Judy Hsu
Judy was thrilled to return to her hometown in 2001 to join ABC 7 as the weekday anchor of the station's morning 4:30-7 AM block of news programming. She helped lead the morning show for 15 years before her promotion to the afternoon and early evening.
Judy's roots in the Windy City take her back to elementary school. Her family immigrated to Chicago from Taiwan when she was 11 years old. From living in Chicago's Chinatown, to Rogers Park, to Morton Grove, to later attending University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and then landing an on-air reporting job the day after graduation, Judy truly embodies the spirit of the American Dream success story.
During her tenure at ABC 7, Judy has been a part of just about every major story in Chicago either reporting in the neighborhoods or anchoring from the news desk. She also reported live from the White House bringing ABC 7 viewers extensive coverage of her one-on-one interview with President Barack Obama just before he left the Oval Office. While a rookie reporter in California, she covered the O.J. Simpson verdict live from the L.A. courthouse, and she was one of the youngest reporters to fly with the Blue Angels!
Judy's on-air work has garnered multiple Emmys including awards for breaking news coverage and for her work on ABC 7's programming specials, "Asian Influences" and the "Magnificent Mile Lights Festival." To date, Judy has received nearly two dozen Emmy nomination including "Outstanding Performance" as a news anchor.
Before joining ABC 7, Hsu anchored the 4 p.m. weekday newscast at KFMB-TV in San Diego, CA. She served as KFMB's weekend anchor and general assignment reporter prior.
Since coming back to Chicago, Judy has worked with dozens of charities throughout the region highlighting issues important to local families. Judy co-chairs the Advisory Board for Chicago's Chinese American Service League, largest social service agency in the Midwest serving Asian Americans. She has been a leading voice in American Cancer Society's annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk and the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement. In 2017, the Community Memorial Foundation honored Judy with their "Woman of Distinction" Award.
Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Judy remains fluent in Mandarin and brings a global perspective to Chicago news. She received her B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and began her broadcasting career at the campus radio station, WPGU-FM. Following an internship with legendary Chicago anchor Walter Jacobson, Judy landed her first TV job with WCIA in Champaign. One of her passions today is speaking to schoolchildren about the importance of pursuing their dreams.
Speaking of kids, even while on maternity leave, Judy continued to bring us "breaking news!" She became the subject of national headlines for the "expressway baby" story when her fourth child was born on Chicago's Eisenhower Expressway.
Judy resides in the western suburbs of Chicago with her husband and four children.
Find on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @JudyHsuABC7
Judy's Stories
Mobile market brings free food, produce to seniors in north, west suburbs: 'Bridges the gap'
The Northern Illinois Food Bank helps struggling seniors stretch their dollar with a mobile market program that delivers free food and produce straight to them.
Community-owned food pantry in Gary helps feed thousands each month
A community-owned pantry is working to destroy hunger in Gary, Indiana.
Chicago Heights Library after-school program helps feed kids all year
An after-school program at a south suburban library is helping feed the love all-year round.
Estelle Long, Chicago's real-life 'Rosie the Riveter,' celebrates 104th birthday
Hard work, feminism and patriotism are all things that Estelle Long embodied as she worked on Douglas c54 cargo planes in Chicago.
Northwestern Medicine performs its 1st awake kidney transplant procedure in under 2 hours
Northwestern Medicine performed its first kidney transplant procedure with the patient being awake.
Chicago father of 2 receives 2nd heart transplant from Advocate Christ Medical in Oak Lawn
A father of two is getting a third chance at life, after receiving a second heart transplant 14 years after his first.
Utility regulators approve Peoples Gas rate increase, cuts hike to $1.5M from requested $8M
Consumer groups say two Peoples Gas rate hikes will add roughly $8 per month to gas bills, during a time when consumers are already struggling.
Chicago-area physical therapist makes chili oil his side hustle to honor family
ABC7 Chicago is celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and kicking it off with a little heat. A Chicago-area physical therapist has become a chili oil entrepreneur on the side.
CFD retires badge worn by fallen Lt. Jan Tchoryk, who died while battling Gold Coast fire
It was April 5, 2023 when CFD Lt. Jan Tchoryk was leading a ladder crew in a staircase, trying to put out the wind-driven blaze in a Gold Coast high-rise, when he collapsed.
Chicago firefighter Jermaine Pelt remembered 1 year after death in line of duty
Thursday marks one year since Chicago firefighter Jermaine Pelt died in the line of duty.