Linda Hurtado
Hi, My name is Linda Hurtado, and I anchor the FOX 13 News at Noon as well as the FOX 13 News at 4 with Chris Cato and the FOX 13 News at 5 with Haley Hinds.
I’m a 20-year veteran of TV news here in Tampa Bay, and am thrilled to be part of the talented family here at FOX 13.
I always wanted to become a journalist and learned the ropes at the University of Georgia – Go Dawgs! I’ve worked at TV stations in Fort Myers and Orlando before coming to Tampa. I know this great state well!
I’ve won 13 Emmys, an Edward R. Murrow award, Associated Press awards, Society of Professional Journalism awards, and a Florida Bar award for a variety of news and health stories.
I’ve traveled to Haiti and Cuba covering in-depth reports. During my TV career, I have covered numerous hurricanes including Andrew, Charley, and Irma, a Stanley Cup championship, a Super Bowl championship, and the Republican National Convention, where I landed the only local TV interview with Ann Romney. I’ve also hosted or anchored many live events, including the Martin Luther King and Gasparilla parades, and NASA space shuttle launches.
I take pride in being very connected and involved in my community. I’ve been a keynote speaker at many local events, such as the Women of Influence luncheon hosted by the Tampa Chamber of Commerce, and the Hispanic Man and Woman of the Year awards sponsored by Tampa’s Hispanic Heritage, Inc. I hosted the local MDA Telethon for over 10 years, emceed the local "Dancing with the Stars" event that benefits local charities, and the Florida Hospital Pepin Heart Hospital's Valentine Day event as well as events for St. Jude's Children’s Hospital.
I’ve been very active with the American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer events long before my own diagnosis of breast cancer in 2011, because my mother was a breast cancer survivor until the disease finally took her life in 1995. Since my own diagnosis and recovery, I’ve become the local emcee for the Susan G. Komen events. I support the Face of Courage non-profit as well as the My Hope Chest that funds reconstruction for women who do not have insurance. And every year I donate proceeds from A Shoot for a Cure to the Florida Hospital Foundation to fund mammograms for women without insurance.
When not working, you can find me at sporting events cheering on my two high school-aged daughters. I have two stepchildren, two biological daughters, an adopted son from Cuba, and two English bulldogs. My husband Jorge and I love volunteering at non-profits and supporting Tampa’s NHL Lightning, NFL Buccaneers and MLB Rays. We have a big, busy traditional Cuban family, deeply rooted in the Tampa Bay community.
The latest from Linda Hurtado
Ashley Kritzer's spring reads to get you hot and ready for summer
Tampa Bay Business Journal reporter and Instagram influencer Ashley Kritzer is keeping us up-to-date on hot reads to get you excited for summer.
USF professor reports live from 22 feet underwater, where he will live for 100 days
Associate professor Dr. Joe Dituri is 22 feet under the sea in a lagoon of Key Largo for 100 days. His abode is the Jules Undersea Lodge, where he will smash a Guinness world record for continuous time spent in an underwater habitat.
From listening to learning to mental health, reading to kids has many proven benefits
Studies show that reading to children helps their brain develop, gives them a leg-up in school and contributes to their overall well-being. That's why we're celebrating Read Across America Day on March 2.
Triathlete wants to inspire hope with book on healing from traumatic brain injury
Kristen Abello took the trials and tribulations of recovery and put it in a book called "Sunrise: Life After a Traumatic Injury. A Healing Journey.”
David Yates authors inspirational book 'Swimming Upstream'
The former CEO of Clearwater Marine Aquarium and producer on the "Dolphin Tale" movies, David Yates, is adding published author to his resume.
Self-help yourself - and your kids - to happiness with author Jaqueline Pirtle
According to author Jacqueline Pirtle, starting the day with a positive thought begins the very first second you’re awake.
How gut health impacts your mind and body
Registered Dietitian Caroline Riedel advises clients across the globe about how to manage their gut health.
NASA's launch schedule stays full for 2023 after a busy year with historic missions
This year was an amazing and exciting year for NASA. The long-awaited Artemis 1 moon mission finally launched, sending the Orion spacecraft to the moon and back, paving the way for future human exploration of the lunar surface.
USF students create program to combat Alzheimer's
After watching loved ones lose autonomy as they aged, students Siegrid Pregartner and Laura Borgerding made it their mission to help future dementia patients avoid the same outcomes.
What are the top toys for the holidays 2022?
The holidays are here and if you’re shopping for children, the Toy Insider has tips on what to buy to ensure the kids on your list will play with their present long after the wrapping paper is cleaned up.