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!

Lawmakers release bill proposal to fix Florida unemployment problems

Lawmakers released a bill proposal Thursday to fix the problems you faced with the state unemployment system during the pandemic and before. Meanwhile, people like Donna Spreitzer who’s been out of work since March 17 calls the last seven months a living nightmare. “My savings is depleted,” she said. “Do you pay your credit card […]

‘Quarter change:’ Oct. 1 means re-evaluating who qualifies for unemployment benefits

If you’re unemployed, pay close attention to your claim. The State is re-evaluating whether you should get state unemployment benefits if you’re currently receiving federal money. If you’ve been on unemployment since the pandemic began, you probably know the drill. It’s happened twice already — it’s called the quarter change. Basically, according to the rules […]

New head of DEO explains plans for agency, clearing backlog of unemployment claims

The new executive director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity said that one week into his job, his first assessment is what he calls a “workload vs. manpower issue.” Dane Eagle spoke with WINK News via Zoom from his car as he traveled to survey Hurricane Sally damage in Pensacola and answered some of […]

Suggestion Box: Florida’s unemployment system

With Dane Eagle as the new executive director of the Department of Economic Opportunity, are changes coming? Give your suggestions below on how to improve our current unemployment system and we’ll take them straight to the top. This form has closed. You can email reporter Sara Girard at sara.girard@winknews.com

Fort Myers widow gets husband’s back unemployment pay

A Fort Myers woman who lost her husband to COVID-19 and was struggling to get by has received his missing unemployment payments after some help from WINK News. Judith Alves said at first, the Department of Economic Opportunity told her “that money died with” her husband. Now, she’s finally finding peace. “He’s always going to […]

Unemployment rate continues to drop in Southwest Florida

The Department of Economic Opportunity announced Florida’s unemployment rate for August 2020 dropped to 7.4 percent, seasonally adjusted, down 4 percentage points over the month. Additionally, Florida’s labor force increased 1.4 percent over the month, an increase of 143,000 Floridians entering the workforce. Florida businesses gained 46,000 private-sector jobs over the month. Adrienne Johnston is […]

Lehigh Acres residents object to placement of new streetlights

A project to bring more streetlights to Lehigh Acres has neighbors frustrated, confused and willing to lawyer up. Some residents say that while they know some parts of Lehigh Acres really need lighting, their neighborhood has enough lights. They’re also upset they didn’t get any notice before the county and utility company started lighting up […]

Florida may not be eligible for additional weeks of Lost Wages Assistance

Three extra weeks. That’s what FEMA says some people collecting unemployment can receive in jobless benefits, but Floridians may not be eligible. We already got the first three weeks of Lost Wages Assistance, so why can’t Floridan’s collect the rest? Basically, it boils down to how the state pays out its benefits. In order for […]

First-time unemployment claims rise nationally, fall in Florida

A higher than expected number of Americans filed first-time unemployment claims last week – roughly 857,000 people. Continuing claims showing people who are still getting unemployment checks also rose nationwide. This rough measure of layoffs isn’t seasonally adjusted. In Florida, initial claims fell by 9,000, but nationwide, new claims rose about 20,000 from the week […]