Watch Rachel weekdays during 10 News at 5:30, 6 and 7 p.m.
Home is where the heart is, and for Rachel Lucas her heart is right here in Southwest Virginia. No stranger to the Appalachian Mountains, Rachel grew up on a farm in Giles County and is thrilled to provide news coverage for the place she calls home. Rachel joined the WSLS 10 News team in 2013 as a multi-media journalist. She was promoted to weekend morning anchor in 2015, then to morning weekday anchor on Virginia Today in 2019. Taking her dream job, she now serves as WSLS 10’s evening anchor.
Rachel has helped WSLS 10 win multiple awards for team coverage of various breaking news events across the region, including her investigative reporting of the after effects of the Lynchburg train derailment, which spilled thousands of gallons of Bakken crude oil into the James River. Earning the trust of WSLS 10 viewers, she is more than familiar with the issues that affect the region. She understands our viewers because she has and always will be a member of our community.
After graduating from Giles High School in 2006, Rachel pursued her dream of journalism at Concord University in Athens, West Virginia. While a Mountain Lion, she competed for Concord’s All-Girl Division II cheerleading squad and represented her sorority Alpha Sigma Alpha as President and Concords 2009 Homecoming Queen.
She started in news at her college news station and with an internship reporting for West Virginia Public Broadcasting. She landed her first job at WVVA News in Bluefield, West Virginia shortly after graduation. While in the Mountain State, Rachel launched WVVA’s first news bureau in Greenbrier County. There, she covered everything from the storm damage after the derecho, to the excitement of the PGA Tours Greenbrier Classic.
While reporting on the front lines at Virginia Tech, Rachel helped her news team receive Best Spot News Award from the West Virginia Broadcasters Association for their coverage of the tragic shooting of a Virginia Tech police officer.
While working in the station’s home base nestled in East River Mountain, it wasn’t out of the ordinary for a bear or any other wild critter to pay a visit to the newsroom – one of Rachel’s favorite memories from working in Bluefield.
From breaking news in weather including the devastating EF3 tornado that hit Appomattox, to top stories in crime, politics, the environment, economics and health, Rachel has in-depth experience in covering a variety of topics in our region. Rachel also enjoys covering stories that feature the strengths of the local community and its people. Through her role she hopes to help better the community she grew up in. She works to highlight local businesses in a local business spotlight segment as part of a partnership with The Advancement Foundation, a local nonprofit where she volunteers her time. A true animal lover, Rachel especially enjoys covering topics that have anything to do educating the public about conservation of wildlife. When she has time, she enjoys volunteering at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife in Roanoke, helping to rehabilitate injured or orphaned wildlife.
An avid Hokie and Redskins fan, Rachel is excited to be in the Commonwealth with her husband Andy who is also a member of the WSLS 10 team. They live in the Roanoke Valley with their two dogs Gibbs, Phoenix and cat Penelope. The best part of the weekend is spent on a nice Sunday family dinner which is only a short drive away.
Rachel loves hearing from viewers! For news tips or just to say hello email Rachel at rlucas@wsls.com
