KEYE-TV Austin Talent Bios
News
- Judy Maggio
- Bettie Cross
- Katherine Stolp
- Karla Leal
- Sarykarmen Rivera
- Lydia Pantazes
- Angel Covarrubias
- Christie Post
- Cassie Gallo
- Adam Racusin
- Alex Boyer
- Ashley Miller
- Karen Posada
- Melanie Lofton
Sports
- Bob Ballou
- Adam Winkler
Judy Maggio - Anchor
Judy has been proud to call Austin home for the past 34 years.
She grew up in Houston and fell in love with the Capital City when she arrived at the University of Texas to study journalism in 1978. Judy has had the joy of spending her entire career in Austin. She was hired as an entry level reporter at KVUE-TV in November 1981 and was promoted to the nightly news anchor spot in 1986. In 2003, she chose to leave KVUE and accepted an Anchor/Managing Editor position at KEYE TV. That's where you can see her weeknights at 5, 6 and 10.
With 30 years experience delivering the news in Austin, Judy is one of the most familiar faces in Central Texas. She has been voted "Best News Anchor in Austin" for many years in a row by Austin Chronicle readers. She has also been honored as Austin Communicator of the year, Austin Toastmaster of the Year and has received numerous awards for excellence in journalism.
Judy is an admitted political junkie, and counts her coverage of three presidential inaugurations and four national political conventions among the highlights of her career. She has done lengthy interviews with some of the nation's most prestigious television journalists -- Walter Cronkite, Bob Schieffer, Dan Rather, Katie Couric and Peter Jennings. Two of her favorite profiles were on the late Lady Bird Johnson and singer Willie Nelson.
Judy is a community advocate, giving her time to many different non-profits. She is a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and More in Austin. She also enjoys reading to children, speaking at schools and emceeing charity fundraisers.
She is married to Meals on Wheels Communication Director Thad Rosenfeld. She has a daughter, Carly, and a step-daughter, Stephanie. They also have two dogs, Duncan and Buster and a cat named Winnie.
Chikage Windler - Chief Meteorologist
Chikage (that's pronounced Chick-ha-gay) is the newest member of the KEYE TV News Team, bringing years of severe weather experience.
Chikage has major market and network television experience. Appearing as a guest meteorologist on ABC's "Good Morning America" and "ABC World News." But most important, Chikage is no stranger to Texas. She spent two years in Dallas at Texas Cable News as a morning meteorologist, forecasting for all of Texas on their 24 hour statewide cable network.
Before television, Chikage chased tornadoes as part of the VORTEX-95 project at the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Oklahoma. Growing up a Sooner, she graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Meteorology and a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Oklahoma.
Chikage is an AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist and holds the AMS and National Weather Association Seal of Approval. She was honored with the 2009 Upper Midwest Emmy Award for Outstanding Weathercaster and was nominated in 2010. She was also nominated for a New England Emmy Award for her weathercasts in 2006.
Chikage is thrilled to soon call Austin home. You might even say it is destiny. She has a 5 year old daughter named... AUSTEN! Chikage and her husband Jamie also recently welcomed the arrival of their 11 week old baby girl, Zailey.
The most popular question Chikage answers is about her name. She is half Japanese and her name means "thousands of views or vistas."
Bob Ballou - Sports Director
Bob Ballou joined KEYE TV as Sports Director in August 2007.
Answer to your first question: Yes. Bob Ballou is his real name. He has to show his driver's license as proof all the time.
Bob arrives in Austin from San Antonio where he worked at the CBS affiliate. Prior to that, he worked in Columbia, Missouri.
Bob attended the University of Missouri and proudly graduated from the Missouri School of Journalism.
However, he is originally from Dallas and his roots run deep in Texas sports. His parents attended the University of Texas and raised him with Longhorn ties (literally - they bought him burnt orange ties; figuratively - they passed on their trait of bleeding burnt orange).
Don't be fooled though - his mom is NOT "Cat Ballou". She's better looking.
Ballou won the 2010 Texas Associated Press Award for Best Sportscast. He won the same award in 2006. He is extremely excited about getting involved in church, charity and of course the sports world surrounding Austin. Bob enjoys playing and watching any and all sports - though his golf game could really use some work.
Hunter Ellis - Anchor
Hunter Ellis has enjoyed a long and adventurous journey on his way to Austin.
