CBS Los Angeles Is ALWAYS ON
CBS2/KCAL9 Anchors
Jeff Michael[caption id="attachment_967272" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967272" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/jeff-michael-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Jeff Michael (CBS)[/caption]
Veteran television journalist Jeff Michael is the Co-Anchor of CBS2 This Morning, weekdays, 4:30am-7am and the CBS2 11am News. Michael joined CBS in January of 2017 after anchoring and reporting for KTTV, Fox 11 for 18 years.
But if you remember watching Jeff even before that, you’re memory isn’t betraying you. Michael first became familiar to Los Angeles viewers in 1990, as a crime reporter for ABC7 Eyewitness News. During his eight years on the air at ABC, he won the first two of what would be many Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards. He was named Weekend Anchor at Ch. 7 before leaving for Fox.
Michael began his career at KRNV-TV in Reno. After a couple years he set out for the East Coast and landed in Richmond, Virginia where he anchored and reported for WRIC-TV. It was in Virginia that he got his first taste of hurricanes and politics, covering major Southeast storms and often traveling to Washington D.C. to report from the White House.
From Richmond, Michael headed to his first major news market—Miami, Florida. It was a time when the neon glow of TV’s <em>Miami Vice</em> was fading but the drug trade and racial tensions were still rising. Michael covered the 1989 race riots, countless drug busts and international stories that took him to Mexico and to Panama for the U.S. removal of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega.
Over his more than three decades as a journalist, Michael has covered many other major national stories including the mass shooting in Aurora Colorado, the Oklahoma City Bombing, the Rodney King arrest and the Los Angeles Riots that followed the acquittal of the officers who arrested King. He followed O.J. Simpson on the infamous slow speed Bronco chase and covered the Simpson criminal trial.
A Sacramento native, Michael graduated from the University of California, Davis. When he isn’t working, he’s either on a ski slope or trying to learn a new tune on an old guitar.
Jeff Vaughn[caption id="attachment_967273" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967273" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/jeff-vaughn-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Jeff Vaughn (CBS)[/caption]
Award-winning anchor and reporter Jeff Vaughn joined the CBS 2 and KCAL 9 news team in November 2015. He primarily serves as an anchor on KCAL’s weeknight prime time newscasts. In addition, he contributes to other KCAL 9 and CBS 2 newscasts.
Vaughn joined CBS 2 and KCAL 9 after serving as an anchor at WXYZ-TV, the ABC affiliate in Detroit, since January 2013. A three-time Emmy winner, he won a Michigan Emmy in 2013 for anchoring breaking news, a Texas Emmy in 2012 for anchoring continuing coverage and a Michigan Emmy in 2006 for best large-market anchor.
His background also includes anchoring and reporting experience with WDIV-TV (NBC) in Detroit, KENS-TV (CBS) in San Antonio, Texas; KSHB-TV (NBC) in Kansas City, Missouri; KCBD-TV (NBC) in Lubbock, Texas; and KMID-TV (ABC) in Midland, Texas.
A Kansas native, Vaughn spent his childhood in Kansas and Colorado and later graduated from Kansas State University. He started his career in broadcasting with KNSS Radio in Wichita, Kansas before making his transition to television news.
Vaughn is an avid cyclist, and sports fan. His community involvement includes supporting charity events for those living with multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s.
Jeff finds his greatest joy in spending time with his wife, Jaime and their four-year-old son.
Follow Jeff Vaugn on social media:
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jeffvaughnjournalist/?fref=ts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jeff Vaughn</a>
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffVaughn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@JeffVaughn</a>
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jeffvaughnjournalist/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@jeffvaughnjournalist</a>
Peter Daut[caption id="attachment_967278" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967278" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/peter-daut-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Peter Daut (CBS)[/caption]
Multi-Emmy®-Award-winning journalist Peter Daut joined CBS2 and KCAL9 as a weekend anchor and reporter in September 2014.
During his tenure in Los Angeles, Daut has served as the lead reporter on several major stories, including the Pulse nightclub shooting massacre in Orlando, FL. He traveled to New York City to cover the 2016 presidential election, Denver, CO to investigate the legalization of recreational marijuana, and Carson City, NV for the parole hearing of O.J Simpson. He also frequently travels to Sacramento and San Francisco to cover California politics. In 2016, he won an Emmy® Award for a compilation of his work in the Individual Achievement category of Outstanding News Feature Reporting.
Prior to joining CBS2 and KCAL9, Daut was a morning anchor and investigative reporter at WSOC-TV in Charlotte. While in the Queen City, he uncovered and reported on a number of issues affecting taxpayers and consumers and anchored from inside the 2012 Democratic National Convention. In addition, he received the national Journalistic Achievement Award from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery for his investigative report on a cosmetic-surgery clinic.
Daut also worked at KDFW-TV in Dallas, where he won an Emmy® for his report on the shooting massacre at Fort Hood. While in Dallas, he covered, among other things, the Super Bowl, tornadoes, and wildfires. He began his on-air career at KFOX-TV in El Paso.
Daut graduated Cum Laude from the University of Southern California, where he received dual degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. He also minored in Spanish and was recognized by the university as a Renaissance Scholar. Born in Torrance, and having grown up in Placentia, Daut always dreamed of covering the news in Southern California.
When he’s not working, Daut enjoys spending time with his family, working out, and cheering on the USC Trojans.
He’s always searching for a good story. If you have any ideas, or would just like to say hi, feel free to <a href="mailto:pndaut@cbs.com">email him</a>.
Follow Peter Daut on social media:
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/peter.daut.16?fref=ts">Peter Daut</a>
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSLAPeter">@CBSLAPeter</a>
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cbslapeter/">@cbslapeter</a>
Juan Fernandez
[caption id="attachment_967274" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967274" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/juan-fernandez.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Juan Fernandez (CBS)[/caption]
This year, 2018, marks Emmy Award winning anchor Juan Fernandez’s 22nd year with the CBS News Family.
