Shirin Rajaee
Who would have thought this California girl would be living in D.C.? What an amazing opportunity! I'm so thrilled to be here.
I remember years ago, before I even landed my first job in news, my brother and I visited D.C. as he was interviewing for medical school. I fell in love with the energy of this beautiful, vibrant and diverse city. My brother even videotaped me doing mock news reports in front of the White House for my résumé tape. Now, it's pretty amazing to see that story come full circle.
I got my start in news working behind the scenes at CNN in Los Angeles (my hometown). I owe a lot to my CNN family who believed in me, trained me and who ultimately helped launch my career.
This is not an easy job, and I hold a lot of respect and gratitude for those who have helped shape me into the journalist I am today.
I joined FOX 5 in January 2020 as the weekend evening anchor and nightside reporter. Before I got here, for the past four years, I was the weeknight evening anchor/reporter for KOVR CBS in Sacramento, where I covered state politics and big breaking news stories, including the Northern California wildfires, mass shootings in Gilroy and Las Vegas as well as immigration and terrorism stories. Prior to CBS, I was an anchor/reporter for KEYT ABC in Santa Barbara.
I would say my favorite person to interview has been Oprah. The story that has had the biggest impact on me was the nearly two years of continuous coverage of the controversial police shooting of Stephon Clark in Sacramento that drew national attention.
On a personal note, I come from a big Iranian and Middle Eastern family. (Think My Big Fat Greek Wedding!) My parents and brother's family live in Los Angeles.
I also just recently got engaged! Which means, yes, I'm in full-blown wedding planning mode, counting down to our 2020 summer wedding in San Diego! Things are a bit crazy! My fiancé and I were competing anchors in Sacramento, but now we play nice on the same team. We're so excited to check out all the sites and history D.C. has to offer.
I'm a big foodie and I'm always looking for a good concert or live music event! If anyone has suggestions, please hit me up!
The latest from Shirin Rajaee
Maryland family has enough of virtual learning; sends son to Arizona for in-person instruction
We're nearly two months into the school year and for many local school districts there seems to be no end in sight to virtual learning.
DC police investigating shooting that left young mother dead
D.C. Police are searching for the suspect behind a deadly shooting in Southeast over the weekend that left a 23-year-old woman dead. It's the latest case in a surge of murders in the District.
Active bystander training for law enforcement garnering national attention
The tragic killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis Police Officer has shed light on police practices and protocols across the country. Millions of Americans wondered why the other officers on scene simply stood by and did nothing to stop it.
Air travel numbers on the rise as coronavirus pandemic continues
Air travel across the country is down dramatically as the coronavirus pandemic continues, but this holiday weekend drew a spike in fliers we haven't seen in months. It begs the question, "Is this a sign of air travel confidence growing?"
‘No Slide Zone’ created to cut crime impacting kids in DC
Recent gun violence in D.C. that has taken the life of innocent young kids is now prompting the launch of a new effort called the: "No Slide Zone."
Americans hope to see different format for next presidential debate
The first presidential debate between President Trump and Joe Biden was a chaotic mess of bitter exchanges and name-calling.
Big push across the DMV to get Latino voters to the polls
With just over a month before the November election, there’s a big push across the DMV to get Latino voters to the polls, highlighting the importance of the Latinx vote in 2020.
Local restaurant owners share how they plan to keep customers safe during colder months
Restaurant owners are speaking out about how they plan to keep customers safe as some jurisdictions are increasing indoor dining capacity from 50 to 75 percent in order to survive the colder months.
DC councilwoman among COVID-19 vaccine trial participants
In the race for a COVID-19 vaccine, a D.C. Councilwoman is among the millions of Americans participating in a Coronavirus vaccine trial.
With fall and winter approaching, will restaurants be able to survive amid the pandemic?
With less than two weeks before the start of fall and cooler temperatures moving in, the weather is posing a new threat for local restaurant owners, many of whom are barely surviving the pandemic.