WINK News Digital

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) – A growing obese population in Florida has health officials in one northern county seeking new stretchers with hydraulic lifts. Alachua County emergency officials want an $11,500 grant to help buy two new stretchers that can move patients who are too big to be safely transported on current equipment. County rescuers say […]

MIAMI (AP) – The Justice Department’s decision to not prosecute a civilian neighborhood-watch volunteer for a hate crime in the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager isn’t necessarily a harbinger of how it will rule in two other high-profile deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of police. Legal experts say that’s because […]

LEE COUNTY, Fla.- Southbound traffic on I-75 around mile marker 135 is still moving slowly after a truck burst into flames. The driver of the truck tells WINK News he was delivering bathroom supplies to Collier County when he noticed smoke from the engine and pulled over. Clinton Hammond says his truck engine caught on […]

MIAMI (AP) – A chemist working out of his suburban South Florida garage was sentenced Wednesday to 18 months in prison for supplying banned performance-enhancing substances to a clinic whose customers included professional baseball players such as New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez. Paulo Berejuk had hoped for probation and home confinement after pleading guilty […]

MIAMI (AP) – A $100 million settlement has been reached between three major tobacco companies and hundreds of people who sued them in Florida federal court. The tentative agreement announced Wednesday involves R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Philip Morris USA Inc. and Lorillard Tobacco Co. The deal resolves about 400 cases pending before a federal judge […]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Florida’s largest companies spend heavily on lobbying and campaign contributions and get millions in state contracts and subsidies. But a report released Wednesday says they pay less in state taxes than the official 5.5 percent rate. How much they pay isn’t certain, because corporate tax payments in Florida are confidential. Government […]

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Boston Red Sox are holding a free, public open house at JetBlue Park, located at 11500 Fenway South Drive in Fort Myers, on Saturday, Feb. 28. This year’s event will also include a yard sale featuring Red Sox memorabilia. It will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The […]

GRAFTON, Mass. (AP) – New England’s epic snowfalls haven’t just made life miserable for humans: animals are suffering, too. Veterinarians with Tufts University’s wildlife clinic say subzero temperatures and heavy snows have savaged birds and critters that struggle to survive even in mild winters. Dr. Florina Tseng, a veterinarian who heads the clinic, said on […]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – One “Fantasy 5” player has selected all five winning numbers to win a jackpot of $222,138.87. The Florida Lottery said Wednesday that the winning ticket was purchased in Boca Raton. A total of 282 tickets matching four numbers won $127 each. Another 9,170 tickets matching three numbers won $10.50 each and […]

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court is considering the employment discrimination claim of a Muslim woman who was turned down for a job by clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch after she showed up at her job interview wearing a black headscarf that conflicted with the company’s dress code. The case being argued Wednesday explores when […]