In January of 1996, Fernandez joined CBS2 News as a general assignment reporter.
Over the years, Fernandez has covered some of the biggest stories in the Southland. His favorites include Presidential visits and the arrival of the Space Shuttle Endeavour and its final journey through the streets of Los Angeles to the California Science Center.
During his time with CBS2 and later KCAL9 News, Fernandez has served as weathercaster and anchored newscasts on both stations.
Currently, Fernandez anchors on KCAL9 News at Noon and 4 PM.
Before coming to Los Angeles from Miami, Florida, Fernandez was a general assignment reporter at WSVN-7 as well as WLTV-23/Univision and the Telemundo Network.
Fernandez is fluent in Spanish. He is an advocate on the importance of learning more than one language and is a champion for literacy. Among his community service projects, he especially enjoys mentoring students who are pursuing careers in broadcasting.
Fernandez earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications and Broadcast Journalism from Florida International University.
In his spare time he enjoys hiking, travel and exploring the many amazing food options in the Southland.
Follow Juan Fernandez on social media:
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheNewsJuan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Juan Fernandez</a>
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/NewsJuan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@NewsJuan</a>
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/newsjuan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@newsjuan</a>
Sharon Tay[caption id="attachment_967287" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967287" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/sharon-tay-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Sharon Tay (CBS)[/caption]
Sharon Tay has moved from KCAL9's weeknight 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts to sister station CBS2 to anchor that station's weekday 4:30-7:00 a.m. and 11-11:30 a.m. newscasts. Tay joins co-anchor Rick Garcia, meteorologist Evelyn Taft and traffic reporter Stephanie Simmons.
Since Tay, Garcia and Taft began working together in August 2010, KCAL 9 ranks first in viewers among newscasts in the highly competitive 10 p.m. hour and has been No. 1 during seven of the last nine major sweep periods. And since the beginning of the new television season on September 23, the weeknight edition of KCAL9 News at 10 p.m. continues to rank first among local newscasts in the time period with an average of 160,000 viewers — up 28 percent versus comparable dates last year.
"Sharon, Rick and Evelyn are a proven winning combination," CBS2/KCAL9 General Manager Steve Mauldin said. "They bring a tremendous mix of experience, insight and personality to every newscast and they know what it takes to achieve success in morning news. We are confident in their ability to help us grow our audience during the morning news daypart in the same way they’ve given us a big lift during primetime."
Tay is an award-winning television news journalist. She joined CBS2 & KCAL9 in 2007 as a general assignment reporter. Soon after she began anchoring the weekend news on CBS2 and KCAL9. In April of 2010, Tay was named the primary Co-Anchor for KCAL9 News at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on weeknights. Born in Singapore and raised in Connecticut, Tay has a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in International Relations from Boston University.
Her first job was for Boston Cable News where she was first a reporter, writer, director and editor. Sharon then became the anchor and producer of a weekend show. In 1993, she made the move to the west coast to work for a central California CBS affiliate as a General Assignment Reporter.
While at KMST, Sharon was presented with an Associated Press Award for the Best Spot News coverage of an oil tanker fire. Sharon also formed and produced her own consumer investigative unit of the affiliate, called "46 On Your Side".
A few years later, Tribune Broadcasting hired her for its KTLA-5 Los Angeles staff as a General Assignment Reporter. While in the Los Angeles market, Sharon won Emmys for her coverage of the Malibu fire and the Northridge earthquake. Sharon also won an Emmy while hosting a business affairs show on KTLA. She then became the Weekend Anchor and ultimately Anchor for the early morning editions of the news.
Sharon held that position for more than seven years. Her leadership skills led the early morning team to win two additional Emmys and two Associated Press awards for best newscast in a 30 minute format.
Sharon's charm, wit, humor and personal style have helped her become one of the most beloved news personalities among Angelenos. While in L.A, the National Geographic Channel hired her to host a sci-fi documentary series called "The Human Edge".
In 2005, Sharon moved to NYC to help launch two entertainment shows for MSNBC. She was host and a producer for "MSNBC At The Movies" and "MSNBC Entertainment Hotlist".
Sharon loves traveling the world and speaks Spanish and Cantonese. She currently lives in Los Angeles and loves spending her time off keeping fit and loving her Labrador. She also enjoys horseback riding, hiking, skiing and just about any outdoor challenge.
Follow Sharon Tay on social media:
Facebook:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharon.tay.LA?fref=ts" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Sharon Tay</a>
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/SharonTay888" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@SharonTay888</a>
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sharontay888/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@sharontay888</a>
Sandra Mitchell[caption id="attachment_967283" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967283" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/sandra-mitchell-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Sandra Mitchell (CBS)[/caption]
An award winning journalist, Sandra has been reporting and anchoring the news in Los Angeles for 15 years. She currently anchors the number 1 rated noon newscast in Los Angeles, KCAL 9 News at Noon.
Known for her calm demeanor, Sandra has solo anchored during some of the biggest news stories in recent history. Sandra was live on the anchor desk to announce the death of Michael Jackson, and covered the deaths and funerals of former Presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford. She was a reassuring presence as a solo anchor during the Newtown, Connecticut school massacre, the Boston Marathon bombing, and the Santa Monica College shooting rampage. She also was the first anchor on television during the deadly shootout with former LAPD officer Christopher Dorner, live as it happened. Sandra also anchored live coverage of the election of the new Pope, and the birth and introduction of the Royal Baby Prince George.
