The newest member of the Local 12 news team, Dan Spehler covers breaking news and events around the Tri-State every night on Local 12 News at 11. Spehler comes to WKRC from Indianapolis, where he served as a morning anchor/reporter for WRTV, covering everything from tornadoes to the Super Bowl. He also interviewed dozens of newsmakers: President Obama, Governor Mitch Daniels, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, and entertainment superstars Patrick Dempsey and Dave Matthews. Dan’s work was also honored by the Indiana chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Indiana Associated Press.
An Ohio native, Dan has spent much of his life near the Tri-State region. Before moving to Indianapolis, Spehler worked at WDTN-TV in Dayton, Ohio, where he anchored the daily 5:30 p.m. newscast and reported for the 11p.m. news. While at WDTN, Spehler was honored to receive both an Emmy nomination and a first-place award for investigative reporting from the Ohio Associated Press, for investigating the circumstances surrounding a botched drug raid that led to a young man's death. Another story of Spehler’s even helped change Ohio law, when he discovered that a new law prohibiting sex offenders from living near schools was not being properly enforced.
Prior to working in Dayton, Spehler was a weekend anchor/reporter for WUPW-TV in Toledo, Ohio. His work there was also recognized by industry leaders with two more Ohio Associated Press Awards.
Spehler attended Bowling Green State University and while there, served as general manager/news director for BG 24 News, the campus television station. Spehler also worked at WTVG-TV in Toledo as a news producer.
An avid sports fan, Dan looks forward to being back in the Buckeye state to watch his favorite teams up close.
Dan is also a newlywed- he and his wife Kristi met in Indianapolis, and got married there this past summer.
