KARE-TV announced today that veteran anchor and reporter Rick Kupchella will leave the station in June to pursue his own outside media content interests. Kupchella has been part of the KARE news team for 20 years.
"His mutually agreed upon departure allows him more flexibility as a media content producer," said Tom Lindner, KARE news director.
Over the years, Kupchella has won dozens of awards for his reporting work and he has anchored the weekend editions of KARE 11 News for more than 10 years.
Kupchella is best known for his consumer and investigative reporting which included: an investigation into Northwest Airlines' World Perks miles rewards; the practices of TicketMaster; and most recently, an investigation of the University of Minnesota Children's Hospital transplant program.
"Rick's work has touched many lives - of both good and bad guys," said Lindner. "We thank Rick for his decades of excellent work and wish him success in his new venture."
Rick's been recognized nationally and internationally for outstanding work in journalism, including: - "Best of Show" at the New York International Film Festival - more than a dozen Regional Emmy Awards (Chicago and Minneapolis) - repeatedly recognized among "The Best of Gannett".
As a past president & board member of Minnesota's Society of Professional Journalists, Rick has also spent many years working on issues important to journalism.
Outside the world of television, Rick has authored a couple children's books ("Tell Me What We Did Today" & "Girls Can! Make it Happen".) Girls Can! was written in cooperation with US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, America's first woman in space Sally Ride & Olympic Champion Jackie Joyner Kersee.
A third children's book is in the works with American Blues great - B.B. King.
Rick's last newscast will be Sunday, June 7, 2009.
