KLAS TV 8 Announces Retirement of Award Winning News Anchor Paula Francis

Las Vegas, Nevada, February 17, 2016 – KLAS TV 8 of Nexstar Broadcasting Group and local

CBS affiliate today announced the retirement of award-winning and highly respected news

anchor, Paula Francis after 30 plus years in the television industry.

Francis, the current evening news anchor at 8 News Now during the 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.

newscasts will anchor her final newscast on April 1, 2016 at the 6 p.m. newscast.

“Paula Francis is the preeminent news journalist and has dedicated her career to serving the

Las Vegas community with the utmost class and dedication. The entire 8 News Now team will

miss her dearly while also wishing her all the best,” stated Lisa Howfield, Vice-President and

GM of KLAS TV 8.

Francis began her career in Madison, Wisconsin directly after graduating from UW-Madison and

has been covering news for Las Vegas since 1985. She joined KLAS in 1988 and over the

span of her career has been chosen as “Best TV Anchor in Las Vegas” by the Las Vegas

Review Journal readers over 15 times. She was inducted into the Nevada Broadcaster’s

Association Hall of Fame and a member of the KLAS TV Hall of Fame, sharing the honor with

George Knapp, Gary Waddell, Bob Stoldal and Howard Hughes.

KLAS TV 8 News Director, Terri Foley has worked alongside Paula for over 28 years saying that

“Paula has been an inspiration to me. In the highly competitive business of news, she is viewed

by other news organizations with tremendous respect. The news department will miss her

experience, judgement and passion for news. We fully support Paula in this new chapter of her

life, knowing she will always have a special place in the hearts of her KLAS family.”

On this next chapter, Paul Francis says, “Channel 8 and its loyal viewers have enabled me to

have my dream career. For 28 years, it has been a privilege and a joy. I am always thrilled when

strangers call out, ‘I love you!’ Alongside my good friend Gary Waddell, I’ve covered the

tragedies and the celebrations. Our New Year’s Eve show was a highlight. Being in the public

eye has been exciting and rewarding, and now I look forward to a more private life. If you see

me out and about, please don’t hesitate to say hello.”

Paula is a founding member of the Nevada Chapter of the International Women’s Forum, serves

on the Board of Trustees for The Shade Tree Endowment Fund and has received a number of

humanitarian awards for involvement in the community including her proudest campaign

accomplishment for breast cancer awareness, Buddy Check 8.

Although Paula will be officially retired after April 1st, viewers are likely to still see her on 8 News

Now during coverage of events such as the Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure as she will

continue to remain involved with her community causes.

Paula and her husband Steve Francis will undoubtedly now spend more time sharing their

interests in politics, travel, hiking and photography.