Kiana Burks
Multimedia Journalist
Kiana Burks joined the WCAX News Team in June of 2022 as a weekend Multimedia Journalist.
She was born and raised in south Texas and graduated in 2021 from Texas State University's College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
She loves to try new restaurants, draw, sing, dance and pet any cat she can get her hands on.
She is ecstatic to be a part of this exceptional news team and is looking forward to sharing impactful stories with our viewers.
The mother of one of the three college students of Palestinian descent shot in Burlington over the weekend says her son's spirits are high.
A private religious school is suing the state of Vermont after being banned from participating in all state-run athletics for refusing to play against an opponent with a transgender student-athlete.
Burlington High School's embattled principal has resigned.
WCAX News has obtained surveillance video of the Burlington High School principal pulling the fire alarm at the school.
Two men face assault charges after a bizarre incident in Swanton where a man walking his dog says he was shot at multiple times.
The Vermont Criminal Justice Council heard testimony Tuesday on the possible decertification of Franklin County Sheriff John Grismore.
The first storm of the season in our region will hit Wednesday night and it is expected to cause some dangerous conditions on the roads through the morning commute Thursday.
A Rockingham man has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder in the shooting of his brother-in-law Monday night.
A proposal in front of the Burlington City Council aims to address an increase in crime and a decrease in consumer activity in the downtown area. Our Kiana Burks reports.
Crowds are gathering at a vigil in Essex Junction Thursday afternoon to support the people of Lewiston, Maine, and reject the loss of life to gun violence.
As homicide investigations continue to pile up for the Vermont State Police, authorities Monday revealed new details about the latest case in Plainfield.
Thousands of Vermonters will receive reimbursement checks after a state investigation found they were wrongly charged out of pocket by their insurance companies for contraceptive care.
After years in the works, a major Canadian highway linking Vermont to Montreal is one step closer to completion.
After months of negotiations, the UVM Medical Center support staff and the hospital have finally come to a deal that union members are calling “historic.”
A gathering in Montpelier had a dual purpose: commemorating women’s suffrage and celebrating the reopening of the first state office building after July’s historic flooding.
The town of Norwich has to choose between fixing its current heating system that relies on fossil fuels and moving to a more renewable source.
After one of Swanton's royal swans died this past winter, the birds' caretakers were left questioning whether the program should continue. Our Kiana Burks reports.
The Vermont State Fair kicked off in Rutland this week. This year, they're also using the event to help Vermonters hit by flooding. Our Kiana Burks shows you how.
Veterinarians in our area say ticks and fleas this year are worse than they've ever been. That means protecting your pets-- and the rest of your family-- is more important than ever. Our Kiana Burks reports.
A family had to be assisted out of the Winooski River in Richmond after they were stranded when rushing waters overturned their raft.
Sections of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail are back open after last month's flooding damaged parts of the newly renovated path. Our Kiana Burks talked to people happy to have the path reopened.
A new law is making it possible for sexual and domestic assault survivors to seek justice without going to court. Our Kiana Burks reports on what advocates are calling a win-win.
Vermonters are still picking up the pieces after last month’s historic flooding and now the state is stressing the importance of having an active health insurance policy while on the road to recovery.
Vermont environmental officials are investigating after hundreds of gallons of an unknown oil spilled in a Poultney brook.
The recent floods have left countless homes and apartments irreparably damaged, including affordable options. Our Kiana Burks reports on a housing crunch that's getting even tighter.
Even as FEMA is working to dole out millions of dollars in grants to Vermonters hit by flooding in eight designated counties, some who received money following previous flooding -- but did not comply with subsequent insurance requirements -- are now learning they are not eligible.
The catastrophic flooding last week caused pain for thousands, but for a Barre woman whose husband, Stephen Davoll, died in the floodwaters, it took her dancing partner and the love of her life.
Last week’s flooding left visitors at a Plainfield campground stranded after the raging Winooski River destroyed the bridge connecting the facility to Route 2.
Many towns hit by floodwaters last week are still working to get clean water. But residents in Marshfield have no water, period -- not even non-potable water -- for going on 10 days.
As flood victims look to recover from the devastation of last week’s storms, insurance can be a big help in overcoming the financial burden. But what is and isn’t covered can be confusing.
Cars swamped by floodwaters might have a host of problems. If not totaled, there could be underlying engine or electronic problems.
The catastrophic floodwaters that left behind a path of destruction throughout Vermont have subsided, but for those in the hardest hit areas, emergency shelter is available.
The Vermont College of Fine Arts has found a new buyer in their latest attempt to offload unused buildings at their Montpelier campus.
Montpelier’s Capitol Plaza Hotel and Conference Center is being sold to a Massachusetts-based management company.
Middlebury’s Town Hall Theater is the victim of its own success. Since opening its doors nearly 20 years ago, officials say the venue has grown in popularity to the point where officials are launching expansion plans to meet the demand.
The Craftsbury community has come together to make their library go solar, using a model they hope other small, rural towns will emulate.
A box truck going up in flames made for a surprising end to the Fourth of July fireworks show in Worcester.
It's official, the town of Stowe has turned on its first-ever traffic light. Our Kiana Burks has the reaction from people in town and why officials say it's not just a road sign, it's a sign of the times.
On the calendar, summer began on June 21, but with almost every day this month seeing cloudy skies, rain showers, or air-quality alerts, many people are wondering when the sunshine will return.
The town of Lyndon has partnered with the local library to launch what they’re calling an e-bike lending library, encouraging folks to get out of their cars and into the community.
A deal to sell three buildings on the Vermont College of Fine Arts campus in Montpelier has fallen through. Our Kiana Burks spoke with school and city officials and has the latest on their next steps.
Increasing access to local food in the Champlain Valley is the goal behind $50,000 in funding from the federal government. reporter Kiana Burks spoke to food producers in the area on how they plan to fill the nutrition gaps in their communities.
The Vermont Law and Graduate School has opened a new location in Burlington. As our Kiana Burks reports, it will include a legal aid clinic where students can assist members of the community.
Rutland is among communities grappling with how to pay for fixes to crumbling cemeteries. Now, the local cemetery commissioner says it’s time for the city to pay up.
The Marshfield Dam in Cabot is regulated by the Public Utility Commission, but town officials in Plainfield say they wish it wasn't. Our Kiana Burks explains why they're pushing for a switch.
Parking your car in Rutland will soon cost you more, but the city says it's for a good cause. Our Kiana Burks has details on the rate hikes and reaction from local businesses.
Instead of seeing beauty school dropouts, people in the industry say they have beauty school waitlists. Our Kiana Burks went to a school that's expanding operations to meet the demand.
When school’s out for summer, many children no longer have access to free, healthy and consistent lunch and breakfast. Summer meal programs offer a lifeline for families having a hard time getting enough food on the table, but this year, the options across the state will be limited.
After years of back and forth with Vermont health care regulators, The University of Vermont Health Network now says it has a plan to spend $18 million earmarked for mental health care.
“It was like daylight all of a sudden -- flames 70 to 80 feet in the air," said one witness.
