CHICAGO () — ABC7 Chicago took home six regional Emmy Awards Saturday night, recognizing the station’s work across news, entertainment and special-event coverage.
One of the station’s top honors was Outstanding Achievement for Evening Newscast: Larger Markets for its coverage of the March 10, 2026, tornado outbreak. Severe storms swept through multiple communities that night, including Kankakee and Lake Village, Indiana.
The Chicago/Midwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences presented the awards during its annual ceremony at Swissotel Chicago on downtown’s Wacker Drive.
-TV ABC7 Chicago received the following awards:
-Outstanding Achievement for Human Interest Content: Our Chicago: El Sueño Americano
-Outstanding Achievement for Entertainment (Performance): The Dance: Countdown Chicago
-Outstanding Achievement for Special Event Coverage – Live/Edited: The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival
-Outstanding Achievement for Magazine Program – Single Program/Series: Road To The Bud
-Outstanding Achievement for News Gathering – Business/Consumer/Technology: Investment Resentment
-Outstanding Achievement for Evening Newscast: Larger Markets: Tornado Outbreak Of March 10th
Saturday’s ceremony also included the announcement that ABC7 photojournalist Ken Bedford will be inducted into the NATAS Gold Circle. Bedford has been with the station for more than 50 years and is the first person in the city to receive the honor.
Former ABC7 news anchor Kathy Brock will be inducted into the NATAS Silver Circle. She spent 28 years at the news desk, from 1990 until retiring in 2018. During her tenure, Brock anchored the morning, 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts, helping ABC7 establish itself as Chicago’s news leader.