An award winning television host, Hunter has worked on both the national and local stage for years. Hosting everything from adventure travel and technology series for the History Channel to evening magazine and entertainment specials for KCBS, KCAL, and KTLA in Los Angeles, Hunter takes a hands-on approach to his stories and immerses himself into the situation to give his audience true perspective. He has shared many heart-stopping adventures with viewers in order to highlight the fun and exciting elements that today's world has to offer.
He has skydived solo with the Army's Golden Knights, flown with both the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds, rappelled into tombs on a 1,500-foot limestone cliff in Northern Peru, dived on pirate shipwrecks off the coast of England, run 150 miles across the Sahara Desert and tracked mountain gorillas in the impenetrable jungles of Uganda. But it's not just the adrenaline rush that motivates him. Hunter brings great versatility to his projects through his inquisitive nature and passion for exploration. Having traveled to more than 40 different countries around the world, he enjoys meeting and interacting with people from all walks of life. He believes that by sharing the stories of others, we learn more about ourselves.
Travel has been a part of Hunter's life since an early age. A third generation Navy fighter pilot, he grew up moving around the country, following the smell of jet fuel and aircraft carriers. Hunter actually learned to fly here in Texas, and enjoyed many days of cloud surfing during his training in Corpus Christi and Kingsville.
That is when he first fell in love with Austin as it provided a much-needed escape from the rigors of flight school. After a couple of years, he was sure he had seen his last August in Texas and returned to the cool Pacific breezes of California. During his ten-year Naval Career, Hunter amassed more than 2,000 hours in the F/A-18, TA-4J, T-2C, and T-34C. He completed two Middle East deployments in support of Operations Southern Watch and Desert Strike and accumulated 433 carrier landings, more than 100 at night. In addition, he was a qualified F/A-18C Flight Demonstrations Pilot and Landing Signals Officer. After completion of his service, Hunter, a cast-away on Survivor Marquesas, became a pilot for FedEx. He was with FedEx for five years before dedicating his full-time to his television career.
While on a ski trip in the Sierras, Hunter met his wife, a Los Angeles-based interior designer, who ironically hailed from the Texas Hill Country. After the birth of their first child, Hunter realized another August in Texas might be in his future. They relocated to Austin to be closer to family and have enjoyed exploring a city that has so much to offer. However, Hunter is a graduate of the University of Southern California, and is constantly reminded of the 2006 Rose Bowl by all of the commemorative t-shirts.
Chances are you will see Hunter around town, either with KEYE or with his family, as he continues to explore new places and meet new people who have interesting stories to tell.
Deeda Payton - Anchor
Deeda Payton dusted off her cowboy boots and moved back to Texas to join the KEYE TV Morning News Team in January 2013. Being an Austinite not only means living in the greatest city in the world, but for Deeda it also means being closer to family.
Deeda came to the ATX by way of OKC where she anchored and reported for KOKH FOX 25 in the heart of Oklahoma. During her time in the Sooner State, she braved blizzard conditions, chased deadly tornadoes and covered wildfires that caused entire towns to evacuate. Deeda was also recognized by the Associated Press for her Investigative Reporting. The story started with a dumpster dive and ended with an investigation into an attorney by the Oklahoma Bar Association.
Fortunately, Deeda was also given the opportunity to balance these often emotionally challenging stories with lighter interviews. Deeda has sat down with such pop culture icons as Fabio Lanzoni (who picked her up...literally!), Jared Fogle "the Subway Guy" and Chris Kattan. When American Idol held auditions in OKC, Deeda got to interview judges Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban and Randy Jackson along with host Ryan Seacrest.
Deeda (a self-proclaimed chatterbox) knew she wanted to be a reporter from a very young age when she realized she could get paid to talk to people. Her first job in TV news landed her in Denison (about one hour north of Dallas). She was hired by KTEN TV as a one-man band reporter shooting, writing and editing her own stories. Deeda also anchored, produced and even shot high school football.
Deeda graduated from the University of Miami at Coral Gables, FL with a Bachelor's Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Theatre Arts. While attending college, she anchored UMTV's weekly newscast Newsvision. Deeda also interned at WFOR/CBS4 in Miami, worked with ESPN for Monday Night Football and Gameday at the Orange Bowl. The Arkansas native from Jonesboro even jumped across the pond for her studies attending the University of London's Queen Mary University.
When she's not in the newsroom, you can find Deeda with her husband walking their Cocker Spaniel, taking what she calls the "Queso Challenge" or exploring the local places that Keep Austin Weird.
