You’ve probably seen her face popping up on your screen if you’ve been following the biggest stories coming out of the Southeast or the Rockies lately. Kati Weis isn't your average "read the teleprompter" news anchor. Far from it. She is a gritty, data-obsessed investigative reporter for CBS News who has spent the last decade making life very uncomfortable for people who waste tax dollars or ignore safety regulations.
Actually, if you live in Colorado, you might remember her as the person who fundamentally changed the laws regarding assisted living centers. Or, if you're in the Gulf Coast, you've likely seen her recent coverage on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. She's everywhere right now.
Who is Kati Weis from CBS News?
Kati Weis currently serves as a reporter for CBS News, based out of the New Orleans hub. This isn't just a local gig; she’s part of a high-level "community journalism" initiative that CBS launched to get more feet on the ground in the South and Midwest. Basically, she covers the entire Southeast region, digging into everything from massive cyberattacks to the human toll of coastal erosion.
Before she landed in New Orleans in late 2024, she spent five years as a powerhouse at CBS News Colorado (KCNC-TV) in Denver. While there, she wasn't just reporting the news; she was literally rewriting the rulebook. Her multi-year investigation into neglect at assisted living facilities didn't just get views—it forced the Colorado legislature to pass new laws to hold those facilities accountable. That is the kind of "receipts-heavy" journalism that’s getting rarer these days.
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The Investigative Edge: Why Her Work Hits Different
Honestly, what sets Kati apart is that she’s actually a licensed private investigator. Yeah, for real. In 2018, she worked for M&M Investigations, doing undercover surveillance and workers' comp cases. You can see that "sleuth" energy in her reporting. She also holds a Master of Legal Studies from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.
Most reporters ask "what happened?" Kati asks "what does the statute say, and who broke it?"
Major Career Milestones
- The Murrow Award: She won a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for "Daycare Dangers," an exposé that uncovered over 8,000 violations in local childcare centers.
- Environmental Impact: In Alabama, her report "Toxic Release" revealed a chlorine leak in a marginalized community. Because of her, the police finally got respirators and the town got an emergency notification system.
- PFAS and Pollution: She’s been a dog with a bone when it comes to "forever chemicals" in drinking water, specifically tracking how military activities in Colorado impacted local health.
From Mobile to the Mile High City and Back
Kati is a native of Mobile, Alabama. She’s a "Gulf Girl" at heart. She started her career at WALA FOX10 in her hometown, where she was the lead investigative reporter for an I-Team that was named the best in the state four years running.
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She eventually moved to Denver, where she became a staple of the KCNC newsroom. But in 2024, CBS moved her back to her roots. As a New Orleans-based reporter, she’s been covering some incredibly heavy hitters in 2025 and early 2026.
We’re talking about the Meta $10 billion AI data center in Louisiana and how it’s hiking up local power bills. We’re talking about the brazen jailbreak at the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office. She even tracked down a survivor of flesh-eating bacteria to explain the rise of Vibrio cases across the U.S.
Why Kati Weis Matters for the Future of News
In a world of "fake news" accusations and surface-level social media clips, Kati Weis represents the "old school meets new school" approach. She uses Excel and data visualization tools like Flourish to find trends that other people miss. She’s bilingual (English and Spanish), which allows her to reach communities that are often left out of the conversation.
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She isn't just a face on the screen. She shoots her own video, edits her own stories, and writes her own digital copy. She’s what the industry calls a "multiskilled journalist," but most people just call her "the person who gets things done."
What to Expect Next
Keep an eye out for her work on CBS News platforms. She’s currently leaning heavily into "community-first" reporting. This means fewer "talking heads" in studios and more stories from the front lines of the climate crisis, the AI revolution, and government transparency.
If you’re a local business owner or a concerned citizen in the Southeast, you’ll want to pay attention to her reports on:
- Infrastructure delays: Specifically how out-of-date power grids are struggling with the EV boom.
- Education justice: She has a long history of exposing how students with disabilities are treated in the public school system.
- Environmental Watchdogging: Expect more on the disappearing barrier islands and the federal funding gaps for disaster recovery.
To see her latest investigations, you can follow her on social media or check the CBS News national and New Orleans feeds. She is one of the few reporters who consistently provides the source documents and data behind her stories, making her a vital resource for anyone who actually wants to know what’s going on behind the scenes in the South.