Impressive or Terrifying?; Locals react to new technology, turning AI photos into videosLocal FedEx employees at risk of losing their jobs
FORT MYERS Impressive or Terrifying?; Locals react to new technology, turning AI photos into videos Microsoft has released a paper introducing the VASA-1, an AI program that can turn photos into videos. All the program needs is your picture and a recording of your voice. FORT MYERS Local FedEx employees at risk of losing their jobs On Tuesday, over 200 FedEx employees had the rug pulled from underneath them. FedEx and FedEx ground are merging and closing four local sites in the process. BONITA SPRINGS Forgotten jewelry treasures for Mother’s Day A Bonita Springs marketing company is embarking on a heartfelt ‘jewelry drive’ for Mother’s Day on May 19. SOUTH FORT MYERS Venezuelan Ballerina, works at gas station, providing for her family Ballerina moves to Ft. Myers, works at a local gas station, in order to provide funds for her family back home in Venezuela. In hopes of becoming a professional ballerina in the states. MATLACHA Flowers fill ‘That BBQ Place’ reopening as community honors victims The Matlacha community is trying to heal, including Mark Gulbrandson, who knew Mary Lou, Butch, and Tom very well. FORT MYERS 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. DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Traffic nightmare due to road and lane closures near eventful night in downtown Fort Myers The streets of downtown Fort Myers are coming alive for a one-night-only concert during the music walk festivities. LEE COUNTY FEMA gives Lee County another deadline extension for the flood insurance discount FEMA is giving Lee County another deadline extension to fix the flood insurance discount issues. Helping Florida’s threatened shorebird population during nesting season Southwest Florida locals can help protect shorebirds thanks to a new and innovative method. WINK NEWS Local Jewish communities prepare for Passover amid FBI threat warnings As Jewish communities worldwide gear up to celebrate Passover starting Monday, the FBI has issued warnings about potential threats, heightening concerns for many, including those in Southwest Florida. Gulfshore Business View all Take Two Coffee to celebrate grand opening in Fort Myers The opening of Take Two Coffee’s retail store has been brewing since last fall, with founders Caleb MacPherson and Hunter Keslar set to celebrate its grand opening April 20 at 2633 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Fort Myers. HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital nears completion of $60M expansion In 2018, 81,945 patients were treated, and in 2023, 98,432 patients were treated, representing an increase of about 20%. Charlotte County extends time residents can live in RVs, mobile homes County commissioners voted to allow residents displaced by Hurricane Ian to live in RVs or temporary mobile homes on developed residential lots for up to two years after the state’s emergency declaration Sep. 23, 2022. Tim Aten Knows: Retail center breaks ground in North Naples Trees and brush on the northwest corner of Immokalee Road and Collier Boulevard are being cleared for the more than 27,000-square-foot Tree Farm Plaza. Arthrex looks to extend global recognition at Edison Awards Arthrex, which already has won four Edison Awards, submitted two recent inventions in trying to achieve its fifth and sixth trophies. Punta Gorda chooses YMCA to run New Operation Cooper Street After solicitating bids from several nonprofit organizations to run New Operation Cooper Street Recreation Center, Punta Gorda City Council voted 3-1 April 17, choosing YMCA of Southwest Florida. Lee County provides update on FEMA flood insurance discount On April 8, FEMA announced a 30-day pause on the decision for the five communities to gather requested documentation and retain their standing in the Community Rating System, which determines policy discounts for residents. Join our Newsletter for the latest news right to your inbox Sign up for e-mail alerts from WINK News Investigations 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. Former Hendry Sheriff’s Office deputy charged in brutal arrest caught on bodycam The United States Attorney’s Office has announced charges in a federal civil rights investigation of a Hendry County Sheriff’s Office deputy. Are stores abandoning self-checkout lanes in SWFL? When you walk inside a store, do you prefer waiting in line to see a cashier or entering the self-checkout section? State News View all Deputies: Jeep driver purposely rammed Island Vista Estates gate Opening the gate the right way takes too much time for one man at Island Vista Estates. Left lane cruising ends if DeSantis signs new bill going to his desk A bill preventing drivers from cruising in the left lanes on highways is headed to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s desk. A stomach bug is making hundreds of people sick in Florida, says CDC Giardiasis is on the rise in Florida, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 7 states, including Florida, with Salmonella infections linked to contaminated basil from Trader Joe’s The CDC released a food safety alert regarding an outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to potentially contaminated basil. Gov. DeSantis signs bills allowing chaplains at schools and ‘patriotic’ organizations Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke about enhancing the student experience in the state’s education system by signing two bills into law while in Kissimmee. Health & Medical View all 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. Lee Health launches new MyChart accessibility for Spanish speakers Lee Health announced on Tuesday that it has launched a