Articles by Asha Patel's Profile | Medium, Daily Post, WINK-TV (Fort Myers, FL) Journalist | Muck Rack

A Lee County mother is fighting to get her children a bus to school. RELATED: School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements The school district already told her she lives too close to the school to qualify for a bus route, but she has not given up. Now, a state lawmaker has gotten involved, too. The district called her back today, and they said their decision is final.

City of Marco Island discusses lead awareness during city council meeting

The city of Marco Island sent 4900 letters to residents warning them that their pipes could contain plastic or lead. The city then held a meeting on Thursday to reassure people that they could trust their water. RELATED: City of Fort Myers to survey property owners to identify lead pipes in water system The meeting was all about reassuring the residents of Marco Island.

Fort Myers mayor weighs in on possible city hall relocation

Fort Myers City Council held a workshop to discuss what will replace Lee Memorial Hospital once it closes in 2027. With Lee Memorial Hospital scheduled to close in 2027, discussions over what will replace the building are in full swing and whether Fort Myers City Hall is the right choice. At a Fort Myers City Council workshop on Monday, Mayor Kevin Anderson said he supports the move, citing that the current city hall building is getting old and that space is needed for a growing staff.

Naples parking problems frustrating residents

Naples has a parking problem, but city leaders are stuck between a rock and a hard place trying to find a solution. The city’s rapid growth makes it harder every day to find a place for everyone to park. On Monday, the city council spent an hour debating potential solutions, from treating parking like a commodity to adding more spots.

Dentists argue over fluoride in water at Naples City Council meeting

Several dentists at the Naples City Council meeting gave their reasons why fluoride should be in the water on Wednesday. RELATED: Naples votes to remove fluoride from tap water However, a dentist in Naples said he supports removing fluoride from drinking water by Jan. 2025. His reason is the risk of overexposure. When you go to your dental office, you often times hear about its importance. In some cities, it’s added to the drinking water. Starting Jan.

16-year-old accused of stealing car and leading troopers on chase

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Super 8 in Naples to become apartments for local workers

A Super 8 Motel in Naples will soon look slightly different; it will become an apartment building with fully furnished units. The apartments are mostly reserved for employees of the Moorings Park Senior Living Community. It will also include a few dozen units strictly for low-income families. WINK News reporter Asha Patel went to the hotel, where they knew more affordable housing was needed for seniors in Collier County.

Utility scams awareness day: what you need to know

Wednesday is utility scams awareness day. These types of scams target customers by going door-to-door, sending phone calls or texts and using false information online. Often times they threaten to disconnect a utility unless they receive payment. Florida Power and Light (FPL) has some do’s and don’ts to help keep customers from getting duped. After speaking with FPL on Wednesday, they said thousands of Floridians fall for these scams every year. Go to theirÂ websiteÂ to learn how to protect yourself.

Residents oppose U-Haul storage unit development in Collier County

A lush line of trees in Collier County may turn into storage units, and neighbors are unhappy. Why? Because there are more storage units right next door. This is happening on Myrtle Lane in Collier County. WINK News reporter Asha Patel was there to hear from residents. They have written emails to the county and commissioners and will attend the meeting on Nov. 21 to voice their concerns about why a large U-Haul facility should not be built in this area.

Six dogs rescued after being left in a box by SR-29

Six dogs, including four puppies and two adult dogs, were found stranded in an empty box on the corner of Experimental Road and State Road 29 in Immokalee. A good Samaritan rescued the dogs just as they were about to cross the busy highway. âIt was getting dark. I’m sure something would have happened bad,â said Tom Kepp, founder of the Spay and Neuter Initiative Program (SNIP) Collier. According to Kepp, the person who found the dogs reached out to him for help. “It was in the evening, dusk.

Sticker shock: Cape Coral residents hit with unexpected property tax hikes

By Asha Patel |shopmaisonbouey.fr

Sticker shock: Cape Coral residents hit with unexpected property tax hikes

This is the time of year when people start paying their property taxes, but what happens when you get your bill and it’s more than you expected? One Cape Coral woman said her taxes increased by over $1,000. WINK News reporter Asha Patel spoke with the woman to find out what she would do about the increase. She was caught off guard when she saw that she had to pay $1000 more than she thought she did, and she wasn’t the only one. She said many of her friends saw increases as well.

