KIRO 7 News Anchors: The 2026 Broadcast Lineup And Seattle Media Guide

Serving the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area and the broader Western Washington region, KIRO-TV (Channel 7, CBS) has established itself as a premier source of investigative journalism, urgent breaking news, and hyper-local weather tracking. Owned by Cox Media Group, the station broadcasts from its historic studio facility located at 2200 Eastlake Avenue East in Seattle's Eastlake neighborhood, overlooking Lake Union.

As we progress through the 2026 broadcast year, KIRO 7 continues to dominate local ratings by leveraging a balanced team of veteran Seattle journalists, highly technical meteorologists, and tenacious investigative reporters. Whether you are tracking winter storm systems rolling off the Pacific or looking for accountability reporting on regional municipal issues, the KIRO 7 anchor desk remains a familiar and trusted fixture in Puget Sound homes. This comprehensive profile analyzes the current 2026 anchor lineup, their schedules, investigative focus, and how the station’s newsroom compares to other local broadcast giants.

The 2026 KIRO 7 Newsroom: Meet the Lead Anchors

The credibility of any local news station rests heavily on the shoulders of its desk anchors. KIRO 7’s current roster features a blend of deep regional roots and award-winning journalism credentials.

Morning News Team: Helping Seattle Wake Up

The morning commute in Western Washington is notoriously unpredictable, requiring a news team that balances urgent traffic updates, rapid-fire breaking news, and accurate regional weather.

• Michelle Millman (Co-Anchor, KIRO 7 News Morning): A Seattle native and a cornerstone of the KIRO 7 newsroom for over two decades, Millman brings an unmatched depth of local knowledge to the morning desk. Known for her community advocacy and work with local cancer research organizations, she remains one of the most trusted voices in local morning television.
• Ilona McCauley (Co-Anchor, KIRO 7 News Morning): McCauley co-anchors the morning broadcast alongside Millman, bringing a dynamic, sharp reporting style that keeps viewers engaged during the early hours from 4:30 AM to 7:00 AM.
• Nick Allard (Morning Meteorologist): A native of Puget Sound, Allard understands the complex microclimates of Western Washington. His morning forecasts provide commuters with precise, neighborhood-level weather predictions, helping navigate everything from Cascade foothills snow to Puget Sound marine layers.

Evening and Late-Night News Team: Delivering Flagship Journalism

KIRO 7’s evening broadcasts focus heavily on investigative reporting, government accountability, and comprehensive summaries of the day’s major regional events.

• Monique Ming Laven (Evening Anchor): Since joining the station, Laven has earned widespread acclaim for her versatile reporting style and empathetic approach to complex social issues. Anchoring the flagship 5:00 PM, 6:00 PM, and 11:00 PM broadcasts, she is a multiple Emmy Award winner who has covered major national events as well as hyper-local civic challenges.
• Aaron Wright (Evening Anchor): Co-anchoring alongside Laven, Wright brings a calm, authoritative presence to the evening desk. His background in hard-news reporting and regional political coverage ensures that KIRO 7’s evening broadcasts remain focused on transparency and factual accuracy.
• Linzi Sheldon (Anchor & Investigative Reporter): Sheldon frequently anchors key evening segments and serves as a core member of the KIRO 7 Investigators team. Her investigative work has held local housing authorities, school districts, and state agencies accountable.

Complete 2026 Broadcast Schedule and Anchor Assignments

To help viewers keep track of their favorite journalists, the following table details the current 2026 weekday and weekend broadcast schedules, anchor pairings, and weather specialists.

The KIRO 7 Pinpoint Weather Team: Navigating Pacific Northwest Microclimates

The geography of Western Washington—bordered by the Olympic Mountains to the west and the Cascade Range to the east—creates highly complex weather patterns. The KIRO 7 Pinpoint Weather Team is engineered to address these forecasting challenges using advanced modeling technology and local expertise.

Chief Meteorologist Morgan Palmer

Leading the Pinpoint Weather Team, Chief Meteorologist Morgan Palmer holds the prestigious Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) seal from the American Meteorological Society (AMS). Palmer is highly regarded for his technical, non-sensationalized approach to severe weather, providing calm and accurate coverage during Puget Sound windstorms, atmospheric rivers, and low-land snow events.

Nick Allard and Frankie Katafias

While Allard handles the early morning rush, meteorologist Frankie Katafias and the weekend weather team provide continuous coverage across digital platforms, smart television apps, and standard broadcasts. The team utilizes the KIRO 7 Pinpoint Weather App, which integrates real-time radar data, high-resolution localized models, and instant push alerts for severe weather warnings issued by the National Weather Service in Seattle.