An engaging interviewer, Sandra has reported on Presidents and the Pope, and interviewed some of the most popular celebrities in Hollywood. A gifted storyteller, her biggest joy is telling the stories of ordinary people who make this world an extraordinary place. While in Los Angeles, Sandra has been awarded 3 Emmy Awards and 3 Golden Mike Awards.
More recently, Sandra was awarded the prestigious Women in Media Genii Award for Excellence in Television. (Past winners include Ellen Degeneres, Lucille Ball and Whoopi Goldberg.)
Sandra is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the Temple University School of Broadcast Journalism in Philadelphia. In 2012, The National Journalism Honor Society of her alma mater awarded her the Excellence in Broadcast Journalism Award.
Before arriving in Los Angeles, Sandra reported and anchored in Huntsville, Alabama, New Orleans and St. Louis. In 1999 she made the jump to the west coast, working for the syndicated show "EXTRA," before joining KCAL 9 and CBS 2. Sandra has traveled the world and worked all over the U.S., but now considers herself a true SoCal girl!
As a breast cancer survivor, Sandra shared her diagnosis and treatment with Los Angeles viewers. She continues to inspire and educate others through her work with numerous charities. She serves on the executive board of Susan G. Komen Los Angeles, and is one of the "Race For The Cure" top fundraisers in LA.
Follow Sandra Mitchell on social media:
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Sandra.Mitchell.News/?fref=ts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sandra Mitchell</a>
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSLAsandra" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@CBSLAsandra</a>
Suzie Suh[caption id="attachment_977452" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-977452" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/suzie-suh2-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Suzie Suh (CBS)[/caption]
Suzie Suh was named co-anchor for KCAL9’s primetime shows (8 & 10pm) in December of 2013 making her the first Korean American anchor on an English language primetime newscast in Los Angeles. Before that she was the co-anchor for CBS2 and KCAL9’s weekend newscasts. Suzie first joined the duopoly as a General Assignment Reporter in November of 2005.
Suzie’s news career began at KCFW-TV in Kalispell, Montana where she was a reporter, an anchor, a producer, a photographer, an editor & studio camera operator. She also worked a couple of years as a reporter, anchor and assignment editor in Las Vegas.
Suzie was born in South Korea, grew up in Orange County and attended University of California, San Diego. Go Tritons! (Yes… Suzie was a cheerleader at UCSD… the one being thrown in the air!)
Fun Fact: Suzie married the love of her life all thanks to the matchmaking skills of a colleague, Meteorologist Amber Lee.
Suzie is the happy, proud and tired mother of 2 little boys. She enjoys teaching hip hop dance, hip hop aerobics, hula dancing & trying to rescue her ball out of countless bunkers.
You can follow Suzie on Social Media:
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSLAsuzie" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@CBSLAsuzie</a>
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cbslasuzie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@cbslasuzie</a>
Pat Harvey[caption id="attachment_967277" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967277" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/pat-harvey-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Pat Harvey (CBS)[/caption]
Pat Harvey was named co-anchor of CBS2’s 5 and 11 pm broadcasts in April of 2010.
She joined CBS2 after 20 years with sister station KCAL9 as one of the original anchors of the nation’s first nightly three-hour newscast. In recognition of her 20th anniversary with KCAL and contributions to the people of Southern California, the Los Angeles City Council and L.A. County Board of Supervisors declared Oct. 30, 2009, “Pat Harvey Day” by proclamation.
Pat was awarded the prestigious LA Area Governor's Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2015 for her body of work at CBS2/KCAL9 and philanthropic work in the community
In February 2012, Harvey was inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.
In addition to her anchoring duties, Harvey has appeared nationally as a guest co-host on the CBS Television Network daytime show “The Talk.”
The veteran newswoman has covered some of the biggest local news stories, political conventions, presidential inaugurations and traveled internationally. Pat has reported on the civil war in El Salvador, the AIDS epidemic in Eastern Africa and Russia and the first all-race elections in South Africa. She followed the works of a homeless painter in Los Angeles to the galleries of Paris and covered the installation of Pope Benedict XVI in Rome. In earlier years, Pat worked as a guest co-anchor in Brisbane, Australia.
Harvey began her career in Saginaw, Mich., at WNEM-TV as a general assignment reporter and later producer and anchor of the station’s 6 and 11pm newscasts. In 1981, Harvey helped launch CNN Headline News and a year later was named co-anchor of CNN’s Daybreak program.
Before joining the Disney owned KCAL, Pat was an anchor and reporter for Chicago’s superstation WGN-TV. There, her series of investigative reports on faulty pap smears lead to new health legislation in Illinois and shut down a lab responsible for many of those defective smears in Tarzana, California.
For her broadcast work, Pat has won 21 Emmy Awards, including three for best newscast. The most recent presented for a half-hour perspective on the 20th anniversary of the LA riots and Best Feature reporter in 2015.
Pat is the recipient of two lifetime achievement awards, which include the L.A. Press Club’s Joseph M. Quinn award in 2004 and the Golden Mike for Lifetime Achievement award from the Radio & Television News Association in 2010. In 2008, Pat received the Genii Award for excellence in TV broadcasting from Southern California’s chapter of American Women in Radio and Television. Other awards include a national Emmy, Golden Mikes, Society of Professional Journalists, LA Press Club, Hollywood Women’s Press Club award for Ethics, Chicago, Los Angeles and National Association of Black Journalists Associated Press “best news anchor” award and the Edward R. Murrow award presented to KCAL news for overall excellence.
Pat has dedicated her career to community service, advocating for children, education, those in the special-needs community and victims of domestic violence. She is the recipient of two honorary doctoral degrees from American Intercontinental University and Mt. St. Mary’s University. In 2017, Pat received The Lillian Award for excellence in broadcasting from the national Delta Sigma Theta organization and was the recipient of the Bonnie Tiegel Angel Award from the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles. In 2015, Pat was named a Susan G. Komen Circle of Promise Ambassador to help in the fight against breast cancer. She has also received the Silver Star Award from the YMCA, and the NAACP’s Ida B. Wells Award. Pat was also one of several local personalities to carry the Olympic torch through Los Angeles in 2002.
