Where is KSTP's Josie Smith? Fans wonder about popular traffic reporter

Josie Smith has become a familiar face to KSTP viewers for her traffic reports and coverage. However, some have been wondering where the popular reporter is as she has been absent from our screens for a while.

Where is KSTP’s Josie Smith?

It was announced at the end of July that KSTP traffic reporter Josie Smith had stepped down from her role.

The news about Smith was first reported by KSTP anchors Chris Egert and Megan Newquist during the show’s morning broadcast on Thursday, 29 July.

The following day, Smith shared a video explaining to viewers she had chosen to step away from KSTP to spend more time with her family.

In a recorded message played live on the show, she explained: “(The show’s) early hours are pretty tough on most people.

“Then I have a daughter, who is five, and my son is two. Young children require a lot of attention and energy and I’m seeing that and seeing how much care they need from me and how much I need for myself as well. So I decided now is the time (to leave the show).”

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How long had she been part of KSTP?

Josie Smith had been a part of the KSTP team for seven years, having joined the news channel in 2014.

She addressed her time as part of the news show during her video message announcing her plans to leave.

While thanking KSTP viewers for their support over the years, she said: “I’ve been here seven years, gotten a lot of great emails from folks and from just being out in the public people coming up and saying hello. You’ve always been very kind and, believe me, it’s appreciated.”

KSTP stars Chris Egert and Megan Newquist have since taken to Twitter to share their support for Smith in her next steps:

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Where else has the reporter worked?

Before she became known to KSTP viewers for her traffic reports, Josie Smith worked as part of a number of radio stations.

According to Smith’s Linkedin page, her first broadcasting role saw Smith work as a part-time announcer for stations WLOL and KJZI.

More recently, Smith was a traffic anchor for WCCO-AM radio, a role she held for 11 years.

Amber Peake

Amber is a freelance writer on The Focus who mainly covers anything celeb, music, and entertainment related. Having graduated with a BA (Hons) in Journalism from Brunel University in 2020, she has spent the last two years reporting the latest celeb news and pop culture trends across leading and national publishers. Starting her career at Express.co.uk as a showbiz reporter, Amber began contributing on The Focus in 2021. As well as her work on the site, she has also written across other GRV Media publications, including both Reality Titbit and HITC. When she's not scrolling endlessly on TikTok, you'll find Amber wrapped up in yet another DIY crafting project.