Justin Matthews
Justin Matthews joined the FOX 13 team as a multi-media journalist in April of 2020.
He moved to the Tampa Bay are from Albuquerque, NM, where he was a general assignment reporter and fill-in weather and traffic anchor at ABC-affiliate KOAT. He had previously worked as a multi-media journalist for CBS-affiliate KTVL in Medford, Oregon.
Justin’s passion for journalism began when he was a student at the University of Arizona. Go Wildcats!
Justin has a keen interest in covering weather and natural disasters. He covered wildfires in New Mexico and Oregon and will use those skills in covering Tampa Bay’s sometimes-threatening weather.
When Justin is not at the station or reporting, he is outdoors appreciating nature and hiking. He loves music, craft beer, and is a self-proclaimed airplane geek.
As a southern California native, he enjoys now being near the Gulf waters and all that Bay has to offer. Even though he’s a Los Angeles Kings fan, he’s looking forward to rooting for the Lightning at Amalie Arena.
The latest from Justin Matthews
'We better not ever see that here:" Bay Area law enforcement react to actions of Minnesota officers
Police chiefs and sheriffs from Tampa to St. Petersburg are standing in solidarity after the death of George Floyd in Minnesota, saying the officers involved must be held accountable.
Teachers union works with committee on guidelines for bringing kids back to class
The Florida Education Association created a committee of about 30 people from across the state, including lawmakers, teachers, parents, and medical professionals to come up with guidelines for school districts on re-opening campuses.
FHP: Motorcycle clocked going over 150 mph on I-275
Florida Highway Patrol troopers arrested 38-year-old Gina Henry back on April 22 after they caught her doing 150 miles per hour on Interstate 275 through Tampa.
Summer programs for children will look different in a COVID-19 world
Smaller groups, lottery sign-ups, hand sanitizer, and washing stations will be part of the new normal for summer camps and programs for children this summer.
Beaches reach "unprecedented levels of closures," Pinellas Sheriff's Office says
Fort Desoto Park reached capacity before noon and Clearwater Beach reached capacity before 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, 2020, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
Malls prepare for holiday weekend crowds
Malls across the bay area are preparing for the first holiday weekend since re-opening under Governor DeSantis's guidelines allowing 50% capacity.
Online sales surge in the midst of the pandemic
Between February and April, consumers ditched the shopping cart and used their keyboards and computer mouses to make purchases online.
Yellow sticker means Tampa businesses follows COVID-19 safety guidelines
Code enforcement officers spend 12 hours each day inspecting areas like Hyde Park Village, South Howard, the Channelside District, and Ybor City to make sure businesses are abiding by Governor DeSantis' guidelines for phase one of re-opening Florida.
Gymnastics studios preparing for a slow re-open on Monday
LaFleur's Gymnastics Club has been closed down for almost eight weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the gym's owner has been making a lot of adjustments to space so it is safe for athletes to come on Monday.
Gym owners cautiously optimistic about inclusion in 'next steps' of reopening plan
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday that he would make an announcement Friday about more plans to reopen Florida, possibly referring to 'phase two' of his three-phase plan for the state. Gyms would be among the next businesses permitted to reopen, he noted.