A familiar face on Central Texas television is returning to the airwaves after making a high-profile move between local rival stations. Jasmin Caldwell, who spent nearly a decade covering local news across the region, has officially joined KWTX, the CBS affiliate based in the college city of Waco. The transition marks a notable shift in the local television landscape, bringing one of the area’s most recognizable broadcasting talents to a competing network.
The career change follows Caldwell’s recent departure from KCEN, the NBC affiliate situated in Temple, Texas. The move between the two broadcast entities represents a short geographic journey of roughly a thirty-minute drive north along Interstate 35. Central Texas viewers did not have to wait long to see her return, as her first official day on the job at the Waco newsroom took place on Tuesday, September 8.
In her new capacity at KWTX, Caldwell is set to take on a multifaceted hybrid role as both an on-air anchor and an active reporter. During the regular workweek, she will be out in the field gathering news and reporting on developing local issues across the community. When the weekend arrives, Caldwell will step into the studio to lead the station's weekend evening news broadcasts directly from behind the anchor desk.
Expressing immense enthusiasm about her new career trajectory, Caldwell emphasized that she is eager to dive into this next phase with the local CBS affiliate. She described herself as incredibly excited and looking forward to the opportunities that lie ahead at KWTX, viewing the transition as an ideal environment for continued professional development and public service.
In personal remarks shared regarding her hiring, Caldwell conveyed her optimism with a celebratory sentiment, stating, "Cheers to new beginnings!" She emphasized that she firmly considers KWTX to be the right platform for her ongoing career, pointing out that the station offers an environment where she can not only perform the reporting work she loves, but also learn, grow, and develop into an even stronger broadcast journalist.
Caldwell also highlighted the caliber of the newsroom she is joining, expressing genuine anticipation about collaborating with the station's editorial roster. She noted that she looks forward to working alongside some of the premier journalists in Central Texas, adding that she anticipates achieving great accomplishments with her new team while delivering vital coverage to the region.
Serving the local community remains at the very core of Caldwell’s professional mission. Reflecting on her long-standing dedication to the region, she noted that after spending years serving and telling the stories of local residents, she remains deeply grateful for the chance to continue that important storytelling mission in a fresh way with KWTX.
The transition comes just weeks after Caldwell unexpectedly signed off from her previous television home. Her final broadcast with KCEN took place on August 11, bringing an end to a prominent broadcast chapter that spanned nine years. Following her departure, she confirmed that while that specific chapter had concluded, her dedication to local broadcasting remained as strong as ever.
During her nine-year tenure at KCEN, a station owned by Tegna, Caldwell established herself as an integral figure within the Temple and Central Texas communities. Her time at the station was marked by deep community engagement and significant professional achievements that resonated well across the regional viewing area.
Among her most prominent career milestones at KCEN was participating in a historic moment in television news history. In 2022, Caldwell earned widespread recognition as a member of the station's groundbreaking on-air lineup, teaming up with colleagues Taheshah Moise and Ashley Carter to form the industry's first all-Black, all-female news team.
Caldwell's ascent in the regional broadcast market began when she first arrived in the Lone Star State back in 2017. A native of Omaha, Nebraska, she relocated to Texas and quickly fell in love with the area. Upon joining KCEN, she initially started out in the newsroom as a dedicated multimedia journalist, handling reporting and video production duties in the field.
Through steady professional advancement, Caldwell transitioned from field reporting into prominent studio anchor roles. Over the course of her tenure at the Temple station, she moved into the weekend evening anchor chair before ultimately rising to the role of morning anchor, where she regularly guided viewers through the start of their day prior to her August departure.
Following her exit from the Temple-based NBC affiliate, Caldwell made it clear that she was determined to remain within the Central Texas market. Rather than stepping away from broadcast news or hanging up her microphone, she remained focused on staying on television, provided the right local opportunity presented itself.
A major factor driving her career decision was a conscious desire to avoid the transient lifestyle often associated with television news. Instead of jumping from city to city and moving across disparate media markets, Caldwell deliberately chose to plant deep roots in Central Texas, prioritizing continuity and community connection over frequent relocations.
Ultimately, Caldwell explained that her overarching professional objective is centered around practicing quality journalism and bringing important local stories to the people of Central Texas. By joining KWTX in Waco, the veteran broadcaster ensures that local audiences will continue to see a dedicated, experienced journalist bringing their community's stories to light.
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