Nicole Crites co-anchors the CBS 5 Morning News weekdays from 4:30 - 7:00 a.m.

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When she's not bringing you the latest overnight headlines, she's working other sources and stories to try and bring context to news here in the valley.

Award winning and Emmy nominated for her breaking news and feature reports, Nicole joined KPHO as a general assignment reporter in December 2004.

A Tucson native, she returns to Arizona from anchoring mornings and reporting for KREM, the CBS affiliate in Spokane, Wash.

Nicole got her first job before even graduating from college at the University of Arizona. Yes, she is a Wildcat... but she doesn't mind cheering-on the home team.

Nicole worked her way up from high school intern to weekend assignment editor and reporter at KVOA in Tucson and also worked in New York City at the CBS newsmagazine, 48 Hours.

AT KPHO, Nicole has worked extensively on the valley's growing problem of underage prostitution.

She also broke the story on local police and firefighters abusing illegal steroids. More than challenging policy, her investigation actually brought about change. The city of Phoenix agreed to start testing their officers and firefighters for steroids, a problem they admitted had been brewing under their radar before we started asking questions.

She's worked the big stories, from the verdict to bankrupt the Aryan Nations to the deaths of 4 forest service firefighters in Washington's 30 Mile Fire and live reports from Manhattan after 9/11.

When she's not working, Nicole spends her time exploring the valley with her husband, reading, running and quilting. She comes from a family of 6 kids and has a Rottweiler that looks more like a horse than a dog.

Nicole has a passion for storytelling and loves meeting new people every day. She believes everyone has a story.

If you’d like to share your story with Nicole, or tell her about a story idea in your neighborhood, send her an email at ncrites@kpho.com.