CBS19 Evening News Anchor and solo storyteller, Tashara Parker is a native Houstonian with roots in East Texas. Most of her family was born and raised in Hemphill. Tashara can be seen weeknights at 6, 6:30 and 10pm on the CBS19 evening news.

While in East Texas, Tashara has covered major stories, including the 2017 Van Zandt County tornadoes, two high-profile executions, that she also wrote and produced majority of the content for and even investigated drinking water concerns in the city of Tyler.

As an evening anchor, Tashara has remained steadfast in uncovering all that East Texas has to offer, which is why you’ll likely see her around town attending local events. She often emcees events, speaks at schools, churches, volunteer groups, and has made dozens of appearances at community happenings. Viewers have described Tashara as a “vivacious spirit and someone who truly cares about people and this community. She lights up the room with her awesome personality.”

Prior to making the move to CBS19, Tashara worked as an evening anchor/reporter in College Station, Texas at the NBC affiliate, KAGS News.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Texas A&M University. She also received a master’s degree in journalism from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.

While pursuing her master’s degree, Tashara was able to report firsthand on the Chicago district closings of 54 elementary schools – the largest single wave of school closings in U.S. history. She also co-authored and produced an in depth look at the ‘Decline of Inner-City High School Athletic Championships’ in Chicago.

Prior to her time in Chicago, Tashara worked behind the scenes at Comcast Sportsnet Chicago, the ABC affiliate, KTRK in Houston and the CBS affiliate, KBTX in Bryan.

Aside from work, Tashara volunteers hundreds of hours every year with many organizations, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the Tyler Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.
In addition to her volunteer work, Tashara serves on the Junior League of Tyler board of directors as the Vice President of Communications.