St. Louis TV news stars: Where are they now?
For decades, familiar faces delivered the news on television in St. Louis.
While some veterans remain on air, many have moved on — either to new markets, new opportunities or retirement.
Frank Absher, executive director of the St. Louis Media History Foundation, said the influence of local television personalities has waned over the past several years as social media and cable news have risen. The relationship to viewers has evolved as fewer people watch, and there is greater turnover among on-air talent.
"It's to a different degree mainly because many of the personalities in lower-paid jobs are using it as a stepping stone. In the past, this is where the person wanted to be, to put down their roots," he said.
But St. Louisans remain intrigued by TV news personalities with local roots. We caught up with a few of our past favorites and asked them to tell us what they are doing now (their answers have been edited for length and clarity). Many of these anchors are easily recognizable, while others had shorter TV careers and are forging new paths ahead.
Hearing their stories is like catching up with an old friend — albeit one we've only known through our screens.
Russ Mitchell
Then • When I was a kid growing up in Rock Hill, I had dreams of working in St. Louis TV news, and lucky me, for seven years I got to live those dreams. First as a reporter at KTVI (where I was also the night switchboard operator my senior year of high school), and then as a reporter and anchor at KMOV. I have fond memories of reporting (and sweating) from the VP Fair, covering stories like the Big Red move to Arizona and working alongside some true St. Louis legends.
Now • I recall saying to a few legends I worked alongside, “I watched you when I was growing up.” Now, people say that to me, which I’ve discovered is both a flattering and a “was that really necessary?” kind of moment. I left to go to CBS News, where I spent 20 years based in New York and for a time, Washington, D.C., as a correspondent and anchor. For the last nine years, I’ve been lead anchor and executive editor at WKYC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Cleveland. It’s a wonderful city that reminds me a lot of St. Louis. But there’s nothing like my hometown. I miss it, and yes, I will always bleed Cardinal Red.
Karen Foss
Then • I joined KSDK in 1979, coming from KCMO (now KCTV) in Kansas City, my hometown. In 27 years at Channel 5, I did a little bit of everything from medical reporting, celebrity interviews, an hourlong show from London, to our successful adoption feature, Karen’s Kids. I also had the opportunity to cover five presidential nominating conventions, as well as two presidential inaugurations. My favorite assignment was probably our interview program "Face to Face." For most of my years I anchored evening newscasts. The best part of my career was, without doubt, working with the outstanding people at Channel 5.
Now • After retiring from KSDK, I was surprised by a job offer from Ameren. It was a well-spent few years, educational and satisfying, once again working with dedicated St. Louisans. In 2011, I moved full-time to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Here I have been able to pursue a long-deferred dream to study painting. After first working in pastels, I’ve recently begun experimenting with oil paints. The picturesque surroundings of mountains and high desert with ancient adobe buildings offer plenty of subject matter. I’ve also become a contributor to the op-ed pages of our local newspaper, the Santa Fe New Mexican. Santa Fe also brought my husband, Larry Ross, an art dealer, and our dog, Maisy, into my life. I always look forward to visits from my children and grandchildren, as well as my St. Louis friends.
Julius Hunter
Then • I worked for 33 years in local news beginning in 1970, with five years as an anchor and reporter at Channel 5 and 28 years at Channel 4. I did "At Your Service" on KMOX radio on Sunday nights in the mid-'80s and wrote a weekly column about St. Louis history for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. I've authored seven books, traveled three times with Pope John Paul II, interviewed countless celebrities, and done one-on-one interviews with six incumbent U.S. presidents and Barack Obama before he took office. I also hosted the children’s feature "Do The Right Thing" for 10 years.
Now • I am stunned, saddened and a bit baffled about how I should respond daily to this "Bubonic Plague II," other than by contributing regularly to the St. Louis Area Foodbank. I had already pulled back my activities after 33 years in the media and five years at SLU, and I guess I've become even more reclusive. I am currently researching the history of a nondescript downtown office building that was constructed in 1882 as a cultural center for the performing arts, palette art and sculpture. The initial art show was composed of paintings and sculpture from European art meccas at an acquisition cost of what today would be $775,000. Also, my waistline would bear witness to the fact that a serious hobby of mine is cooking ... and eating. A waist is a terrible thing to mind.
Betsey Bruce
Then • I came to KMOX-TV (now KMOV) in September 1970 straight from Mizzou's journalism school. After four months as a writer and film editor I was promoted to on-air reporter in January 1971. I spent nearly 19 years at Channel 4 reporting and anchoring. I served as political editor and hosted the public affairs show "Newsmakers." In July 1989, I moved to KTVI where I continued to cover politics until I retired at the end of 2016. At Channel 2, I anchored weekend newscasts for just over four years before returning to full-time reporting. In addition to politics, I covered every flood since 1973, 11 presidential nominating conventions, both the Missouri and Illinois governors and legislatures, major court cases, the pope's visit, several World Series, multiple crime cases and the Ferguson unrest.
Now • The 2016 election capped my 46-year career as a broadcast journalist in St. Louis. I expected to kick back, relax and read books as a new retiree. Instead, in nearly four years my husband and I have downsized, renovated a condo, traveled to visit family and friends and taken cruises to the Panama Canal and Alaska. We have welcomed two grandsons and enjoyed family time with our daughter and son-in-law here in town. My church community group and volunteer work help me stay connected. I’ve been helping an exciting young charity, the Collective Thread, with grant writing. This nonprofit works to revive an industrial sewing workforce in St. Louis by training immigrant and underserved residents. This fall we received a major grant from the state of Missouri to purchase advanced equipment to help manufacture PPE (medical isolation gowns).
