Professional Experience

2019 to present: Taylor is our Collier County reporter. She previously worked at WTVA in Tupelo, Mississippi as a reporter and weekend evening anchor.

While in school she interned at NBC 6 in Miami and CBS12 in West Palm Beach.

News Philosophy

To be a light in the darkness in the communities of SWFL. To give everyone a chance to tell their side of the story and be understanding of whatever they are going through.

Hobbies, Interests, & Involvement

You can find her in the sunshine, working out, tanning, traveling, or exploring in her free time!

Education

Bachelor in Journalism and minors in Communication and Film from Florida Atlantic University!

Likes best about Southwest Florida

The sunshine ☀️

Hometown
Hello, Aloha, Annyeonghaseyo, Hey Ya’ll, those are just a few of the ways Taylor has been saying hello in the different states and country’s she has lived in. Being a self-proclaimed military brat most of her life she has never had a home base!

Doctor says medical workers ‘doing the best they can’ during COVID-19 surge

Health care workers are exhausted and stretched thin, as coronavirus patients fill up intensive care units, emergency rooms and urgent care centers. One urgent care group said a lot of urgent care centers are experiencing long wait times because of the number of people who need to see a doctor or get tested. After a […]

Collier County woman arrested for stealing thousands from employer

A Collier County woman was arrested after investigators said she stole more than $50,000 from her employer. Donna Marie Rothermel, 47, is facing charges of grand theft ($20,000 to $100,000) and obtaining property by fraud (more than $50,000). A sheriff’s office affidavit says Rothermel worked as the office manager for Suncoast Dental Center since 2004. […]

Nonprofit wants more oversight on fishing at Naples Pier, safety for pelicans

New restrictions are proposed for a popular pier in Southwest Florida. You can find people fishing on Naples Pier pretty much any time of the day. It’s one of the few piers open 24/7 in the region. But that’s part of the problem, says Conservancy of Southwest Florida, and it’s trying to find a way […]

FAA wants crackdown on airport alcohol being taken onto planes

The FAA says unruly, alcohol-related behavior is taking place on flights and it wants to stop passengers from bringing alcohol from airport restaurants onto planes. The FAA prohibits alcohol to go, and it wants airports to put up signs to stop it. MORE: FAA letter to airport leaders about crackdown on alcohol  The FAA says […]

fmb car submerged scene

Person found dead inside submerged car near Lover’s Key

One person was found dead Wednesday inside a car in the Town of Fort Myers Beach near Lover’s Key. The Fort Myers Beach Fire administrative chief said the department got a call just after 4:15 p.m. saying a vehicle was in the water in Big Carlos Pass, near 280 Estrellita Drive. The chief said a […]

baby aubrey

Children battling COVID-19 in SWFL hospitals

COVID-19 cases in Florida continuing to skyrocket means more children are at risk of contracting the virus. Currently, there are eight children at Golisano Children’s Hospital battling COVID-19. One mother says she has been through the experience of a child ending up in the hospital because of COVID-19. Her son was one of the youngest […]

Eyes fall on Florida as COVID-19 hospitalizations soar

More than 10,000 people are currently fighting COVID-19 in hospitals as inpatients across the state of Florida. Doctors are worried that if things get worse, non-COVID-19 patients may need to go to different emergency rooms. Those same doctors and nurses have been on the frontlines of this pandemic for 17 months now. And, COVID-19 survivors […]

Collier County students have performed well under pandemic circumstances

The 2020-21 school year was unlike any other thanks to the coronavirus. Some students learned from home, and others were learning in person. During the pandemic, there has been a slight drop in scores in certain areas of the state assessment exams, and there is a plan to help fix the learning loss in that […]

Bullying a topic as SWFL schools get ready to have a mask-optional school year

Students won’t need to wear masks next school year in Southwest Florida, but the CDC is strongly encouraging them. This issue is starting to cause other concerns among school leaders. Educators are discussing how the possibility of bullying could come into play in connection to optional mask wearing for the upcoming school year. There will […]

Adult and child struck by lightning in the water off Clam Pass Monday

Monday evening, an adult and a child were injured by a lightning strike at Clam Pass Park in Collier County. According to 911 dispatch, the call came in at 6:10 p.m. regarding a medical emergency involving possibly two people struck by lightning at Clam Pass Park off Seagate Drive. Collier County EMS confirmed the 38-year-old […]