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
Exit strategy? Settlement negotiations underway over future of Oak Park safety-net hospital
The ABC7 I-Team has learned one of the points in a potential settlement agreement over the closure of West Suburban Medical Center could include Resilience Healthcare CEO Manoj Prasad's exit from the beleaguered hospital.
Chicago US Attorney drops 3rd case citing 'serious irregularities' focusing on prosecutor's conduct
U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros is now pledging to review all cases, going back decades, connected to that prosecutor.
Woman attacked on Blue Line shares harrowing story as I-Team analyzes new CTA crime numbers
The I-Team is taking a detailed look at new crime numbers the CTA released last week as one woman is desperate for answers after she was attacked on the Blue Line.
'Broadview Six' grand jury fallout expands; federal prosecutors could be called to testify
There are more repercussions from the failed prosecution of six ICE protesters that are now impacting other cases in Chicago's federal court.
Rare release of usually secret grand jury transcripts in 'Broadview Six' case
The grand jury transcripts just released revolve around an incident outside of the Broadview ICE processing facility.
Battle over access to evidence in case of Chicago tax attorney accused of murdering his wife
ABC7 Chief Legal Analyst Gil Soffer told the I-Team prosecutors will have to show a need for information that is generally considered private.
Immigration officials change protocol for reporting deaths of detainees removed from custody
A critical policy change from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is raising alarms over the agency's transparency when it comes to people who have died after they were in federal custody.
Mexican authorities uncover cross-border tunnel likely used to traffic drugs headed to Chicago area
Mexican authorities found a cross-border tunnel in Tijuana they are now reporting was used to traffic thousands of pounds of drugs across the border into the U.S. Some of those drugs were likely headed to the Midwest and the Chicago area.
Chicago's US Attorney releases rare special report about his contact with 'Broadview Six' grand jury
Boutros claims he only advised grand jurors on their constitutional role, and that he planned to address more grand juries in the Northern District.
Shuttered safety-net hospitals' future unclear after judge rejects leadership change
After Monday's ruling, many community members told the I-Team it is back to square one with no change in leadership for the beleaguered safety net hospitals.