For a fun fact, Pat sang “God Bless America” at Dodger Stadium in 2010 and later that year performed the national anthem with her daughter.
Harvey was a co-founder and co-chairwoman of the Good News Foundation. The nonprofit built by five TV newswomen awarded grants and scholarships to area community based organizations, established computer centers, partnered with the Home Depot Foundation to build a playground for inner city youth, built a library for the Downtown Women's Center, among many other accomplishments. Aspiring journalists were also given scholarships based on merit and commitment to community service. During her tenure, the group received honors from the American Women in Radio & Television, Downtown Women’s Center, Central City Business Association of LA and the LAPD Hollenbeck PAL Humanitarian Award.
Follow Pat Harvey on social media:
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Pat-Harvey-1557989834511067/?fref=ts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pat Harvey</a>
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/Patharveynews" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@Patharveynews</a>
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/patharveynews/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@patharveynews</a>
CBS2/KCAL9 Reporters
David Goldstein[caption id="attachment_967297" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967297" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/david-goldstein-2-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> David Goldstein (CBS)[/caption]
Investigative Reporter David Goldstein has been honored with the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award from Radio and Television News Association of Southern California and the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Los Angeles Press Club. In his more than two decades reporting in L.A., David has been nominated for more than 15 Emmy Awards and has won more than a dozen Golden Mike Awards.
He was a founding member of KCAL’s primetime newscast, having joined the station in 1989. Prior to that, he was a reporter at WCBS-TV in New York and has also worked as an investigative reporter in Miami.
At KCBS/KCAL, David’s undercover investigations have pointed the spotlight on government corruption and wasteful spending of taxpayer money.
His report on DWP workers drinking on the job and going to strip clubs prompted action by the department. An L.A. city official resigned after David’s investigation alleged her husband may have gotten favors from the police department. City traffic officers were fired or suspended after David’s undercover investigation showed they were goofing off and spending time at home instead of working. The list goes on.
David grew up in the suburbs of New York City and graduated from George Washington University with a degree in Journalism and Broadcasting.
In his spare time, he likes to jog, play tennis and spend time with his family.
Follow David Goldstein on social media:
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CBSLAdavid/?fref=ts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">David Goldstein</a>
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSLAdavid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@CBSLAdavid</a>
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cbsladavid/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@cbsladavid</a>
Rachel Kim[caption id="attachment_967304" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967304" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/rachel-kim-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Rachel Kim (CBS)[/caption]
Rachel Kim joined CBS2 and KCAL9 as a general assignment reporter in March 2009.
An LA native, Rachel returned home after working for WSB-TV in Atlanta as a reporter, bureau chief and fill-in anchor for three years. Prior to Atlanta, Rachel worked in Oklahoma City at KOCO-TV and began her career at KAMR-TV/KCIT-TV as a weekend anchor and reporter in Amarillo, Texas.
Throughout her career, Rachel has been recognized for her reporting and community service. She is especially proud of receiving a Golden Mike Award for Best TV News Reporting in 2013 while at CBS2/KCAL9.
Rachel earned her master's degree in broadcast journalism and bachelor's degrees in communication and English from the University of Southern California. She's a proud Trojan...Fight On!
When Rachel's not covering the news, she enjoys traveling, exploring the Southland's newest restaurants, playing piano and spending time with her family and friends. She is fluent in Korean and is working on her Spanish!
After losing her mother to pancreatic cancer and her father to glioblastoma, Rachel is passionate about raising awareness and research funding for these two cancers.
Rachel loves to hear from the community. You can email her at rkim@cbs.com. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram @cbslarachel.
Kristine Lazar[caption id="attachment_967300" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967300" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/kristine-lazaar-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Kristine Lazar (CBS)[/caption]
Kristine Lazar is an Emmy award winning reporter for CBS 2 and KCAL 9 News. Kristine graduated Phi Beta Kappa from UC Berkeley, after growing up by the beach in San Diego.
She has worked all over California, from Palm Springs and Fresno, back down to San Diego before landing here in Los Angeles in 2007.
Kristine's reporting on the fatal 2008 Metrolink accident led to the passage of federal legislation limiting cell phone use by conductors and engineers on trains.
Kristine won an Emmy in 2007 for a piece she did on child prostitution and another Emmy in 2014 for a feature on a middle aged woman with Down syndrome, who finally received a surgery that enabled her to dance.
Kristine is the proud mom to a boy and twin girls. She's also married to a twin, so you can say she has become a bit of an expert when it comes to living with multiples.
When Kristine isn't at work, she enjoys spending all day in the backyard with her kids, or visiting the beaches in her hometown. She also loves to bake- but only foods with lots of sugar and butter!
If you have a story tip, you can email Kristine at <a href="mailto:klazar@cbs.com">klazar@cbs.com</a>.
