NFM woman scammed out of $19,500

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla.- A woman is out $19,500 after falling victim to ruthless scam artists. “I felt violated, I felt low, I just felt sick,” said the victim. The 69-year old woman fell victim to an IRS scam that Lee County authorities say is a national problem. “I fell because they are so intimidating. So many people do fall for […]

Cape Coral city leaders take part in mock hurricane training

CAPE CORAL, Fla. – More than 100 people, from top city leaders to volunteers, took part in an intense disaster training simulation at the Cape Coral Emergency Operations Center Wednesday. The scenario presented to the group: How would the city respond if a Category 2 hurricane (in this case, “Hurricane Kate”) swept through Southwest Florida? […]

Wild hogs rip up Charlotte County backyards

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. – Dozens of wild hogs have made one Punta Gorda neighborhood their home, but in doing so, residents said they’re turning green backyards into mud pits. “We first seen them coming across the backyard and said, ‘oh my God.. there’s a bunch of pigs,’” said Jim McCas, who lives in Burnt Store […]

Lee Co. elections supervisor asks for new polling system

FORT MYERS, Fla.- WINK News is investigating possible government waste in Southwest Florida. Lee County Elections Supervisor Sharon Harrington wants $820,000 to buy a new polling system. But, she also has $300,000 worth of unused, unopened machines collecting dust. Harrington confirms she has three high-speed vote counters in crates at the elections center in south Fort Myers. She says Lee […]

FMB businesses changing schedules because of traffic

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla.- Business owners on Fort Myers Beach say their livelihood is on the line because of an ongoing construction project creating a traffic nightmare. Now, owners are being asked to consider changing their hours of operation in order to avoid at least some of the chaos. Some businesses may consider changing the days […]

Aides to Ron Paul’s 2012 presidential campaign indicted

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Prosecutors have charged several top aides to Ron Paul’s 2012 presidential campaign, now working to help his son Rand Paul win the Republican nomination, with conspiring to buy the support of an up-and-coming state senator in the days just before that year’s Iowa caucuses. Jesse Benton, John Tate and Dimitrios […]

Blue Bell gets approval to resume Alabama plant production

BRENHAM, Texas (AP) – Blue Bell can resume production and sale of ice cream manufactured at its Alabama plant, the Alabama Department of Public Health announced Wednesday. A state inspection found that Blue Bell’s creamery in Sylacauga, Alabama, meets all state public health standards, said Ron Dawsey, director of the department’s Division of Food, Milk […]

Inspectors find violations at SWFL Planned Parenthood clinics

MIAMI (AP) – Three of the 16 Planned Parenthood facilities inspected in Florida last week were performing procedures beyond their licensing authority, and one facility was not keeping proper logs relating to fetal remains, officials announced Wednesday. The Agency for Health Care Administration released a report saying clinics in St. Petersburg, Fort Myers and Naples […]

Obama: Critics of Iran nuclear deal ‘selling a fantasy’

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama assailed critics of his Iran nuclear deal Wednesday as “selling a fantasy” to the American people, warning Congress that blocking the accord would damage the nation’s credibility and increase the likelihood of more war in the Middle East. Besides challenging opponents at home, Obama cast Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin […]