Julie Hays

Beloved for her expertise and commitment to family and community, she uses her platform to make a positive difference in the lives of Central Texans.

Since her start with KWTX in 2002, Julie has held several positions in the newsroom. Beginning as an overnight producer, she also has experience as a weekend producer, reporter, morning and noon anchor, evening anchor, and evening executive producer, a position she held for over 10 years.

Julie made a change in 2017 to anchor “Midday with Julie” airing weekdays at noon. This has allowed her to more time with her husband, Sam, and kids Callie, 7, John, 5, and Natalie, 4. She also enjoys reporting positive stories from around Central Texas in the popular “Tell Me Something Good” segment in News 10 at 5.

Julie has covered many big stories during her tenure at KWTX. She recently led the "Baylor Fallout" coverage following the Pepper Hamilton investigation into Title IX shortcomings in 2016. For her work on this ongoing story, Julie received two regional Edward R. Murrow awards, two Emma awards through the Lone Star Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, three first place Texas Associated Press Broadcasters awards, and a prestigious Charles E. Green Award by the Headliners Foundation of Texas for Excellence in Journalism for spot news coverage of the event.

Local Life-Changing Coverage

Her work with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Waco helped keep the doors open as she chaired its most successful fundraiser to date. She also helped bring Jessica Simpson to Waco to help raise money for the struggling club.

In 2017, Julie helped lead the effort to have a home built for an area-firefighter paralyzed in a freak off-duty accident. For her efforts on the firefighter’s behalf, the Waco Fire Department made Julie an honorary firefighter and presented her with an award which included her own fire helmet, personalized with her name.

Julie reported the story of a local girl's efforts to get a potentially life-saving, but expensive drug. The news coverage contributed to an insurance company overturning their original decision to deny coverage of the drug. The girl's family said Julie's determination to follow the story not only gave their daughter hope but led to the young girl being selected as the MDA's Ambassador for the year.

Exclusive Interviews & Highlights

Julie's ability to connect with people has landed her multiple exclusive interviews with everyone from everyday heroes to leaders of the free world. She conducted the first sit-down interview with ex-coach Dave Bliss following the Baylor 2003 basketball scandal and her reporting in the saga landed her as an interviewee in the documentary "Disgraced" which aired on Showtime. In 2010, Julie was the only local television reporter to travel to New York City where she interviewed RG3 following his Heisman Trophy win. She also coordinated the Super Bowl commercial which featured the KWTX news team alongside NFL Hall of Famers Troy Aikman and Mike Singletary.

Bush Family

Julie's has had more than a dozen encounters with former president George W. Bush and was invited to the White House for one of his final interviews while in office. She has attended Bush's annual Wounded Warriors bike ride at his Crawford-area ranch multiple years and got an exclusive interview with Bush during his book tour stop in Waco as well as at the opening of McLane Stadium. Laura Bush has also sat down exclusively with Julie on numerous occasions. In 2017, Julie was granted the only one-on-one with twin daughters Barbara Bush and Jenna Bush-Hager as they penned a best-selling book. In 2018, Julie emceed the "Go Red for Women" Luncheon alongside Jenna Bush, an honor she had with Laura Bush at the same event in 2014.

Additional Awards & Recognitions

Other media accolades include the statewide media honor roll for her education reporting twice and the large market media award from the Texas Farm Bureau for her interest in agriculture. She has been named the Locals Love Us “Best News Personality” seven times, the Wacoan’s “Top On-Air Personality” three times, and the Waco Tribune Herald’s “Top News Personality.” She received the Copperas Cove Leader Press’ “Best Personality” Reader's Choice Award multiple times and voted “Best TV News Anchor” by the Belton Journal.

Community Involvement

Julie’s love of sports extends beyond her role as co-host of the Emmy-award winning Baylor Gameday football show which has aired across six states to her role as coach for multiple youth sporting teams.

When not on the air or writing stories for the web, Julie is all over town emceeing or assisting organizations including the American Heart Association to the American Cancer Society, Fuzzy Friends Animal Rescue, and Waco’s Talitha Koum Institute.

Feel free to drop Julie a line anytime with a story idea or just to say hello!