J.R. Stone
People often ask why I decided to get into news and to be honest, I actually always had this idea of becoming a baseball player. It was my first sport, the one I loved above all else, and I thought that if the guys on TV could do it, who's to say I couldn't? I played baseball when I started college but at one point I, like so many others, realized it wasn't going to happen. Michael Jordan once said, "I can accept failure, everyone fails at something, but I can't accept not trying." I live by those words. I was a solid player yes, but I wasn't a Major League Baseball player.
As I grew older, I noticed that telling stories to groups of people felt natural and fun. I wanted to do that, and I initially just wanted to cover sports. Soon I was covering news, sports, and just about any type of activity that you can imagine. Here I am 19 years later and I'm still doing it.
I don't think there's a better team in the business than ABC7 News. What I love most about being part of this Disney team is that everyone is striving to do their best. Not just the on-air folks, but the behind-the-scenes crews, too. There's a passion to make sure the best possible product is shown and those I work with go above and beyond. It's been hectic at times: extreme weather, bad fires, and tragic mass shootings like the one we saw in Half Moon Bay, but it's those behind-the-scenes crews that make sure everything goes smoothly.
Before joining ABC7, I spent nine years as a weekend news and sports anchor at KRON4 News. While there, I won an Emmy for my news anchoring. But what I enjoyed most was really getting to know the community. It was during this time that I met my Godson Jordan, who has changed my life and continues to change my life to this day. He's the little guy in many of my pictures on Facebook and Instagram.
While at KRON I anchored our breaking news coverage of the Ghost Ship warehouse fire, the mass shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, and the Asiana Airlines crash at SFO. Every Sunday night I anchored an hour-long sports program called Sports Night Live. We'd show highlights and then we'd go back and forth with opinions. I still remember losing a friendly bet to a viewer and having to wear a Notre Dame jersey on air. Not fun for a Michigan fan whose family bleeds maize and blue, but a bet is a bet.
Before coming to the Bay Area, I was a journalist in Florida, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. I could go on for another six paragraphs about those amazing opportunities but let me sum it up in a few thoughts. Florida was where I covered the Casey Anthony case and I've never seen anything crazier. Oklahoma had the most extreme weather I've ever seen. It's where I covered tornadoes, flooding, heat waves, and ice storms. Arkansas is where I saw how amazing people can be. I covered many big stories in my two years there, but I'll remember the hospitality of The Natural State first and foremost.
If you have any questions, concerns, or you just want to call me out on a sports prediction, you can contact me via email at jr.stone@abc.com or on my social media pages on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.
J.R.'s Stories
Vigil held for Santa Rosa postal worker killed in crash while working
"One of those people that would make you smile and laugh": Colleagues of 33-year-old Irvin Hernandez are remembering the USPS worker, who was killed when a car struck his mail truck.
1 killed after boat capsized in Bodega Bay, officials say; 3rd reported boating accident in 2 weeks
One person has died and four others are hospitalized after a boat capsized near Bodega Bay on Monday, officials told ABC7.
Oakland officials to look at possible budget cuts in light of new report; could be $100M in the red
A new report says that first quarter numbers show that "immediate action is necessary" when it comes to balancing Oakland's General Purpose Fund.
New images capture violent attack on employee at SF Safeway; suspect charged with 2 felonies
Security footage shows a man in the midst of a violent assault on an employee inside the Safeway near Ocean Beach, sending her to the hospital. The suspect has pleaded not guilty to two felony charges.
Could this be the last Macy's holiday tree lighting in SF's Union Square?
The 35th annual lighting of the Great Tree was held across the street from Macy's in San Francisco's Union Square, but it may be the last with the store's uncertain future.
Man arrested for alleged vicious attack on female Safeway employee in SF: police
Community members tell ABC7 News a man knocked a female Safeway employee at the Ocean Beach location to the ground, began pummeling her with punches, and dragged her across the floor by her hair.
Oakland airport told to stop using new name amid SFO trademark pushback
San Francisco has won the battle over the renaming of the Oakland International Airport at least for now.
Tahoe snowfall brings ski season excitement, traffic backups in the Sierra
It may not be winter yet, but it certainly feels like it in Lake Tahoe as optimism is running high for a good snow and ski season. But snow on the ground was also causing slow traffic.
Diocese of Oakland's plan to settle with sexual assault survivors receives pushback
The Diocese of Oakland is facing significant pushback over its plan to settle hundreds of lawsuits. The diocese entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings last year, overwhelmed by lawsuits over sexual abuse.
Mayor London Breed concedes San Francisco mayoral race to Daniel Lurie
Mayor London Breed conceded the 2024 San Francisco mayoral race Thursday afternoon after election results showed her trailing behind opponent Daniel Lurie.