Professional Experience

2018 to present: Reporter, WINK News. Previously worked as an anchor and reporter for WUFT in Gainesville, F.L, 2017; WSVN in Miami as an Investigative Unit intern, 2017; Today Show intern in NYC.

Awards & Recognition

I earned two Associated Press Awards while covering Hurricane Irma and a confederate rally. I was ranked Top Speaker in the State of Florida for Varsity Public Forum Debate. I’ve covered big stories in my home state of Florida from the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando to the Richard Spencer rally in Gainesville.

News Philosophy

Be the voice people can rely on in a community to relay accurate, important, and inspiring information. Journalism is what we need to make democracy work.

Hobbies, Interests & Community Involvement

I worked as a tennis instructor back in Miami, so in my free time, I like to play tennis. I also love to travel with my friends and family! Cheering on the Gators is a big family tradition. I didn't miss a single home football game while I was in college.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications from the University of Florida

Likes best about Southwest Florida

All of the beautiful islands.

Hometown

Miami Beach, Florida.

Naples mayor candidates talk issues they plan to cover

One of two people could soon make some big changes to a city in Southwest Florida. Both Bill Barnett and Teresa Heitmann are running for mayor of the City of Naples. Tuesday, Voters will decide if Mayor Barnett should serve again or if former Councilwoman Heitmann deserves time as mayor. Both Barnett and Heitmann are […]

How stock market turmoil amid coronavirus affects SWFL

Coronavirus is affecting all areas of human society. Amid the health crisis worldwide and here in Southwest Florida, the virus has hurt the stock exchange, halting trade for 15 minutes to start the week after the Dow plummeted more than 7%. Oil prices plunged too, having its worst day since 1991. We spoke to a […]

Bloomberg campaigns in Florida weeks before Florida primaries, talks SWFL

UPDATE: Michael Bloomberg’s campaign told WINK News he will reassess Wednesday morning once all the results for Super Tuesday are in. Bloomberg remained strong on winning the presidency and recognized Florida as a key state. ________________________________________________________________________ Democratic candidate Michael Bloomberg isn’t focusing on states taking part in Super Tuesday; instead, he’s in Florida weeks ahead of the […]

cocaine, trafficking, prison

Early voting underway in Charlotte County for 2020 Democratic primary election

The Florida primary election is a few weeks away, but early voting is open now for several Southwest Florida counties. Democratic candidates have made maybe a handful of campaign stops in the state, but some voters already have their minds made up. Early voting is underway in Charlotte County ahead of the March 17 primary […]

All eyes were on Bernie Sanders during Tuesday night’s presidential debate

It was all eyes on Senator Bernie Sanders during Tuesday night’s presidential debate as competitors tried to slow his momentum, leading the pack in recent polls. Between the yelling and arguing, front-runner Sanders, Tuesday night’s punching bag, explained his new funding plan for Medicare for All. “‘Medicare for All’ will lower health care costs in […]

Election 2020 illustration. (Credit: MGN)

Health care plans SWFL can expect from the president and candidates

Democrats hope health care takes center stage when voters head to the polls in November. They are making the issue a central part of their campaign and have a variety of promises they are giving you. Lydia Carloni struggles to get out of bed each morning. She has painful arthritis. “The rheumatoid makes me feel […]

Sanders says ‘it’s unfair to simply say everything is bad’ with Fidel Castro’s Cuba

Sen. Bernie Sanders offered a partial defense of Fidel Castro’s Cuban revolution, asserting that “It’s unfair to simply say everything is bad” with the way the late despot ruled the country. “We’re very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba but you know, it’s unfair to simply say everything is bad. You know?” Sanders said on CBS’s “60 […]

SWFL woman stuck on cruise due to coronavirus returns home

A Southwest Florida woman who was stuck in the middle of a coronavirus quarantine is finally back home in Southwest Florida. Holley Rauen arrived at Southwest Florida International Airport Wednesday after she became stuck on a cruise ship for almost two weeks when a fellow passenger was diagnosed with coronavirus. Rauen said several ports, including […]

United States Census illustration. (Credit: MGN)

Warning of documents that closely resemble the 2020 U.S. Census

At first glance, Eric Buscher figured a notice he received in the mail had to be the 2020 U.S. Census. But Buscher soon learned it was not and wants to warn others about the misleading document. “I have filled out an earlier one too and it does look very similar,” Buscher said. “I mean, it’s […]