Jasmine Viel[caption id="attachment_967299" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967299" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/jasmine-viel-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Jasmine Viel (CBS)[/caption]
<p style="margin-top:0;line-height:16.8pt;">Jasmine Viel is an award winning news anchor and reporter who has spent more than a decade working in television on the West Coast.</p>
<p style="margin-top:0;line-height:16.8pt;"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">She anchored the CBS/FOX evening newscasts on the Central Coast with her husband for several years. </span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0;line-height:16.8pt;"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Besides hosting numerous special reports, they earned recognition for their work helping raise money for local charities like the Boys & Girls Club and the SPCA of Monterey County where they adopted their sweet pitbull Hayley. </span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0;line-height:16.8pt;"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Since arriving in LA, Jasmine has covered major national news stories like the massacre in Las Vegas, the Dodgers trip to the World Series, the devastating Ventura wildfires and most recently being one of the only reporters on the front lines during the deadly Montecito mudslides. </span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0;line-height:16.8pt;"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">She’s appeared on various national news channels in her reporting, using social media to connect with viewers and share their personal stories and happenings around the Southland. Find her on instagram, Twitter and Facebook @jasminevielcbsla </span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0;line-height:16.8pt;"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">Jasmine grew up with her twin sister and younger sister in a small mountain town in Northern California and graduated from San Diego State University with a Journalism major and minor in Spanish.</span></p>
Tom Wait[caption id="attachment_967311" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967311" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/tom-wait-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Tom Wait (CBS)[/caption]
Tom Wait joined CBS2 and KCAL9 in March 2013. He covers the Los Angeles metro area and the Inland Empire. A Southern California native, he worked in New York City, Detroit and Kansas City, Missouri, before coming home.
Wait considers reporting for CBS2 and KCAL9 to be a dream come true. While growing up in Claremont, he made it a habit to watch the legendary KCAL9 anchor team of Pat Harvey and Jerry Dunphy.
During his career, Wait has covered numerous major news events. He began his career at News 12 The Bronx and News 12 Brooklyn in 2003. After several years in New York, Wait joined the CBS station in Kansas City, where he covered the largest tornado to ever touch down in Kansas – a storm that destroyed the town of Greensburg. While at the ABC station in Detroit, he covered crime, politics and the auto industry, including an assignment that sent him to Washington D.C. to report on the auto bailout hearings.
Wait is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and has a master's degree in journalism from New York University.
Follow Tom Wait on social media:
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tom.wait.96?fref=ts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tom Wait</a>
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSLATom" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@CBSLATom</a>
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tjwait/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@tjwait</a>
Crystal Cruz[caption id="attachment_967293" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967293" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/crystal-cruz-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Crystal Cruz (CBS)[/caption]
Reporter Crystal Cruz asks a lot of questions and always has. Her family and friends aren't surprised she's made a career out of searching for answers.
Cruz's love for storytelling has taken her across the country and back. She's reported for CBS46 in Atlanta, 3TV in Phoenix, KGTV10 in San Diego, KMIR6 in Palm Springs and joined KCAL/KCBS in 2013.
She's covered a wide range of stories, including the tragic deaths of 19 Arizona fire fighters, the infamous Jodi Arias murder trial and Georgia's deadly tornadoes in 2011.
Cruz is always looking for a story that makes the viewers feel something and strives to tell memorable stories daily.
The California native graduated in 2005 with a degree in psychology from UC Irvine. Since then she's traveled to Australia, Thailand, Korea, Mexico, Spain, Amsterdam, France, Switzerland, Costa Rica and has stopped in most major cities across the United States.
The huge country music fan enjoyed living in the south and visiting Nashville, but SoCal is where Cruz has always wanted to call home. Her family lives in San Diego and Palm Springs.
When she's not reporting, Cruz is digging through antique stores for vintage cameras. Over the years she's picked up more than 30 video and still cameras.
She loves all things vintage including her 9-year-old rescue Beagle named Georgie.
If you have a story idea, tweet her <a href="https://twitter.com/crystalcruzcbs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@CrystalCruzCBS</a> or send an email to <a href="mailto:ccruz2@cbs.com">ccruz2@cbs.com</a>
Follow Crystal Cruz on social media:
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/crystal.cruz.925?fref=ts" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Crystal Cruz</a>
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CrystalCruzCBS" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@CrystalCruzCBS</a>
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Suzanne Marques[caption id="attachment_967309" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967309" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/suzanne-marques-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Suzanne Marques (CBS)[/caption]
Emmy-award winning journalist Suzanne Marques covers lifestyle and entertainment for CBS2 and KCAL9.
A native Angeleno, Suzanne graduated from USC and started blogging while she was in college, which helped kick off her career in Los Angeles as web producer for KNBC. Her next move was to Eureka, California where she was weekend anchor and reporter.
She worked at KGET in Bakersfield and WXIA in Atlanta, Georgia, before returning to Los Angeles, reporting and anchoring for Good Day LA, The Fox 11 Morning News, That’s So Hollywood and FOX 11 Overtime.
Suzanne frequently covers breaking news and has covered the Oscars, Golden Globes, Grammys and Emmy Awards. She has a bit of daredevil in her genes – both of her parents were race car drivers – so she has learned how to surf and fly on the trapeze live on the air.
On the sports sidelines, Suzanne was one of the first to interview soccer superstar David Beckham when he joined the LA Galaxy. She also celebrated in the locker room when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim clinched one of their many division titles.
Suzanne is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, The Story Project and The Good News Foundation.
When Suzanne’s not covering the news, Suzanne manages her own blog with lifestyle tips. You can visit her blog: <a href="http://www.lawoman.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lawoman.com</a>
Follow Suzanne Marques on social media:
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/suzanne.marques/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Suzanne Marques</a>
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/suzmarques" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@suzmarques</a>
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/suzmarques/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@suzmarques</a>
Dave Bryan[caption id="attachment_967294" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967294" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/dave-bryan-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Dave Bryan (CBS)[/caption]
Dave Bryan joined the KCAL9 news team in March, 1994, after having previously worked at KTTV, Fox TV in Los Angeles. As the political reporter for the KCAL Prime9 News, his beat includes national and international stories as well as state capitol coverage from Sacramento and local politics in southern California. Today he is the only LA TV reporter who covers exclusively political stories.
