Carole Meekins, Milwaukee's most veteran TV anchor, to retire from WTMJ-TV at end of month

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Carole Meekins will host a new weekly show, "Positively Milwaukee With Carole Meekins," starting February 2020 on WTMJ-TV (Channel 4).

Milwaukee viewers are losing a familiar face as WTMJ-TV (Channel 4) announced Wednesday that award-winning journalist Carole Meekins will retire later this month.

Meekins is the most veteran anchor in the Milwaukee television market. She's also well known for the TV station's "Positively Milwaukee" program, which she produces and hosts.

“It's time to focus on more than work. I want to spend more time with my family,” said Meekins in WTMJ's announcement story. “I look forward to still contributing to the Milwaukee area — but I will focus on other passions including music, teaching and writing.”

Carole Meekins is an Emmy award-winning anchor and reporter with WTMJ in Milwaukee. Her career in television journalism spans more than 30 years. She also hosts the "Positively Milwaukee Show, with Carole Meekins."

Meekins began her television career in St. Louis as host of a music program — she's a former music teacher. She has been at WTMJ since 1991.

Meekins received an Emmy at the Chicago/Midwest Emmy ceremonies in 2020. She has received numerous other awards for both her work on television, as well as for community service, and is a member of the Milwaukee Press Club Hall of Fame.

Her memorable interview subjects include Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey.

Mayor Tom Barrett, Carole Meekins, Eugene Kane, Faithe Colas and James E. Causey are pictured at the Honoring Our Own awards ceremony hosted by the Wisconsin Black Media Association in February 2017.

“The Milwaukee area is better and richer for Carole’s years of dedication, loyalty and hard work to uplift others. We will miss her presence and her contribution in the newsroom,” WTMJ News Director Tim Vetscher said. “We wish Carole all the best on her next chapter and thank her for all she has done for TMJ4 and for our community.”

Meekins currently anchors WTMJ's 5 p.m. newscast. She also had co-anchored the station's 10 p.m. newscast since 1991, but she stepped back from that duty to produce and host "Positively Milwaukee" when it was spun off as a separate show in early 2020; before that, she had reported regular segments under that banner for the station's other newscasts since the early 2000s. Earlier this year, WTMJ moved "Positively Milwaukee" from Sunday mornings to Friday afternoons.

Meekins final day at the station will be Nov. 30.

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