’ unveiled The fate of the long-awaited park at the old Dunbar sludge site might lie in Fort Myers voters’ hands. Cape Coral family warns of unlicensed contractor Thousands of dollars of cash paid and not a bit of work done. That’s what one Cape Coral grandmother is dealing with as she tries to recover from Hurricane Ian. Arsenic, other minerals may be back at old Dunbar sludge site The decades old sludge site on South Street in Fort Myers was supposed to become a park. Now, the neighborhood’s long-awaited promise could be in jeopardy. Even though the sludge is gone, the arsenic and other unhealthy minerals may be back. State News View all Asbestos delays Punta Gorda hotel demolition Asbestos was found in the Punta Gorda Waterfront Hotel and Suites along with the Hurricane Charley’s Raw Bar and Grill next door. Endangered smalltooth sawfish deaths more than double since mid-March Wildlife officials have announced five more endangered smalltooth sawfish mortalities occurred in the last two weeks of the ongoing abnormal fish behavior event in the Florida Keys. Convicted Tampa armed robber faces 100 years in prison after a traffic stop in Collier County A man known as the “Beretta Bandit,” who had been convicted of several armed robberies in Tampa, faces a lifetime in prison after a 2021 Collier County traffic stop led to his arrest. Gov. DeSantis signs bills to encourage hurricane prep Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills to strengthen Florida against natural events and hurricanes while in Redington Shores. ‘I’ve lost sleep’; Nearly $2K FPL bill leaves customer looking for answers Johanna Seybold received an $1,800 power bill from FPL for her place in South Fort Myers that was damaged by Hurricane Ian. Health & Medical View all Naples med center using tech to help people live longer Advances in medicine are helping people live longer and experts in the field of longevity believe there is still room to enjoy more quality years. Diagnosing stomach issues with breath and motility Forty percent of all Americans suffer from gastrointestinal diseases, such as nausea, fecal incontinence, and IBS. Lee Health official discusses advantages of patient portal for Spanish speakers Having access to healthcare records at your fingertips was widely available but out of reach for Hispanics in Southwest Florida. Breast Cancer treatment is evolving; Same day mastectomies are becoming more common Eileen Wesley is diligent about her health, and for good reason. Breast cancer runs in her family. Apple and Pickleball team up to study health benefits The meteoric rise of pickleball is getting attention from the medical community. It was first adopted by older Americans looking for a social sport to get them moving. Now Apple is studying its health analytics. Lee Health mulling switching to a private nonprofit system to expand Making the switch from public to private is what Lee Health is trying to decide as leaders debate the move and its consequences. The Environment View all Bear spotted sleeping in tree in Collier County A large black bear climbed up a tree and was caught on camera relaxing on some branches at Heritage Bay Boulevard. 911 call released of Collier County alligator attack victim A man survived an alligator attack in Collier County thanks in part to the quick thinking of his neighbor. FWC charges 2 for issues with alligator skulls and deer harvesting Two suspects are accused of dozens of wildlife violations involving alligator and deer remains at a taxidermy business. WINK Sports View all Guiding young men keeps former FSW coach motivated as he joins NCAA For Eric Murphy, performance on the floor only scratches the surface of what it means to be a coach. Legally blind Bonita Springs man hits hole in one 85-year-old Vincent Costa from Bonita Springs hit a hole in one at Vasari Country Club despite being legally blind. Estero teen to represent U.S. golf on international stage At only 16-years-old Gianna Clemente already has a resume that most golfers only dream of and she’s just getting started. St. John Neumann baseball ranked top five in the state The St. John Neumann baseball team is currently ranked fifth in the FHSAA rankings and are poised to make a postseason push. Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright talks changes in college basketball Former Villanova men’s basketball head coach Jay Wright shares his thoughts on the current state of college basketball. Former Gators QB Danny Wuerffel competes at US Open Pickleball Championships Former Gators QB and Heisman winner Danny Wuerffel makes his US Open Pickleball Championships debut. FGCU golfer swings with the pros at the PGA Tour in Texas After winning a college tournament, Joe Sullivan, a Florida Gulf Coast University golfer, was given an automatic bid to play in an official Professional Golfers Association tour event with some of the best in the world. Former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani faces bank fraud charges in sports betting case U.S. Attorney Marin Estrada announced the charges Thursday. FGCU’s Rivers showing off skills in College Slam Dunk Championship Rivers is the first to represent FGCU in the dunk contest and hopes to be the first to bring home the crown. CPKC Stadium opening encourages FGCU women’s soccer players Seeing the NWSL become home to the world’s first stadium built for a women’s professional sports team means so much to a pair of Eagles. Campaign Central View all ‘Catch and kill’ will be described to jurors in Donald Trump’s hush money trial as testimony resumes A tabloid publisher was expected Tuesday to tell jurors about helping Donald Trump stifle unflattering stories during the 2016 campaign. President Biden speaks at Reproductive Freedom Event in Tampa President Joe Biden is in Tampa and gave remarks at the Reproductive Freedom Event on Tuesday. Trump tried to ‘corrupt’ the 2016 election, prosecutor alleges as hush money trial gets underway Donald Trump tried to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election by preventing damaging stories about his personal life from becoming public, a prosecutor told jurors Monday at the start of the former president’s historic hush money trial.
