Professional Experience

September 2018 to present: Investigative Reporter at WINK News

Previously worked as a multimedia journalist at WCJB TV20 News, WUFT-TV and WUFT-FM in Gainesville, FL; and as an investigative intern at WPLG Local 10 News in Miami, FL

Member of National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) and Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE)

Awards & Recognition

2019 Excellence in Broadcast News Award for Transportation / Traffic Series reporting, Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists (FABJ) – “Waiting in the Dark”

2019 NATAS Suncoast Regional Emmy Nomination for Education / Schools News reporting– “Waiting in the Dark”

2019 Young Journalist Award for Broadcast, Press Club of Southwest Florida

2019 Sunshine State Award for Multimedia Feature, Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) – “You Are Now Live” (2nd Place)

2019 Excellence in Innovation in TV, Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, RTDNA – “Locked Out Florida”

2018 Awards for Photo Essay & Short Hard News Feature, Florida Associated Press Broadcasters (now FABJ) College Contest

News Philosophy

“The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.” — Ida B. Wells

Hobbies, Interests & Community Involvement

Sara is a big fan of live theater and performing arts, traveling to faraway places, volunteering, playing roller derby, Gator football, spoiling her nieces and nephews, and cuddling up next to her dog Mickey.

Education

Master’s in Mass Communication and Bachelor’s in Telecommunication News from the University of Florida

Go Gators!

Vaccine distribution changes leave SWFL senior living community with uncertainty

Some senior living communities in Southwest Florida must jump through hoops to get their residents vaccinated, and it’s taking a toll. The uncertainty that comes along with it makes it emotional for many people. Vi at Bentley Village in North Naples got 98% of its skilled nursing facility vaccinated in December 2020, and it pushed […]

Answers to some of your unemployment questions as second stimulus programs roll out

A new year brings with it fresh questions related to unemployment. Many of you are writing in to WINK News about payments, a lack of them, or partial payments. There are questions about Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) — those are the unemployment programs continued in the stimulus bill — […]

Mix of frustration and relief as changes to unemployment programs roll out, questions remain

As the state begins to roll out changes and extensions to unemployment compensation, courtesy of the new stimulus bill, some Floridians worry it won’t be smooth. Community activist Vanessa Brito, who’s been helping decipher and guide people through the unemployment system for months, is preparing for the worst. “I want people to be prepared for […]

Conflicting rules leave some in North Naples community without COVID-19 vaccine

Our most vulnerable communities continue to get the COVID-19 vaccine, but some at a living facility in North Naples got left out and aren’t sure when they’ll be vaccinated. The problem starts with two companies: Walgreens and CVS. They’ve been distributing the vaccine to health care workers and long-term care facilities. The Centers for Disease […]

Southwest Floridians struggle to get Reemployment Assistance, face homelessness

Missing unemployment benefits means more hardship for people in Southwest Florida. Two men, like many others, are pleading for the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to get their checks. David Westerman is now homeless for Christmas, a situation he never thought he’d be in. “I’m stuck on unemployment now because of this, he explained. “If […]

blind pass

A look back at Florida’s 2020 response to unemployment

We were with you every step of the way in 2020 when it came to Florida unemployment. We brought your questions directly to leaders charged with handling the unemployment problems in the state. We wanted to take a look back at the timeline for the unemployment process in Florida as the year comes to a close. Since […]

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USPS says Christmas gifts on the way despite delays

The U.S. Postal Service is asking everyone to be patient during the holidays, as it navigates shipping delays across the country. This includes a warning holiday gifts are at risk of arriving late for Christmas. Some USPS employees are working almost 70 to 80 hours a week to get loved ones their gifts on time. […]

Problems with unemployment system means canceled Christmas for mom, her kids

A Florida mom is struggling to make ends meet at Christmastime thanks to Florida’s unemployment system. Charity Morris of Lawtey, Florida, says she can’t get her kids any gifts this year after missing unemployment benefits and months of struggling to pay the bills. She says she has tried everything she can to get it fixed, […]

Reemployment tax increase coming to Florida businesses in 2021

Businesses already hurting from the pandemic will take another hit next year. The tax they pay tied to the unemployment system is going up. “It’s been a tough year already with coronavirus, but we have to do we have to do,” said Chris Blauvelt, the owner of The Standard restaurant in downtown Fort Myers. Blauvelt […]