Fred Cantu - Reporter
Fred Cantu, aka Uncle Fred, tied with KEYE TV's Judy Maggio for Best TV Anchor in the 2012 Austin Chronicle annual readers' poll, adding to his Best TV Anchor honors from 2003-2006.
Fred has been a fixture on the Austin airwaves since 1980 and marks his 40th year in the broadcast business this year. He has been recognized by his peers with a nomination to the Texas Radio Hall of Fame and a first place award from the Texas Associated Press for his TV news feature reporting.
Fred is a Valley boy, born and raised in Brownsville. He's also a UT graduate and a notorious gadget head. His hobbies include DIY projects, home electronics, foreign television, travel, pop music and showtunes.
Fred is a family man. If he isn't at work, he's at home with his wife of 37 years... or he's on the computer with his 10,000+ social media friends, fans and followers.
Bettie Cross - Anchor
Bettie Cross was born and raised in Texas and loves living in Austin. She says she made a mistake many years ago when she left Texas for an anchoring job in Des Moines, Iowa. She and her husband could not wait to get back. They learned during those three years how important it is to be near family and friends and how much they love everything about Texas.
Bettie holds a degree in political science from the University of Texas at San Antonio. In college, she thought she wanted to specialize in political reporting, but later realized she was even more interested in covering crime, trials and consumer news.
Bettie has spent 20 years covering news in Texas and has had the privilege of covering many stories that had a big impact on the state. One that stands out to her is covering the 51-day Branch Davidian standoff near Waco from start to finish. She also enjoyed the challenge of covering the Pope's visit to San Antonio and both of Kenneth McDuff's capital murder trials. She was selected "Texas AP Reporter of the Year" in 1995 and has won several Associated Press awards for breaking news coverage.
Bettie's son, Tanner, has to be the most photographed child in Texas. She can take an entire roll of film of him eating dinner! Okay, it may not be THAT bad, but she averages taking a roll of film a week. Bettie also loves to scrapbook those photos. She gets together with friends once a month for "Midnight Madness," when they talk, eat and work on their scrapbooks from 6pm to midnight at a local scrapbook store. Bettie says she knows it sounds crazy, but swears it's a blast!
Allison Miller - Meteorologist
Join Emmy-nominated Meteorologist Allison Miller on the KEYE TV Morning News Monday through Friday. She'll also bring you current weather updates on keyetv.com and on her Facebook and Twitter!
Background: Before coming to Austin, Allison worked in her home town of Phoenix, Arizona at KNXV ABC15, as a multi-media meteorologist and journalist. She received her B.S. in Atmospheric Science from Arizona State University and is a member of the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association.
Hobbies: When Allison is not at the station, you can find her outside enjoying Mother Nature, rain or shine. She has also grown up dancing since the age of 2 learning and performing many styles. There's a good chance you'll see her out country line or salsa dancing!
Tidbits: Allison grew up wanting to become a pilot like her father in the Air Force. She never misses an air show and would like to complete her training to get her private pilot's license. Also, she's somewhat of a science nerd and you may catch her reading her favorite magazine, Popular Science.
Allison loves to connect with our viewers. If you have questions, comments, or story ideas, don't hesitate to contact!
Katherine Stolp - Anchor/Reporter
Katherine Stolp grew up knowing early on she would return home to Austin as a news reporter. Her first taste of TV was anchoring the morning announcements at Stephen F. Austin High School. She credits her high school friend, Barry Flanagan who now works at the MTV network in New York, for helping her believe in herself on and off camera.
However, it was an internship at a local news station and the encouragement from anchor Judy Maggio that sealed the deal to become a journalist.
Katherine made the tough decision to leave her beloved city and head to Columbia, Missouri, home of the renowned University of Missouri School of Broadcast Journalism to follow her dream.
While there, Katherine was an anchor, reporter, photographer and editor at KOMU, the local NBC affiliate. The summer before her senior year, she landed an internship at KEYE TV where she learned from many people who still work there today. Katherine graduated the next year from the honors college at Mizzou with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a minor in Spanish.
Two weeks into her first full time reporting gig at WEHT in Evansville, Indiana, an F4 tornado ripped through the city killing 25 people. It was the deadliest tornado to hit Indiana in 30 years. Katherine learned more about telling stories in those next months than she ever anticipated, as she watched her new community come together in one of its greatest times of need.