FORT MYERS BEACH Move forward or out? Many on Fort Myers Beach making tough choices amid Hurricane Ian recovery While waiting to see how much the fight to preserve most of Lee County’s 25% flood insurance discount will turn out, WINK News found that nowhere is the proximity of moving forward and moving out so intertwined as Fort Myers Beach.
WINK NEWS LCSO announces dozens of drug-related arrests following months-long investigation Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno has announced many drug-related arrests made after an undercover operation that had lasted months.
NAPLES 18-year-old charged with vehicular homicide for deadly Naples crash Police have arrested a young man involved in a crash where a 66-year-old woman died a week later after succumbing to her injuries.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral softball coach arrested for alleged inappropriate behavior with student A volunteer softball coach at Oasis High School has been arrested on multiple charges due to inappropriate behavior with a student.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte man accused of shooting and killing barber pleads not guilty A Port Charlotte man who allegedly shot and killed a barber has been arrested on second-degree murder charges and pleaded not guilty for the incident.
SANIBEL Leatherback sea turtle nesting season begins in Sanibel The Leatherback Sea turtles have begun to nest in Sanibel, marking the return of nesting season in Southwest Florida.
GLADES COUNTY Deputies: Glades County man caught disguised as woman accused of trying to steal boat A man has been arrested after allegedly stealing a boat and trying to elude deputies by disguising himself in women’s clothing and a wig in Glades County.
PORT CHARLOTTE Centennial Park Recreation Center and pool closures The Centennial Park Recreation Center gymnasium will close for the Florida Friendly Garden Fest this weekend.
The Weather Authority A warmer Thursday start with stray showers this afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a warm Thursday morning start with the potential of stray rain showers for the afternoon.
WINK NEWS FTC issues refunds of over $5M to Ring customers; are you eligible? The Federal Trade Commission will refund Ring customers following a 2023 settlement that allowed employees and contractors to access cameras.
3 new restaurants coming this fall to Coconut Point Fresh Catch Bistro, PJK Neighborhood Chinese Restaurant and Real Seafood Co. are launching upscale casual restaurants in units previously home to TGI Fridays, The Saloon and Bokamper’s Sports Bar & Grill, respectively.
Cape Coral City Council salary, stipend won’t appear on November ballot After being presented with four proposals at an April 24 committee of the whole meeting, Council couldn’t come to a legitimate consensus for City Attorney Aleksandr Boksner to formulate a referendum for the November ballot.
Evangelical Christian School completes $28.6M purchase of Hodges campus The property consisting of two buildings at 4501 Colonial Blvd. and 4445 Winkler Ave., at the northeast corner of Colonial and Winkler, will continue to serve as Hodges’ home through June.
Burnt Store Road area residents ask for stakeholder meeting Members of the Burnt Store Corridor Coalition urged Charlotte County commissioners on April 23 to host a stakeholder meeting to help solve problems related to the area’s increasing growth.
Sanibel Captiva Trust Co. opens two new offices Sanibel Captiva Trust Co. finished navigating its aftermath of Hurricane Ian, moving into two new office buildings to better serve its clients.
El Gaucho Trattoria to open in North Naples After opening three Peruvian and Argentinian restaurants inspired by owners Rocio Navarrete and Mariano Maldonado’s heritage, the couple is departing from their usual concept and diving into Maldonado’s Italian heritage for their new restaurant.
Babcock Ranch, FPL unveil Solar Ranch Eco-Discovery Center The 2,500-square-foot Eco-Discovery Center, 8500 State Road 31 in Punta Gorda, opens to the public May 1 and showcases advantages of clean and solar energy.
The Lee County School District proposes changes to address safety and discipline on school grounds Lee Schools changing the rules to improve safety and discipline.
Sheriff Carmine Marceno addresses incident after deputy pulled over, taken home Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno sat down exclusively with Investigative Reporter Peter Fleischer to provide answers about why an off-duty deputy was driven home instead of to jail.
More green space needed in Fort Myers; Parks ‘Master plan’ unveiled The fate of the long-awaited park at the old Dunbar sludge site might lie in Fort Myers voters’ hands.
Cape Coral family warns of unlicensed contractor Thousands of dollars of cash paid and not a bit of work done. That’s what one Cape Coral grandmother is dealing with as she tries to recover from Hurricane Ian.
