What’s Up South Texas! Not only is that the name of the series Japhanie Gray created, but it’s also her favorite greeting as she has returned to KSAT as a morning anchor. The award-winning journalist rejoined KSAT in August 2024 after previously working as a reporter on the Nightbeat from 2018 to 2021.
Gray was born and raised in small-town Osceola, Arkansas, but always considered San Antonio home. She fell in love with the people, the community and the overall culture and tradition of the Alamo City.
"I fell in love years ago because, even though San Antonio is constantly growing and on the move, it still has a small-town, family-like feel about it. It is a special place," Gray said.
At the start of her career, Gray worked in Market 182 as a part-time production assistant. After years of hard work through several positions and overcoming multiple challenges, rejoining KSAT as a morning anchor made this accomplishment even sweeter.
"I also can't say 'thank you' enough to my parents, Stephanie and Leon Gray, for their unbreakable love, their support, and for raising me to be the accomplished woman I am today. I truly believe things happen for a reason at the right time on God's timeline. I'm just grateful and thankful to God that it is now time to be back home," Gray said.
After leaving KSAT in 2021, Gray joined its sister station, WSLS, in Roanoke, Virginia. She created a franchise highlighting inspiring stories throughout Southwest Virginia called The Deep Blue Ridge. The series won the Best Human Interest Series award from the Virginia Association of Broadcasters.
In Roanoke, Gray rebranded a production called The Sprint, an online daily discussion about good news and viral happenings. She also highlighted local restaurants through another passion project of hers.
Before her KSAT chapter, Gray worked at KAIT-TV in Jonesboro, Arkansas, as a multimedia journalist and fill-in anchor. She also worked with the Jonesboro Radio Group as an on-air personality for Hot 107.5, "The Party Station;" Mix 106.3, "The Adult Hit Music Station;" and 100.5, "The Eagle Rocks."
Gray is now the co-anchor of KSAT's GMSA and GMSA at 9 a.m. She also highlights extraordinary stories in her What's Up South Texas series.
