News McNabb

Anchor change: Olga Campos leaving KVUE and TV news

Turn the page. Open a new chapter.

For KVUE TV’s (ABC) morning co-anchor Olga Campos, Friday morning's broadcast, July 29th, will be her last day on the air. It is also her last day in television news. She made the announcement at the end of the Thursday morning broadcast.

“After 16 great years at KVUE, I’ve decided it’s time for a change. I want to take some time to reflect and be with my family. My father passed away recently… It has been an amazing 16 years…I appreciate so much being invited into your homes. I consider you and my co-workers here on Daybreak my second family,” Campos told the audience just before 7 a.m.

“It’s time to do something new. It’s time to re-invent,” Campos told me. KVUE currently has the #1 morning broadcast where Campos is joined by Melissa Gale and meteorologist Albert Ramon. KXAN TV (NBC) is #2.

Campos said that she’d reached the end of her current contract, but negotiated with Patti Smith, KVUE general manager, to stay through the July rating period. "We are happy for her, and we certainly wish her the best," said Frank Volpicella, KVUE News Director.

Campos says the response from her fans on Facebook has been gratifying:

“Olga thanks for all the years bringing the news into our homes. I have always been a fan since I was a kid and always enjoyed your amazing personality."

“The news just won't be the same without you Olga! Much success and happiness in your new ventures. Life is too short - enjoy every minute!"

“Thank you for 16 years at KVUE! Thanks for the memories! May the Lord bless and be with as you take the next step in this journey we call Life!"

“There are “exciting opportunities” awaiting her, but “contracts aren’t signed”, and "she should know more next week.”

“Yes, you heard right, Campos responded. “Thanks everybody for your support and for inviting me into your homes — first as the 5 O'clock anchor and for the past two years with the early birds on Daybreak. I will be sleeping in and hope to have some exciting news about my next career move very, very soon!!!!!”

Campos’ TV news career spans some 30 years, all of it in Texas. Her bio has been replaced on the KVUE web site with video of her announcement that she was leaving. A native of Houston, Campos career includes stints at KTBC TV (CBS before becoming Fox) and KRIV TV (Fox) in Houston. She is a University of Texas at Austin graduate.

Her soon-to-be former co-anchor, Melissa Gale has been working the morning and mid-day shows at KVUE for 13 years. She’s seen sidekicks come and go, but the morning hours seem to fit her lifestyle. “While it's a tough schedule, I simply love the viewers we have,” Gale says on the KVUE web site. Gale is also a University of Texas at Austin graduate. “My dream as soon as I left UT was to somehow make it back to KVUE in Austin.”

Campos says her immediate dream after tomorrow is to sleep late.

(Editors note: Olga Campos is the wife of CultureMap Editor in Chief Kevin Benz)

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Self-driving Roller Coaster

More self-driving cars expected to roll out in Austin for 2025

Photo courtesy of Waymo via KVUE

Various brands offering self-driving cars are on-and-off in Austin.

Expect to see more self-driving rideshare vehicles, also known as robotaxis, on Austin roads next year.

Robotaxi company Waymo, which you may have already seen on Austin's roads, is partnering with Uber. At some point next year, customers will be able to use the Uber app to call a self-driving ride.

Austin-based company Avride is in the testing phase and plans to roll out its robotaxis next year.

Currently, Volkswagen ADMT and Amazon's Zoox are in the testing phase in Austin, while Hyundai's Motional is in the mapping phase.

Last year, robotaxi company Cruise paused operations in Austin after the California Department of Motor Vehicles revoked the company's permits to operate driverless vehicles in the state. And last week, General Motors said it would no longer fund the company because of the time and resources needed.

This way of getting around has come with its safety concerns and issues. The city is tracking those concerns. According to the Transportation Department, the problems span from blocking the roads and parking in front of people's homes for weeks with lights beaming through their windows, to actual wrecks.

Since July 2023, robotaxis have been involved in 75 incidents. Only 21 of those incidents happened in 2024. It's important to note that Cruise has not been operating in Austin this year.

Since July 2023, driverless rideshare vehicles have been involved in 22 near collisions, eight collisions and seven instances where driverless taxis ignored directions from the Austin Police Department (APD).

According to the data, at least four of those Austin police incidents happened in recent months. The issues varied from driving through police checkpoints, to malfunctioning and getting stuck at an APD road closure near pedestrians, causing safety concerns.

A Waymo spokesperson said their vehicles have gesture recognition capabilities, which they've been training APD officers on using.

As the report shows, sometimes it does not work and Waymo said it is working to improve that. The spokesperson said that as of just last week, Waymo's First Responder Program has been independently verified by TÜV SÜD, making Waymo the first autonomous vehicle (AV) company to receive third-party validation for our emergency response protocols. They also said the data to date indicates the Waymo Driver is already reducing traffic injuries and fatalities in the places where the company currently operates.

Read the full story and watch the video at KVUE.com.

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