The Weather Authority: A wet Saturday evening as storms move through Southwest FloridaLee Health Touch-A-Truck event educates families on Trauma Awareness
The Weather Authority: A wet Saturday evening as storms move through Southwest Florida A rainy Saturday evening across much of southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Lee Health Touch-A-Truck event educates families on Trauma Awareness On Saturday morning, sirens were ringing to celebrate Lee Health Trauma Center’s 30 years of service and to provide the public with trauma education and prevention methods.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (CBS) CDC says bird flu viruses “pose pandemic potential,” cites major knowledge gaps Bird flu continues to appear to pose a “low risk to the general public” for now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. But the agency’s scientists ran into roadblocks investigating a human case of this “pandemic potential” virus this year, they said in a new report.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Bay Street Yard set to open in late May A new place to hang out in Downtown Fort Myers is opening this spring.
Aetna agrees to settle lawsuit over fertility coverage for LGBTQ+ customers Aetna has agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused the health insurer of discriminating against LGBTQ+ customers in need of fertility treatment.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINK Neighborhood Watch: Robbery, Pawn Shops, and Child Porn This week’s segment of Wink Neighborhood Watch features an armed robber, fraud at a pawn shop, and possession of child pornography.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Sun, clouds, humidity, rain – it’s all in your weekend forecast Saturday afternoon will be hot and humid, with a mix of sun and clouds.
LEHIGH ACRES Chaotic lake getting fence and security Now, with all the negative attention it has gotten, some think putting up a fence is a great way to keep that bad activity out.
CAPE CORAL What we learned about Cape Coral’s water crisis after a ride along On Friday, WINK News got to ride along to see just what people are doing that could be wasting water.
FORT MYERS Students affected by COVID-19 able to graduate for the first time For many young people, COVID stripped away one of their greatest rites of passage: graduation.
Deadly crash on State Road 29 in Hendry County Authorities are at the scene of a deadly crash on State Road 29 in Hendry County on Friday afternoon.
Celebrating Free Comic Book Day in SWFL JP Sports store manager Jonathan Powell said this is a generational event that brings families together to reminisce on comics and other hobby-related knickknacks.
FORT MYERS Group rescues dogs before getting put down in Lee County Our animal shelters are packed with amazing puppies who have the sole desire to be loved.
FORT MYERS FGCU student beats all odds and is able to graduate Nearly four years ago, Marisa Manning had her heart set on going to Florida Gulf Coast University but never thought she’d find her passion for studying parasites.
FORT MYERS Victim in MLK Blvd. shooting identified as social media influencer The victim of the Martin Luther King Boulevard shooting has been identified as a local social media influencer.
The Weather Authority: A wet Saturday evening as storms move through Southwest Florida A rainy Saturday evening across much of southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Lee Health Touch-A-Truck event educates families on Trauma Awareness On Saturday morning, sirens were ringing to celebrate Lee Health Trauma Center’s 30 years of service and to provide the public with trauma education and prevention methods.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (CBS) CDC says bird flu viruses “pose pandemic potential,” cites major knowledge gaps Bird flu continues to appear to pose a “low risk to the general public” for now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. But the agency’s scientists ran into roadblocks investigating a human case of this “pandemic potential” virus this year, they said in a new report.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Bay Street Yard set to open in late May A new place to hang out in Downtown Fort Myers is opening this spring.
Aetna agrees to settle lawsuit over fertility coverage for LGBTQ+ customers Aetna has agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused the health insurer of discriminating against LGBTQ+ customers in need of fertility treatment.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINK Neighborhood Watch: Robbery, Pawn Shops, and Child Porn This week’s segment of Wink Neighborhood Watch features an armed robber, fraud at a pawn shop, and possession of child pornography.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Sun, clouds, humidity, rain – it’s all in your weekend forecast Saturday afternoon will be hot and humid, with a mix of sun and clouds.
LEHIGH ACRES Chaotic lake getting fence and security Now, with all the negative attention it has gotten, some think putting up a fence is a great way to keep that bad activity out.
CAPE CORAL What we learned about Cape Coral’s water crisis after a ride along On Friday, WINK News got to ride along to see just what people are doing that could be wasting water.
