Newscaster Olga Campos leaving KVUE after 16 years

Olga Campos is leaving KVUE today after 16 years on the station's news anchor desk.

Campos announced her departure Thursday morning on the ABC affiliate's "Daybreak" program.

"After 16 years at KVUE and 30 years in the news business, it was just time for a change," Campos told the American-Statesman on Thursday afternoon. "I have a couple things I might be interested in doing, but first on my list is sleeping in."

The newscaster said her father passed away last week, causing her to re-evaluate her priorities in life.

"I've had a great time and worked with some wonderful people, but I'm excited about being able to spend more time with my family," she said. Campos and husband Kevin Benz, editor-in-chief of the newly launched CultureMap website and former news director at News 8 Austin, have two college-age daughters, Corey and Allie.

Campos, a University of Texas graduate, spent most of her time at KVUE helming the station's 5 p.m. news.

But after anchor Jason Hill was laid off during 2009 budget cuts, Campos was shifted to the morning and midday broadcasts.

Campos' exit comes just a few weeks after KVUE, Austin's top-rated TV station, lost another familiar face. Reporter Martin Bartlett, who covered politics, left in late June to serve as spokesman for El Paso Water Utilities.

gdinges@statesman.com; 912-5987