After ten months as a general assignment reporter at the ABC affiliate, she was promoted to weekend anchor. In the Midwest, Katherine loved the people, hated the winters (she was the only reporter to wear long johns under her work clothes anytime the temperature dropped below 40 degrees) and still had that itch to return to Austin.
When Katherine had the chance to come home and join the group of co-workers she had admired since she left, she jumped at the chance to be the morning reporter for KEYE TV in early 2008. She started her days at 1 a.m. (!) to prove herself and it was worth it as she quickly moved to the 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts as a general news reporter. By September 2009, Katherine was promoted to weekend anchor where she is happily learning and developing in her newest role.
When Katherine isn't working, she volunteers every week at the Dell Childrens Medical Center, spends time with her family, hikes the Greenbelt, rows on Lady Bird Lake, hangs out at Barton Springs, eats lots of queso, dances at live concerts and explores all the ways Austin has changed since she's been gone.
Adam Winkler - Anchor/Reporter
Adam Winkler's TV career has gone South, and he's perfectly fine with it.
After spending three years with KWTX, the top-rated station in Waco, Adam headed 100 miles down Interstate 35 to join the KEYE-TV sports team in June of 2010. However, this isn't the first time he has called the Austin area home. Adam received his Communication Studies degree from Southwestern University in Georgetown. While at SU, he played baseball for legendary head coach Jim Mallon. Adam helped the Pirates reach the conference title game four straight years, including 2002, when Southwestern defeated Trinity to win the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship.
After graduating from Southwestern, Adam started his career at KNOE in Monroe, Louisiana. From 2004 to 2007 he covered Louisiana Tech, UL-Monroe, Grambling, and LSU before making his way back to the Lone Star State.
During his time in Waco, Adam traveled to Madison Square Garden for Baylor's historic trip to the 2009 Men's NIT Final Four. He also covered the 2010 NCAA Women's Final Four, the first regular season game in Cowboys Stadium, multiple Big 12 tournaments, and was courtside in College Station for the five overtime game between Baylor and Texas A&M in 2008.
Since arriving in Austin, Adam has been to Berea, Ohio for Colt McCoy's rookie training camp with the Cleveland Browns, Lincoln, Nebraska for the Longhorns' final Big 12 football game against the Huskers, Houston to cover the 2011 Men's NCAA Final Four, and Pasadena, California for UT's first game at the Rose Bowl since playing in the 2009 BCS national championship.
Adam is an Emmy-nominated journalist, as his feature Sidelines & Bloodlines: The Hoffman Family Football Story was nominated for a 2010 Lone Star EMMY Award. The Texas Associated Press Broadcasters has honored him four times. He won the 2009 award for Best Sports Story and also received First Place honors in the category of Best Sportscast for his work as co-host of Sports Friday. In 2008, Adam won a 2nd Place award in Best Sportscast and received an Honorable Mention in Best Sports Story. In all, Winkler has been honored with six Associated Press awards in Texas and Louisiana.
Adam is the proud father of a Dorkie (a mix of Daschund and Yorkie) named Oscar. When he's not busy trying to convince Oscar that the squirrel always wins, Adam enjoys Houston Astros baseball, a competitive game of shuffleboard, an aggressive football match, and a mulligan-filled round of golf.
Karla Leal - Anchor
Karla Leal joined the KEYE-TV team in October 2009 to be part of the launch of Telemundo Austin, the first local Spanish newscasts of the Telemundo network in this city.
Monday through Friday at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., Karla brings you your local news in Spanish on digital channel 42.2, Time Warner Cable 75, & Dish Network 43, with a unique and personable style.
She complements her anchoring duties working on special reports for both KEYE TV and Telemundo Austin, helping with production duties, and she's also Telemundo Austin's weather forecaster.
Karla was born and raised in Tijuana, Mexico, but she came to the U.S. after finishing high school. Now she says she's in love with Austin, her new home. Just two months after her arrival, Hispanic Austinitites named Karla their favorite local Spanish language News Anchor in a survey done by Ahora S! a local Spanish language newspaper publication.
Karla loves to be in touch with the community. Currently, she's a volunteer with second graders through the Austin Partners in Education program called Class Room Coaches. She also mentors future journalist through the local chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalist, and her hobbies include cooking, exploring Austin, and running around Town Lake.