Cape neighbors frustrated by clean up wait

A Cape Coral yard used to be green and brimming with life, but hurricane debris sitting there for so long left the spot lifeless. Neighbors want answers as to why the cleanup has taken so long. The City of Cape Coral said that Waste Pro was behind but is now catching up quickly. However, neighbors we spoke with are asking how quickly because they have had debris on their curb waiting to be hauled away for weeks, to the point that their lawn is damaged.

Matlacha restaurant Miceli's reopens after six weeks

Popular Matlacha restaurant Miceli’s has reopened just six weeks after enduring damage from back-to-back storms. Co-owners Ellen Lane and Amber Brady said Miceli’s closed its doors because of Hurricane Helene and maintained its closure after the effects of Hurricane Milton. “It was mud. All the way from the front door to the back door. We actually watched it on camera, just coming in and seeping in. Then the cameras went off, and we couldn’t get here because it was all flooded,” said Lane.

Police investigate gunfire at Cape Coral rental home

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The bullet holes left behind by shots heard in a normally quiet Cape Coral neighborhood scared one woman into buying security cameras for her home. The bullet holes are from what the Cape Coral Police Department is calling a fight that ended in gunfire Saturday morning. It happened at a short-term rental home located on Southwest 14th Place, just north of Cape Coral Parkway West and East of Chiquita Boulevard South.

Lehigh Acres driver wants more safety measures for State Road 82

A Lehigh Acres man wants other drivers to know to pay attention. He also wants the county, city or state to put some more patrols out here. RELATED: Lee Commissioners approve transportation projects for Lehigh Acres Erik Bedolla said he had to make a split-second decision while driving on State Road 82. “I noticed the truck just coming,” said Bedolla. “I guess that’s where they pick up their load.

Giant Cape Coral mascot to be refurbished after hurricane damage

A Cape Coral statue is being refurbished after it received damage from the recent hurricanes in the area. Big John is a Cape Coral staple. It came to the city back in 1969. It started off as a grocery store’s mascot, and now it’s a statue in The Cape. Big John is going to spend some time at Brand One Ink in Cape Coral, so it’s not going too far. It’s getting some wear and tear repaired. Elmer Tabor calls himself the big uncle of Big John. He said the repair is needed.

Punta Gorda Airport expansion adds space and amenities for flyers

The Punta Gorda Airport is expanding to create a higher quality place for travelers with more space and modern upgrades. A new concourse, food concessions, water fountains and more, WINK News reporter Asha Patel went to see how construction is going. Construction began back in February and passengers are noticing the difference.

Paradise Sports Complex working to obtain full liquor license

Drinks at Paradise Sports Complex, like wine, Coronas, and High Noons, will be expanding soon. The complex is working on obtaining a full liquor license. RELATED: FC Naples holds two-day fan fest Adrian Moses is the General Manager of the Paradise Sports Complex. He said that obtaining a license was a long process. “Tuesday’s commissioner meeting was exciting for us,” said Moses.

Dog stranded on remote island in Charlotte County after apparent alligator attack

The story of a dog’s survival has everyone asking the same question. How in the world did it get there? A Facebook post said an alligator attacked the dog in Port Charlotte and then ran off. Animal control is currently focusing on getting the dog back home to its owner. It was an all-hands-on-deck effort; people used kayaks and drones, and it is still somewhere out here. The Charlotte County community is helping to get the dog back home. “We did a patrol. We could not locate the dog.

Gang violence concerns in Hendry County after fatal shooting of 16-year-old

A 16-year-old girl is dead, the apparent victim of alleged gang activity in Hendry County she was not involved in. We are now asking whether there is a real gang problem in the rural communities of Hendry County or a case of wannabes. Roosevelt Adderly, III, and Jayden Lawson, both 15 years old, have been accused in the death 16-year-old Ja’yanna Johnson at a dance party just outside Clewiston. During a press conference, Hendry County Sheriff Steve Whidden said that the two are known gang members.

How were Harlem Heights residents affected by Helene?

A community filled with water nearly two years ago is dry two years later, even after the storm surge of Helene, and now residents told us why. Harlem Heights saw a wealth of flooding during Hurricane Ian, and even though they saw flooding that fully covered cars, the community took a back seat to others in recovery. Now, after Helene, they are pointing to one specific thing. It’s cleaning up the street and drains.

