Sydney Persing
WINK News
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Past articles by Sydney:
Florida politicians sharing thoughts on the Jan. 6 public hearings
Key testimony came on Monday in the Jan. 6 public hearings from people in former President Trump's circle. → Read More
New Lee County schools superintendent's job could soon be in voter's hands
Bernier is the newly appointed Lee County schools superintendent and will be sworn in and on the job Monday. → Read More
Testimony continues in Club Blu trial with law enforcement, FBI agent on the stand
Law enforcement and FBI agents take the stand to close the first week of a mass shooting trial. They’re the ones who dug through tons of video evidence and phone records from the night of the violence in July 2016 at Club Blu. Kierra Russ is on trial for murder in the shooting that killed […] → Read More
Audio gives glimpse into internal affairs investigation on former Fort Myers police official
New audio recordings shed new light on the investigation into a controversy at the Fort Myers Police Department. The tape reveals Chief Derrick Diggs acknowledges one person felt pressured amid allegations then-Major William Newhouse told another officer to hide cost overruns on a new police station from the city council. The internal affairs investigation began […] → Read More
Former inspector general files lawsuit against FMPD over deception about new headquarter costs, retaliation
The Fort Myers Police Department is now facing a lawsuit regarding its activity. On Monday, a former inspector general filed that suit against the city, FMPD, the police chief, a former major, and an investigator. All of this is regarding allegations that a former major tried to deceive city council about the actual cost of […] → Read More
Southwest Florida nurse practitioner travels to Ukraine to help
A Southwest Florida nurse practitioner is headed back to Ukraine to offer her helping hand. Andrea Leiner knows all too well the reality of what she’ll be facing when she gets there. “The hospital we are at has had a couple of mass casualty events that were results from rocket attacks,” Leiner said. Leiner is […] → Read More
New York launches campaign taking jabs at Florida's Parental Rights in Education Law, known as 'Don't Say Gay'
One state is making a bold statement about a controversial Florida law. New York is launching a campaign that says, “come to a city where you can say what you want.” The message surrounded by the word gay obviously denounces the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law, which limits classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender […] → Read More
Community remembers Golden Gate Estates fire two years later
With so many fires popping up in Southwest Florida, now is a great time to have a game plan for if a fire starts near your home. Those who live in Golden Gate Estates know what loss looks like. It looks like insulation on living room floors. It looks like heaps of metal where houses […] → Read More
A kidney for a hero: Englewood man finds donor after sharing his story
Sandy Bilsky had two choices. He could accept his fate or he could fight. The man hailed as a hero by the Coast Guard for risking his life to save others, needed to find his own hero. He needed to find someone who could donate a kidney. No one in his family could give him […] → Read More
DeSantis criticized for berating students for wearing masks; hits back with new campaign video
Governor Ron DeSantis is taking his viral moment and turning it into a political campaign. The controversial video showed the governor telling high school students to take their masks off at a press conference, saying, “You do not have to wear those masks, I mean, please take them off. Honestly, it’s not doing anything and […] → Read More
WINK News thanks everyone who helped us March to a Million Meals
A big thank you to everyone who donated to our March to a Million Meals campaign to raise money for the Harry Chapin Food Bank. We exceeded our goal of $400,000 but we want to encourage you to continue donating. All of us here at WINK News want to take a moment to say thank […] → Read More
Miami Dolphins hosting event to raise money for research and awareness about cancer
Cancer has impacted many people’s lives in some way, shape, or form. And, people have found a way to give back while connecting with one another. Thousands of people are descending on Miami this weekend, biking 100 miles or running a 5K. And many of those people currently have cancer. David Perez signed up to […] → Read More
Lack of affordable housing leaves many Southwest Florida jobs unfilled
Middle-class employees are getting priced out of many Southwest Florida areas. The rising costs of renting are leading to a lot of unfilled positions at local companies. The “help wanted” signs show the need for workers but many can’t afford to live in Southwest Florida. In order to afford a single-family home in Lee County, […] → Read More
Building deemed unsafe after car crashes into it in Tice
A building has been deemed unsafe after a car crashed into it and injured a child. The child, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The crash happened in the 4400 block of Palm Beach Boulevard on Tuesday evening. The vehicle was parked outside of Star Professional when a blue truck hit […] → Read More
Naples Winter Wine Festival donors get to meet the kids they're helping
Naples Winter Wine Festival donors are getting the chance to meet the children their money directly impacts. The event benefits charities within the Naples Children and Education Foundation. And 100% of those donations stay within Collier County. There are adorable children under the big white tent amongst the sea of adults. Each of them benefits […] → Read More
Caregivers fighting to see their loved ones in long-term care facilities
Essential caregivers are fighting to make sure they’ll still be able to see their loved ones. A Florida woman became an overnight celebrity for taking a job as a dishwasher so that she’d be able to see her husband. Now, Mary Daniel is joining the fight to make a bill become a law. Daniel is […] → Read More
Statewide reports shows how bad mental health support is in Florida
A report released in December paints a bad picture for mental health in Florida. The Third Interim Report of the 20th Statewide Grand Jury was released by the Florida Attorney General’s Office in December of last year. It’s a sobering account that outlines a laundry list of issues in Florida’s mental health system. “Our mental […] → Read More
Hospitals in Southwest Florida complying with vaccine mandate after Supreme Court decision
Hospitals nationwide are now forced to enforce a vaccine mandate for frontline workers. But can hospitals afford to lose more staff members due to the Supreme Court approval of the mandate? Southwest Florida hospitals are saying they are going to comply with the order. The Supreme Court blocked the mandate for big businesses but allowed […] → Read More
Hospitals say staff could feel overwhelmed as omicron surge continues
The omicron variant is causing case numbers to soar across Southwest Florida, and beds are filling up at local hospitals. At NCH, there are 122 COVID-positive patients. At Lee Health, there are 276. And while both hospital systems say they have enough staff, the onslaught of COVID-19 patients may be making them feel understaffed. Health […] → Read More
What Southwest Florida leaders say about Jan. 6 a year later
A year ago, protesters pushed past Capitol police, smashed windows and paraded on the Congress floor. All to keep Congress from certifying the election results that would make Joe Biden president. Southwest Florida’s Congressman Byron Donalds, R-Naples, was there. “I was on the House floor. When the Capitol was breached, it was, it was surreal, […] → Read More