KCCI Promotes Abigail Kurten to Weekend Anchor
The Des Moines station elevated the reporter, who joined its newsroom in September 2025, to co-anchor its weekend morning broadcast.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Secondary Education
KCCI has promoted reporter Abigail Kurten to weekend anchor for 'KCCI 8 News this Morning,' according to an announcement from News Director Natalie Cabieses. Kurten joined the station's newsroom in September 2025 after reporting in Iowa.
Why it matters
The promotion puts a reporter with recent Iowa coverage, including the arrest of former Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts, in a more visible on-air role for Des Moines viewers. It reflects how local stations build their weekend lineups from existing newsroom talent.
The promotion followed roughly 14 months at KCCI, with Kurten's prior experience including two years in Cedar Rapids and a DITV anchor and reporter role. The station did not disclose her compensation or contract length.
The players
KCCI
KCCI is the CBS-affiliated television station in Des Moines, Iowa, serving central Iowa with local news and weather.
Natalie Cabieses
Natalie Cabieses is the news director at KCCI, who announced the promotion of Abigail Kurten.
The details
Kurten, who grew up in St. Louis and earned a journalism and mass communications degree from the University of Iowa, came to Iowa in 2019. She previously worked as an anchor, reporter and digital liaison for DITV and covered Iowa legislation on hands-free driving and animal torture felonies at KCCI.
Timeline
2019: Kurten came to Iowa to attend the University of Iowa.
September 2025: Kurten joined KCCI's newsroom.
November 11, 2026: Kurten was promoted to weekend anchor for 'KCCI 8 News this Morning.'
Industry Dynamics
Local TV stations in mid-sized markets like Des Moines often fill weekend anchor seats by elevating reporters already on staff rather than recruiting from outside. Kurten's move follows that pattern within KCCI's newsroom.
Des Moines viewers who watch weekend morning news will see Kurten as a regular anchor. The change affects only the on-air lineup and does not alter any news coverage or local services.
The takeaway
Local newsroom promotions often reward reporters who have already built community ties, and viewers in Des Moines can expect familiar faces across weekend programming. Watching how a station handles staffing changes can show where its priorities lie.
Further reading
For more on local education coverage, see Secondary Education reporting in Des Moines.
