Jeff Weinsier is a veteran investigative reporter for WPLG Local 10 News, where he has been a pillar of the station's news team since September 1994.
A South Florida native, his career is a testament to his deep-seated passion for local journalism, a passion that was sparked in his youth while watching WPLG legends Ann Bishop and Dwight Lauderdale.
For Jeff, working at the station he grew up with is a dream realized.
With a distinguished career spanning over three decades in television news, more than 30 of which have been dedicated to serving the South Florida community at Local 10, Jeff has built a reputation for holding the powerful accountable and giving a voice to the voiceless.
He is perhaps most widely recognized for his popular and impactful segment, "Dirty Dining." For over 18 years, this weekly report has exposed restaurants ordered shut due to serious health code violations, including rodent and roach infestations that pose a risk to public health.
In a testament to his fairness, Jeff also created the "Clean Plate" segment, which highlights restaurants that consistently maintain pristine inspection records.
Jeff's investigative work extends far beyond the kitchen.
He has a long history of uncovering wrongdoing and prompting significant legislative change. His investigation into a state work-release program revealed that inmates were driving state vans unsupervised and uninsured, leading to the passage of Senate Bill 278, which prohibits inmates from getting behind the wheel of state vehicles. In another instance, Jeff discovered that a registered sex offender was on the verge of being appointed to a local parks and recreation board. His report spurred the passing of Senate Bill 1774, mandating that municipalities check the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's sex predator website before appointing individuals to boards that deal with children's issues.
His relentless pursuit of the truth has also led to significant local reforms. After Jeff's investigative story revealed that Miami-Dade was the only county in Florida charging jurors for parking, the Miami-Dade Commission voted to make juror parking free. His reporting was instrumental in exposing serious mismanagement within the Broward Supervisor of Elections Office under Miriam Oliphant, uncovering hundreds of uncounted absentee ballots after the 2002 election. This increased scrutiny ultimately contributed to Oliphant's removal from office.
More recently, his hidden-camera investigation into South Florida car dealerships charging illegal and excessive fees on vehicle lease buyouts prompted an investigation by the Florida Attorney General's Office, resulting in fines for multiple dealers and restitution for consumers.
Throughout his tenure, Jeff has been on the front lines of South Florida's most significant and heart-wrenching stories. He covered the international custody battle of Elian Gonzalez, the tragic mass shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, and the devastating collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside. His coverage of the Fort Lauderdale airport shooting was particularly noteworthy, as he was among the first journalists on the scene, providing critical live updates amidst the chaos and uncertainty of the initial hours.
Jeff's career has also been marked by deeply personal and emotionally taxing assignments. He witnessed two executions at Florida State Prison, one of which brought a dark chapter of his career full circle. As a young reporter at WCJB-TV in Gainesville, he covered the horrific student murders committed by Danny Harold Rolling. He later reported on Rolling's trial while at WJXT in Jacksonville and, years later, stood as a media witness to his execution. The haunting images and details of the case have left a lasting impact.
A graduate of North Miami Beach Senior High School and the University of Florida, Jeff began his broadcasting career at WCJB-TV in Gainesville before moving to WJXT in Jacksonville and then finding his long-term home at WPLG Local 10.
