Professional Experience

2021 - present: WINK News morning anchor
2019 - 2021: WINK News weekend anchor/reporter
2018 - 2019: WINK News reporter
Previously worked as a weekend anchor and reporter at KMIZ in Columbia, Missouri.

Awards and Recognition

2019 Suncoast Regional Emmy Award nomination for reporting on a "Bomb Squad Search at a Home in Cape Coral."
Two Heart of America Gold Awards from the Kansas City Press Club for a special report on "Surviving a Mass Shooting" and for several reports on human and sex trafficking in mid-Missouri.

News Philosophy

Be a voice for the voiceless.

Education

Ohio University, E.W. Scripps School of Journalism

Hometown

Canonsburg, PA

Hobbies and Interests & Community Involvement

I love soaking up the sun. You can find me relaxing at the beach or at the pool with a good murder mystery book. I enjoy working out and recently became a certified Les Mills Body Pump instructor. Being just a short flight away from so many beautiful countries and territories in the Caribbean, I love exploring new areas and cultures. Animals are my favorite. I am a volunteer at the Gulf Coast Humane Society and help other rescue organizations with events and fundraisers. I also volunteer with Best Buddies Southwest Florida and the Children's Advocacy Center.

Family and Pets

My husband and I are proud parents to two black cats named Isaac and Cleo.

Likes best about Southwest Florida:

The weather and beaches. We live where people vacation.

 

Ohio activists support ‘Caloosahatchee Bill of Rights’ initiative

We shared previous reports about activists working to allow voters to decide if the Caloosahatchee River will have its own bill of rights, ensuring Southwest Florida’s vital water source will remain pristine for now and future generations. Activists in Southwest Florida have not given up on their plans for the “Caloosahatchee Bill of Rights,” and […]

Bikers, downtown businesses fight to bring back Bike Nights

This weekend, Chuck Debono is keeping his motorcycle parked at home. “Let’s wait and see what happens and what they decide to do because they got 60 days to fix it,” he said. Fix, or in Debono’s opinion, reverse the River District Alliance’s controversial decision to move Bike Night out of Downtown Fort Myers. “That’s […]

Some business owners want bike night back in downtown Fort Myers

There is a last-ditch effort underway to restore the roar of bike night in downtown Fort Myers. A small business owner started a petition after the city canceled the popular event over safety concerns. Business and property owners are working to rally support to get bike night back downtown, and they hope to convince Fort […]

City Walk at West End. (Credit: WINK News)

West End at City Walk breaks ground without $10.5 million in tax incentives

Crews are clearing the way for $90 million worth of apartments. Realtor Kynse Leigh Agles said the location is perfect for the new West End at City Walk apartments. “We have people that walk into our door every single day that want to have an apartment on First Street,” she said. “People really do like […]

Clock. (Credit: WINK News)

Why do we still set our clocks back in Florida?

It is that time of the year again. You have to set your clocks back an hour on Sunday. That means it is going to get darker earlier. Last year, Florida lawmakers voted to stick to one time. But lots of you are asking, why we are still changing our clocks this year. Reporter Taylor […]

Strangers show up at Lehigh family’s home twice in a week

A woman was caught on a Lehigh Acres family’s home surveillance camera banging on their front door in the middle of the night recently. We looked at how to make the best decision in a situation where someone is crying for help, and a homeowner must decide if this is an honest plea or an […]

Jimmy Rodgers trial: Defense makes two requests for mistrial, both denied: Day 4

We could be seeing the groundwork laid for an appeals process in the Jimmy Rodgers trial for the murder of Dr. Teresa Sievers, if a conviction is made. The defense asked for a mistrial not once but twice Tuesday. Both times they argued prejudice against their client Jimmy Rodgers. Both times, those mistrial requests were […]

Investigators push for answers five years after 5-year-old’s murder

Five years ago, 5-year-old Andrew Faust Jr. was killed in a Dunbar drive-by shooting. And his killer has not been arrested. Fort Myers police say the shooting happened after someone fired into the courtyard of a duplex in the Dunbar area. WATCH the video above for the full story with WINK News Anchor-Reporter Taylor Petras. […]

Cape Coral community reacts to death investigation of 35-year-old neighbor

A bouquet of bright tulips now sits by the front door of the Cape Coral duplex where Kristine Melton’s body was found. It’s the center of the on-going death investigation. “Scary. It’s just scary,” said neighbor Debbie McCabe. Inside the home, police found 35-year-old Melton. McCabe said she was a very good neighbor and a […]