J.R. Stone
I'm so proud to be part of the Disney family and so far, it really does feel like one big family. I've covered news in the Bay Area since 2011 and time has flown by. I've laughed and cheered with many of you as our teams won championships, but I've also mourned with you when fires ravaged our homes and took the lives of our loved ones.
I can remember an expert saying, "J.R. just went live from an area that has the worst air quality on earth." Concerning, yes, but someone has to get the story and tell it like it is. I'm proud and blessed to do that every day.
Before joining ABC7, I was a weekend news and sports anchor at an independent channel in town. While there, I won an Emmy for my news anchoring and helped turn lackluster ratings into some of the top-rated programs of the week.
During the Ghost Ship warehouse fire, I anchored our breaking news coverage. When news of a mass shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival surfaced, I was live on the desk for four and a half hours. When the Asiana Airlines flight crashed at SFO in 2013, I anchored for 10 straight hours.
When news stories aren't breaking, sports stories usually are. I previously anchored a sports show called Sports Night Live. We made viewers a part of the show and it paid off. With no network affiliation, we managed to become one of the top-rated sports programs in the San Francisco market.
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.
I've covered 6 NBA Finals, 2 World Series, 3 Super Bowls, 3 Daytona 500's, 2 NCAA Football National Championships, and a Stanley Cup Final. When the Giants won their last two World Series; I was in the clubhouse interviewing players and getting doused with champagne.
I have 16 years of on-air news and sports experience, which include national appearances on CNN, The Weather Channel, and the CBS Early Show. Above all, else I pride myself on being a journalist of the people. Every night I go live on Facebook Live. This gives me a chance to ask questions to viewers and gives viewers a chance to throw questions at me.
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, heatwaves, and ice storms. Arkansas is where I saw how amazing people can be. I covered a number of 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@disney.com or on my social media pages.
J.R.'s Stories
Hundreds of SF bars now requiring proof of vaccination or COVID-19 test
"We've been threatened to have people cough on us and spit on us!" Some workers at San Francisco bars are dealing with backlash after requiring proof of vaccination or a COVID-19 test to enter.
Could Google, Facebook vaccine requirements be new precedent in tech? Experts weigh in
Experts say the move, coupled with previous state and federal vaccination mandates, could influence other companies to move in the same direction. Some are calling it the "first cracks in the damn," so-to-speak, in requiring vaccinations.
California to require vaccination or testing for state employees and health care workers
Gov. Newsom and California health officials have announced a vaccine verification and testing program that will be implemented for all state employees and health care workers starting in August.
'Shame on you': Santa Cruz police chief calls out those downplaying BLM mural vandalism
"This wasn't just a couple kids fooling around doing a burnout on the street, this was an intentional act of vandalism on something that our community holds dear," said Santa Cruz Police Chief Andrew Mills.
Former 49ers, Raiders coach Greg Knapp dies after 'horrific' bike accident in San Ramon
Former 49ers and Raiders coach Greg Knapp has died after being hit by a car while on a bike ride in San Ramon this past weekend.
'Just like the mob': District attorney investigates 'shakedowns' and 'threats' in SF's Chinatown
DA Chesa Boudin says the letters often demand money, as much as $75,000, from the businesses with the threat of a lawsuit. It's the last thing they need, he says, after struggling through the pandemic.
Oakland City Council approves own term sheet for A's new stadium at Howard Terminal
The Oakland City Council has voted to pass their own term sheet to continue negotiations with the A's for a new stadium at Howard Terminal.
A's fans fear losing 3rd Oakland team, say 'we'd be the laughing stock of the nation'
'CRITICAL MOMENT': An Oakland City Council meeting Tuesday could factor into the A's decision to stay in Oakland, or move the team to another city.
Bay Area in 'heightened state of vigilance' as threat of dry lightning looms
"We are going to be at a heightened state of vigilance. We will be maintaining a lookout throughout the day and night," says an astronomer at the Lick Observatory.
Volunteers continue search for missing runner in Pleasanton after authorities scale back efforts
Among the group looking to bring Phillip Kreycik's family peace was a team of his coworkers from PG&E who spent the day searching for any signs of the missing runner.