FOX 18 : KLJB/KGCW – Quad Cities: Davenport, Bettendorf,Meet Your FOX18 News Team

Meet Your FOX18 News Team

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Kim Johnson
Meet Kim Johnson, your FOX 18 Nine O'Clock News Anchor!

Let's just start by saying, I can't believe I get paid to do what I do. This job is an amazing privilege. Each day, I get to share information with viewers about important stories in our community that will, hopefully, have a positive impact in their lives. It's great responsibility and sometimes a challenge, but can be very rewarding when I'm able to do it right.

You'll see me weeknights at 9 p.m. anchoring beside a hardworking team at Fox 18. Before coming to the Quad Cities, I reported and anchored in Duluth, MN and Green Bay, WI. I've covered forest fires, the 35W Minneapolis bridge collapse, and have spent a good portion of my career following city and state politics. However, one of my most memorable story assignments was traveling across the country to cover President Obama's Inauguration. With the next presidential election just around the corner, I can't wait experience the excitement of the Iowa caucuses.

I'm a graduate of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where I received degrees in Journalism and Women Studies and minored in Political Science. I feel fortunate my peers have honored me with a Regional Edward R. Murrow award and two Emmy Awards, given by the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Television Academy. I've also been privileged to participate in the William Randolph Hearst National Television Broadcast News Competition.

When I'm not at work, you'll probably see me running countless miles around the Quad Cities. I train for marathons year-round and hope someday to qualify for Boston's. In the meantime, look for me in the races the Quad Cities has to offer. Be sure to say hello! I always appreciate meeting our viewers and hearing story ideas. So, if you have a story to share drop me a note.

Matt Hammill
Meet Matt Hammill, your FOX 18 Nine O'Clock News Co-Anchor!

Matt Hammill is one of the anchors for the Fox 18 Nine O'Clock News.

The winner of more than 60 top awards in state and regional news coverage, including best reporter in Illinois three times, Matt also received two regional Edward R. Murrow awards and a national Murrow in 2000, the most prestigious honor for excellence in broadcast journalism.

Matt is a nationally known environmental journalist, a member of the Radio Television News Directors Foundation advisory council for quality journalism and twice a student at The Poynter Institute.

He's a graduate of Iowa State University and a visiting lecturer for a number of regional college courses.

In his spare time, Matt enjoys crafting furniture; following Springsteen, Dave Mathews and the Stones; touring Europe; kayaking Canada's Boundary Waters; and backpacking the mountain wilderness around Montana's Glacier National Park.

Among the highlights in his journalism career, Matt covered two space shuttle launches from Cape Canaveral and is one of the few people to fly with all three military jet teams of North America - the Navy Blue Angels, the Canadian Snow Birds, and the Air Force Thunderbirds - at 9.2 Gs!

Matt Randazzo
Meet Matt Randazzo,
your FOX 18 Nine O'Clock News Sports Anchor!

Matt joined the Fox18 Nine O'Clock News sports team in September 2010.

Born and raised in right here in the Quad Cities, Matt is a proud graduate of Alleman High School's class of 1997. Matt then graduated from St. Ambrose University in May of 2001 with a degree in broadcasting. He started in local Quad City television as an intern his senior year at Ambrose and we've been enjoying him ever since.

Matt's first beat when he started locally was the University of Iowa Hawkeyes. Being a life long Hawkeye fan, that was just fine with him. According to him, there's no better place to be than Iowa City on game day. 

Matt feels he's in a truly special and unique situation to be able to cover the sports area in which he grew up. He knows exactly what it's like to be part of a spirited student section at one of the area's exciting high school sporting events.

He's convinced that it's the high schools that set this area apart from anywhere else. Special rivalries, like Rocky vs. Moline, Bettendorf vs. Assumption, and Rockridge vs. Sherrard, just to name a few, are like no other. The area rivalries don't end there. Bear-Packers, Cubs-Cards, and Hawkeyes-Illini make this area a sports fan's dream!

Matt is also always out and about in the area so if you see him make sure you stop and say "hi."

Rebecca Smith
Meet Rebecca Smith, your
FOX 18 Nine O'Clock News Weekend Anchor and Weekday Reporter!

Previously, Rebecca worked as a reporter and fill-in anchor in Tulsa, Okla., and Jonesboro, Ark. Before that, she was an associate producer in Memphis, Tenn. She graduated in 2003 from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a degree in broadcast journalism.

Rebecca's hometown is Memphis, where her family still lives.

She's excited to be in Quad Cities and is looking forward to getting to know all that the QC has to offer.

When she's not giving us the news, she likes to spend time with her friends, run, work out, paint and listen to music.

Cassie Heiter
Meet Cassie Heiter, your
FOX 18 Nine O'Clock News Weekend Storm Team Forecaster!

Cassie grew up in Louisville, Ky., and holds a degree in Meteorology from Western Kentucky University. Before coming to the Quad Cities, Cassie was a meteorologist at WNKY-TV in Bowling Green, Ky., and interned at WEHT-TV in Evansville, Ind., where she gained valuable experience in the area of forecasting from the station's meteorologists.

Cassie's interest in weather began when she was only seven years old after a big snowstorm left 16 inches of snow over her hometown of Louisville. Ever since then, severe weather has fascinated Cassie - but her ideal weather is sunshine and 70 degrees.

When not forecasting, Cassie's hobbies include traveling, reading, going to the gym, taking care of her frogs 'Sparkles' and 'Sprinkles,' and giving in to her guilty pleasure of reality television. She is proud to call the Quad Cities home.

Kory Kuffler
Meet  Kory Kuffler, your FOX 18 Nine O'Clock News Weekend Sports Anchor!

Kory Kuffler has been working in broadcasting since 1997. His first job was in St. Louis, at a cable station where he covered a variety of sports from the high school to professional level. Kory moved back to the Quad Cities in 2000, where he continued his sports career at KWQC for 10 years.

Kory grew up in Moline, Ill., and graduated from Moline High School. He attended Southern Illinois Edwardsville, where he earned a Bachelor of Science with a focus in broadcast communications.

Kory is married to his wonderful wife Lisa and they have three children. 

In his spare time, Kory enjoys spending as much time as possible with his family. You may also find him playing softball, golf or some other sport like Tae Kwon Do, where he has earned a black belt. Kory is also very involved with his church and knows that everything that he has accomplished in life is only because God has provided for him and his family.

Anthony Peoples
Bio on Anthony Peoples coming soon!

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