Sarah Al-Shaikh
After graduation, Sarah pursued her passion for storytelling at Syracuse University, earning a master's degree in Broadcast and Digital Journalism. She began her professional journalism career as a weekend anchor and reporter in Lansing, Michigan. During her time there, Sarah covered major stories including the race for Governor of Michigan, the Oxford High School shooting, and Black Lives Matter protests. While she loved the mid-Michigan community, Sarah was ready to move back home to Texas to be closer to family.
Sarah joined KXAN in Austin as a multimedia journalist, initially covering Hays County - one of the fastest-growing regions in the state. There, she closely followed the fentanyl crisis affecting a local school district, where multiple student overdoses rocked the community. After about a year, she was promoted to a reporter role focused on business, workforce and development in Austin. Sarah also covered several major breaking news events - from wildfires to a funeral home director accused of experimenting on corpses.
Outside the newsroom, Sarah loves spending time with her family and friends. When football season rolls around, you'll likely find her glued to the TV, cheering on her Houston Texans. GO TEXANS!
Sarah is incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to tell the stories of Houstonians - hoping to give back to the city that has given her so much.
ABC13's Stories
New data shows Houston-area suburb sinks more than a foot in nearly two decades
The report stated that the fast-growing community of Katy is sinking due to the large amounts of groundwater being removed.
Caught on video: SUV strikes multiple vehicles at intersection, including HPD vehicle in SW Houston
Wild video out of southwest Houston captured the moment an SUV barreled through a busy intersection and slammed into multiple vehicles.
Demolition of mall property owned by organizations once tied to high-speed rail underway
ABC13 saw piles of rubble and only a small part of the mall still standing on Sunday afternoon. The demolition started last month, after the mall sat empty for nearly ten years.
EPA orders cleanup of San Jacinto River waste pits after state found cancer cluster last year
In 2017, the EPA approved a plan to clean up the San Jacinto River waste pits in east Harris County. Nine years later, cleanup is still not underway.
Drivers advised to remove their vehicles from Avenida South Garage before demolition: Houston First
A parking garage at the George R. Brown Convention Center will be demolished on Monday, and all vehicles left will be towed.
Willowbrook Mall enforces new 'parental guidance' rules
Mall officials said those who cannot provide a valid ID showing they are at least 18 or older must be accompanied by a supervising adult in order to stay at the mall.
Houston woman on her fight to get her birth certificate: 'I'm a person'
Nearly a month after speaking with Barbara Brown, she updated ABC13 that the passport office confirmed her application was approved. She said she expects to get her passport by next week.
Missouri City police bust chop shop operation, discovering at least 17 stolen cars, officials say
Authorities said that what started as a routine traffic stop led to the discovery of a "major auto chop shop operation" in Missouri City, which uncovered multiple stolen vehicles and parts.
Ethics complaints filed over Mayor Whitmire's new taxpayer-funded podcast
A new podcast starring Houston Mayor John Whitmire is now at the center of ethics complaints filed by the Houston Progressive Caucus.
Baytown father arrested, charged with capital murder of his 7-week-old baby, court documents show
Court documents said the baby was alone with the father, Christopher Leon Jenkins, when medics were called to the Baytown apartment and found the baby with no pulse. Jenkins is now charged with capital murder.