Jim De La Vega has announced his decision to retire from Fresno Fox affiliate KMPH for medical reasons.
De La Vega has been part of the morning show for about 17 years. He said he’s had an issue with his blood pressure and felt it was necessary to retire to focus on his health.
He changed his mind about coming back after talking with his doctors and decided to medically retire.
According to his bio, he once confronted then Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court William Rehnquist when the justice barred broadcast media from covering an event but allowed print reporters.
“Early in my career I had more brass than brains.” Jim recounts. “Luckily for me the Chief Justice seemed amused that this skinny kid from Georgia had the temerity to question the most powerful jurist in the country. He even answered my question explaining that our cameras were banned because he didn’t like the way he looked on TV. Whew. But I got the story.”
He joined the station in 2008.
