‘Shady’: One woman feels misled after federal student loan consolidationHomeless encampments inch closer to neighborhoods
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.
‘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.
PUNTA GORDA Motorcyclists ride in SWFL to help veterans battle suicide A group of veterans from the American Legion are grabbing their helmets and boots for a motorcycle ride to bring awareness to the staggering rates of suicide among veterans.
SARASOTA Alleged sexual abuse victims of Port Charlotte priest comes forward Father Riley worked at three churches in Charlotte County and another in Naples. On Friday, new allegations emerged from a news conference in Sarasota.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte priest accused of sexual abuse appears in court A priest accused of sexually abusing four altar boys in Iowa nearly 40 years ago returned to Charlotte County court.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema prepares for opening at Mercato The newest movie theater in Southwest Florida opens April 29, and it does so with an array of entertainment offerings that go beyond the usual options across the region.
Let’s Waffle opens in Cape Coral Let’s Waffle is one of two businesses the Feix family launched locally, with the FMS Florida Boat Tours and Limousine Service owned and operated by Feix’s husband, Alexander.
Planned Punta Gorda hotel, pub, brewery faces construction delay Kevin Doyle, owner of Celtic Ray Public House Irish pub in downtown Punta Gorda, and his partner, S4 Global Investments, were found in violation of the city’s exposed soils code.
Three Sisters Spring Toast the manatee released by FWC, SeaWorld and Casey DeSantis near Crystal River A manatee named Toast was released back into the Florida waters after a final medical evaluation from wildlife officials.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Man arrested and charged with over 90 counts of fraud The Cape Coral Police Department arrested a man for allegedly stealing items from a business and then pawning them.
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.
‘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.
PUNTA GORDA Motorcyclists ride in SWFL to help veterans battle suicide A group of veterans from the American Legion are grabbing their helmets and boots for a motorcycle ride to bring awareness to the staggering rates of suicide among veterans.
SARASOTA Alleged sexual abuse victims of Port Charlotte priest comes forward Father Riley worked at three churches in Charlotte County and another in Naples. On Friday, new allegations emerged from a news conference in Sarasota.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte priest accused of sexual abuse appears in court A priest accused of sexually abusing four altar boys in Iowa nearly 40 years ago returned to Charlotte County court.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema prepares for opening at Mercato The newest movie theater in Southwest Florida opens April 29, and it does so with an array of entertainment offerings that go beyond the usual options across the region.
Let’s Waffle opens in Cape Coral Let’s Waffle is one of two businesses the Feix family launched locally, with the FMS Florida Boat Tours and Limousine Service owned and operated by Feix’s husband, Alexander.
Planned Punta Gorda hotel, pub, brewery faces construction delay Kevin Doyle, owner of Celtic Ray Public House Irish pub in downtown Punta Gorda, and his partner, S4 Global Investments, were found in violation of the city’s exposed soils code.
Three Sisters Spring Toast the manatee released by FWC, SeaWorld and Casey DeSantis near Crystal River A manatee named Toast was released back into the Florida waters after a final medical evaluation from wildlife officials.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Man arrested and charged with over 90 counts of fraud The Cape Coral Police Department arrested a man for allegedly stealing items from a business and then pawning them.
Drone footage of algae at Clipper Bay in Cape Coral, on Aug. 10, 2018 The federal government needs to catch up in helping Florida manage water and prevent harmful algal blooms. That’s the message Congressman Francis Rooney delivered on Capitol Hill this week. As he asks for billions of dollars in federal support, he’s catching flack back in his district for keeping the public out of an important roundtable discussion. When you ask Southwest Floridians, many will agree water is our life-blood, and no one questions that. So the question is raised, why is a roundtable discussion set up to save our water closed to the public? The summer of 2018 was a disaster for Southwest Florida. Lee County District 4 Commissioner Brian Hamman says, “The tourists see the algae on TV and they stop coming, and they stop booking their hotel rooms … We need Washington to pay attention to our water issues.” Business owners like Millennial Brewing’s Kyle Cebull agree that water quality is the most important local issue, calling it the “lifeblood of this area,” and “clearly a huge huge issue.” He is one of the members of the public shut out of a roundtable meeting of federal, state and local leaders at Florida Gulf Coast University to discuss the issue next week. The event is closed to the public. Cebull thinks it should be an open meeting, “Transparency is critical. It’s just going to help improve everything, everyone hearing it first hand what’s being discussed and what everybody in that room thinks we should do.” Congressman Rooney said in an email it’s important the agencies meet face-to-face, and that “We provide a private forum conducive to be an open technical discussion.” “If they are concerned about,” Cebull said. “Members of the public getting out of hand, activists that can be a little more rambunctious then fine, but give us a way to see what’s going on and let us in on the conversations.” But the media is shut out of the meeting as well, and there’s no planned online streaming, so there will be no record of what happens behind closed doors. Our WINK News attorney believes it’s a violation of Florida’s Sunshine Law. WINK News sent Rooney and other participants in the meeting a letter stating in part “The right of access is embedded in Florida’s constitution,” and the reasons for closing the meeting “do not exist in Florida law.” LINK: Read our full legal argument why this meeting should be open to the public Hamman says he would like to see a degree of transparency to find water quality solutions, hoping when Rooney does speak with the press after the meeting he is “open about what was discussed at the meeting, so we can get good information out there.” Hamman also says amid the controversy over the closed-door meeting, we shouldn’t lose sight of what we need our federal leaders to do, “The federal government promised to be a 50/50 partner in building the comprehensive Everglades restoration plan but they are a billion dollars behind the state of Florida.” This week in Washington, Rooney urged the House Appropriations Committee to fund Everglades and Lake Okeechobee watershed projects, emphasizing the area accounts for $1.3 trillion in real estate value in our state. But Southwest Floridians want to know what the participants at next week’s roundtable will learn to help get us federal funding. Rooney’s office has not responded to our attorney’s letter despite multiple follow-up attempt to have a discussion Friday. For a full list of attendees at the roundtable, click here.