Terri Gruca
Evening News Anchor
My parents always told me, "Do what you love and work will never feel like work." It's why I feel so fortunate to be a journalist at KVUE.
You'll see me weeknights at 5pm, 6pm and 10pm anchoring beside the best team in town. That's also where you'll see my consumer and investigative stories and the monthly inspirational breast cancer stories I do with the help of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Austin chapter.
Growing up in a family with five kids, my parents taught us how to be thrifty. It's why I started Terri's Smart Money blog seven years ago. Everyday you'll find terrific money saving tips or interesting consumer stories, and every Wednesday -- my signature Deals of the Week. That's where I highlight the best deals of the week from around town and on the web.
One of my favorite things about my job is the ability to share information that can enlighten and change lives.
I've covered hurricanes, the first ever joint training exercise between Russian and U.S. troops, and the Minneapolis bridge collapse. However, I'm most proud of the investigation I did in 2004. While working at WCCO, I convinced my boss to let us test gumball machine jewelry for lead. Sure enough each piece showed high levels of lead. It turns out the government had not been testing but left it up to each manufacturer. My investigation sparked the largest recall in nationwide history and resulted in a new federal law that bans lead from all toys. To this day more than 700 million pieces of jewelry and toys have been recalled as a result of those stories. It also changed Minnesota's lead law.
I feel fortunate that my peers have honored my work with an Edward R. Murrow, four individual Emmys and one for our KVUE newscasts. Our 10pm newscast was honored with an Emmy for best newscast in 2010. My stories have also received numerous Associated Press, Northwest Broadcast News Association, Minnesota Broadcasters Association and Society of Professional Journalists awards. My investigation on daycares earned me a trip to the Montel Williams Show. I'm also super proud of the Texas Medical Association award given for the story I did on my mom's battle with breast cancer.
I've worked at some terrific stations including WRAL in Raleigh, NC, WBIR in Knoxville, TN, WSPA in Spartanburg, SC and WCCO in Minneapolis, MN.
I enjoy volunteering for various organizations. When I'm not at work, you'll probably find me out enjoying the weather with my husband. Yes, even in the heat -- remember, we spent five and a half years in Minnesota. We enjoy exploring the Hill Country, walking the hike and bike trails and listening to music. I also love to cook, so I'm constantly trying out new recipes and baking up treats for everyone at work.
Chances are you'll also hear my loud cheers during football and basketball season. I'm a huge college sports fan, which is another reason I'm thrilled to be in Austin. I grew up in North Carolina and graduated from UNC Chapel Hill-- where I met my husband. Mack Brown was UNC's head football coach when we were in school, so we're instant UT football fans.
My husband and I welcomed our new baby boy into our lives in April and are loving life as parents!
If you see us out and about, we enjoy meeting new people, and I always appreciate hearing story ideas. So if you've got a story to share or one you think I should look into drop me an e-mail at tgruca@kvue.com.
