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
Chicago FBI warns violent online network, known as 764, is targeting minors
The group 764 methodically coerces and extorts minors to produce heinous materials online, according to the FBI.
'Concentrated plan': Judge orders suspect detained in DePaul attack on Jewish students
A judge has ordered man accused of attacking two Jewish students on a DePaul University's campus to be detained.
Suspect charged with hate crime in attack of 2 Jewish DePaul students on campus, officials say
The ABC7 Chicago I-Team has learned that a suspect arrested in the attack against two Jewish DePaul students is now facing multiple charges, including two counts of a hate crime, according to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.
Pilot killed in New York City helicopter crash was from Chicago area, family confirms
The pilot killed in a New York City tourist helicopter crash was a 36-year-old Navy veteran from the Chicago area, a family member and a close friend confirmed to the ABC7 I-Team.
Measles vaccination rates below immunity threshold in some Illinois schools, state data shows
Measles cases continue to increase across the country. The ABC7 I-Team examined state data to get a sense of how prepared and protected against an outbreak Illinois might be.
Drones, AI among company pitches for new gunshot detection technology for CPD
In Chicago's search for new technology to assist police and paramedics, plans proposed by companies across the country run the gamut, ranging from practical to radical ideas.
Chicago attorney resigns in protest after law firm makes deal with Trump administration
A Chicago attorney is taking a stand against the Trump administration's efforts to punish lawyers and law firms who bring lawsuits against him, his administration or his agenda, the ABC7 I-Team has learned.
2 Jewish students sue DePaul University for negligence after campus attack
A lawsuit alleges "DePaul was, and still is, an extremely dangerous college campus due to the profound safety and security failures of its Public Safety Office, especially for Jewish and/or Israeli students."
Winnetka signs agreement to augment police force with private security
The Winnetka police chief says the department has a manpower issue. Starting April 1, private security will help fill that void.