Spanish-language version of the digital patient portal MyChart. Groundbreaking single-incision adrenal surgery A groundbreaking single-incision adrenal surgery is brand new, and it’s proving to be much faster, resulting in shorter hospital stays. New technique to help restore the ability to blink Up to 10,000 people a year lose their ability to blink, and that can cause serious problems, even causing people to go blind. The Environment View all April: 2024’s deadliest month for Florida panthers with 5 roadkill victims A little past halfway into April and five endangered Florida panthers have died from vehicle strikes, making it the deadliest month of 2024 so far. Caught on Camera: Extremely rare piebald white-tailed deer in Florida Florida wildlife officials posted a picture of a deer that’s so rare it even appeared like it was wearing a personal coat of camouflage. 4 endangered Florida panther deaths in April bring 2024 total to 11 Two more endangered Florida panthers were discovered dead by wildlife officials after the animals were struck by vehicles in Collier and Hendry counties. WINK Sports View all 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. Cypress Lake sophomore competing at powerlifting nationals Cypress Lake sophomore Landon Hiatte is heading to New Orleans to compete in the Powerlifting America High School Nationals. 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. Bishop Verot alumna returns to coach her former team and sister Former Bishop Verot lacrosse star Lauren Lockard is back on campus coaching her former team and her sister Lily. Former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani faces bank fraud charges in sports betting case U.S. Attorney Marin Estrada announced the charges Thursday. Gulf Coast lacrosse player scores 200th goal on senior night Gulf Coast High School lacrosse star Kali Cleary scores her 200th career goal on senior night. 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. Former Dunbar star and NBA pro Walt Wesley dies at 79 Walt Wesley, a former star at Dunbar High and a 10-year NBA pro, passed away at the age of 79. Fans say goodbye to the Twins as Spring Training ends Fans say goodbye to the Minnesota Twins as they host their final Spring Training game of the year. Campaign Central View all 12 jurors have been picked for Donald Trump’s hush money trial. Selection of alternates ongoing A jury of 12 people has been seated in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial in New York. Alternates are now being selected. First 6 jurors are chosen for Trump’s hush money criminal trial; 12 more still needed The first six jurors for Donald Trump’s hush money trial were chosen Tuesday after lawyers grilled members of the jury pool about their social media posts, political views and personal lives to decide whether they can sit in fair judgment of the former president. News organizations urge Biden and Trump to commit to presidential debates during the 2024 campaign Twelve news organizations on Sunday urged presumptive presidential nominees Joe Biden and Donald Trump to agree to debates, saying they were a “rich tradition” that have been part of every general election campaign since 1976.
FORT MYERS Impressive or Terrifying?; Locals react to new technology, turning AI photos into videos Microsoft has released a paper introducing the VASA-1, an AI program that can turn photos into videos. All the program needs is your picture and a recording of your voice.
FORT MYERS Local FedEx employees at risk of losing their jobs On Tuesday, over 200 FedEx employees had the rug pulled from underneath them. FedEx and FedEx ground are merging and closing four local sites in the process.
BONITA SPRINGS Forgotten jewelry treasures for Mother’s Day A Bonita Springs marketing company is embarking on a heartfelt ‘jewelry drive’ for Mother’s Day on May 19.
SOUTH FORT MYERS Venezuelan Ballerina, works at gas station, providing for her family Ballerina moves to Ft. Myers, works at a local gas station, in order to provide funds for her family back home in Venezuela. In hopes of becoming a professional ballerina in the states.
MATLACHA Flowers fill ‘That BBQ Place’ reopening as community honors victims The Matlacha community is trying to heal, including Mark Gulbrandson, who knew Mary Lou, Butch, and Tom very well.
FORT MYERS 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.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Traffic nightmare due to road and lane closures near eventful night in downtown Fort Myers The streets of downtown Fort Myers are coming alive for a one-night-only concert during the music walk festivities.
LEE COUNTY FEMA gives Lee County another deadline extension for the flood insurance discount FEMA is giving Lee County another deadline extension to fix the flood insurance discount issues.
Helping Florida’s threatened shorebird population during nesting season Southwest Florida locals can help protect shorebirds thanks to a new and innovative method.
WINK NEWS Local Jewish communities prepare for Passover amid FBI threat warnings As Jewish communities worldwide gear up to celebrate Passover starting Monday, the FBI has issued warnings about potential threats, heightening concerns for many, including those in Southwest Florida.
Take Two Coffee to celebrate grand opening in Fort Myers The opening of Take Two Coffee’s retail store has been brewing since last fall, with founders Caleb MacPherson and Hunter Keslar set to celebrate its grand opening April 20 at 2633 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Fort Myers.
HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital nears completion of $60M expansion In 2018, 81,945 patients were treated, and in 2023, 98,432 patients were treated, representing an increase of about 20%.
