Alyssa Willetts
Multimedia Journalist
Topeka, Kan.
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I am a recent college graduate from Oklahoma Wesleyan University where I got my degree in Film. I moved to Topeka from Oklahoma City and took the Morning Producer/MMJ position at WIBW News 13.
I played soccer all through college and am a sports fanatic. Growing up I always knew I wanted to be on camera, and later on I discovered my love for storytelling.
I love meeting new people and helping them communicate and share their stories with the world. I am a huge dog lover, enjoy exploring new places, and slightly obsessed with Christmas.
I am excited to start my career in Northeast Kansas, and I look forward to meeting and interacting with our viewers.
The NFL is inviting 7,500 health care workers to Super Bowl LV as a way to thank and honor them for their heroic work throughout the pandemic.
Kansas State University is expanding its COVID-19 testing for the spring semester.
The League of Women Voters of Topeka-Shawnee County (LWVTSC) is collaborating with the Topeka NAACP and the League of United Latin American Citizens to slow the spread of COVID-19.
13 NEWS has a crew on site and will update this story when more information becomes available.
Kansas State University announced Friday they will begin the first two weeks of the spring semester with remote learning, to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Kansas State University announced Tuesday that it is considering starting the spring semester completely remote.
The Topeka Metro has remained an essential service throughout the pandemic and their drivers have had to adapt to stay safe.
The Topeka Fire Department said two homes suffered thousands of dollars in damage after a fire Saturday night.
Christmas came early this year for animals living at Helping Hands Humane Society in Topeka.
The Kansas Department of Labor continues working through its backlog of unemployment claims, but one Topekan said she is tired of being told to be patient.
The Shawnee County Community Transmission Scorecard for COVID-19 is seeing a decrease in some areas.
Staff at Topeka's Stormont Vail Hospital were first in Topeka to receive COVID vaccination.
The Salina Police Department said one of its officers was stabbed during a confrontation with a suspect on Sunday.
Parents and students of Shawnee Heights school district rallied Saturday in support of USD 450 returning to in-person learning.
The Topeka Police Department brought in several people for questioning after one person died Friday night.
The Kansas Department of Labor said it is stopping about 2,300 fraudulent claims a day. Suntell, a software company in Topeka, had four of its 17 employees fall victim within the last month.
With community spread of COVID-19 remaining in the uncontrolled zone on Shawnee County’s scorecard, Health Officer Dr. Gianfranco Pezzino, is extending his current emergency order.
Governor Laura Kelly sat down with 13 NEWS to share more about her all-of-the-above strategy to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
The Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library announced Saturday it’s closing the building, due to the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 in the community.
Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, expects congress will pass a bipartisan COVID-19 relief package within the next couple weeks.
Front line workers are feeling the stress of the surge in COVID-19 patients, so a Topeka pastor started a fundraiser to offer relief.
A proposed quarry site a mile from the city of Carbondale has some residents concerned. The city’s mayor is also raising questions about the impact it could have on Carbondale’s water supply.
A new retail shop for girls and teens opened Saturday in Topeka’s historic Westboro Mart.
The COVID-19 pandemic changed a lot of Thanksgiving celebrations.
Topeka Rescue Mission’s Operation Street Reach spent the holiday delivering meals to Topeka’s homeless.
Topeka’s Stormont Vail said they have requested emergency staffing assistance from the state, as the surge in COVID-19 cases in the community continues to impact its health care workers.
November is National Adoption Month! On Saturday, more than 15 adoptions across the state were finalized.
Governor Laura Kelly, D-Kansas, joined a call with county commissioners and public health officials to discuss her new order and her administration’s COVID-19 response.
On Friday, the State Finance Council approved to redistribute $38.5 million to public health response and business resiliency & workforce support.
Crews battled a large grassfire that started in Shawnee County Wednesday afternoon and spread to Jackson County, forcing residents to evacuate.
27 year old, Tre Bolden of Topeka was the suspect taken into custody after a shooting incident in Southeast Topeka.
The owners of the Menninger property in Topeka announced they have begun the process to demolish the historic clock tower building, unless they can find an organization to donate it to.
Kansas' Director of Human Trafficking Education and Outreach will be using her skills to help people on a global scale.
As coronavirus ramps up across Kansas, Gov. Laura Kelly told members of the State Finance Council she has no intention of issuing another statewide shut down.
Shawnee County is seeing its worst outbreak of COVID-19 in the community since the pandemic began, leading the county health officer to issue new restrictions aimed at slowing the spread.
A local Vietnam veteran was presented with a Quilt of Valor on Veteran’s Day for his service and sacrifice to our country.
Washburn Rural High School’s Air Force JROTC livestreamed their ceremony honoring veterans to the rest of the school.
A Nurse at Rolling Hills Health & Rehab facility in Topeka said working in long-term care is her passion.
Eleanor Parnell has tried to cross something off her bucket list every year since her 80th birthday. On Friday, she turned 99 years old, but due to the pandemic, she wasn’t able to celebrate in her usual daredevil fashion.
One person was shot early Sunday morning in Topeka.
Students in Washburn Tech’s carpentry program are using their skills to create some holiday magic for the Topeka Zoo.
The Dirty Dawg Saloon in Aggieville is being forced to close after multiple violations of a Riley County health order.
With the county now in the ‘uncontrolled’ category, County Health Officer, Dr. Gianfranco Pezzino, said there is heightened concern heading into the holiday season.
The Shawnee County District Attorney is beginning to review information on a shooting incident that injured three teens Halloween night in the 1300 block of NW Eugene.
Gov. Laura Kelly said in a news conference Wednesday that while the election is at the forefront of everyone’s mind, COVID-19 did not take a break.