Jackie Bange has spent most of her professional life explaining Chicago’s biggest stories with a calm, direct style. Her work has ranged from local government and election-night coverage to international assignments, disaster features and detailed investigations. That range has made her one of the most familiar journalists associated with WGN-TV.
Her role entered a new phase at the beginning of 2026. After years of sharing the weekend desk with other anchors, Bange announced that she had begun anchoring the weekend evening newscasts solo. The change followed Tahman Bradley’s move to a Monday-through-Friday reporting schedule.
Quick Facts
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jackie Bange |
| Born | September 9, 1961 |
| Age in 2026 | 64, turning 65 on September 9, 2026 |
| Profession | Television news anchor and reporter |
| Current Station | WGN-TV in Chicago |
| Joined WGN-TV | August 1993 |
| Weekend Evening Anchor Since | October 1995 |
| Current 2026 Role | Solo weekend evening anchor |
| Education | Florida State University and University of Florida |
| Earlier Stations | WPEC-TV and WMAQ-TV |
| Husband | George Strickland |
| Children | Three |
| Major Honors | Emmy, Associated Press, Peter Lisagor and Silver Circle recognition |
A Broadcasting Family and an Unusual Academic Start
Television news was already part of Bange’s family life before she entered the industry. Her father worked as a news anchor at WPLG in Miami and WGAL in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, while her mother worked as a weathercaster in Lancaster. She grew up with a close view of the deadlines and public responsibilities that come with broadcasting.
Her first degree, however, was not in journalism. Bange earned an undergraduate degree in Management Information Systems from Florida State University. She later completed a post-baccalaureate degree in Telecommunications at the University of Florida, graduating with distinction.
Learning the Business in West Palm Beach and Chicago
Bange began her television career at WPEC-TV in West Palm Beach, Florida, where she worked as a reporter and noon anchor. Her assignments included city hall, giving her early experience with public policy and local government. She also produced a weekly scuba-diving report that combined field journalism with one of her personal interests.
She later moved to WMAQ-TV in Chicago, serving as a general assignment reporter and weekend anchor from 1989 to 1992. The position introduced her to a major television market where reporters move quickly between breaking news, public safety, politics and neighborhood stories.
Joining WGN-TV and Moving to Weekend Evenings
Bange joined WGN-TV in August 1993 as a general assignment reporter. In January 1995, she became an anchor on the WGN Morning News. She remained in the morning role until October 1995, when she moved to the weekend evening anchor desk.
For many years, the weekend team included Robert Jordan, Jim Ramsey and Rich King. Bange worked with that group for 21 years, developing the natural rhythm that comes from covering elections, severe weather, major local events and breaking stories together.
Jackie Bange’s Current WGN Role in 2026
As of July 2026, Bange is anchoring WGN’s weekend evening coverage solo. In January, she described her first weekend as a solo anchor and explained that Tahman Bradley had moved to weekday reporting. Bradley remains part of WGN, but he is no longer her regular weekend co-anchor.
Bange’s current Instagram profile highlights WGN News at 5 and 9. Her station-related posts also show her working through the late weekend news block that runs until 10:30 p.m., including the 10 p.m. newscast. Sports and special programming can occasionally affect the weekend schedule.
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Reporting Beyond the Anchor Desk
Bange’s career is not limited to presenting news from a studio. She has reported from Tanzania and Paris and covered major American political moments, including presidential election nights involving Barack Obama and Joe Biden. These assignments added national and international range to a career rooted mainly in Chicago.
Her reporting has also focused on people facing extraordinary circumstances. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, she produced “Into the Darkness,” a feature about two Chicago-area pilots and their crew who reached flooded areas of New Orleans and helped rescue hundreds of stranded residents.
The Story Behind “Into the Darkness”
The Katrina feature stood out because Bange did more than retell the rescue. She used night-vision goggles to recreate the conditions the pilots and their crew faced. The visual approach helped viewers understand the darkness, limited visibility and uncertainty surrounding the operation.