Her first opportunity on TV was at Chicago's public access channel CAN-TV 19 hosting the bilingual show "Latina Spirit," in 2004. She got her Bachelor's Degree in Broadcast Journalism from Columbia College Chicago in 2005.
Before moving to Austin, Karla worked for Telemundo 11 in Bakersfield, California, where she was the anchor and reporter for 4 years. There, she developed special report series like "El Sueo Mexicano" and "El Arte de la Charrera" that helped her get nominated for an Emmy in 2007 & 2008. She also received the regional Kern Press Club award several times for a variety of feature reports.
Her journalist work has already been recognized in Texas. In 2009 the Texas Association of Broadcasters gave her an award for her special report series called "Emprendedores de la Recesin." Those stories focused on local entrepreneurs that got creative when the recession hit and came up with successful businesses that took them off unemployment.
Karla says she feels honored to serve such a dynamic community here in Austin, and she adds she is committed to keeping you well informed.
Sarykarmen Rivera - Anchor
Sarykarmen Rivera joined the Telemundo Austin/KEYE TV team in July 2011 as anchor of the Telemundo 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts.
She comes from Orlando, Florida where she reported and was the weekend anchor at News 13 En espanol, a 24 hour local news channel. She also reported for Telemundo Orlando where she participated from day 1 in the case against Casey Anthony.
Rivera was born and raised in Guayama, ("El Pueblo Brujo" or Witch Town") Puerto Rico. It was there at the young age of 10 where Rivera discovered her passion for television and broadcasting. She vividly remembers the riots when the government sold the Puerto Rico telephone company to a private investor. After spending the day watching the television live trucks and reporters, Rivera began dreaming of her future as a broadcast journalist.
Her dream became true while attending college at the University of South Florida in Tampa, where she earned an internship at WVEA, Univision Tampa. As an intern, Rivera learned everything from producing to reporting. After graduating USF with honors and a B.A. in Mass Communications/TV News Production with a minor in Humanities, Rivera was officially hired in 2004 as a full time reporter. She covered such notable cases as the infamous "Band Aid Bandit," Terri Schiavo and the murder of Jessica Lunsford.
In 2005, Rivera broadened her broadcast career as part of the launch team for Tampa's first and only FM Hispanic radio station WYUU La Nueva 92.5 (today Maxima 92.5 FM) where worked on the morning show "El Traketeo."
Coming back to her first love of television, Rivera worked as an Associate Producer for WTFS, the ABC affiliate in Tampa before returning to her favorite position as a reporter at Telemundo Orlando.
Rivera's honors include a nomination for an Idolo Award. She has also won a Premio Paoli for Reporter of the Year 2008, Outstanding Women in Media and the Lion's Club Media person of the year at her hometown Guayama, PR.
Sarykarmen loves the beach, dancing and reading. She also adores pets and is the proud owner of a black and white Pekingese named Monte. She and her husband are happy to call Austin their new home.
Erica Harpold - Anchor
Erica has been proud to call Austin home since 1996.
It was that summer that she and her mother packed up and moved to Austin from Houston so her mom could go to grad school at UT.
"Austin made me who I am today."
Erica says going to Austin High School, in the heart of the city, was a true picture of what life was really like. She was an Austin High School Red Jacket, and started shadowing local news anchors and reporters her sophomore year of high school.
"I was always curious so journalism sounded like a perfect fit, and it is!"
Erica attended Texas State University and majored in Electronic Media. During her senior year, she had an internship at KEYE TV and says that sealed the deal.
From Texas State she headed north to Wichita Falls, where she was a one-man-band reporter at the CBS affiliate. From Wichita Falls, she moved to Waco and was the weekend anchor at the NBC affiliate in Waco for three years.
In 2009 she left the broadcast industry and worked as an executive producer at a production company here in Austin.
But in March 2012, Erica was excited to get back on the air. She is the traffic reporter on the new KEYE TV Morning News. She'll help navigate you around Central Texas and get you where you need to go.
"I've driven up and down I-35 way too many times, and I remember when you could get from downtown to 183 on MoPac in under 10 minutes! My. How our city changed!"
In her free time you may find Erica at Hobby Lobby picking up something for her latest do-it-yourself project, at the gym or lint rolling her house! She has two cats, Fat Max and Little Skittle.
Jordan Steele - Anchor/Reporter
Jordan Steele is excited to call Austin his home. He brings an energetic spark to KEYE TV along with several years of forecasting experience.
Jordan comes to us from the Pacific Northwest where he took on the challenge of micro-casting major snow storms, floods, Pacific coastal wind storms and even the Tsunami from 2011. Jordan was actually praised by the Mayor of Florence, Ore. for helping divert the public from the coastal communities to shelters before the wave hit Oregon. After just one year in Oregon, he was awarded the Best Weathercast category by the Associated Press.
Although he loved what Oregon had to offer, he knew he needed to dive into some severe weather. That's what Texas is all about, right?
You can catch Jordan Steele every Saturday and Sunday on our weekend newscasts right here at KEYE TV.
Want to get to know Jordan on a personal level? Ask him about anything related to the outdoors. If you can think of it, hes probably done it. Jordan is a big enthusiast about getting people outside. That's one of the main reasons he moved here -- the outdoor life. He has done everything from backpacking and camping, to snowboarding, surfing, fishing and even the extreme sports; sky-diving, bungee jumping, etc.
Jordan loves connecting with our viewers and with the community. Find him on Twitter, Facebook or just shoot him an e-mail.
Lydia Pantazes - Reporter
Named one of the 20 most Inspirational Latinos on the central coast of California by Latino Today Magazine, Lydia Pantazes is excited to call Austin her new home.
"I'm so grateful to be in Austin and everyone here has made me feel at home."
She joined the KEYE-TV and Telemundo Austin Team in June 2011 reporting in both English and Spanish.
Lydia grew up in National City, California and graduated from UC Santa Barbara with bachelor's degrees in both English and Spanish Literature.
Lydia began her career in Santa Barbara as a Spanish radio news reporter and appeared on "Inside Santa Barbara" and its Spanish counterpart "Nuestra Cuidad". After more than a year, she moved back to San Diego where she worked as a writer for KUSI-TV. In 2001, she started working as a news reporter for KCOY-TV and KKFX FOX 11 covering the Central Coast of California.
Lydia is very involved in organizations that help people with developmental disabilities. It's a cause that's close to her heart because her sister has Down Syndrome. She has been a volunteer with Special Olympics since she was a child and served on the board for VTC enterprises, an organization in California that provides various services to people with disabilities. Among her proudest accomplishments are helping the organization raise 3.9 million dollars to build a new facility.
In 2001, Lydia was the first local television reporter to earn the Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau and California State Farm Bureau "Media Person of the Year" award. In 2003, Lydia won a Radio and TV News Association for her spot news coverage of a shark attack in Avila Beach, and in 2009 won an RTNA award for her best News Special for a half hour cooking segment she produced and hosted featuring various restaurants. She also won an Associated Press Radio & Television News Association award for her feature reporting in 2002 and is also an Emmy award nominee.
Angel Covarrubias - Reporter
Angel Covarrubias joined the KEYE- TV family in 2011. He is from Monterrey, Mexico but considers himself a true Texas journalist.
Angel has been working in TV since he was 21 years old, but has been in newsrooms and radio stations since he was 11. His father works in television and has been in the business more than 25 years.
Angel attended school at the University of Texas in Austin and also UT in San Antonio, as well as going through the radio and television program at Del Mar college in Corpus Christi.
His television career began in Corpus Christi at Action 10 News. He worked as a news photographer, reporter and anchor. His involvement in all those different positions helped give him an understanding and perspective of the challenges it takes to produce news.
Angel then moved to Laredo. He was executive producer and anchor at KLDO/KXOF (Univision/FOX) in English and Spanish. He rose to the position of News Director.
His next move was to the Rio Grande Valley where he worked at KVEO (NBC) as the station's main anchor delivering the 5, 6 and 10 newscast daily.
Then Angel's television career took him to San Antonio where he worked as a franchise reporter and anchor.
In addition to reporting on the local level, Angel has contributed to NBC News, CNN and The Weather Channel throughout his career. He has covered everything from major storms around Texas, community issues, Presidential elections to violence across the border in Mexico.
Angel is looking forward to becoming active again in the Austin community and helping in numerous organizations. He says he is always available to our viewers, so never hesitate to contact him to discuss or pitch a story idea.
Adam Bennett - Reporter
Adam joined the KEYE TV news team in March 2012 as a morning reporter.
As an University of Texas alum, returning to Austin is a dream come true. Adam graduated in May 2009 with a degree in Communication Studies and a minor in Spanish.
