Lolita Lopez is an investigative reporter and anchor at NBC4 and has been part of the team since 2011. She can be seen daily reporting for NBC4 news at 11 a.m. and 4, 5, 6 and 11 p.m.
Lopez is part of the award-winning I-Team, digging deep into stories and cases that impact viewers throughout the Southland – her investigative stories can be seen here. She has also covered a wide range of significant stories, including national stories from the Christopher Dorner manhunt to the Los Angeles Kings Stanley Cup win in 2012. Earlier in her career, she was stationed at Ground Zero for nearly two weeks while covering the World Trade Center tragedy and spent many years reporting the effects of that tragedy.
Lopez believes her job is complete when her news stories about the community make a difference, as in the case of a piece she did on a sixth grade class that created a Facebook page to sell their homemade art to raise money for a classmate whose family couldn’t afford a proper funeral for his father. Just one day after Lopez’s story aired, the site raised more than $3000.
A journalist for more than 20 years, Lopez feels privileged to tell peoples’ stories and honored to meet many inspiring people along the way. As a breast cancer survivor, she has shared her own challenges during treatment and recovery with a series of stories on her courageous fight against the disease as a working mother and wife.
Prior to joining NBC4, Lopez had a successful, decade-long career at WPIX-TV in New York, where she served as a general assignment reporter and, later, a sports anchor. She became the main sports anchor and a field reporter for the NY Mets, working alongside the late great Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver. Earlier in her career, she was one of only two reporters on Court TV’s issue-oriented legal program “Pros and Cons” with Nancy Grace. While working on the show, Lopez covered many controversial cases, including the parole hearing of John Lennon’s murderer.
Over the course of her career, Lopez has been recognized with several industry awards, including several Los Angeles area Emmy Awards for her live anchoring and investigative reports. She won two New York area Emmy Awards for ‘Best Sports Feature’ and ‘Best Live Sports Coverage.’ She also was praised by New York’s largest Spanish language daily newspaper, El Diario La Prensa, as one of the most outstanding women in the community.
When not working, Lopez cherishes spending quality time with family and friends sharing stories with lots of good food, laughter and playing volleyball on any grass or beach court. She also enjoys participating in charitable events that support important causes impacting Southern Californians, including the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk and promoting the importance of youth sports in our communities, knowing how much sports impacted her life.
Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, Lopez moved to Houston at age four when her father became the women’s track coach at Rice University. A lifelong sports fan, Lopez graduated from Harvard University in 1998, where she was on the women’s volleyball and track teams for four years; she was also co-captain of the volleyball team her junior and senior years.
The Latest
-
Phase 1 of hazardous waste removal from Eaton Fire burn area completed, EPA says
Phase 1 of hazardous material cleanup efforts have been completed following the destruction of the deadly Eaton and Palisades fires, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday.
-
Altadena family's commitment to community's health endures after devastating fire
A family’s 50-year legacy of care and community in Altadena is tested by tragedy, but their unwavering spirit and commitment to the people they serve continue to shine.
-
Woman who lost home is reunited with her cat 32 days after the Eaton Fire
More than a month after the Eaton Fire in Altadena, a cat who was lost while evacuating has been reunited with her owner.
-
New stationary air monitors test soil, water and air quality around burn zones
The South Coast AQMD, a regulatory agency responsible for improving air quality around SoCal, is expected to place five stationary air monitors around burn scar zones.
-
Day laborers step up to help with fire cleanup in Pasadena
Farm workers and day laborers form volunteer brigades to assist with post-fire recovery, offering vital help to families and communities in need.
-
Drones provide public safety eyes in the sky during LA County storm
With the use of drones, the LA Sheriff’s Department can keep an eye on search and rescue missions, fire response and rain storms.
-
Phase 2 of Palisades and Eaton fire cleanup underway
The Army Corps of Engineers is leading debris removal efforts, marking a major step toward recovery for homeowners and schools.
-
Homeowners face long road to rebuilding after devastating wildfires
Families return to inspect damage as the EPA works to clear hazardous materials.
-
Toxic threats linger after Eaton Fire: Lawmakers demand stronger air quality protections
As hazardous chemicals pollute the air after devastating wildfires, officials call for increased monitoring to protect Southern California communities.
-
A look inside Irwindale's temporary hazardous waste processing site
Walk into Lario Park in Irwindale and you’ll see shipping containers, heavy machinery and barrels meant to store dangerous materials all framed within fences.