“Into the Darkness” received an Illinois Associated Press award for Best Hard News Feature. The recognition reflected the report’s combination of reconstruction, visual storytelling and attention to the people involved in the rescue.
Awards and Professional Recognition
In 1999, Bange received an Emmy Award for a series involving skydivers attempting a world record for the largest formation. She participated in the assignment instead of covering it only from the ground. The project also earned Associated Press recognition for the series and its aerial photography.
She earned a Peter Lisagor Award in 2009 for a report that helped a widow pursue justice after her husband was killed in a suspected drunk-driving case. Bange was later inducted into the Chicago/Midwest Silver Circle, recognizing her sustained contribution to regional television.
Marriage, Children and Family Life
Bange is married to George Strickland, whom she has identified in posts shared through her public WGN-branded Facebook page. The couple has three children. During her decades at WGN, Bange built her family while maintaining the demanding schedule of a weekend television anchor.
She occasionally shares birthday dinners, holidays, trips and family milestones on social media. These posts provide small glimpses of her home life while keeping most of the attention on her reporting, colleagues and work in Chicago television.
An Active Life Away From the Newsroom
Travel, scuba diving, skydiving and athletic training have long been part of Bange’s life away from television. She has completed seven triathlons, and her interest in demanding physical activities has sometimes crossed into her reporting, particularly during her award-winning skydiving project.
Her adventurous side helps explain why several of her strongest features feel more immersive than conventional anchor reports. Whether she is working in the air, underwater or recreating a nighttime rescue, Bange has often been willing to experience part of a story herself.
Community Work and Journalism Mentoring
Bange has worked with a college mentoring program for students interested in journalism. Her experience gives young reporters practical insight into field reporting, writing, live television, interviewing, anchoring and building a lasting relationship with a local audience.
Her community work has included the Michael Matters Foundation, fundraising for A Safe Place, and volunteering with the Northern Illinois Food Bank, the West Deerfield Township Food Pantry and Feed My Starving Children. She has also received a Woman of Honor award for her devotion to family.
Official Social Media and WGN Profiles
Bange’s social accounts mix newsroom clips with family moments, travel, outdoor activities and behind-the-scenes posts from WGN. Her Instagram and Facebook pages have also provided direct updates about changes to her anchoring role.
- Instagram: @jackiebange
- Facebook: Jackie Bange WGN
Her online presence feels personal without being overly produced. Viewers see her adventurous interests, relationships with colleagues and continued connection to the Chicago audience that has followed her for more than three decades.
Interesting Facts About Jackie Bange
- Her first degree was in Management Information Systems, not journalism.
- Both of her parents worked in television broadcasting.
- Her Florida station carried a rare weekly local scuba-diving report.
- She participated in a series involving a world-record skydive formation.
- She spent 21 years with Robert Jordan, Jim Ramsey and Rich King.
Conclusion
Jackie Bange’s career shows how a local television journalist can remain relevant through consistent reporting, community involvement and a willingness to take on difficult assignments. Her journey from West Palm Beach to Chicago has included morning news, weekend anchoring, international reporting and award-winning features.
The major 2026 development is her move to solo weekend anchoring after Tahman Bradley shifted to weekdays. More than three decades after joining WGN-TV, Bange remains an active part of Chicago news rather than simply a familiar figure from its past.
FAQs
How old is Jackie Bange in 2026?
Jackie Bange is 64 years old in July 2026. She was born on September 9, 1961, and will turn 65 in September.
Is Jackie Bange still working at WGN-TV?
Yes. She remains an active WGN-TV weekend evening anchor and reporter and began anchoring the weekend desk solo in 2026.
Is Tahman Bradley still Jackie Bange’s co-anchor?
No. Tahman Bradley moved to weekday reporting in January 2026, while Bange continued as the solo weekend evening anchor.
What time does Jackie Bange appear on WGN?
Her public profile highlights the 5 and 9 p.m. weekend newscasts, and she also works during WGN’s late weekend news block.
Where did Jackie Bange go to college?
She studied Management Information Systems at Florida State University and Telecommunications at the University of Florida.
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