Charlotte County extends time residents can live in RVs, mobile homes County commissioners voted to allow residents displaced by Hurricane Ian to live in RVs or temporary mobile homes on developed residential lots for up to two years after the state’s emergency declaration Sep. 23, 2022.
Tim Aten Knows: Retail center breaks ground in North Naples Trees and brush on the northwest corner of Immokalee Road and Collier Boulevard are being cleared for the more than 27,000-square-foot Tree Farm Plaza.
Arthrex looks to extend global recognition at Edison Awards Arthrex, which already has won four Edison Awards, submitted two recent inventions in trying to achieve its fifth and sixth trophies.
Punta Gorda chooses YMCA to run New Operation Cooper Street After solicitating bids from several nonprofit organizations to run New Operation Cooper Street Recreation Center, Punta Gorda City Council voted 3-1 April 17, choosing YMCA of Southwest Florida.
Lee County provides update on FEMA flood insurance discount On April 8, FEMA announced a 30-day pause on the decision for the five communities to gather requested documentation and retain their standing in the Community Rating System, which determines policy discounts for residents.
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.
Former Hendry Sheriff’s Office deputy charged in brutal arrest caught on bodycam The United States Attorney’s Office has announced charges in a federal civil rights investigation of a Hendry County Sheriff’s Office deputy.
Are stores abandoning self-checkout lanes in SWFL? When you walk inside a store, do you prefer waiting in line to see a cashier or entering the self-checkout section?
Deputies: Jeep driver purposely rammed Island Vista Estates gate Opening the gate the right way takes too much time for one man at Island Vista Estates.
Left lane cruising ends if DeSantis signs new bill going to his desk A bill preventing drivers from cruising in the left lanes on highways is headed to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s desk.
A stomach bug is making hundreds of people sick in Florida, says CDC Giardiasis is on the rise in Florida, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
7 states, including Florida, with Salmonella infections linked to contaminated basil from Trader Joe’s The CDC released a food safety alert regarding an outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to potentially contaminated basil.
Gov. DeSantis signs bills allowing chaplains at schools and ‘patriotic’ organizations Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke about enhancing the student experience in the state’s education system by signing two bills into law while in Kissimmee.
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.
Lee Health launches new MyChart accessibility for Spanish speakers Lee Health announced on Tuesday that it has launched a Spanish-language version of the digital patient portal MyChart.
Groundbreaking single-incision adrenal surgery A groundbreaking single-incision adrenal surgery is brand new, and it’s proving to be much faster, resulting in shorter hospital stays.
New technique to help restore the ability to blink Up to 10,000 people a year lose their ability to blink, and that can cause serious problems, even causing people to go blind.
April: 2024’s deadliest month for Florida panthers with 5 roadkill victims A little past halfway into April and five endangered Florida panthers have died from vehicle strikes, making it the deadliest month of 2024 so far.
Caught on Camera: Extremely rare piebald white-tailed deer in Florida Florida wildlife officials posted a picture of a deer that’s so rare it even appeared like it was wearing a personal coat of camouflage.
4 endangered Florida panther deaths in April bring 2024 total to 11 Two more endangered Florida panthers were discovered dead by wildlife officials after the animals were struck by vehicles in Collier and Hendry counties.
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.
Cypress Lake sophomore competing at powerlifting nationals Cypress Lake sophomore Landon Hiatte is heading to New Orleans to compete in the Powerlifting America High School Nationals.
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.
Bishop Verot alumna returns to coach her former team and sister Former Bishop Verot lacrosse star Lauren Lockard is back on campus coaching her former team and her sister Lily.
Former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani faces bank fraud charges in sports betting case U.S. Attorney Marin Estrada announced the charges Thursday.
Gulf Coast lacrosse player scores 200th goal on senior night Gulf Coast High School lacrosse star Kali Cleary scores her 200th career goal on senior night.
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.
Former Dunbar star and NBA pro Walt Wesley dies at 79 Walt Wesley, a former star at Dunbar High and a 10-year NBA pro, passed away at the age of 79.
Fans say goodbye to the Twins as Spring Training ends Fans say goodbye to the Minnesota Twins as they host their final Spring Training game of the year.
12 jurors have been picked for Donald Trump’s hush money trial. Selection of alternates ongoing A jury of 12 people has been seated in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial in New York. Alternates are now being selected.
First 6 jurors are chosen for Trump’s hush money criminal trial; 12 more still needed The first six jurors for Donald Trump’s hush money trial were chosen Tuesday after lawyers grilled members of the jury pool about their social media posts, political views and personal lives to decide whether they can sit in fair judgment of the former president.
News organizations urge Biden and Trump to commit to presidential debates during the 2024 campaign Twelve news organizations on Sunday urged presumptive presidential nominees Joe Biden and Donald Trump to agree to debates, saying they were a “rich tradition” that have been part of every general election campaign since 1976.