Mike Owens
Then • I worked at KSDK when it was known as Eyewitness News. I worked there for 27 years and saw lots of changes in the industry, from videotape recorders to digital capture. I went to KSDK in 1983 from KMOX radio, where I was a reporter and producer. At KSDK I was an investigative reporter and specialized in stories about government malfeasance, like politicians stealing from their own campaign funds and police chiefs being drunk on duty. I also went to law school while at Channel 5 and married then-Alderwoman Lyda Krewson, who eventually was elected mayor. I left Channel 5 to practice law, which I did for a short while.
Now • I'm mostly retired, except for a summer job in Glacier National Park in Montana, where I drive a red bus and give tours of the million acres. It's a dream job that requires patience to maneuver a long bus over a twisting mountain road. In fact, the twists and turns are a lot like navigating a television career.
Sharon Stevens
Then • Prior to Channel 5, I worked as a reporter and fill-in morning anchor at KTVI-TV (then ABC, now Fox 2) from 1983 to 1993. I covered numerous stories from St. Louis neighborhoods, fires and crime to politics, local and national, but my beat was education. I left KTVI to become the education reporter at KSDK, which I did for 20 years. One of the things I liked most about the beat was the variety — everything from preschool to post-graduate throughout Missouri and Southern Illinois, public schools and private schools, infrastructure, enrollment, finances, governance, security, politics and more.
Now • I retired from Channel 5 in 2013 and embarked on a freelance career, mostly with HEC-TV. I also did brief on-air stints at KTRS Radio and KWMU radio. Additionally, I taught at Lindenwood University in St. Charles and led seminars at St. Louis Community College. I’ve also enjoyed traveling and visiting with family. I’ve had many proud moments in my career. Here’s one: On July 10, 2013, then-Mayor Francis Slay proclaimed it “Sharon Stevens Day in St. Louis.”
Deanne Lane
Then • I worked as an Emmy Award-winning television news anchor and reporter, for nearly 27 years at KSDK News. I was recently inducted into the St. Louis Media Hall of Fame. One of my most memorable news stories was a series on homeless people living on the streets in St. Louis. During my career, I reported from Oklahoma City on the Oklahoma City bombing case, reporting the devastation firsthand. I reported from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. I also had the honor doing a sit-down interview with former President Jimmy Carter, as well as reporting on numerous presidential elections.
Now • I left KSDK for a position in communications and marketing with Centene Corp., where I was an award-winning vice president. In addition, I was honored to oversee the Centene Charitable Foundation. I’m engaged to retired St. Louis homicide detective Chris Pappas. We postponed our wedding in 2020 due to COVID-19, but we’re making our new wedding plans to marry in 2021.
Jeff Small
Then • I am a St Louis native and worked as news anchor and general assignment reporter at KSDK from 2003 to 2011. I covered some of the biggest local and national stories and earned two Emmy Awards, crossing that off my bucket list. I was back in the media spotlight off camera when I was in charge of public relations for the city of Ferguson after the Mike Brown shooting death. Both positions in Ferguson and KSDK were the most demanding and, at times, controversial as they were rewarding and life changing.
Now • These days I work as model, actor and a brand ambassador on marketing campaigns with companies including Apple, Walmart, AT&T and General Motors. I also work as a motivational speaker and am outspoken about my battle with the disease of addiction. My most important work is also the most personal. I have become an influential voice on drug addiction and the opioid crisis. I share my journey of hitting rock bottom to redemption and hope. I’ve been able to help thousands with my interviews on podcasts, radio, television and face-to-face. I am also a part of a local and state response to the drug overdose crisis.
Leisa Zigman
Then • I spent 22 years at KSDK beginning in 1992. I helped to launch the award-winning I-Team unit and served as the chief investigative reporter and news anchor. I worked to expose government corruption and abuses of power. I covered history-making events from the Great Flood of '93, to the Pope’s visit to Super Bowl coverage and a number of World Series, in addition to investigations ranging from bullying to Coldwater Creek.
Now • I have led the Genome Partnership since December of 2014. TGP organizes three of the world's preeminent conferences in genome biology and technology. The conferences host researchers, leaders and innovators so that they can share their latest discoveries with peers and key decision makers. It was my Stage 4 cancer diagnosis in 2010 that led to my intense interest in genomics and targeted therapy. For the past 11 years, I have volunteered with Pedal the Cause, a cycling event that has raised $30 million for Washington University and St. Louis Children's hospital, helping to fund new treatments and cures for cancer.
Brittany Noble
Then • I am a south St. Louis native, and I worked as a general assignment reporter at KMOV from 2013 to 2015. I covered the case of Terry Robinson, who accused St. Louis police of planting evidence on him, and the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown. My parents were area police officers, so being able to present all perspectives of St. Louis was a natural fit for me. Before leaving KMOV, I was named the best TV reporter by the Riverfront Times and presented resolutions from St. Louis and Missouri for excellence in reporting.
Now • I left St. Louis for a main anchoring position in Mississippi’s capital city. Now, I am back in St. Louis with my 4-year-old son, Michael Jones III. I went into labor with him while anchoring the morning show at the CBS affiliate in Jackson, Mississippi. In 2018, I filed an EEOC complaint about the way I was treated as a young Black mother in the newsroom. The case is in federal court. I am currently in the Legal Studies program at St. Louis Community College. I am working with the St. Louis Publishers Association to produce my own memoir about marriage, motherhood and the pursuit of happiness.
Watch now: Catching up with familiar faces from TV news in St. Louis
Aisha Sultan
Aisha Sultan is home and family editor for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
For decades, familiar faces delivered the news on television in St. Louis.
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