Leon Harris anchors News4 at 4 and News4 at 5. He joined the NBC4 team after 21 years at CNN in Atlanta and 14 years at WJLA-TV.
Harris began his career behind the scenes in a variety of technical roles. His first big on-air reporting was during coverage of the L.A. riots. From there, he anchored CNN’s morning programs, winning acclaim for coverage of major news events like the Oklahoma City bombing, the O.J. Simpson trial, the September 11th attacks, and the 2000 Elections and Recount. Harris was twice awarded the National Cable Ace Award for Best Anchor.
In 2003 Harris moved to Washington to cover local news in his adopted home. He has won more than a dozen Local Emmys for his reporting and anchoring, including two as Best Local News Anchor. He was also recognized for his coverage of Hurricane Katrina and his reporting from the jungles of El Salvador on illegal immigration.
Harris is also known for his award-winning series focusing on area youth doing remarkable things in service to others and the adults making a way for those young people to succeed.
Harris’ commitment to supporting youths extends to the scholarships in his name at his alma mater Ohio University, where he is a cum laude graduate and holds an honorary doctorate.
He and his family live in Potomac, MD.
The Latest
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‘Almost an immediate change': Robotic surgery offers relief for enlarged prostate patients
Aquablation is a minimally invasive, robotic surgery to treat an enlarged prostate. It’s designed to bring long-term relief with a lower risk of complications than traditional surgery.
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Behind the history of Juneteenth
News4’s Leon Harris breaks down the history and importance of Juneteenth.
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‘Every woman, universally': Military wife is first Asian American, transgender woman to win Miss Maryland
Bailey Anne Kennedy, a military wife, is the first married woman and first Asian American woman to become Miss Maryland. She’s also the first transgender woman to win the title, in the 10 years since transgender women were first allowed in the Miss USA pageant. And to top it all off, this year’s competition was Kennedy’s first pageant.
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DC officer shot and wounded; civilian shot by police in Southeast
D.C. police are responding to the shooting in the 2800 block of Gainesville Street SE, where at least one person was shot by police. That person is critically injured.
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‘You've had enough': What weight-loss drugs may teach us about addiction
The medications Ozempic and Wegovy have been all over the news for helping people lose weight — and researchers are now studying the potential impact they could have on alcoholism and other addictive behaviors.
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Doctors Hope Heart Medication Could Also Treat Alcoholism
The holiday season can be a real trigger for people suffering with addiction. New research shows a potential new treatment, in the form of a pill, that could help nearly 15 million Americans with alcohol use disorder. Here’s what to know about spironolactone.
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A Message to News4 Viewers from Leon Harris
Many of you know that I made a terrible mistake one night in January. After drinking, I decided to get into my car and drive. This is the worst decision I could possibly have made. I have thanked God every day that —since that night — the accident did not result in someone’s death. I put the safety of others…
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Air Force Vet Helps Victims of Gun Violence
An Air Force veteran left a war zone to take a personal, grassroots approach to stopping gun violence in D.C.
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Harris' Heroes: Two Foundations Fighting Teen Suicide
Mental health is a hot topic for Generation Z. In one Montgomery County high school, students have come together to fight stigma around issues like depression, anxiety and suicide.
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Virginia Couple Volunteer as Tutors for 11 Years
The Latino Student Fund relies on volunteer tutors to provide free, year-round tutoring and mentoring services to low-income, at-risk students. Michele and Mark Lerner are their longest-serving volunteers, and this week’s Harris’ Heroes.