During his career as a journalist, Bryan's coverage of world news has taken him to China, where he covered the crackdown on the democracy movement following the government crackdown at Bejing's Tiananmen Square in 1989. In Somalia, he sent back live reports to stations around the US, as American Marines landed at Mogadishu. During his two-month assignment there, Bryan continued to file live reports, accompanying the US forces as they "liberated" Somalia from famine and violent warlords. In March, 2003 Bryan was embedded with a Marine batallion during the opening weeks of the Iraq War, moving through the desert from Kuwait to Baghdad, filing live reports with a videophone. Once they reached the Baghdad, Bryan and photographer Dolores Gillham, continued to send back live news updates on developments in Iraq for KCAL9 News and CBS2 News. And in 2005, Bryan covered the Hurricane Katrina disaster, filing live reports from New Orleans on the tragic human toll in the weeks after the levees ruptured, and the city was virtually destroyed by massive floodwaters.
On the political beat, Bryan has covered presidential nominating conventions and campaigns for more than 25 years. In the 2000 campaign he traveled to Iowa and New Hampshire to cover the nation's earliest caucus and primary, following the candidates as they moved along the road to the White House. During the impeachment scandal that nearly brought down President Bill Clinton, Bryan was stationed in Washington DC, where he reported live for KCAL9 News each evening on the latest developments.
Dave began his career as an investigative reporter in Baltimore, MD. After uncovering a heating oil scandal that left both poor people and the government cheated by unscrupulous companies, he shared a Columbia-DuPont Award with colleagues for best local investigative reporting. Later, while working at KTTV, Bryan became the lead reporter for the first live gavel-to-gavel trial coverage in southern California, part of the news team which won a Columbia-DuPont award for coverage of the first Rodney King trial in Simi Valley.
Bryan is a graduate of the University of Maryland, where he received a B.A. degree in sociology. He has received many other industry awards including regional Associated Press honors and the UPI Maurice Williams Award.
Serene Branson[caption id="attachment_967373" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967373" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/serene-branson-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Serene Branson (CBS)[/caption]
Serene is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and the recipient of the Frank Shakespeare Award for Outstanding Achievement in Journalism. Born and raised in the Los Angeles area and proud Bruin, Serene is thrilled to be reporting on stories in her hometown.
Serene previously worked at the CBS affiliate in Sacramento, where she had the opportunity to cover state politics and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. She was one of only a handful of media witnesses chosen to watch the execution of convicted killer Clarence Ray Allen at San Quentin State prison. Serene also landed an exclusive interview with one of the few sexually violent predators released from the Atascadero State Mental Hospital. She has covered some of California's largest natural disasters including wildfires and floods.
Serene started her career as an intern at KCAL 9. She has also worked as a reporter/anchor in Palm Springs and a reporter in Santa Barbara. When she's not working Serene enjoys reading, yoga, and spending time with her family and friends.
<h5><a href="https://www.facebook.com/serene.branson.7" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Connect with Serene on Facebook</strong></a></h5>
<h5><a href="https://twitter.com/SereneOnScene?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Follow Serene on Twitter</strong></a></h5>
Stacey Butler[caption id="attachment_967307" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967307" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/stacey-butler-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Stacey Butler (CBS)[/caption]
Emmy-award winning journalist, Stacey Butler, joined the CBS2 News team in June of 2004.
You can catch her every weeknight on CBS 2's five o'clock newscast where her unique stories take her from Santa Barbara to Guadalajara.
She began her television career in Redding, California, at the ABC affiliate, KRCR after graduating from Loyola Marymount University.
She moved on to Salt Lake City, Utah, and worked at the NBC affiliate, KSL as a general assignment reporter for five years.
There, she won a regional Edward R. Murrow award for her coverage of an Olympic hopeful's battle with a rare cancer.
In 2010 she won an Emmy for her stories from Fort Irwin. She spent several days in the simulated Iraqi town of Medina Wasl where soldiers learn how to fight in Iraq. She has also received the Golden Mike Award for best feature reporting on mid life women uprooting their lives and moving to Mexico.
Stacey spent a year documenting the secretive polygamous sect in Colorado City, Arizona; a town run by former FBI fugitive, Warren Jeffs.
She just completed her first independent documentary, titled: "BANISHED. The Lost Boys Of Polygamy."
Back home in California, the Bay Area native is thrilled to live and work in the Los Angeles area where there's never a shortage of stories to tell.
Follow Stacey Butler on social media:
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Stacey-Butler-300462973332443/?fref=ts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stacey Butler</a>
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/StaceyCBS" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@StaceyCBS</a>
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sbutlerfly/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@sbutlerfly</a>
Michele Gile[caption id="attachment_967302" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967302" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/michele-gile-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Michele Gile (CBS)[/caption]
Michele joined KCAL in 1990 as the Orange County reporter and she has loved it there ever since! She now reports from the field for both KCAL 9 and CBS 2.
Michele attended UCLA and transferred her junior year to USC to join the Broadcast Journalism School.
Upon graduation, Michele landed her first job as a reporter in Palm Springs. From there she was off to Santa Barbara and on to CNN for further reporting assignments. Michele's busy career has included stories from the Laguna Beach fires, the LA Riots, the abduction of Samantha Runnion and many other important news events.
Michele has received many prestigious honors including two Emmy awards, a Golden Mic and the national Clarion Award for the best television spot news story.
Follow Michele Gile on social media:
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/michele.gile.5?fref=ts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michele Gile</a>
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSmichelegile" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@CBSmichelegile</a>
Amy Johnson[caption id="attachment_967292" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967292" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/amy-johnson-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Amy Johnson (CBS)[/caption]
Amy Johnson grew up in San Diego's North County in Poway and knew from an early age that she wanted to be a television news reporter. After graduating from California Baptist University in Riverside on a four-year volleyball scholarship, Amy began her news career at the CBS affiliate in Coos Bay, Oregon as an anchor/reporter. Amy's career path took her to Columbia, S.C., Milwaukee, Wis. and Boston before leading her back home to Southern California where she joined the KCBS/KCAL team in 2005. Amy helped launch the stations' Ventura County bureau in April 2006.
