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
What is causing the overnight Bay Bridge backups, leaving drivers frustrated? Caltrans responds
Caltrans is considering changes after complaints about growing overnight delays on the Bay Bridge. Crews have been closing lanes as part of a lengthy construction project. We spoke with Caltrans and frustrated drivers about the late-night traffic.
Crews contain 3-alarm church fire in San Francisco's Lower Pacific Heights
The church had been undergoing construction, but it is not known at this time if that contributed to the fire. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Giant fighting robots step into the ring at new San Francisco storefront for boxing bots
A 6-foot fighting robot was unveiled in San Francisco by REK at an empty warehouse that will soon be transformed into a humanoid robot one-stop shop.
San Jose police recover large Vietnamese memorial statue stolen from community garden
San Jose police say they have recovered part of a half-million-dollar statue after thieves stole a 1,500-pound bronze soldier along with flags and an urn from the Vietnamese Heritage Garden.
Survivor of deadly East Oakland crash outraged after teen suspect released on house arrest
"I'm mad as hell!" A man injured in a deadly crash in East Oakland last month says he is frustrated and angry after learning that the 17-year-old suspected of driving a vehicle into him and a crowd on a sidewalk has been released and placed on house arrest.
Massive data center projects spark backlash and protest from Pittsburg and Gilroy communities
Communities in Gilroy and Pittsburg are pushing back against mega data center projects due to be built in their towns. Many residents expressed frustration about learning of the data center years after the decision was approved.
2 Bay Area college students dead after being swept into ocean at Santa Cruz Co. beach
UC Berkeley student Harshita Nair and San Jose State student Mahial Sran both died after being swept into the ocean in Santa Cruz County last week, according to authorities and family members. The Santa Cruz Fire captain thinks a sneaker wave might have been responsible.
Oakland fatal crash survivor speaks amid difficult recovery; upset teen suspect charged as juvenile
A survivor of a deadly crash in East Oakland is speaking publicly for the first time, describing his injuries, recovery and the accountability he wants to see for the 17-year-old accused of driving onto a sidewalk and killing three people.
Here's where you can get free 2026 World Cup 'Fan Bands' and tasty themed cupcakes in the Bay Area
The World Cup begins June 11, with the first Bay Area match set for June 13. Communities across the region are planning watch parties, and many businesses are hoping the tournament brings a boost.
Man dead, woman seriously injured in shooting near Kaiser medical offices in San Jose, police say
San Jose police confirmed that investigators believe the deceased male is the primary suspect in the shooting. They say it was an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public.