KPRC 2 has seen a revolving door of talent this year, with a string of departures reshaping the Houston station’s lineup. Now, a growing roster of new faces is filling the gaps.
The Graham Media Group-owned NBC affiliate has added at least eight journalists so far in 2026, including anchors, reporters, meteorologists and investigative talent. And the hiring may not be over.
KPRC 2 is also building a team of about 20 people for ENOUGH, its new accountability journalism program set to launch Sept. 13.
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Here’s a look at the new faces who have joined KPRC 2 this year.
Derick Garcia
Derick Garcia has joined KPRC 2 in Houston as the station prepares to launch a new accountability news program.
Derick Garcia
KPRC 2’s latest hire is Derick Garcia, who announced Monday that he completed his first day as executive reporter for ENOUGH.
The Brownsville native comes to Houston from CBS4 and NBC 23, collectively known as ValleyCentral, where he worked as an anchor and lead investigative reporter.
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Taylor Bruck
Award-winning reporter Taylor Bruck joined KPRC 2 in August.
KPRC 2
Earlier this month, KPRC 2 welcomed reporter Taylor Bruck, an Emmy Award-winning and GLAAD-nominated journalist from Granville, Ohio.
Bruck most recently worked as an anchor and reporter at Spectrum News 1 in Ohio. She graduated from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism.
Ajay Patel
Ajay Patel joined KPRC 2 as a reporter in July.
KPRC 2
Ajay Patel joined KPRC 2 in July after two years at LEX 18 in Lexington, Ky.
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While there, the Delaware native covered the Kentucky Derby, a mass shooting along Interstate 75 and major natural disasters, including an EF-4 tornado and historic flooding. He was also a finalist for the Kentucky Broadcasters Association’s Rookie of the Year Award.
Rachel Briers
Former ABC13 meteorologist Rachel Briers has joined KPRC 2’s weather team.
KPRC 2
Rachel Briers made the jump between Houston TV rivals in July, joining KPRC 2’s weather team after previously spending years at ABC13.
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The three-time Emmy winner, who left ABC13 in December 2025, joined KPRC 2 on a part-time basis ahead of meteorologist Caroline Brown’s maternity leave. Her arrival came shortly after meteorologist Brittany Begley’s abrupt exit from the station in June.
Kelly Wiley
Kelly Wiley is joined KPRC 2 Houston as an investigative reporter after five years at KXAN in Austin.
KPRC 2
Award-winning investigative reporter Kelly Wiley joined KPRC 2 over the summer following the retirement of longtime investigative reporter Robert Arnold.
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Wiley previously spent five years at KXAN in Austin. A Columbia, S.C., native, she graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and a minor in political science.
Sandy Torres
Sandy Torres joined KPRC 2 earlier this year after previously reporting in South Texas and northern New York.
KPRC 2
Houston native Sandy Torres returned home in May to join KPRC 2 after reporting and anchoring in the Rio Grande Valley and New York.
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Torres most recently served as a weekend anchor for NBC 23 and reporter for both CBS4 and NBC 23 in Harlingen. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Nicole Nielsen
Nicole Nielsen joined KPRC 2 Houston as a multimedia journalist.
KPRC 2
Dallas native Nicole Nielsen joined KPRC 2 as a multimedia journalist in March after six years at CBS News Texas, KTVT, in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Nielsen held several roles there, including reporter, multi-skilled journalist, fill-in anchor and traffic anchor. Her work also appeared on CBS Mornings, CBS Overnight News and CBS-owned stations across the country. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma.
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Stephania Jimenez
Stephania Jimenez joined KPRC 2 Houston as a weekday 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. co-anchor in January.
KPRC 2
Stephania Jimenez kicked off KPRC 2’s wave of 2026 hires in January, debuting as the station’s new evening main anchor alongside Keith Garvin on the weekday 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts.
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She has since stepped away from the anchor desk as KPRC 2 prepares to launch ENOUGH and a new 10 p.m. newscast Sept. 13.
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Jimenez previously worked at fellow Graham Media Group station KSAT 12 in San Antonio, where she anchored the flagship Nightbeat newscast.