FGCU softball pitcher making a name for herselfSurrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society concerns
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.
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.
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.
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.
Credit: WINK News The Florida Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union, said Monday it’s filing a lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state over their push to reopen Florida’s schools as COVID-19 cases rise. The FEA lawsuit is one of at least two to have been filed against the state’s plans to reopen schools. Both are asking a judge to intervene and stop schools from reopening in just a few weeks. The union is calling on DeSantis, Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, the Florida State Board of Education, and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez to “stop the reckless and unsafe reopening of public school campuses as coronavirus infections surge statewide.” RELATED DOWNLOAD: FEA lawsuit (pdf) The FEA also launched a petition that says the state’s students must not return to school until steps are taken to reduce the rate of community spread of COVID-19. “We cannot be reckless with children’s lives,” said Fedrick Ingram, FEA president. His attorney did not mince words. “The first 21 pages of our lawsuit are a chronicle of horrors,” said Kendall Coffey. Coffey’s goal is to stop schools from reopening in August, and teachers say it’s the only safe thing to do. “I, of course, want to go back to teaching but it needs to be safe. There’s no way children can sit in their seat for six hours and wear a mask,” said Stefani Brown Miller, a teacher in Broward County. The FEA lawsuit argues the state’s directive that schools reopen five days a week is unconstitutional, putting students, teachers and their families at risk of contracting COVID-19. “What we’re trying to do is keep these kids alive and keep their families alive,” Ingram said. An Orange County teacher who is pregnant filed a similar lawsuit Sunday. DeSantis was about that one during a Monday press conference. “I haven’t seen it but I think anyone … if there’s an adult or an instructor who is concerned from a health perspective, I think accommodations need to be made, absolutely,” he said. DeSantis said opening schools five days a week is about giving parents choices. “Ultimately, parents need to be free to choose the best environment for their student, for their kids. If that means they prefer distance learning because they’re not comfortable with having kids in school, then that’s their decision as a parent.” The union said in a survey of its members that 39 percent of teachers said they will not go back to school if they’re forced to be there five days a week. The FEA lawsuit is seeking for instruction to be held online until it’s deemed safe for in-person instruction. “Before schools reopen they must have adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies, reduced class sizes, social distancing, staffing, and school clinic capabilities in compliance with CDC guidelines and other health authorities,” the lawsuit states. The Florida Department of Education issued an emergency order July 6 requiring all Florida public school districts to reopen brick and mortar schools as an option for families five days a week. The School District of Lee County was among districts that were looking at a hybrid model for reopening, in which students would attend in-person classes part of the week and virtual classes on the other days. After the DOE order, districts had to abandon that plan. Most, including Lee County, are now offering several options for returning to school, including in-person classes five days a week or allowing students to learn from home. The Lee County school superintendent on Monday said he is recommending that the district start date be moved from Aug. 10 to Aug. 24 or 31. The school board will discuss the issue at its Thursday meeting. With school start dates just weeks away, it isn’t yet known if the judge in either case will fast-track the lawsuits and deliver a ruling by then. Florida on Monday reported that there have been more than 360,000 known cases of COVID-19 statewide.