Married KARE 11 staffers Camille Williams and Cory Hepola get their wish: Starting Feb. 3 they will co-anchor KARE 11's weekend news shows (and be reporters during the week).
"We've always wanted to anchor together from the very beginning," Williams said. "That's what makes our story unique. We met in the business, we started dating in the business and got married, and it's always been on the top of our minds. We just thought it would be so cool … I think we complement each other well. … I think Cory is a dynamic, awesome anchor and person and super fun and it really does shine through."
Hepola: "Camille is a brilliant journalist; I'm a better person and journalist because of her. We constantly brainstorm ideas, talk TV and push each other to bring the very best out of each other. And, now we get to work on the same shows!"
Hepola, who grew up in Perham, returned to his native state in April 2015 to co-anchor "KARE 11 Sunrise," alongside Kim Insley. Williams joined her husband at KARE 11 in October 2015 as an anchor of the weekend newscasts. In 2016, Williams and Hepola added a set of girl/boy twins to their family, which already included a son.
Comparisons with WCCO-TV's married anchors Amelia Santaniello and Frank Vascellaro are likely to grow. "We kind of got that before we got on the same show. Everyone's like, 'Oh, you're like Frank and Amelia,' and I say, 'No it's Cory and Camille.' " She laughed while conceding the other obvious similarity: They also had an older son followed by girl/boy twins.
Williams' current weekend co-anchor Zachery Lashway is going to the 11 a.m. weekday show.
We did this Q&A via e-mail:
Q: What will you be thinking that first night you co-anchor with your spouse?