He then spent more than two and a half years at KAMR/KCIT, the NBC/Fox affiliate in Amarillo. He was originally hired as a reporter but was quickly promoted to weekend anchor/producer after eight months, while continuing to report three days a week. He covered a wide variety of stories, including several of the Panhandle's 2011 wildfires, the historic drought that same year and the aftermath of both.
Adam was born and raised in Dallas and always had media in his blood, as his dad has worked in radio for more than 40 years and his mom worked in TV for a decade. Needless to say, he spent countless hours in studios and stations while growing up.
Adam loves live music, being outside, working out, reading, films, documentaries, and UT sports, making Austin a perfect fit! He's also trying to become fluent in Spanish. He's thrilled about the opportunity to meet viewers, tell the community's stories and get involved.
Please don't hesitate to contact him if you ever have a story idea, and if you see him out and about, come say hi!
Christie Post - Reporter
Christie Post joined KEYE TV News in June 2012 as its first multimedia journalist. She shoots video, writes, edits and presents all of her stories.
She is thrilled to be reporting in Austin. Its very much like Colorado where she grew up in a sense you can do a lot of outdoor activities. You can find her riding her pink cruiser around, walking around Lady Bird Lake and enjoying yoga.
Christie is not new to Texas though. Prior to working for the KEYE, Christie worked as a reporter in Lubbock for two years. She covered the arrest of Khalid Aldawsari a now convicted terrorist, the worst drought in Texas history and former Texas Tech football coach Mike Leachs controversy.
She does like the Longhorns, but is proud to call herself a Sun Devil. Christie graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. She is ecstatic to be working for the same affiliate as Uncle Walter once did. Before he died, she was able to meet him. Because of her journalistic drive, Christie started her career in college. She worked as a feature reporter for COX 7 Arizona while attending school.
Christie also has a passion for sports and worked for the National Basketball Association Entertainment as a producer and production assistant. She covered the NBA Finals, summer league and All-Stars interviewing professional athletes such as Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard.
Christie is a very outgoing person who loves meeting people. On her days off you can find her downtown trying a new restaurant or hanging out with friends. She cant wait to make memories in Austin and tell that stories that matter to Austinites.
If you have a story idea email, tweet or call Christie. She is happy to talk!
Cassie Gallo - Reporter
Proud to be a sixth generation Austinite, Cassie is thrilled to be back in her hometown.
Cassies passion is sports, and for the last two years she has been a sports anchor and reporter. Now you will see her everywhere around town on double-duty covering both sports and news. On top of dual role, Cassie is a multi-media journalist. She shoots video, edits and writes all her stories.
Cassie has come full circle back to KEYE TV where her career started as sports intern in 2010. She landed her first broadcasting job in Abilene as a sports reporter, and her next move was as a weekend sports anchor covering her alma mater.
Even though she grew up Burnt Orange, after high school Cassie packed her bags and headed west to attend Texas Tech University. While in Lubbock, Cassie was a cheerleader for the Red Raiders.
When shes not watching or playing sports, she spends most of her time outdoors. Cassie loves to fish with her older brother, snowboard, scuba dive and hang out at the lake.
If you have a story idea call, tweet or e-mail Cassie. Shell be happy to hear about it.
Adam Racusin - Reporter
A Los Angeles transplant, Adam is proud to call Austin his home.
Prior to moving to Austin, Adam broke stories on crime, government waste and politics in Omaha, Neb. He was a reporter and fill-in anchor there for two years.
The California native has also worked in Santa Barbara, Calif., and Billings, Mont.
His reports have taken him across the country and allowed him to tour Neverland Ranch, show the devastation after the Joplin tornado, cover the Olympic Swim Trials, College World Series, NCAA Tournament, and chase Tornadoes and Blizzards.
Before finding his passion in news, Adam worked as a programming assistant at the world famous "KROQ" radio station in Los Angeles and as a phone screener on the nationally syndicated radio show, "Loveline." There Adam was able to cover red carpet events at the MTV Movie Awards and the Grammys.
Adam graduated from Cal State University, Northridge with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
In his spare time you can find Adam roaming around Texas with his camera, attending a concert or hanging out with his cats, Seven and Dexter.
Have a story idea, feel free to shoot it his way. Adam's always looking for the next tip!
Alex Boyer - Reporter
Alex Boyer joined KEYE TV in December 2012 as an investigative reporter and fill-in anchor. Alex is a seasoned journalist, having worked in the communication's industry for more than a decade.
