Chef Rocco Scarpino opens Rossini in Port Charlotte Rossini by Chef Rocco has been completely renovated with custom-made wine racks that adorn walls, subdued decor and a ceiling painted with a blue sky and clouds.
FORT MYERS Ferris wheel in downtown Fort Myers not happening The dream of riding in a Ferris wheel, enjoying scenic views in downtown Fort Myers is being scrapped for now.
FHSAA board unanimously approves NIL plan for student athletes The FHSAA board of directors unanimously approve a plan to allow student athletes in Florida to receive NIL opportunities.
LEE COUNTY Lee Commissioners approve state agreement to design SUN Trail path from Fort Myers Beach to Bonita Springs The Lee Board of County Commissioners approved an agreement to design a trail linking Fort Myers Beach with Bonita Beach.
WINK NEWS Gov. DeSantis grants $7.5M to Lee County for hurricane season Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis awarded $7.5 million to the shrimp docks in San Carlos Park as an emergency fund for the upcoming hurricane season.
CAPE CORAL The faces of Wade Wilson: how the accused double murderer has changed his looks with tattoos The accused double murderer has undergone a significant transformation over the years, using tattoos to alter his appearance.
NORTH FORT MYERS Traffic mania on Pondella Road and US-41 following Caloosahatchee Bridge closure Headaches ensue on Pondella Road and US-41 as motorists deal with day two of the Caloosahatchee Bridge closure.
The Weather Authority Hot afternoon with scattered storms this evening The Weather Authority is tracking hot temperatures with storms expected to develop along the east of I-75 in the afternoon and into the evening.
Lee County to give update on FEMA flood insurance discount Lee County will give an update on the issue at Tuesday’s county commissioners meeting at 9:30 a.m.
NAPLES Lorenzo Walker Technical High School students protest closure Students showed up Monday to the Collier County school board meeting in an effort to save Lorenzo Walker Technical High School.
FORT MYERS Lessons Learned: Day 1 of Caloosahatchee Bridge closures A domino effect of traffic delays, the Caloosahatchee bridge closure had hundreds of drivers searching for a new route on Monday.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Storm Watch 2024: Ensuring Your Safety, Insuring Your Future this hurricane season Protecting your family, your home and yourself. The hurricane season has arrived and WINK News is here to help you prepare.
Safely securing your boat as a storm approaches Whether your boat rides out a storm on land or in the water, there are steps you can take to increase the odds it won’t get damaged.
Hurricane Hunter who flew into Ian shares his story and the team’s critical mission The Hurricane Hunters fly directly into the world’s worst weather. Hurricane Ian is high on that list.
PORT CHARLOTTE As a new hurricane season begins, thousands still have open insurance claims from Ian A family of six has lived in their Port Charlotte driveway since Ian. They are battling Citizens Insurance over their claim.
Chef Rocco Scarpino opens Rossini in Port Charlotte Rossini by Chef Rocco has been completely renovated with custom-made wine racks that adorn walls, subdued decor and a ceiling painted with a blue sky and clouds.
FORT MYERS Ferris wheel in downtown Fort Myers not happening The dream of riding in a Ferris wheel, enjoying scenic views in downtown Fort Myers is being scrapped for now.
FHSAA board unanimously approves NIL plan for student athletes The FHSAA board of directors unanimously approve a plan to allow student athletes in Florida to receive NIL opportunities.
LEE COUNTY Lee Commissioners approve state agreement to design SUN Trail path from Fort Myers Beach to Bonita Springs The Lee Board of County Commissioners approved an agreement to design a trail linking Fort Myers Beach with Bonita Beach.
WINK NEWS Gov. DeSantis grants $7.5M to Lee County for hurricane season Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis awarded $7.5 million to the shrimp docks in San Carlos Park as an emergency fund for the upcoming hurricane season.
CAPE CORAL The faces of Wade Wilson: how the accused double murderer has changed his looks with tattoos The accused double murderer has undergone a significant transformation over the years, using tattoos to alter his appearance.
NORTH FORT MYERS Traffic mania on Pondella Road and US-41 following Caloosahatchee Bridge closure Headaches ensue on Pondella Road and US-41 as motorists deal with day two of the Caloosahatchee Bridge closure.
The Weather Authority Hot afternoon with scattered storms this evening The Weather Authority is tracking hot temperatures with storms expected to develop along the east of I-75 in the afternoon and into the evening.
Lee County to give update on FEMA flood insurance discount Lee County will give an update on the issue at Tuesday’s county commissioners meeting at 9:30 a.m.
NAPLES Lorenzo Walker Technical High School students protest closure Students showed up Monday to the Collier County school board meeting in an effort to save Lorenzo Walker Technical High School.
FORT MYERS Lessons Learned: Day 1 of Caloosahatchee Bridge closures A domino effect of traffic delays, the Caloosahatchee bridge closure had hundreds of drivers searching for a new route on Monday.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Storm Watch 2024: Ensuring Your Safety, Insuring Your Future this hurricane season Protecting your family, your home and yourself. The hurricane season has arrived and WINK News is here to help you prepare.
Safely securing your boat as a storm approaches Whether your boat rides out a storm on land or in the water, there are steps you can take to increase the odds it won’t get damaged.
Hurricane Hunter who flew into Ian shares his story and the team’s critical mission The Hurricane Hunters fly directly into the world’s worst weather. Hurricane Ian is high on that list.
PORT CHARLOTTE As a new hurricane season begins, thousands still have open insurance claims from Ian A family of six has lived in their Port Charlotte driveway since Ian. They are battling Citizens Insurance over their claim.
The House Committee on Homeland Security has released documents that show a surge in migrants entering the United States through a parole program, sparking debate over immigration policies and border security. The program, which began in October 2022 for Venezuelans and later expanded to include Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans, permits individuals to fly directly into the U.S. without a legal basis for entry before being paroled. “There is some vetting, but the idea is to allow humanitarian aid on a case-by-case basis,” said political scientist Aubrey Jewett. Jewett said the program was designed to help people escape countries that are undergoing turmoil and violence, particularly if their lives are being threatened, The documents show over 200,000 migrants used more than 50 airport locations, including Washington D.C., Miami and even here in Fort Myers to enter the country from January to August 2023. Legal challenges and criticism have been mounted against the program. Republicans allege the Biden Administration is stretching the law. Critics also question the legality and impact on immigration policy. Meantime, Democrats see the program as a safer, more orderly alternative to illegal border crossings. Reneta Castro, an immigration attorney, argued that these individuals are vetted and pose minimal threat. Press Secretary Jeremy Redfern, with Governor Ron DeSantis’ office, sent the following statement in an email: Biden’s parole program is unlawful and constitutes an abuse of constitutional authority. Florida is currently suing Biden to shut it down, and we believe that we will prevail. When asked why the state believes it’s unlawful, a spokesperson pointed WINK News to the Q&A portion of a news conference. In summary, the governor believes the program is illegal because it brings people into the country who don’t have a right to be here. The governor mentioned a specific instance where someone brought in under this program ended up facing charges for sexual assaults against a developmentally disabled 14-year-old girl in Massachusetts, implying that following the law would have prevented this. DeSantis also mentioned the program is secret, saying state authorities are not informed when people are brought in, making it difficult to verify the numbers or track where they go. Jewett said in the short term, we can expect more politics, court cases and more politicians talking about this on either side. A spokeswoman at RSW asked WINK to contact the Department of Homeland Security, saying she has no information regarding how many people flew into RSW as part of the program. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond.