CHICAGO (WLS) — ABC7 Chicago earned six regional Emmy Awards Saturday evening.
Among the awards the station received was Outstanding Achievement for Evening Newscast: Larger Markets for coverage of the tornado outbreak of March 10, 2026. That night, storms tore through several communities, including Kankakee and Lake Village, Indiana.
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The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Chicago/Midwest chapter held its annual awards ceremony at the Swissotel Chicago on Wacker Drive downtown.
WLS-TV ABC7 Chicago received the following awards:
-Outstanding Achievement for Human Interest Content: Our Chicago: El Sueño Americano
-Outstanding Achievement for Entertainment (Performance): The Dance: Countdown Chicago
-Outstanding Achievement for Special Event Coverage – Live/Edited: The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival
-Outstanding Achievement for Magazine Program – Single Program/Series: Road To The Bud
-Outstanding Achievement for News Gathering – Business/Consumer/Technology: Investment Resentment
-Outstanding Achievement for Evening Newscast: Larger Markets: Tornado Outbreak Of March 10th
It was also announced Saturday night that ABC7 photojournalist Ken Bedford will be inducted into the NATAS’ Gold Circle. He’s been at the station for more than 50 years. He is the first person in the city to receive that honor.
Former ABC7 news anchor Kathy Brock will be inducted into the NATAS’ Silver Circle. She had a spot at the WLS news desk for 28 years, from 1990 to her retirement in 2018. Over that time, she anchored the morning, 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts, helping ABC7 become Chicago’s news leader.
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