Lolita Lopez is an investigative reporter and anchor at NBC4 and has been part of the team since 2011. She can be seen daily reporting for NBC4 news at 11 a.m. and 4, 5, 6 and 11 p.m.
Lopez is part of the award-winning I-Team, digging deep into stories and cases that impact viewers throughout the Southland – her investigative stories can be seen here. She has also covered a wide range of significant stories, including national stories from the Christopher Dorner manhunt to the Los Angeles Kings Stanley Cup win in 2012. Earlier in her career, she was stationed at Ground Zero for nearly two weeks while covering the World Trade Center tragedy and spent many years reporting the effects of that tragedy.
Lopez believes her job is complete when her news stories about the community make a difference, as in the case of a piece she did on a sixth grade class that created a Facebook page to sell their homemade art to raise money for a classmate whose family couldn’t afford a proper funeral for his father. Just one day after Lopez’s story aired, the site raised more than $3000.
A journalist for more than 20 years, Lopez feels privileged to tell peoples’ stories and honored to meet many inspiring people along the way. As a breast cancer survivor, she has shared her own challenges during treatment and recovery with a series of stories on her courageous fight against the disease as a working mother and wife.
Prior to joining NBC4, Lopez had a successful, decade-long career at WPIX-TV in New York, where she served as a general assignment reporter and, later, a sports anchor. She became the main sports anchor and a field reporter for the NY Mets, working alongside the late great Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver. Earlier in her career, she was one of only two reporters on Court TV’s issue-oriented legal program “Pros and Cons” with Nancy Grace. While working on the show, Lopez covered many controversial cases, including the parole hearing of John Lennon’s murderer.
Over the course of her career, Lopez has been recognized with several industry awards, including several Los Angeles area Emmy Awards for her live anchoring and investigative reports. She won two New York area Emmy Awards for ‘Best Sports Feature’ and ‘Best Live Sports Coverage.’ She also was praised by New York’s largest Spanish language daily newspaper, El Diario La Prensa, as one of the most outstanding women in the community.
When not working, Lopez cherishes spending quality time with family and friends sharing stories with lots of good food, laughter and playing volleyball on any grass or beach court. She also enjoys participating in charitable events that support important causes impacting Southern Californians, including the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk and promoting the importance of youth sports in our communities, knowing how much sports impacted her life.
Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, Lopez moved to Houston at age four when her father became the women’s track coach at Rice University. A lifelong sports fan, Lopez graduated from Harvard University in 1998, where she was on the women’s volleyball and track teams for four years; she was also co-captain of the volleyball team her junior and senior years.
The Latest
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There's a new way to target illegal pot shops plaguing SoCal
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New survey shows LA residents concerned, yet supportive of LAPD
The relationship between people in our diverse Los Angeles communities and the Los Angeles Police Department has been a challenging one, hitting a height of discontent and distrust following the death of George Floyd in 2020.
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Controversial Aliso Canyon gas facility may expand capacity against neighbors' wishes
It was once the site of the largest natural gas leak in U.S. history. Now, regulators are considering expanding the capacity of the Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Storage Facility in an effort they say could regulate heating costs this winter.
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Here's what insurance covers after flooding, earthquakes and a ‘hurriquake'
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Playing Mega Millions: Where the money goes and a buyer warning
The NBC 4 I-Team explains the extraordinary amount of money that will now be going to local schools as a result of lottery ticket sales and the warning from lottery officials about players spending beyond their means.
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Home insurance may not cover fireworks incidents
There’s a risk of injury, a risk of starting a fire, and a risk that your home insurance may not cover expenses if something goes wrong while using fireworks, according to Quote Wizard, an online insurance marketplace.
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What Are the Most Common Trash Items Found on California Beaches? Here's the List
The environmental group Ocean Conservancy has seen it all when it comes to beach trash, but there are some items that turn up with striking regularity during the group’s annual global beach cleanup events. Here are the top items found in California.
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Suspect in Van Surrounded by SWAT in Torrance Strip Mall Parking Lot is Dead, Officials Say
The man inside a white cargo van that was searched by law enforcement in Torrance in connection with a deadly mass shooting is dead, several law enforcement sources tell NBC News. Armored SWAT vehicles and law enforcement SUVs surrounded the white cargo van Sunday morning near Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance.
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Local Federal Prosecutor Monitoring Southern California Elections for Potential Fraud
Tensions and emotions surrounding the election can sometimes turn into actions that could be against the law.
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Fentanyl-Related Deaths Increase by More Than 1700% Over 5 Years in LA County
The recent death of a high school student in Hollywood is being described as a wake-up call by police, parents, and leaders at local school districts concerned about fentanyl.