Investigative Journalism and Local Impact: The KIRO 7 Investigators

A defining characteristic of KIRO 7 is its historical commitment to investigative journalism. Rather than simply reporting on daily events, the station invests heavily in long-form, accountability-driven investigative units.

Jesse Jones and Consumer Advocacy

No discussion of KIRO 7 is complete without mentioning Jesse Jones. His highly successful consumer advocacy segment, "Get Jesse," has rescued local consumers from scams, corporate negligence, and bureaucratic red tape. Jones's direct, passionate style and physical presence make him one of the most recognizable and effective consumer advocates in the Pacific Northwest.

The KIRO 7 Investigators Unit

Led by a dedicated team of producers, researchers, and on-air journalists, the KIRO 7 Investigators focus on systemic issues within Western Washington, including:

• Public Spending and Fiscal Waste: Auditing local municipal budgets, transportation initiatives (such as Sound Transit expansions), and regional tax allocations.
• Public Safety and Police Accountability: Providing objective, data-driven analysis of local crime rates, police staffing shortages, and judicial reform initiatives in King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties.
• Environmental Monitoring: Tracking the health of Puget Sound, local salmon populations, and the regional impact of seasonal forest fires.

Comparing Seattle’s Local News Giants

The Seattle-Tacoma television market is highly competitive, featuring four major network affiliates. Understanding where KIRO 7 excels compared to its rivals helps viewers choose the broadcast that best fits their priorities.

KIRO 7 (CBS Affiliate - Cox Media Group)

Primary Strengths: Strong focus on raw investigative journalism, highly localized consumer advocacy through "Get Jesse," and a highly respected evening anchor team.

Target Audience: Viewers who prioritize consumer protection, hard-hitting local government accountability, and a straightforward, news-first broadcast style.

KOMO 4 (ABC Affiliate - Sinclair Broadcast Group)

Primary Strengths: Extensive regional heritage, strong focus on daily community features, and comprehensive local sports coverage.

Target Audience: Traditional news viewers who appreciate a highly structured broadcast with a strong emphasis on neighborhood human-interest stories.

KING 5 (NBC Affiliate - Tegna)

Primary Strengths: Renowned for deep-dive storytelling, environmental journalism, and highly polished, high-production morning shows.

Target Audience: Viewers looking for long-form narrative reporting and highly engaging visual journalism.

FOX 13 (Fox Affiliate - Fox Television Stations)

Primary Strengths: Large volume of live morning news hours, extended late-night sports coverage, and a focus on fast-paced breaking news.

Target Audience: Commuters and sports fans who want rapid-fire news updates and extended local sports analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions About KIRO 7 News Anchors

Who are the main evening anchors for KIRO 7 in 2026?

Monique Ming Laven and Aaron Wright are the primary evening anchors for KIRO 7’s flagship newscasts. They co-anchor the 5:00 PM, 6:00 PM, and 11:00 PM broadcasts, delivering the day's top local and national headlines alongside Chief Meteorologist Morgan Palmer.

Where is the KIRO 7 news studio located?

The KIRO 7 newsroom and studio are located in the Eastlake neighborhood of Seattle at 2200 Eastlake Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98102. The station has operated from this highly visible location for decades, keeping them centrally positioned to deploy reporting crews across the metropolitan area.

How can I stream KIRO 7 News without a cable subscription?

KIRO 7 offers several free digital streaming options, including the KIRO 7 News App available on iOS and Android devices, as well as smart TV applications on platforms like Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Google TV. Additionally, their live broadcasts are streamed directly on the KIRO 7 official website.

What is the "Get Jesse" segment on KIRO 7?

"Get Jesse" is KIRO 7's premier consumer advocacy segment hosted by veteran investigator Jesse Jones. The segment focuses on resolving disputes between local consumers and businesses, exposing predatory scams, and holding corporations and government agencies accountable for unfair practices.

Who is the Chief Meteorologist at KIRO 7 in 2026?

The Pinpoint Weather Team is led by Chief Meteorologist Morgan Palmer. Holding prestigious industry certifications, Palmer is responsible for the evening weather broadcasts and leads the station's strategic response to major winter storms, heat waves, and localized weather events.

Stay Connected with Western Washington's News Leader

To ensure you never miss a breaking news story or critical weather update in Western Washington, stay connected with the KIRO 7 team across their multi-platform network. You can download the KIRO 7 Pinpoint Weather App for localized, real-time radar and severe weather notifications tailored to your exact GPS coordinates. For direct interaction with the newsroom, viewers can submit tips, suggest investigative topics, or request consumer assistance from Jesse Jones by visiting the official KIRO 7 website contact portal or calling their Seattle newsdesk.