J.R. Stone
People often ask why I decided to get into news and to be honest, I actually always had this idea of becoming a baseball player. It was my first sport, the one I loved above all else, and I thought that if the guys on TV could do it, who's to say I couldn't? I played baseball when I started college but at one point I, like so many others, realized it wasn't going to happen. Michael Jordan once said, "I can accept failure, everyone fails at something, but I can't accept not trying." I live by those words. I was a solid player yes, but I wasn't a Major League Baseball player.
As I grew older, I noticed that telling stories to groups of people felt natural and fun. I wanted to do that, and I initially just wanted to cover sports. Soon I was covering news, sports, and just about any type of activity that you can imagine. Here I am 19 years later and I'm still doing it.
I don't think there's a better team in the business than ABC7 News. What I love most about being part of this Disney team is that everyone is striving to do their best. Not just the on-air folks, but the behind-the-scenes crews, too. There's a passion to make sure the best possible product is shown and those I work with go above and beyond. It's been hectic at times: extreme weather, bad fires, and tragic mass shootings like the one we saw in Half Moon Bay, but it's those behind-the-scenes crews that make sure everything goes smoothly.
Before joining ABC7, I spent nine years as a weekend news and sports anchor at KRON4 News. While there, I won an Emmy for my news anchoring. But what I enjoyed most was really getting to know the community. It was during this time that I met my Godson Jordan, who has changed my life and continues to change my life to this day. He's the little guy in many of my pictures on Facebook and Instagram.
While at KRON I anchored our breaking news coverage of the Ghost Ship warehouse fire, the mass shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, and the Asiana Airlines crash at SFO. Every Sunday night I anchored an hour-long sports program called Sports Night Live. We'd show highlights and then we'd go back and forth with opinions. I still remember losing a friendly bet to a viewer and having to wear a Notre Dame jersey on air. Not fun for a Michigan fan whose family bleeds maize and blue, but a bet is a bet.
Before coming to the Bay Area, I was a journalist in Florida, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. I could go on for another six paragraphs about those amazing opportunities but let me sum it up in a few thoughts. Florida was where I covered the Casey Anthony case and I've never seen anything crazier. Oklahoma had the most extreme weather I've ever seen. It's where I covered tornadoes, flooding, heat waves, and ice storms. Arkansas is where I saw how amazing people can be. I covered many big stories in my two years there, but I'll remember the hospitality of The Natural State first and foremost.
If you have any questions, concerns, or you just want to call me out on a sports prediction, you can contact me via email at jr.stone@abc.com or on my social media pages on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.
J.R.'s Stories
Sausalito city manager arrested 3 weeks after starting job, accused of trying to steal boat
Sausalito City Manager Elaine Forbes was arrested Saturday morning on suspicion of felony burglary after authorities said she attempted to steal a boat at a Sausalito dock. Witnesses say she was honking a boat horn continuously in the night. Her family says she's undergoing a 'mental health crisis'.
San Francisco seeks tougher robotaxi rules after Waymo meltdown fed holiday traffic chaos
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is calling for new statewide standards governing autonomous vehicles during major events and emergencies after traffic gridlock involving Waymo vehicles during the city's Fourth of July celebrations.
What we know about victims killed in tragic San Francisco Bay boat disaster
The tragedy claimed the lives of 58-year-old Tondra Madruga and 79-year-old Clifford Boisa, whose wife and sister remain missing after their boat capsized during an outing with mostly family members to spread a loved one's ashes.
PG&E warns of power shutoffs in parts of Bay Area Wednesday and Thursday due to heat
PG&E is warning that proactive power shutoffs are likely in multiple counties in the Bay Area on Wednesday and Thursday because of a forecast of hot, dry and windy weather in the region.
Swimmer mysteriously bitten by 'marine animal' in Foster City Lagoon
Authorities are investigating after a swimmer was bitten by a small animal in the Foster City Lagoon on Monday, prompting questions about what species was responsible for the mysterious and uncommon incident.
Half-mile bus lines, crippling gridlock: SFMTA apologizes after massive July Fourth transit failures
The SFMTA is apologizing after widespread transportation problems during Fourth of July celebrations led to long waits, gridlock and criticism from people trying to leave the city's waterfront areas. An estimated 100,000 people came to San Francisco on Saturday, according to the mayor's office.
July 4 Waymo gridlock in SF after dozens choke streets, some lose power, 1 ran over lit fireworks
Dozens of Waymo vehicles became stranded in heavy post-fireworks traffic in San Francisco's Presidio on July 4, with some running out of power and needing to be towed. One Waymo carrying passengers was also seen driving over a lit firework. No injuries were reported.
IShowSpeed sparks frenzy at Portugal-Croatia watch party at Thrive City
A Portugal-Croatia watch party became an IShowSpeed show Thursday as crowds of mostly teenagers and young adults flooded Thrive City for a chance to see the internet celebrity in person.
What is causing the overnight Bay Bridge backups, leaving drivers frustrated? Caltrans responds
Caltrans is considering changes after complaints about growing overnight delays on the Bay Bridge. Crews have been closing lanes as part of a lengthy construction project. We spoke with Caltrans and frustrated drivers about the late-night traffic.
Crews contain 3-alarm church fire in San Francisco's Lower Pacific Heights
The church had been undergoing construction, but it is not known at this time if that contributed to the fire. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.
