Weekend Anchor

Title: Weekend Anchor

ajohnson@kimt.com

@annalisejohnsonKIMT

@AnnaliseReports

Annalise Johnson is an Iowa native, born and raised in Decorah, but now calls Southeastern Minnesota home. After graduating early from college, she joined KIMT News 3 as a reporter in February 2018. She was promoted to Weekend Anchor in October 2020. She anchors the Saturday 6 PM, Saturday 10 PM, Sunday 5:30, and Sunday 10 PM newscasts. You can sometimes find her filling in at the desk during weekday newscasts. When not anchoring, you'll see her reporting three days a week on KIMT News 3 First at Four, 5, and 6.

Her passion for writing began when she was a child writing songs and short stories. However, her interest in news journalism began in high school, where she was an All-State Speech-winning anchor in the television news category.

She attended Luther College (’18) in Decorah, Iowa, where she received a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and a minor in English writing. Her senior research paper, “The Effects of Self-Disclosure in Interpersonal Relationships Post-Sexual Assault: Giving Survivors a Voice,” received the Top Student Paper Award at the 2017 Iowa Communication Conference and was published in the 2018 Iowa Communication Journal. During her time at Luther, she spent a semester studying abroad in Thailand at Mahidol University; a month studying in Europe; and a month studying in Belize. She also sang in choir, volunteered as a certified sexual assault and domestic abuse victim counselor, and was co-captain of the cheerleading squad. Go Norse! She is passionate about traveling and is a certified SCUBA diver and Teaching English as a Foreign Language teacher.

When she is not bringing you your local news, Annalise enjoys cuddling with her MinPin Norman, listening to true crime podcasts, trying new recipes, and reading Harry Potter. If you have a story idea or just want to say hello, you can reach her at ajohnson@kimt.com.

Rochester Public Schools prepares to debut new online school

Rochester Public School students have a new learning option this upcoming school year: learning online because they want to, not because they have to.

Ride RPT buses for free if you're looking for a Cool Place to Be

To make sure vulnerable people have a safe means of cooling off, Rochester Public Transit buses are giving free rides on Wednesday until 9 p.m.

Ways to keep the Olmsted County Free Fair safe and fun

The fair is all about having fun, and KIMT News 3 spoke to the Olmsted County Sheriff about what you can do to make sure that fun doesn't get spoiled.

First Student looking to hire more Rochester bus drivers ahead of the new school year

Just because it's a big bus, doesn't mean it's a big deal. First Student allowed KIMT News 3's Annalise Johnson to climb behind the wheel of the big yellow beast in an open parking lot to show that learning the basics of driving is a simple process.

Should the Rochester City Council have sold the former Dooley's space without a public bidding process? Some community members say 'no'

The city did ask for proposals on new tenants, but not buyers.

A call to utilize Rochester's Mayo Park

People flocked to the first Down by the Riverside Concert at Mayo Park Sunday evening for a night of country tunes. It's the first of a weekly concert series every Sunday through mid-August.

Final preparations for first Rochester's Thursdays Downtown since 2019 underway

In just two days, downtown Rochester will be filled with vendor tents, live music stages, and crowds of people. Rochester summer staple Thursdays Downtown is making a comeback.

Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Program feels pressure of summer demand spike and national blood shortage

Mayo Clinic needs new donors to roll up their sleeves.

Mason City soldier sings the U.S. National Anthem from overseas

Army Specialist Hailey Mullins, a Mason City native, gave a goosebumps-inducing rendition of the National Anthem this July 4th from inside an Iraqi warehouse.

One person in custody for alleged Rochester knife incident

Preliminary information shows one person was cut with a knife and another person was taken into custody.

Data is updated nightly.

Cases: 614990

Reported Deaths: 7771

Data is updated nightly.

Cases: 376815

Reported Deaths: 6122