Mark Rivera
Upon his arrival to the station, former News Vice President Jennifer Graves described Mark as a "skilled anchor and a versatile reporter adept at covering everything from big breaking news stories, to politics and feature stories." Rivera grew up in Crystal Lake, Illinois.
Rivera also reports with the ABC7 Chicago I-Team.
The first major live story Rivera covered for ABC 7 Eyewitness News was the funeral and procession of slain police Cmdr. Paul Bauer in 2018. He anchored ABC 7's on-air coverage for more than three hours as Bauer was honored by the city and its residents.
Rivera comes to ABC 7 from WTSP-TV in Tampa, Florida, where he served as the station's weekend morning news anchor and political reporter. While on the anchor desk there, he provided six hours of compelling non-stop coverage of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in nearby Orlando. As the station's political reporter, he covered Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton campaign rallies, questioned Vice President Mike Pence about Russian influence and co-moderated a heated congressional debate. In addition to the political beat, Rivera has reported on a wide range of stories from the hurricanes that devastated Florida to a family whose son is a five-organ transplant survivor.
Prior to WTSP, Rivera worked at WAND-TV in Decatur, Illinois where he anchored a two-hour daily newscast, reported breaking news and wrote, edited and reported a weekly feature piece focused on the local community. While at WAND, Rivera won a regional Associated Press Award.
Rivera is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois.
He, his wife Alissa, and their dog Xena live in the Chicago area. They enjoy running and exploring all of the diners, coffee shops and taco spots Chicago has to offer.
Mark's Stories
Potential payout to closed safety-net hospitals' CEO includes millions of dollars, 2022 Range Rover
The co-owner of two shuttered safety-net hospitals that owe Illinois taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars was offered a potential payout including cash and a 2022 Range Rover to step down.
Alderman calls for revocation of The Dime's liquor license after deadly Lincoln Park shooting
A Chicago alderman is calling on the city to revoke the liquor license of a Lincoln Park bar as the ABC7 I-Team also uncovered numerous complaints and multiple incidents of gun violence at the bar.
Immigration attorney accused of swindling thousands across country, including in Chicago area
An immigration attorney's promise of a pathway to citizenship for tens of thousands of people never materialized, according to a new lawsuit. She had an office in the west suburbs, a multi-million-dollar condo in Chicago and a pink private jet.
Dramatic decline in people becoming new citizens in Chicago area this year, data shows
Since January, there has been a shocking drop in new naturalizations, declining by more than 80% in the Chicago area ahead of a major midterm election.
DEA warns of meth disguised as party drugs ahead of Lolla; presence of drug increasing in area
Chicago authorities are warning festivalgoers and families about an increase in methamphetamine circulating in the region, including counterfeit pills marketed as popular party drugs, ahead of this weekend's Lollapalooza music festival in Grant Park.
ICE detention healthcare gap at center of new congressional investigation
After the death of a Chicago business owner at one of the largest ICE facilities in the Midwest, questions over his medical care continue to swirl.
Durbin pressing for action amid possible Legionella at Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago
Following an I-Team interview with a federal judge who suspects he contracted Legionnaires' disease from water at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, the I-Team can exclusively report Sen. Dick Durbin is now pressing the General Services Administration for answers and action.
U.N. claims Trump administration immigration decisions may violate international law
There are troubling new concerns from the United Nations over the independence of immigration court judges in Chicago and around the country.
Inside Chicago lab, IRS investigators helping catch culprits across the globe
IRS Criminal Investigation specialists in Chicago are using a wide range of forensic techniques to help uncover financial crimes and identify those responsible.