FORT MYERS Students affected by COVID-19 able to graduate for the first time For many young people, COVID stripped away one of their greatest rites of passage: graduation.
Deadly crash on State Road 29 in Hendry County Authorities are at the scene of a deadly crash on State Road 29 in Hendry County on Friday afternoon.
Celebrating Free Comic Book Day in SWFL JP Sports store manager Jonathan Powell said this is a generational event that brings families together to reminisce on comics and other hobby-related knickknacks.
FORT MYERS Group rescues dogs before getting put down in Lee County Our animal shelters are packed with amazing puppies who have the sole desire to be loved.
FORT MYERS FGCU student beats all odds and is able to graduate Nearly four years ago, Marisa Manning had her heart set on going to Florida Gulf Coast University but never thought she’d find her passion for studying parasites.
FORT MYERS Victim in MLK Blvd. shooting identified as social media influencer The victim of the Martin Luther King Boulevard shooting has been identified as a local social media influencer.
MGN Sex trafficking is a nearly $100 billion global industry. Law enforcement in Southwest Florida is doing its part to track down traffickers and help rescue victims that need it the most. “I really believed that no one was ever gonna help me,” said Krista Hicks, a human trafficking survivor. Feeling hopeless, alone and just a teen, Hicks said she was raped when she was 13-years-old and later trafficked in Fort Myers for sex and labor. Now, she devotes her life to helping other young survivors as executive director at One More Child Anti-Trafficking in Central Florida. RELATED: Sex trafficker targets the girl next door into a dark illicit world “I am shocked that I get to sit here; I’m shocked at this beautiful life I get to live,” Hicks said. “And it shouldn’t be so shocking. This should be where we, as a community, bond together to face this injustice and face it in a way that my story becomes the norm.” Making turnaround stories, like Hick’s, the norm is something Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk strives to achieve. His office launched Florida’s first federally funded human trafficking unit in 2005. “I don’t want just one unit looking at human trafficking,” Rambosk said. He wants all deputies on alert and trained to spot human trafficking. His goal is to make a rescue instead of an arrest when trafficking victims are identified. “A lot of people believe young ladies chose prostitution as a way of life,” Rambosk said. “We’re not seeing that, in fact we’re seeing just the opposite. We’re seeing that young ladies have been duped, coerced, addicted to drugs, and forced to participate through prostitution but it’s all for money. “It’s making money,” Rambosk said. “This is an organized criminal enterprise.” RELATED: Florida human trafficking signs get updates Sheriff Rambosk drives home that message when speaking to community groups throughout Collier County as he said it is modern enslavement. The sheriff’s office is counting on the public to be its extra set of eyes and ears. CCSO Human Trafficking Unit Sgt. Wade Williams also speaks out in the community. He said they are more likely to solve crimes by talking to witnesses and receiving tips from the public than using DNA or fingerprints, which are highlighted in popular crime shows like CSI. Since 2014, the sheriff’s office has investigated 98 human trafficking cases making 20 arrests, including this case. The small number of arrests pertain to the complexity of the cases. The victims have numerous vulnerabilities and that can significantly affect their ability to work with law enforcement. The victim’s trafficker may have gotten him or her addicted to drugs. Then, there is the trauma bond with the trafficker and it is challenging to gain the victim’s trust, which they need to move forward with an arrest and a prosecution. RELATED: Human trafficking victim uses her tragedy to help others One case that did end in a conviction is Gary Cherelus, who plead guilty 2016 and is serving 20 years for sex trafficking. “He was running basically a brothel out of his house,” Sgt. Williams said. The case ended in a conviction, but bringing the trafficker to justice is not their only priority. The big challenge is to also meet the needs of the victims. They work closely with non-profits organizations, like David Lawrence Center and the Shelter for Abused Women and Children in Naples, to build trust with victims as well as to help authorities to move forward with a case. Also, working closely with non-profits gives the survivor the tools to move forward with a new life. That is something Hicks applauds. “Today we have law enforcement here in Southwest Florida, Collier County, Central Florida, who do listen,” Hicks said. “I think girls and boys are more willing to reach out more than ever before.” _______ If you or someone you know may be a victim of sex trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline.