Getting to Know... WDAF's Loren Halifax

The local morning newscast has become a staple for many residents across Missouri and the US in recent years. No station has more local news in the morning than Kansas City Fox affiliate WDAF. Recently I had a chance to talk with morning co-anchor Loren Halifax about Fox Mornings, plus a few more personal details...

2K: What is life like behind the scenes at WDAF?

LH: It's fun. We have lots of great, down-to-earth people on staff, who work hard and have a great sense of humor. Most of them are KC natives, or Missouri or Kansas natives, so they know a lot about the area and are here to stay, committed to the community.

2K: Do you feel that having an expanded morning show (5-9) provides FOX 4 with an opportunity to cover things that the other KC stations can't?

LH: Yes, since we are in local news in the later hours, when other channels go to national shows, we are able to get breaking news on the air immediately. We have a special area set up with phones, computers and a camera and microphone, (we call it the Fox 4 News Update Desk) and our staff monitors everything from local news to international news. We can cut to that immediately in order to provide new information right away.

2K: In your years of reporting, what has been your favorite interview/story?

LH: It's hard to choose one. I got the most response - from thousands of people - when I drove a car into a river, and demonstrated how hard it is to get out, how fast flash flooding can sweep the car away, how the car can roll, how fast it sinks (61 seconds), the fastest way to break the window (down in the corner, where the glass is thinnest) what to do if you have children with you (push them out ahead of you, or have them in your arms as you go out the window). Before the story, I had not realized it was such a fear for so many people.

2K: What are some of your interests outside of your job?

LH: My family, pets, working in my garden, working on my house in the Brookside area. I love home repair and remodeling projects. I watch way too much HGTV and DIY.

2K: Any movies you would recommend readers of the blog check out?

LH: My favorite movie so far this summer has been Ironman.

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My thanks again to Loren for her time. You can watch Loren weekday mornings from 5-7:30 on FOX 4 News alongside co-anchor Mark Alford.