Fort Myers Beach artist's paint supplies dumped in canal

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Man with felonies accused of walking into Immokalee elementary school

A man with felonies has been accused of walking into a school, looking into windows and keeping kids away from their parents. It happened Wednesday at Highlands Elementary School in Immokalee, just off Newmarket Road West. Steven Gonzalez has served time in prison. According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, a staff member called deputies saying they saw a suspicious person walk through the building.

Neighbors seeing intense flooding in Bonita Shores neighborhoods

80 sandbags are needed to stop this flooding. Everywhere you look in the Bonita Shores neighborhood, west of 41 off Bonita Beach Road, is a thin layer of water, flooding lawns, driveways and streets. Neighbors said they get a little nervous because lately it floods with each passing storm. One woman said they used to see people from the county cleaning the creeks and lakes, and she believes it needs to be done again to help with the flooding.

Man arrested for child porn and contractor violation charges

A man arrested on child porn charges faces new charges because he allegedly used stolen money to bail himself out of jail. Juan Carlos Betancourt took around $88,000 from a woman who trusted him to fix her house up. Instead of doing the work he said he’d do, Betancourt used some of the money to bond himself out of jail for child porn possession. This story begins after Hurricane Ian. Investigators said the homeowners are from Canada.

Charlotte deputies investigating break-in at Nando's Taqueria in Englewood

A mom-and-pop taco joint has reopened after being broken into. The person who did it is still out there. We spoke with owner Erica Nuñez, who said they were actually closed for about four weeks because they were doing some renovations. They put the food truck inside the building and have been working with the county for a while on this project. They reopened on Friday and came to work Monday to see the door forced open, their back trailer opened and the kitchen left a mess.

Concerns for school bus stop safety after child hit by SUV

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Traffic woes at Six Mile and Colonial diverging diamond

How much longer will drivers along this road have to deal with bumper-to-bumper traffic? We’ve told you about the frustrating traffic on Six Mile and Colonial, where the diverging diamond is now in play. RELATED: Fort Myers diverging diamond is now open; will it ease traffic concerns? Whether you’re trying to go left, right or straight, there is congestion and slowdowns.

Multiple election websites face technical issues

Multiple Florida counties were experiencing technical issues with their elections page websites on Primary Day on Tuesday. Candidates patiently waited to witness the election results; however, they were met with delays shortly after the polls closed at 7 p.m. Lee and Charlotte Counties were not exempt from the technical delays, prompting questions regarding why this issue occurred.

Fort Myers Beach to consider towing cars with expired meters

The town of Fort Myers Beach wants to crack down on people leaving their cars where they shouldn’t be. The town wants to remove the problem by towing the offending vehicles away.

Wildcat Dr. in Lehigh Acres has more problems than just flooding

By Asha Patel, Bryanna Sterzenbach |WINK-TV (Fort Myers, FL) Verified

A Lehigh Acres neighborhood floods with so much water that residents are stuck in their homes for hours or days. On Wednesday, the residents of Wildcat Drive in Lehigh Acres told WINK News how bad their street really is, and we’re learning that getting it fixed isn’t as easy as a new drainage system. Hidden amongst the flooded road full of standing water are holes, which make getting out of the neighborhood difficult.

Second tire death reported in 2 months in Lee County

A man was killed after a tire exploded while he was inflating it at A Expert Tire & Service in San Carlos Park, making it the second death of its kind in Lee County within the past year. Back in June, a tire exploded and killed an employee at a Firestone in Cape Coral. WINK News reporter Asha Patel went to the scene to see if there were any similarities in the incidents.

Residents say they are being pushed out of RV park

The families in one RV park have poured their retirement savings into their community, and now they are getting kicked out. This is the Meadowlark Shores RV Park in Glades County northeast of Labelle. The new owners want to turn it into a high-dollar mobile home park. WINK News reporter Asha Patel called Meadowlark Shores RV park and said that as of right now management has no comment, but the residents who live at Meadowlark Shores had a lot to say.

Grandma Penny's Pizza in North Fort Myers forced to shut down

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Will the support of the 'Divine Nine' have an impact on voters?

