Punta Gorda City Council denies extension to Fishermen’s Village receiverJustice Department formally moves to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug in historic shift
Punta Gorda City Council denies extension to Fishermen’s Village receiver At a May 15 meeting, Punta Gorda City Council unanimously denied the request of Fishermen’s Village representatives to extend the deadline to market and sell the property.
WASHINGTON (AP) Justice Department formally moves to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug in historic shift The Justice Department on Thursday formally moved to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug in a historic shift in generations of U.S. drug policy.
Punta Gorda, YMCA inch closer to New Operation Cooper Street lease Punta Gorda City Council and representatives of the YMCA of Southwest Florida approached a lease agreement for New Operation Cooper Street during a special session May 14 where members of the public commented on the matter.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral ranked 3rd worst city for commuters Cape Coral drivers, has your work commute worsened? It’s not just your imagination, as a study ranked the worst cities for commuters.
BOSTON (AP) Teen died from eating a spicy chip as part of social media challenge, autopsy report concludes A teen who participated in a spicy tortilla chip challenge on social media died from ingesting a high amount of a chili pepper extract.
CAPE CORAL Former Cape Coral teacher accused of sending nudes to student will be in court A former Cape Coral teacher accused of sending a photo of his genitals to a student is scheduled to be in court.
The Weather Authority Strong storms moving through SWFL Minor flooding in low-lying and poor-draining areas is expected in Southwest Florida due to stormy conditions.
BOKEELIA Waterspout spotted near the Bokeelia Fishing Pier A WINK News viewer spotted a water spout near the Bokeelia Fishing Pier on Thursday morning.
NORTH FORT MYERS Man accused of groping woman in North Fort Myers Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on a man accused of groping a woman of 65 years or older in North Fort Myers.
WINK NEWS Disease affecting avocado growth impacts Florida farmers The citrus industry has suffered due to Greening Disease, and now the avocado industry is experiencing issues of its own.
NORTH FORT MYERS LCSO investigating possible connection between shooting and fire in North Fort Myers Deputies are investigating the alleged shooting of a family’s camper home, which was then burned down by a fire in North Fort Myers.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral approves grant funding for Utilities Extension Project The City of Cape Coral voted unanimously to provide $25 million in funding for the Utilities Extension Project.
downtown fort myers The downtown Fort Myers post office is set to reopen Monday The long-awaited return of the downtown Fort Myers post office is soon to be over, as the location is expected to reopen on Monday.
NAPLES Naples-based fashion designer supports teen who was denied entrance to prom Sophie Savidge is getting some swanky bow ties from Naples-based fashion designer Peter Jean-Marie.
FORT MYERS BEACH Staying safe against rip currents Mother Nature is throwing us for a loop. Right now, most of our beaches are at high risk for rip currents.
Punta Gorda City Council denies extension to Fishermen’s Village receiver At a May 15 meeting, Punta Gorda City Council unanimously denied the request of Fishermen’s Village representatives to extend the deadline to market and sell the property.
WASHINGTON (AP) Justice Department formally moves to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug in historic shift The Justice Department on Thursday formally moved to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug in a historic shift in generations of U.S. drug policy.
Punta Gorda, YMCA inch closer to New Operation Cooper Street lease Punta Gorda City Council and representatives of the YMCA of Southwest Florida approached a lease agreement for New Operation Cooper Street during a special session May 14 where members of the public commented on the matter.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral ranked 3rd worst city for commuters Cape Coral drivers, has your work commute worsened? It’s not just your imagination, as a study ranked the worst cities for commuters.
BOSTON (AP) Teen died from eating a spicy chip as part of social media challenge, autopsy report concludes A teen who participated in a spicy tortilla chip challenge on social media died from ingesting a high amount of a chili pepper extract.
CAPE CORAL Former Cape Coral teacher accused of sending nudes to student will be in court A former Cape Coral teacher accused of sending a photo of his genitals to a student is scheduled to be in court.
The Weather Authority Strong storms moving through SWFL Minor flooding in low-lying and poor-draining areas is expected in Southwest Florida due to stormy conditions.
BOKEELIA Waterspout spotted near the Bokeelia Fishing Pier A WINK News viewer spotted a water spout near the Bokeelia Fishing Pier on Thursday morning.
NORTH FORT MYERS Man accused of groping woman in North Fort Myers Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on a man accused of groping a woman of 65 years or older in North Fort Myers.
WINK NEWS Disease affecting avocado growth impacts Florida farmers The citrus industry has suffered due to Greening Disease, and now the avocado industry is experiencing issues of its own.
NORTH FORT MYERS LCSO investigating possible connection between shooting and fire in North Fort Myers Deputies are investigating the alleged shooting of a family’s camper home, which was then burned down by a fire in North Fort Myers.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral approves grant funding for Utilities Extension Project The City of Cape Coral voted unanimously to provide $25 million in funding for the Utilities Extension Project.
downtown fort myers The downtown Fort Myers post office is set to reopen Monday The long-awaited return of the downtown Fort Myers post office is soon to be over, as the location is expected to reopen on Monday.
NAPLES Naples-based fashion designer supports teen who was denied entrance to prom Sophie Savidge is getting some swanky bow ties from Naples-based fashion designer Peter Jean-Marie.
FORT MYERS BEACH Staying safe against rip currents Mother Nature is throwing us for a loop. Right now, most of our beaches are at high risk for rip currents.
Credit: WINK News Activists worry a fight within school districts puts politics over the health of students. As the “Parents’ Bill of Rights” advances in the state legislature, LGBTQ groups are concerned the law would out students to parents without their permission. Advocates of the bill (HB 241) said it emphasizes parents’ rights and focuses on families. Lee County School Board member Chris Patricca posed this question at Monday night’s heated school board meeting. “In the event the child doesn’t want to engage the parent, what are we doing about protecting parental rights? And without parental signature and parental notification? I don’t believe parental rights are being protected,” she said to audience applause. The school district attorney’s response? “I do think that this new ‘Parents’ Bill of Rights has some provisions in there that will require the district to reevaluate certain things and make sure that we are in compliance,” said Kathy Dupuy-Bruno, Esq. In the crowd of parents Monday night was Crystal Szyscon. She said outing a student to a parent when they’re not ready is dangerous. Her transgender child confided in friends and teachers before telling her. “I’ve learned that it is important for a child to feel safe, it is important for a child to test how they’re feeling in a safe nurturing environment,” she said. Her son was outed to the rest of school in gym class because he was forced to stand in a section with girls prior to new laws that changed that. “He called while in school, he called a suicide hotline because he was so anxious, so overcome. I immediately went to the school and took him out of school for his safety and put him within virtual school.” WINK News went to the author of the Senate version of the bill, Rep. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, if it’s true. Does the Parents’ Bill of Rights require schools to out the child to their parents? “The answer to that would be no because we’ve not added anything new,” he replied. Rodrigues said the only reason LGBTQ groups might be upset is that the bill advertises to parents that they already have the right to request all student files from the school district. A mental health counselor said the takeaway for transgender students should be that while the odds of a teacher or school counselor putting that information in a file are low, if they do and a parent requests, that information is not protected.