Former Alabama news anchor Melissa Riopka dies

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. ( WHNT ) — Former News 19 anchor Melissa Riopka died Saturday after a battle with acute myeloid leukemia. She was 48 years old.

Riopka grew up in Cullman, and in 1995 while attending the University of Alabama, she interned at News 19.

Riopka worked at stations in Chattanooga and Birmingham before deciding to call Huntsville home.

In 2013, she returned to News 19 as a morning reporter, working with anchors Steve Johnson and Michelle Stark and meteorologist Ben Smith for two years.

After two years in that role, she was promoted to co-anchor the 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. weekday newscasts with long-time News 19 anchor Jerry Hayes .

She then went on to share the desk with another News 19 legend, Steve Johnson, on morning newscasts for four and a half years.

Riopka was also a great partner with the community and gave a voice to the Better Business Bureau, Make-A-Wish and many other organizations.

And more than that, she was a great friend to many she worked with during her time at WHNT.

Riopka left News 19 in March 2022, but her impact at the station has been felt far beyond that through the people who were fortunate to work with and get to know her.

Riopka is survived by her husband and two children. News 19’s thoughts and prayers are with Riopka’s family and friends.

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