An advocate of reading, Amy was named Volunteer of the Year for the Milwaukee Boys and Girls Club for her work in an after school reading program. She has also worked with at risk youth as a mentor.
Amy lives in Ventura County with her husband, a military pilot, and their two young sons.
Follow Amy Johnson on social media:
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/amyjohnsonhuggins?fref=ts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amy Johnson</a>
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/AmyJohnsonNews" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@AmyJohnsonNews</a>
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amyjohnsontv/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@amyjohnsonnews</a>
Dave Lopez[caption id="attachment_967296" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967296" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/dave-lopez-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Dave Lopez (CBS)[/caption]
Award-winning journalist <strong>Dave Lopez </strong>celebrated his 40<sup>th</sup> anniversary with CBS 2 in 2017. He joined the station in 1977 as a general assignment reporter and has covered nearly every major local event in Southern California during his more than four decades with the station. He has also reported for KCAL 9 since 2002, when CBS 2 and KCAL 9 became the largest local TV news organization in the country.
Throughout his career, Dave Lopez has received numerous journalism awards for his work, including Emmy Awards, Golden Mike Awards, Associated Press Awards and recognition from the Radio Television Digital News Association.
Prior to joining CBS 2, Lopez was a general assignment reporter, weekend anchor and sports reporter at KFMB-TV in San Diego. Before that, was a general assignment and sports reporter at KHJ-TV (now KCAL 9) and also produced the station’s sports specials.
Lopez was a sports writer at the Huntington Park Daily Signal newspaper before beginning his career in television news.
Lopez attended East Los Angeles College and graduated from California State University in Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism. He has two grown children and lives in Long Beach.
Randy Paige[caption id="attachment_967306" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967306" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/randy-paige-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Randy Paige (CBS)[/caption]
Randy Paige is a duPont award-winning reporter whose groundbreaking investigations have resulted in new laws that directly affect millions of Californians.
Paige first came to CBS2 in 1999 to join the acclaimed Special Assignment Unit, and one year later he exposed extensive lead contamination in Southern California public schools which resulted in new laws and a massive lead clean-up in five school districts. That story received the Alfred I duPont Columbia University Silver Baton award (considered to be the broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize) for excellence in reporting.
With more than 20 years of television reporting experience, Paige's other career highlights include:
- A hidden camera investigation, which revealed foster children were forced to attend school in dilapidated motels and former convalescent hospitals, taught by teachers without credentials while the state paid exorbitant costs to private companies for a substandard education. That investigation led to sweeping reforms in the education of foster children.
- Numerous auto safety investigations including collapsing seatbacks, roofs that crush, vans that rollover and tires that fail.
- Exposing deplorable conditions in Southern California public school bathrooms leading to new laws requiring schools to keep their bathrooms open and clean as well as a multi million-dollar bathroom clean-up campaign at the Los Angeles Unified School District.
- Exposing emergency escape hatches in the Los Angeles subway system didn't work, which lead to the retrofitting of 130 subway doors.
- Revealed the theft of numerous radioactive devices which could be used to construct dirty bombs, resulting in new regulations surrounding the transportation of those devices.
- Revealed foreign students were being allowed entry in the United States to enroll classes in dog grooming, yacht restoration, massage and nail care and allowed to never attend class in the wake of the terrorist attacks on 9-11.
- Exposed teachers convicted of violent felonies including sex crimes who still held valid teaching credentials
- Exposed a birth certificate loophole which allowed kidnapers of babies to obtain legal birth certificates
Paige has covered some of the most important national and local news stories of the past decade. He reported from Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm, the civil trial of O.J. Simpson and he reported from the U.S.S. Carl Vinson in the North Arabian Sea.
He has traveled the world to bring back important stories:
Poland – a powerful story of a holocaust survivor's journey back to a Nazi death camp.
Puerto Rico – exposed the Veterans Administration was importing Puerto Rican nurses for VA hospitals who didn't pass nursing exams.
Rome- profiled a young Soviet mother's daring flight to freedom before the collapse of the Soviet Union
Persian Gulf – profiled efforts of local pilots and armed forces personnel in Operation Enduring Freedom following the September 11th attacks.
Randy Paige has received numerous awards and accolades for his investigative work. In addition to the duPont award, he was named Reporter of the Year by the LA Press Club in 2001. Paige has received Emmy awards for his investigative, environmental and feature reporting, and has received more than a dozen Emmy nominations. He received a National Headliner Award for Human Interest Reporting while working as a correspondent for "The Crusaders," a national investigative news magazine. Paige's awards also include a Gold Medal of Honor as Reporter of the Year from the New York Film Festival, RTNDA-Best News Documentary; AP Bill Stout Memorial Award for Enterprise Reporting; Three Golden Mikes from the Radio and Television News Association; Associated Press 1999 Best Spot News.
Follow Randy Paige on social media:
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/RandyCBS2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@RandyCBS2</a>
CBS2/KCAL9 Weather
Danielle Gersh[caption id="attachment_967319" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967319" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/danielle-gersh-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Danielle Gersh (CBS)[/caption]
Danielle Gersh joined CBS2 and KCAL9 as a weather anchor and reporter in January 2017.
A native of Los Angeles, Danielle is thrilled to be back home after working at WHDH in Boston, Massachusetts where she reported weather and traffic for the station’s weekday morning newscast. In her special series, ‘D-Tours with Danielle,’ she took viewers to unique landmarks around Boston including the famous Citgo sign, an underground tour of the tunnels built during Boston’s Big Dig and a climb up to the top of the largest piece of copyrighted art in the world.