Arsenic, other minerals may be back at old Dunbar sludge site The decades old sludge site on South Street in Fort Myers was supposed to become a park. Now, the neighborhood’s long-awaited promise could be in jeopardy. Even though the sludge is gone, the arsenic and other unhealthy minerals may be back.
Asbestos delays Punta Gorda hotel demolition Asbestos was found in the Punta Gorda Waterfront Hotel and Suites along with the Hurricane Charley’s Raw Bar and Grill next door.
Endangered smalltooth sawfish deaths more than double since mid-March Wildlife officials have announced five more endangered smalltooth sawfish mortalities occurred in the last two weeks of the ongoing abnormal fish behavior event in the Florida Keys.
Convicted Tampa armed robber faces 100 years in prison after a traffic stop in Collier County A man known as the “Beretta Bandit,” who had been convicted of several armed robberies in Tampa, faces a lifetime in prison after a 2021 Collier County traffic stop led to his arrest.
Gov. DeSantis signs bills to encourage hurricane prep Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills to strengthen Florida against natural events and hurricanes while in Redington Shores.
‘I’ve lost sleep’; Nearly $2K FPL bill leaves customer looking for answers Johanna Seybold received an $1,800 power bill from FPL for her place in South Fort Myers that was damaged by Hurricane Ian.
Naples med center using tech to help people live longer Advances in medicine are helping people live longer and experts in the field of longevity believe there is still room to enjoy more quality years.
Diagnosing stomach issues with breath and motility Forty percent of all Americans suffer from gastrointestinal diseases, such as nausea, fecal incontinence, and IBS.
Lee Health official discusses advantages of patient portal for Spanish speakers Having access to healthcare records at your fingertips was widely available but out of reach for Hispanics in Southwest Florida.
Breast Cancer treatment is evolving; Same day mastectomies are becoming more common Eileen Wesley is diligent about her health, and for good reason. Breast cancer runs in her family.
Apple and Pickleball team up to study health benefits The meteoric rise of pickleball is getting attention from the medical community. It was first adopted by older Americans looking for a social sport to get them moving. Now Apple is studying its health analytics.
Lee Health mulling switching to a private nonprofit system to expand Making the switch from public to private is what Lee Health is trying to decide as leaders debate the move and its consequences.
Bear spotted sleeping in tree in Collier County A large black bear climbed up a tree and was caught on camera relaxing on some branches at Heritage Bay Boulevard.
911 call released of Collier County alligator attack victim A man survived an alligator attack in Collier County thanks in part to the quick thinking of his neighbor.
FWC charges 2 for issues with alligator skulls and deer harvesting Two suspects are accused of dozens of wildlife violations involving alligator and deer remains at a taxidermy business.
Guiding young men keeps former FSW coach motivated as he joins NCAA For Eric Murphy, performance on the floor only scratches the surface of what it means to be a coach.
Legally blind Bonita Springs man hits hole in one 85-year-old Vincent Costa from Bonita Springs hit a hole in one at Vasari Country Club despite being legally blind.
Estero teen to represent U.S. golf on international stage At only 16-years-old Gianna Clemente already has a resume that most golfers only dream of and she’s just getting started.
St. John Neumann baseball ranked top five in the state The St. John Neumann baseball team is currently ranked fifth in the FHSAA rankings and are poised to make a postseason push.
Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright talks changes in college basketball Former Villanova men’s basketball head coach Jay Wright shares his thoughts on the current state of college basketball.
Former Gators QB Danny Wuerffel competes at US Open Pickleball Championships Former Gators QB and Heisman winner Danny Wuerffel makes his US Open Pickleball Championships debut.
FGCU golfer swings with the pros at the PGA Tour in Texas After winning a college tournament, Joe Sullivan, a Florida Gulf Coast University golfer, was given an automatic bid to play in an official Professional Golfers Association tour event with some of the best in the world.
Former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani faces bank fraud charges in sports betting case U.S. Attorney Marin Estrada announced the charges Thursday.
FGCU’s Rivers showing off skills in College Slam Dunk Championship Rivers is the first to represent FGCU in the dunk contest and hopes to be the first to bring home the crown.
CPKC Stadium opening encourages FGCU women’s soccer players Seeing the NWSL become home to the world’s first stadium built for a women’s professional sports team means so much to a pair of Eagles.
‘Catch and kill’ will be described to jurors in Donald Trump’s hush money trial as testimony resumes A tabloid publisher was expected Tuesday to tell jurors about helping Donald Trump stifle unflattering stories during the 2016 campaign.
President Biden speaks at Reproductive Freedom Event in Tampa President Joe Biden is in Tampa and gave remarks at the Reproductive Freedom Event on Tuesday.
Trump tried to ‘corrupt’ the 2016 election, prosecutor alleges as hush money trial gets underway Donald Trump tried to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election by preventing damaging stories about his personal life from becoming public, a prosecutor told jurors Monday at the start of the former president’s historic hush money trial.