Laura Rice
Reporter/Anchor

lrice@nbc24.com

School: University of Missouri
Hometown: Wichita, KS

Laura feels immediately at home in Northwest Ohio. Her true "home" is complicated to define.

Laura joined the NBC24 team in April of 2009 after spending two years in Amarillo, Texas at KVII as an anchor and reporter. She interviewed Chuck Norris (oh and Mike Huckabee) during a campaign stop and entertained viewers with a story about her mutt's genetic heritage.

Laura earned her degree summa cum laude at the nation's first (and finest) school of journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Go Tigers! While there, she began her reporting career at KOMU and discovered her passion for investigative stories.

During college, Laura spent a semester living and studying in Seville, Spain. She developed her Spanish and widened her world-view in traveling across Europe and to China.

Laura's true hometown is probably Wichita, Kansas. She grew up with the values of the Midwest and first discovered her love of journalism in debate and forensics classes in high school. She spent several summers interning and working at KSN.

Laura enjoys spending time outdoors and on the couch. You might find her around town walking her dog, Klaus, or at a local brewery with her boyfriend. But she's just as likely to be cuddled up with her cat, Hans, watching something educational (hopefully) on TV.

Laura is a great pen pal and would love to hear from viewers whether it's with a story idea or just to chat! Send her a line at lrice@nbc24.com

You can also follow me on my blog as I explore a brand-new hobby: Training for a triathlon!
http://www.toledoonthemove.com/news/blog_post_list.aspx?id=622

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A little more about Laura Rice...

Year joined NBC24: 2009

Why I'm a Journalist: I decided in the 7th grade that my skill set and interests matched with journalism. Bottom line: I love connecting with viewers and telling great stories.

Memorable story you have reported on: In my first job I thought it was so exciting to report live on election night as results came in for Missouri’s very close senate race.

Memorable Interview: I was most inspired after I interviewed an artist in Amarillo that lost his home, studio and life’s work in a terrible fire. His response was: “I’ll just start all over again.” He was positive he could paint everything even better the second time around and he wasn’t about to feel sorry for himself.

Dream Interview: Maybe Queen Elizabeth. If I could get her tell me things she’s never divulged before. I bet she has a lot of interesting stories!

Dream Job: Oprah’s gig seems pretty nice.

Role Model: Elizabeth Vargas. She is a Mizzou grad too!

Astrological Sign: Virgo (Though I rarely find this helpful)

Family: Parents and younger sister living in Kansas.

Hobbies: The outdoors, traveling, movies, trying new things…

Favorite Sports Team: University of Missouri Tigers!

Favorite Musicians: I’ve been listening to folk music lately.

Favorite Book: “Lord of the Flies”

Favorite Movie: “Life Is Beautiful”

Favorite TV Show: Something educational.

Favorite Food: Mexican and Mediterranean.

Favorite destination: Someplace new!