Before making the move to New England Danielle worked as a weather anchor and reporter for KESQ and CBS Local 2 in Palm Springs. During her time there she was nominated for an Emmy after her coverage of a 700 year storm that hit the area. She also had the opportunity to cover several haboobs that moved through the desert.
Danielle is a graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas where she studied journalism. In addition, she studied meteorology through Mississippi State University. While in college, she spent time as an intern for CBS both in Dallas and Los Angeles. In Texas she covered the opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Library as well as the severe weather outbreak in 2013 that moved through parts of Texas and also resulted in the Moore tornado.
In her spare time Danielle enjoy spending time with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and riding her horse. She loves trying new restaurants, hiking and traveling. She is honored to tell stories and forecast weather here at home in Los Angeles surrounded by family and friends. If you have a story idea or just want to say ‘hi’ feel free to email <a href="mailto:dgersh@cbs.com">dgersh@cbs.com</a>. You can also follow her on social media!
<strong>Facebook:</strong> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/DanielleGershTV">DanielleGershTV</a>
<strong>Twitter:</strong> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/daniellegersh">daniellegersh</a>
<strong>Instagram:</strong> <a href="http://www.instagram.com/daniellegersh">daniellegersh</a>
Garth Kemp[caption id="attachment_967323" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967323" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/garth-kemp-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Garth Kemp (CBS)[/caption]
Garth Kemp has been a weather forecaster in Southern California for 20 years, where he’s earned an avid following for his ability to make weather science understandable to us all. He’s also active in the community, focusing most recently on the CBS2 – KCAL9 "CHiPs for Kids" program to collect and distribute holiday toys in partnership with the California Highway Patrol.
Amber Lee[caption id="attachment_967317" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967317" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/amber-lee-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Amber Lee (CBS)[/caption]
<strong>Amber Lee</strong> joined CBS2 and KCAL9 as a general assignment reporter and meteorologist in September 2012.
A Southern California native, Lee returned home after working for KOAT-TV in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as a reporter and fill-in meteorologist for three years.
In 2011, she was recognized by the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau as "Reporter of the Year" for her coverage on one of the worst droughts in state history. Her reporting called attention to the hundreds of ranchers who bought insurance through the government and were then denied claims.
Prior to Albuquerque, Lee worked in San Luis Obispo at KSBY-TV and began her career at KCBY-TV in Coos Bay, Oregon.
Lee earned her master's degree in journalism from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, and a bachelor's degree in communication studies at
California State University in Northridge, California.
She earned her certificate in meteorology through Mississippi State University's Broadcast Meteorology Program.
In her spare time, Lee enjoys traveling with her husband and exploring the outdoors. She speaks Mandarin and makes delicious potstickers.
Follow Amber Lee on social media:
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Amber.Lee.News/?fref=ts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amber Lee</a>
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/AmberLeeNews" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@AmberLeeNews</a>
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amberleetv/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@amberleetv</a>
Evelyn Taft[caption id="attachment_967322" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-967322" src="https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/evelyn-taft-1200x800-2018.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Evelyn Taft (CBS)[/caption]
Meteorologist Evelyn Taft has moved from KCAL9's weeknight 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts to sister station CBS2 for that station's weekday 4:30-7:00 a.m. and 11-11:30 a.m. newscasts. Taft joins co-anchors Rick Garcia and Sharon Tay, as well as traffic reporter Stephanie Simmons.
Since Tay, Garcia and Taft began working together in August 2010, KCAL 9 ranks first in viewers among newscasts in the highly competitive 10 p.m. hour and has been No. 1 during seven of the last nine major sweep periods. And since the beginning of the new television season on September 23, the weeknight edition of KCAL9 News at 10 p.m. continues to rank first among local newscasts in the time period with an average of 160,000 viewers — up 28 percent versus comparable dates last year.
"Sharon, Rick and Evelyn are a proven winning combination," CBS2/KCAL9 General Manager Steve Mauldin said. "They bring a tremendous mix of experience, insight and personality to every newscast and they know what it takes to achieve success in morning news. We are confident in their ability to help us grow our audience during the morning news daypart in the same way they’ve given us a big lift during primetime."
Taft joined CBS2/KCAL9 from KRON 4 in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she forecasted the weather for their seven-hour morning show. Evelyn is a member of the National Weather Association and has been granted the National Weather Association (NWA) Seal of approval .
A Bay Area native, Evelyn Taft first lived in Los Angeles while attending the Annenberg School of Journalism at the University of Southern California. While getting her Broadcast Journalism and Political Science degrees at USC, Evelyn forecasted the weather for Annenberg's live newscast.
After graduation, Evelyn's passion for weather grew as she earned her certificate in meteorology from Mississippi State University and joined the news team at KCOY, the CBS affiliate on the central coast, where she performed several duties as a weather anchor, news anchor and reporter. While there, she spent a significant amount of time reporting from the front-line of several Santa Barbara County wildfires. She also forecasted weather at the CBS affiliate KION, in Salinas.
Growing up speaking Russian with her Moscow-born parents, Evelyn always had an interest in international culture and travel. In her teens, she started working at the Bay Area’s Mid-Peninsula Community Media Center, hosting various shows on travel and entertainment. She also lived in both London and France, spent a significant amount of time in Israel and trekked through Europe, Asia, Central and South America where she managed to climb Machu Picchu.
In her spare time, she enjoys sailing, eating from LA's gourmet food trucks, reading and spending time with her family and pug.
Follow Evelyn Taft on social media:
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/evtaft/?fref=ts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Evelyn Taft</a>
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/EvelynTaft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@EvelynTaft</a>
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/evelyn_taft/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@evelyn_taft</a>
