Police: Man caught at Clemente Park with AR pistol, ski mask and black latex glovesFHP investigating hit-and-run with injuries after crash at mm 170 on I-75
FORT MYERS Police: Man caught at Clemente Park with AR pistol, ski mask and black latex gloves A 19-year-old man has been arrested after officers found an AR pistol, all-black clothing, a ski mask and black latex gloves in his backpack.
PUNTA GORDA FHP investigating hit-and-run with injuries after crash at mm 170 on I-75 Authorities are investigating a hit-and-run crash with injuries on Interstate 75 southbound at mile marker 170 in Punta Gorda.
ALVA Department of Health warns of blue-green algae in Alva canal If you live on Sebastian Court along the canal in Alva, the Florida Department of Health in Lee County wants you to remain cautious. A blue-green algae bloom has been spotted there.
SAN CARLOS PARK Couple accused of drugging and molesting girl make court appearance A San Carlos Park couple accused of drugging and molesting a girl while covering it up for two years appeared in court.
FORT MYERS Lee County Schools receives over $2M in Juul settlement The Lee County School District has received over $2 million in a settlement with Juul, and now, it’s putting that money to use.
JERUSALEM (AP) Israel says it reopened a key Gaza crossing after a rocket attack but the UN says no aid has entered The Israeli military said Wednesday that it has reopened its Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza after days of closure, but the U.N. said no humanitarian aid has yet entered and there is no one to receive it on the Palestinian side after workers fled during Israel’s military incursion in the area.
ATLANTA (AP) Georgia appeals court agrees to review ruling allowing Fani Willis to stay on Trump election case A Georgia appeals court on Wednesday agreed to review a lower court ruling allowing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to continue to prosecute the election interference case she brought against former President Donald Trump.
WASHINGTON (AP) Police clear pro-Palestinian protest camp and arrest 33 at DC campus as mayor’s hearing is canceled Police cleared a pro-Palestinian tent encampment at George Washington University early Wednesday and arrested demonstrators.
2 Collier County men arrested for street racing Collier County Sheriff’s Office deputies have arrested two men after catching them street racing.
CLEWISTON Lewis Boulevard in Clewiston closed after semi-trailer carrying palm trees loses load Lewis Boulevard in Clewiston from U.S. 27 to 13th Street is closed this morning while crews remove trees from the roadway.
ARCADIA Juvenile and 18-year-old arrested for stealing, burglarizing multiple cars in DeSoto County A juvenile and an 18-year-old have been arrested after allegedly stealing several cars and burglarizing them in DeSoto County.
IMMOKALEE Immokalee man arrested for child porn possession An Immokalee man has been arrested and charged on ten felony counts after allegedly being in possession of child pornography.
ESTERO Caught on Camera: Alligator chases after teen’s catch while fishing in Estero A 15-year-old teenager from Estero bit off more than he could chew while fishing for Peacock Bass as a hungry alligator chased after the fish and him.
Gainsville Gov. DeSantis responds to Pro-Palestinian protest held at University of Florida Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke about the dispersal of pro-Palestinian protestors at the University of Florida.
The Weather Authority Hotter and drier Wednesday with a few inland storms this afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a mild and drier Wednesday morning with rain expected inland this afternoon.
FORT MYERS Police: Man caught at Clemente Park with AR pistol, ski mask and black latex gloves A 19-year-old man has been arrested after officers found an AR pistol, all-black clothing, a ski mask and black latex gloves in his backpack.
PUNTA GORDA FHP investigating hit-and-run with injuries after crash at mm 170 on I-75 Authorities are investigating a hit-and-run crash with injuries on Interstate 75 southbound at mile marker 170 in Punta Gorda.
ALVA Department of Health warns of blue-green algae in Alva canal If you live on Sebastian Court along the canal in Alva, the Florida Department of Health in Lee County wants you to remain cautious. A blue-green algae bloom has been spotted there.
SAN CARLOS PARK Couple accused of drugging and molesting girl make court appearance A San Carlos Park couple accused of drugging and molesting a girl while covering it up for two years appeared in court.
FORT MYERS Lee County Schools receives over $2M in Juul settlement The Lee County School District has received over $2 million in a settlement with Juul, and now, it’s putting that money to use.
JERUSALEM (AP) Israel says it reopened a key Gaza crossing after a rocket attack but the UN says no aid has entered The Israeli military said Wednesday that it has reopened its Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza after days of closure, but the U.N. said no humanitarian aid has yet entered and there is no one to receive it on the Palestinian side after workers fled during Israel’s military incursion in the area.
ATLANTA (AP) Georgia appeals court agrees to review ruling allowing Fani Willis to stay on Trump election case A Georgia appeals court on Wednesday agreed to review a lower court ruling allowing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to continue to prosecute the election interference case she brought against former President Donald Trump.
