Police: 15-year-old injured after accidentally shot in the legExclusive: Brother and best friend of accused pedophile priest speak out
BONITA SPRINGS Police: 15-year-old injured after accidentally shot in the leg Lee County deputies say the teen was accidentally shot in the leg.
NAPLES Exclusive: Brother and best friend of accused pedophile priest speak out Riley’s brother reached out to WINK on Friday, saying people aren’t getting the full story.
IMMOKALEE Caught on video: Huge gator crosses Immokalee neighborhood Fridays in Florida are for gators
FORT MYERS FGCU softball pitcher making a name for herself One season in FGCU, freshman pitcher Allison Sparkman is already ruffling feathers in the circle.
Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society concerns An large amount of pets are being surrendered by their owners. About half of the dogs at the Gulf Coast Humane Society are surrender dogs.
Students benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars So far, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax has brought in $507 million for the Lee County School District.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘Shady’: One woman feels misled after federal student loan consolidation It takes some people decades to pay off their student loans. One woman’s last payment was in sight until she took a gamble she said she was told to take.
FORT MYERS Homeless encampments inch closer to neighborhoods Law enforcement has swept multiple encampments, cleaning the trails of mess and muck left behind, and some of these encampments are right in our backyards.
BIG CYPRESS PRESERVE What changes if Big Cypress National Preserve becomes a Wilderness Area? America’s first nationally designated preserve is in Southwest Florida’s backyard, and it is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Method to treat IBD being used for other health issues Trying to get treatments for the brain when fighting neurological diseases like epilepsy and ALS is a challenge.
FORT MYERS NTSB report reveals new details in helicopter crash after Hurricane Ian The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on a helicopter crash that occurred in Iona, Florida, shortly after Hurricane Ian.
NAPLES Memorial celebrates the life of John Passidomo Hundreds of friends and family gathered for a memorial at Baker Park in Naples.
‘Latinos in Action’ empowers all students to succeed WINK News talked with teachers who are a part of the program, helping kids reach their full potential.
Immokalee ‘The eyes always draw me in’; Immokalee portrait artist turns dark times into color One of Southwest Florida best portrait artist, Martha Maria Cantu, almost gave up art. Now she’s on the forefront of the city of Immokalee, to make her community filled with color.
GOLDEN GATE Collier commissioners approve agreement for golf complex in Golden Gate Collier commissioners unanimously approved a long term lease and operating agreement to reopen the Golden Gate golf course Tuesday.
BONITA SPRINGS Police: 15-year-old injured after accidentally shot in the leg Lee County deputies say the teen was accidentally shot in the leg.
NAPLES Exclusive: Brother and best friend of accused pedophile priest speak out Riley’s brother reached out to WINK on Friday, saying people aren’t getting the full story.
IMMOKALEE Caught on video: Huge gator crosses Immokalee neighborhood Fridays in Florida are for gators
FORT MYERS FGCU softball pitcher making a name for herself One season in FGCU, freshman pitcher Allison Sparkman is already ruffling feathers in the circle.
Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society concerns An large amount of pets are being surrendered by their owners. About half of the dogs at the Gulf Coast Humane Society are surrender dogs.
Students benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars So far, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax has brought in $507 million for the Lee County School District.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘Shady’: One woman feels misled after federal student loan consolidation It takes some people decades to pay off their student loans. One woman’s last payment was in sight until she took a gamble she said she was told to take.
FORT MYERS Homeless encampments inch closer to neighborhoods Law enforcement has swept multiple encampments, cleaning the trails of mess and muck left behind, and some of these encampments are right in our backyards.
BIG CYPRESS PRESERVE What changes if Big Cypress National Preserve becomes a Wilderness Area? America’s first nationally designated preserve is in Southwest Florida’s backyard, and it is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Method to treat IBD being used for other health issues Trying to get treatments for the brain when fighting neurological diseases like epilepsy and ALS is a challenge.
FORT MYERS NTSB report reveals new details in helicopter crash after Hurricane Ian The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on a helicopter crash that occurred in Iona, Florida, shortly after Hurricane Ian.
NAPLES Memorial celebrates the life of John Passidomo Hundreds of friends and family gathered for a memorial at Baker Park in Naples.
‘Latinos in Action’ empowers all students to succeed WINK News talked with teachers who are a part of the program, helping kids reach their full potential.
Immokalee ‘The eyes always draw me in’; Immokalee portrait artist turns dark times into color One of Southwest Florida best portrait artist, Martha Maria Cantu, almost gave up art. Now she’s on the forefront of the city of Immokalee, to make her community filled with color.
GOLDEN GATE Collier commissioners approve agreement for golf complex in Golden Gate Collier commissioners unanimously approved a long term lease and operating agreement to reopen the Golden Gate golf course Tuesday.
Alexis Bortell (Photo via CBS News) DENVER A 12-year-old girl is spearheading a campaign to legalize medical marijuana across the whole country. Alexis Bortell said she and her family had no choice but to move from their Texas home to Colorado to treat her severe epilepsy. Now, her family and a handful of others are suing Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the Drug Enforcement Administration. They are demanding “cannabis for the treatment of their illnesses, diseases and medical conditions.” “Ever since I’ve been on this cannabis, I’ve actually been seizure-free for – today it’s 974 days, so we’re coming up on 1,000. So I think that’s pretty good,” Alexis told CBS News correspondent Barry Petersen. MORE: Medical marijuana elusive in SWFL 1 year after legalization vote Pretty good indeed because Alexis had seizures every few days, as seen in videos taken at the direction of her doctors. Her parents said epilepsy medications didn’t work, and there was even talk of brain surgery. “What do you call epilepsy?” Petersen asked. “Well, I call it my seizure monster,” Alexis said. But this seems to tame the seizure monster: an oil made from marijuana taken twice a day. Her family lived in Texas where they couldn’t get the oil they needed, but they could in Colorado, where both medical and recreational pot are allowed. For her father, Dean Bortell, the decision to move here three years ago was an easy one. “I would die for her. Right? So the least I could do is uproot my life and give her a chance at the exact same freedoms and future I had,” Dean said. “You’d do it again?” Petersen asked. “Twice on Sunday,” Dean responded. Alexis hopes the lawsuit will make medical marijuana legal across the country. “Do you think it’s unfair that this medicine is not available to everybody in the United States?” Petersen asked her. “I think it’s really unfair, ’cause I feel like they’re basically punishing us because we’re sick,” Alexis said. But some medical experts are not sure. Jacqueline French is the chief scientific officer for the Epilepsy Foundation. “We really need more research to find out what’s helping, what’s hurting, what people should opt for this over some other options that they may have,” French said. MORE: Medical marijuana job fair in Pennsylvania draws hundreds Alexis has turned her epilepsy into her cause, making soap and donating the proceeds to charity. She’s even writing a book, but all she really wants is to just be a kid. “Does it make you also feel more normal in your regular life?” Petersen asked. “Yes,” Alexis responded. “Because I can, let’s say, have a sleepover at a friend’s house without having a seizure.” “Why did you think people would listen to a 12-year-old?” Petersen asked. “Well, I feel like it wouldn’t really matter, because it’s the right thing to do. And I don’t think I need to be over 18 to do the right thing,” Alexis said. The DEA and the Justice Department declined our offer to comment. As for Alexis, she takes her normal life one day at a time, hoping the pot means the seizure monster never comes back.