Professional Experience

October 2021 to present: Reporter, WINK News. Previously worked at WTAJ in Altoona, Pennsylvania as a reporter and interned with CBS4 in Gainesville, Florida.

News Philosophy

People may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.

Hobbies, Interests & Community Involvement

In my free time, you can find me spending time with friends and family, exercising, or visiting the beach.

Education

I graduated from the University of Florida in May of 2020 with a Bachelor's degree in Telecommunications on the news track and a certificate in Meteorology and Climatology. Go Gators!

Likes best about Southwest Florida

The sunsets

Hometown

Coral Springs, FL

 

Energy efficient winter wonderland gifted to local hero

Florida Power & Light and the Florida National Guard teamed up to bring some holiday cheer to a veteran and his family. The organizations made sure Justin Hessinger and his family’s Christmas was merry and bright. The organization surprised the Hessinger family Monday afternoon with a winter wonderland. FPL said their home is decorated with […]

Dashcam video shows Cassandra Smith failing field sobriety test in 2021

  A dashcam video has surfaced of Cassandra Smith, the 30-year-old woman accused of driving drunk when she hit and killed Charlotte County Deputy Christopher Taylor, failing a field sobriety test before a previous arrest. An arrest report from Palm Beach County in April 2021 says Smith was running vehicles off the road, almost hitting […]

Hide-N-Seek Santa returns to Cape Coral

Secret Santa with a twist is back in Southwest Florida. Cape Coral’s Hide-N-Seek Santa is back again for the second year in a row with the hope of bringing the community closer together. It is hide-and-seek, holiday style. Santa’s helpers in Cape Coral are hiding new, unwrapped gifts around the city, taking photos of where […]

Meals for Hope giving out 500,000 meals on Saturday

In an event called Holidays Without Hunger, the organization Meals of Hope plans to pack 500,000 meals in just a weekend, but they still need help. There are plenty of people in Southwest Florida that are hurting this year and are struggling to put food on the table. It’s one way that Meals of Hope […]

Chiquita Blvd closed for road-widening project in Cape Coral

Just in time for your morning drive, road work will slow you down in Cape Coral. This week the north and southbound lanes of Chiquita Boulevard between Kismet Parkway and Northwest 27th Street will be closed. It could last for the whole week. The roads will be closed for a widening project. It might make […]

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RSW filled with travelers ahead of Thanksgiving

Southwest Florida International Airport’s parking lots are filled with Thanksgiving travelers. The holiday is one of the busiest for travel. Despite that, the people WINK News spoke with weren’t feeling the stress of holiday travel. Many said they were prepared for it to be busy and gave themselves extra time. Those on the roads or […]

Brent’s Music Headquarters shutting down due to Ian

A popular spot known for supplying the best music is saying goodbye. Brent’s Music has been a staple for years but Hurricane Ian was just too much for the store. Now the store owners and those who have worked there for years are sharing their memories of working there. Some customers stopped by on Tuesday […]

Residents in Saint James City need housing help after Hurricane Ian

For some people in Saint James City, lanais and bars are being used as a place to lie down at night in the wake of Hurricane Ian. The people of Saint James City have made it clear they need more help after the storm. Tom Simonton is just one example of somebody sleeping on the […]

Red Cross closes hurricane shelter in Collier County

The Red Cross has closed its last emergency shelter at the North Naples Regional Park. The shelter had been operating to help families displaced by Hurricane Ian. It housed families for six weeks until Monday when they were asked to leave. Some were provided with money for a hotel while others were provided with tents […]