WASHINGTON (AP) Police clear pro-Palestinian protest camp and arrest 33 at DC campus as mayor’s hearing is canceled Police cleared a pro-Palestinian tent encampment at George Washington University early Wednesday and arrested demonstrators.
2 Collier County men arrested for street racing Collier County Sheriff’s Office deputies have arrested two men after catching them street racing.
CLEWISTON Lewis Boulevard in Clewiston closed after semi-trailer carrying palm trees loses load Lewis Boulevard in Clewiston from U.S. 27 to 13th Street is closed this morning while crews remove trees from the roadway.
ARCADIA Juvenile and 18-year-old arrested for stealing, burglarizing multiple cars in DeSoto County A juvenile and an 18-year-old have been arrested after allegedly stealing several cars and burglarizing them in DeSoto County.
IMMOKALEE Immokalee man arrested for child porn possession An Immokalee man has been arrested and charged on ten felony counts after allegedly being in possession of child pornography.
ESTERO Caught on Camera: Alligator chases after teen’s catch while fishing in Estero A 15-year-old teenager from Estero bit off more than he could chew while fishing for Peacock Bass as a hungry alligator chased after the fish and him.
Gainsville Gov. DeSantis responds to Pro-Palestinian protest held at University of Florida Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke about the dispersal of pro-Palestinian protestors at the University of Florida.
The Weather Authority Hotter and drier Wednesday with a few inland storms this afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a mild and drier Wednesday morning with rain expected inland this afternoon.
While waiting to see how much the fight to preserve most of Lee County’s 25% flood insurance discount will turn out, WINK News found that nowhere is the proximity of moving forward and moving out so intertwined as Fort Myers Beach. “Having these buildings built to these codes we were able to recover a lot faster than most,” said Bill Waichulis, the general manager of the Pink Shell on Fort Myers Beach. CREDIT: WINK News Walking block by block on the beach, you will see a mix of progress, success and struggle, with many somewhere struck in the middle. WINK News toured it all from the air and on the ground as FEMA and the town tries to figure out how to move forward with flood insurance. While keeping an eye out to uncover who’s breaking the re-building rules, the extremes can stand out. “It was a game save for us,” said Waichulis. At the Pink Shell, the latest building codes, including putting the lobby “18-and-a-half feet up,” saved the building. WINK News anchor Chris Cifatte asked Bill where the waterline was. CREDIT: WINK News “We had about 18-and-a-half feet of storm surge here, and it was literally just cresting right to where you and I are standing,” said Waichulis. “The waterfall was completely submersed in the seawater.” The building was OK because they had breakaway walls on the ground, as the code requires. “They did what they were supposed to do, which was breakaway and let the water flow through rather than causing more damage to the structure of the building,” said Waichulis. Next door was a different story. Pink Shell on Fort Myers Beach. CREDIT: WINK News “They’re walking up and down the beach, and this is what they’re seeing from a disaster standpoint,” said Waichulis. Down the street and stuck somewhere in the middle are neighborhoods with roads like Anchorage Street as anything but uncommon. The day Chris was there, a street you easily see from beginning to end, about half the houses had some form of permit issue. They are streets with older homes that many people love, but they also contain streets where people are mightily struggling. An example of what’s supposed to be happening there can be seen on Madera Road. It’ll break your heart, but nobody’s trying to rebuild it flat on the ground. It’s a home that used to be one-story, but they’re complying with the 50/50 rule and raising the house up. WINK News scrolled through the town’s website and found dozens of houses that either had or have permitting issues. Construction on Fort Myers Beach. CREDIT: WINK News You could see evidence that the town is working to resolve them. It’s likely we won’t find out how successful they are until the FEMA flap is finished. “Any little bit helps when you’re trying to rebuild and start over again…” Gary Lee pointed out. Lee may be one of the luckiest guys around. “I’m just grateful,” Lee said. Lee loves his job at the Pink Shell. He had a house on Sanibel but sold it right before Hurricane Ian. It was 14 feet up on stilts and did OK for the new owner. However, Lee’s new place is not on stilts. “But it’s not in a flood zone, and it fared excellent through the storm,” he said. Nevertheless, his bosses pointed to the need to build better. “We had small cottages from the ’50s… I don’t even know where they are now… they’re gone,” said Waichulis. But both men, and so many of us, know that means the pain of being priced out of the house you used to call home. CREDIT: WINK News “There’s no doubt rebuilding or going up is expensive,” said Waichulis. “It’s a tough time even if you want to sell your home to get because of interest rates, so it’s a challenge right now.” It’s a challenge that will change lives and change the look and feel of Southwest Florida. “They say it was the 10,000-year storm and that it felt like it,” said Waichulis. WINK News tried talking with the town of Fort Myers Beach and specifically code enforcement, but they didn’t return our calls.