Cory Hepola leaves WCCO radio

The former KARE 11 anchor may be considering a run for governor.

February 15, 2022 at 1:57PM
Cory Hepola
Former KARE-11 anchor Cory Hepola said his WCCO radio show changed his life in positive ways that he didn’t expect. (Provided/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Cory Hepola has left his WCCO radio show.

Several news outlets are reporting that the former KARE-11 weekend anchor is contemplating to run in the Minnesota gubernatorial race. Media companies typically sever ties with employees who are seeking a political office.

MPR News' Brian Bakst said Hepola is considering a third-party bid.

Hepola's eponymous show, "Hey it's Cory Hepola," debuted on WCCO Radio in January 2019. The Minnesota native came to the station after nearly four years of co-hosting "KARE 11 News at Sunrise." He hosted the 9 a.m.-noon slot previously held by John Hines.

"Every experience, positive or negative, prepares us for what's next," Hepola tweeted Monday. "None of us are a finished product. but each day is a new opportunity to identify our special gifts and use them to uplift others. I knew from the start I'd do my best to accomplish that at WCCO...or so I thought. WCCO DID change my life, only in positive ways that I didn't expect. So today, I leave the iconic station with a heavy heart."

A representative from Audacy, which owns WCCO, confirmed Hepola's departure, but had no further comment.

about the writer

about the writer

Neal Justin

Critic / Reporter

Neal Justin is the pop-culture critic, covering how Minnesotans spend their entertainment time. He also reviews stand-up comedy. Justin previously served as TV and music critic for the paper. He is the co-founder of JCamp, a non-profit program for high-school journalists, and works on many fronts to further diversity in newsrooms.

See Moreicon

More from No Section

See More
FILE -- A rent deposit slot at an apartment complex in Tucker, Ga., on July 21, 2020. As an eviction crisis has seemed increasingly likely this summer, everyone in the housing market has made the same plea to Washington: Send money — lots of it — that would keep renters in their homes and landlords afloat. (Melissa Golden/The New York Times) ORG XMIT: XNYT58
Melissa Golden/The New York Times

It’s too soon to tell how much the immigration crackdown is to blame.