Austin Kemker

WAFB Reporter
Baton Rouge, La.
Austin Kemker

Austin is a Memphis native. He grew up there, graduated from the University of Memphis (Go Tigers) and met his wife there.

After graduating with a degree in broadcast journalism, Austin moved halfway across the country to Lubbock, Texas.

While in Lubbock, he covered numerous breaking news stories including the murder of a Texas Tech police officer on campus.

As far as stories, Austin says he likes a mix of hard news and features. He loves politics and when possible will try to find a story involving sports.

He is an avid cycler, you can probably catch him on his off days biking around town and a huge Memphis sports fan. If he’s not cycling he is likely looking for a great po boy or some other food that’s probably not too healthy.

Austin is eager to get involved in the community so if you have any volunteer opportunities feel free to reach out.

akemker@wafb.com

Education
  • University of Memphis: Broadcast Journalism

    • State

    An 87-year-old man was hospitalized after being robbed on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, according to...

    Fifth arrest in attack, armed robbery of 87-year-old man, sheriff says

    Updated: Apr. 21, 2022 at 4:54 PM CDT
    |
    By Lester Duhé and Austin Kemker
    one more person has been arrested in connection with the attack and armed robbery of an 87-year-old man, Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard announced Friday, Jan. 21.

    State

    Mardi Gras Parade

    LDH does not expect spike in COVID after Mardi Gras, recommends masking if in crowds

    Updated: Feb. 15, 2022 at 6:38 PM CST
    |
    By Austin Kemker
    COVID-19, much like the beads left behind from Mardi Gras past, is still lingering around Louisiana.

    State

    Cynthia Perkins

    Cynthia Perkins makes deal with prosecutors, will testify against Dennis Perkins

    Updated: Feb. 14, 2022 at 6:37 PM CST
    |
    By Autumn Payton and Austin Kemker
    Cynthia Perkins plead guilty to multiple charges in exchange for her testimony against Dennis Perkins.

    State

    The Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal has agreed to allow the upcoming trial for Dennis...

    State Supreme Court upholds separate trials for Dennis Perkins and wife

    Updated: Dec. 21, 2021 at 3:37 PM CST
    |
    By Austin Kemker
    The Louisiana State Supreme Court has agreed that separate trials should be held for former Livingston Parish sheriff’s deputy Dennis Perkins and his wife, Cynthia. The court made its decision public Tuesday, Dec. 21.

    State

    National civil rights attorney Ben Crump is joining ranks with a caretaker alleging Louisiana’s...

    Atty. Ben Crump says DCFS failed to take action against man suspected of sexually abusing child

    Updated: Dec. 13, 2021 at 6:49 PM CST
    |
    By Austin Kemker
    National civil rights attorney Ben Crump is joining ranks with a caretaker alleging Louisiana’s DCFS allowed a child to be repeatedly sexually abused and trafficked for the last decade.

    Coronavirus

    Gov. Edwards, LDH says too early to panic about Omicron, urges to get vaccinated

    Gov. Edwards, LDH says too early to panic about Omicron, urges to get vaccinated

    Updated: Dec. 3, 2021 at 5:39 PM CST
    |
    By Austin Kemker
    No cases of the Omicron Variant have been reported in Louisiana.

    State

    A struggling mother of three just wants a job.

    Family already struggling from pandemic, now homeless after Ida; Mom just wants a job that will pay the bills

    Updated: Nov. 3, 2021 at 6:36 PM CDT
    |
    By Austin Kemker
    For the last two months, a woman and her 15-year-old and 16-year-old sons and her 14-year-old daughter have been living in a U-Haul van.

    State

    The Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge, La.

    Potential sites for 3rd Miss. River bridge whittled down to 17; construction could be finished by 2027

    Updated: Nov. 2, 2021 at 5:40 PM CDT
    |
    By Austin Kemker
    Drivers could have a new option to navigate around Baton Rouge traffic as soon as 2027.

    State

    Aerial Photo of Our Lady of the Lake Hospital on Essen Lane in Baton Rouge, La.

    OLOL to build $100M ‘state-of-the-art’ cancer treatment center

    Updated: Oct. 4, 2021 at 3:28 PM CDT
    |
    By Austin Kemker
    Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center will break ground next year on a new $100M cancer treatment center, officials with the hospital and Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Monday, Oct. 4.

    State

    Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC)

    30,000 apply for disaster unemployment; LWC deploys mobile unit to help

    Updated: Sep. 20, 2021 at 5:30 PM CDT
    |
    By Austin Kemker
    The Louisiana Workforce Commission reported nearly 30,000 people have applied for disaster unemployment assistance following Hurricane Ida.