Alex comes to the Lone Star state from Fort Myers, FL, where he worked as the senior reporter and weekend anchor for WBBH/WZVN. Alex initially moved to Southwest Florida to be closer to his parents who had recently retired there from Miami.
Alex began his broadcasting career in Springfield, MA, where he worked as a Hispanic affairs reporter for WGGB News 40.
It wasn't long before Alex was lured away to a much larger news market -- hired as a reporter for the NBC-owned and operated station (WVIT) in Hartford, CT. During his two years in Connecticut, Alex covered the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City and the fatal club fire in Rhode Island. Not to mention numerous snow storms!
In 2004 Alex returned home to Miami where he worked as a reporter and weekend morning anchor for the ABC affiliate -- WPLG Local10. During his first year back in Miami, Alex lived through " and covered " Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma.
Alex was named one of Miami best-dressed reporters by The Miami Herald and also became the Miami-based entertainment correspondent for the LATV network.
Alex earned dual bachelor's degree in Telecommunication News and Sociology from the University of Florida. He also has a degree in Media Law from Yale University.
When not working a story, Alex enjoys yoga, pilates, movies and spending time with friends and his dog named Xander.
If you have a story idea you'd like Alex to look into, feel free to contact him on Facebook, Twitter, via email or call 512-490-2174.
Ashley Miller - Reporter
Ashley Miller joined KEYE TV in October 2012 as a weekend producer for the 5:30 and 10 p.m. newscasts. She hit the ground running and was reporting within days.
Ashley served as a main anchor, producer and reporter for KTEN News and ABC Texoma in Sherman, Texas. Prior to that she was a general assignment reporter for KKCO News in Grand Junction, Colorado.
She has been a journalist since she was 16. Her Next Generation column was published by the Sun Sentinel newspaper in South Florida.. Her first stint as a broadcast journalist brought her to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. where she reported on Texas related news. Her reports aired on KAMC TV in Lubbock.
A native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Ashley enjoys traveling the United States, learning about new cultures and communities from where she reports. She received her Masters in Broadcast Journalism from Syracuse University's renowned S.I. Newhouse School of Communications.
During her free time, she enjoys exploring Austin with her loving husband and traveling as much as she can.
Ashley would love to hear what's going on in your neighborhood. If you have any story ideas, email her.
Karen Posada - Reporter
Broadcast journalist Karen Posada joined the Telemundo Austin team in March 2013 as a general assignment reporter and multimedia journalist focusing on the community beat.
Karen began her TV career at KRCA in Los Angeles, California where she reported on important issues affecting the Latino community. Two years later she joined Telemundo 52, in the second largest market. Working at Telemundo in Los Angeles was a dream come true for her. The station was located inside the NBC Universal Studios steps away from The Jay Leno Show and NBC network.
In 2006 Karen had the opportunity to cross over markets and joined the KTTV Fox station in Los Angeles where she worked on the popular morning show Good Day LA with Steve Edwards and Jillian Barberie. Karen also contributed stories on the evening shows. At KTTV she covered a wide range of stories from political where she met President Obama to entertainment covering red carpet events.
In 2009 Karen moved back to her hometown of Miami Beach to be part of SFL Morning News, a hybrid show for Tribune and the Newspaper Sun Sentinel. During this time she met her husband to be, soon after they eloped and welcomed a baby boy.
Karen and her family made Austin their permanent home in 2010. Two years later, Karen is thrilled to have the opportunity to join the KEYE TV/Telemundo team.
Melanie Lofton - Reporter
Melanie Lofton, or "Mel" as she prefers, fulfilled a career goal when she landed at KEYE TV in April 2013. She says she fell in love with Austin after years of learning about the city through a home and garden channel. Now she's very proud to call Austin home.
She joined our team after working more than a decade in West Virginia, Georgia and Virginia. She's done just about everything from reporting and producing to anchoring and managing the newsroom. She even anchored a sports broadcast! Throughout her career she covered major events like the Virginia Tech shooting and a mid-aid collision between a plane and medical helicopter. She even went to Israel to get a firsthand look at the ongoing conflict.
Mel's diverse background however isn't only limited to stories she's covered. She is originally from the Los Angeles area, but claims her first words were "Go Cowboys." She graduated from West Virginia University in 2003 with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a minor in Spanish.
Mel believes in accountability and delivering the stories that matter to you. She welcomes you to send her any tips or story ideas. She also likes to cook so you can send her recipes too.
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