On Wednesday, the vice president hit the road again to be the keynote speaker in Indianapolis, speaking to the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. Since this weekend, Vice President Kamala Harris has locked up more than one million votes, with the combined support of the Divine Nine. There are four African American sororities and five fraternities. All of them together make up the Divine Nine. The impact here is that Harris is part of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority incorporated.

The Bubble Room to reopen sometime in 2024

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Woman shares near-death experience at same beach where teen died

The life of a loved teenager will be celebrated by the ones who loved him the most Wednesday night. In attendance will be a woman who knows all too well what 17-year-old Isaac Breese went through earlier this month at Blind Pass Beach in Sanibel. In 2019, Gambrel Irizarry had to be saved after being grabbed by a rip current at the same beach Breese and his friends were at.

Locals react to historic photo of Trump after assassination attempt

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By Asha Patel |NewsBreak

Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments.

Locals react to historic photo of Trump after assassination attempt

History caught in a single snap of a camera. The picture of Former President Donald Trump moments after being shot has taken the world by storm. We showed the photo to locals, and they said it’s powerful not only to them but the entire country, no matter what side of the aisle you’re on.

Are power companies ready for a major storm?

Losing power is one of the first things that comes to people’s minds when heavy wind and rain hit. After Hurricane Ian, hundreds of people were out of power, and not for just a couple of hours but weeks. That leaves the question: are power companies like Lee County Electric Cooperative and Florida Power & Light prepared for another tropical storm or hurricane? “We’re ready [for] when a storm comes.

Enforcing the protection of beach berms on Fort Myers Beach

Time, effort and millions of dollars are slowly being eroded on Fort Myers Beach. Beach berms are a new thing for Fort Myers Beach. Their purpose is to protect properties and businesses from storm surges. Following Hurricane Ian’s destruction, the $1.89 million project was funded entirely by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Remainder of Sanibel Outlets serves as stark reminder of Ian's devastation

How long will this outlet mall people are calling a sad sight sit and collect dust? Hurricane Ian closed Sanibel Outlets in Iona for good. Planned to go in its place are 498 multifamily homes of different types, but as days go on, people are still seeing this outlet mall as they ride into the island of Sanibel. At one point, it was an area full of 40 outlet brands: Polo Ralph Lauren, Coach and Tommy Hilfiger, to name a few. But now, not a person, car and no business in sight.

Remembering teen who drowned off Sanibel

Family and loved ones are mourning the loss of a 17-year-old Cape Coral teen who went missing at Blind Pass Beach and whose remains were found days later.

Cape Coral defends decision to take down veterans memorial

An idea to honor those who have put their lives on the line. On Saturday, several trees throughout Jaycee Park were adorned with yellow ribbons designed to honor veterans, but by Monday, all had been removed. “We had a concept of putting yellow ribbons on the tree and American flags and the name of a veteran service member or first responder,” said a local resident.

Southwest Florida invests billions in beach nourishment projects post-Hurricane Ian

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Are the billions of dollars spent on sand worth all of the big dump trucks rumbling through small island roads, giant excavators sitting on the beach and giant piles of sand and dirt laying right next to beach chairs? Since Hurricane Ian came to our shores, Southwest Florida has spent mountains of cash on mountains of sand. The end goal is to make the beach more enjoyable for people because some folks said it needs a lot of work, but that is the point of the Beach Nourishment project.

Understanding Mosquito Control: Low-flying plane operations explained

Mosquitos are the reason why low-flying planes flew back and forth over homes over the weekend. Many people were worrying on the ground and wondered what was happening. All those people wondering may have led to Mosquito Control letting people know about the flights they were taking. But, if you want that access at your fingertips, you can add your number to their call list, and you’ll get a text message or phone call when those flights are in your neighborhood.

Airglades Airport expansion aiming to spark economy

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Lee County Commissioners vote for $11M replacement for Fort Myers Beach Pier

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By Asha Patel |NewsBreak

Lee County Commissioners vote for $11M replacement for Fort Myers Beach Pier

Lee County Commissioners have chosen the more expensive option for replacing the Fort Myers Beach Pier, which will cost the county more than $11 million. At that meeting, commissioners compared the Fort Myers Beach pier to the St. Pete pier, which is filled with restaurants, shops and all kinds of activities. You can’t compare the two because they have different concepts, but looking at the St. Pete Pier and seeing how long and wide it is gives one a sense of what could come to Fort Myers Beach.