    State

    Kenneth Gleason - Mugshot taken on Sept. 19, 2017. (Source: East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's...

    Kenneth Gleason sentenced to life in prison for 2017 murders

    Updated: Aug. 23, 2021 at 10:31 AM CDT
    |
    By Austin Kemker
    An East Baton Rouge Parish judge has sentenced Kenneth Gleason to life in prison for the September 2017 murders of Donald Smart and Bruce Coefield.

    Crime

    Trial date has been set for Dennis Perkins

    Trial date set for Dennis Perkins

    Updated: Aug. 17, 2021 at 3:12 PM CDT
    |
    By Austin Kemker
    A trial date has been set for former Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Officer Dennis Perkins.

    Education

    Louisiana Dept. of Education announces funds to help students recover from pandemic education gaps

    Updated: Aug. 11, 2021 at 6:05 PM CDT
    |
    By Austin Kemker
    As students walk back into their classrooms this year, their teachers will be focused on making sure they are closing any learning gaps from last year.

    State

    Stretched to the max, nurses in need of reinforcements as La. breaks COVID-19 hospitalization record

    Updated: Aug. 3, 2021 at 4:21 PM CDT
    |
    By Austin Kemker
    Hospitals in Louisiana are being overrun, that is the message from Governor Edwards and healthcare workers as the state sees more people admitted with Covid-19 than at any other point during the pandemic

    State

    Gov. Edwards announces press conference on Friday

    Gov. Edwards, state officials address latest rise in COVID-19 cases

    Updated: Jul. 16, 2021 at 11:59 AM CDT
    |
    By Austin Kemker and Bria Gremillion
    During a news conference on Friday, July 16, Gov. John Bel Edwards gave an update on Louisiana’s response to COVID-19, the Delta variant, and vaccinations around the state.

    State

    Southern University is falling into the Mississippi River.

    Southern University is being washed away by Mississippi River; conditions ‘threaten human safety’ unless fixed

    Updated: Jul. 2, 2021 at 5:52 PM CDT
    |
    By Austin Kemker
    Southern University is falling into the Mississippi River.

    State

    Louisiana lawmakers approve largest increase in transportation spending in more than 30 years

    Louisiana lawmakers approve largest increase in transportation spending in more than 30 years

    Updated: Jun. 11, 2021 at 5:52 PM CDT
    |
    By Austin Kemker
    In the waning hours of the Louisiana Legislative Session lawmakers passed a bill that would provide substantial increases to the state’s transportation spending.

    Health

    An abortion reversal bill is on its way to Gov. John Bel Edwards after Louisiana lawmakers...

    Abortion reversal bill on its way to Gov. Edwards after La. lawmakers pass controversial measure

    Updated: Jun. 9, 2021 at 6:57 PM CDT
    |
    By Austin Kemker
    A measure requiring abortion providers to inform patients of “options” to reverse a nonsurgical-medication abortion after the process has started awaits approval by Gov. John Bel Edwards.

    State

    New Louisiana law allows sexual assault victims to break residential leases, landlords to evict abusers

    Updated: Jun. 3, 2021 at 5:52 PM CDT
    |
    By Austin Kemker
    A law signed by Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards allows victims of sexual assault to escape a potentially dangerous situation and move from their residence by requesting early termination of their lease.

    State

    More than 1,600 bridges in “poor” condition in Louisiana, DOTD Secretary says more funding...

    More than 1,600 bridges in “poor” condition in Louisiana, DOTD Secretary says more funding needed to keep up with repairs

    Updated: May. 14, 2021 at 8:26 PM CDT
    |
    By Austin Kemker
    The cracks in the Mississippi River Bridge in Memphis have caused headaches galore. These are headaches DOTD says it is working to prevent despite an aging infrastructure.

    State

    La. ports await impact of river traffic backlog due to Mississippi River shutdown in Memphis

    Updated: May. 13, 2021 at 9:56 PM CDT
    |
    By Austin Kemker
    A bridge closure in Memphis is affecting supplies getting upriver from Baton Rouge.

    State

    Nurse practitioners are leading the way in Pearl River County, which has been designated a...

    Louisiana lawmakers advance bill making it easier for nurse practitioners to practice without doctors

    Updated: May. 6, 2021 at 8:24 PM CDT
    |
    By Austin Kemker
    State lawmakers in the House passed a bill that would allow nurse practitioners to practice medicine independently of doctors.

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