KHOU anchor Shern-Min Chow to leave Houston television after nearly 30 years at Channel 11

A longtime on-air presence in Houston announces departure date

Houston television anchor and reporter Shern-Min Chow is leaving KHOU 11, with Feb. 9, 2026 set as her final day on the station’s newscasts. Chow has been a fixture at the TEGNA-owned CBS affiliate since joining in the summer of 1996, and in recent years has anchored the midday and 4 p.m. weekday programs.

In a video message posted on social media, Chow said she plans to pursue projects that were not feasible while working full time, without detailing what those projects would be.

Career timeline: from national magazine work to Texas local news

Chow began her journalism career as a stringer for Newsweek before moving into television. Her early broadcast work included a stint in San Antonio, followed by roles in the Houston market at KPRC and KTRK, prior to joining KHOU.

Biographical profiles connected to civic programming and community events identify Chow as a Yale University graduate with a history degree and note that she speaks conversational Mandarin and the Shanghai dialect.

Coverage portfolio and professional recognition

Over nearly three decades in Houston TV news, Chow’s reporting has spanned major regional and national stories. Published accounts of her career highlight coverage tied to hurricanes affecting the Gulf Coast, Texas wildfires, and high-profile court proceedings, alongside long-running community and public-safety reporting that typically anchors local television news.

Her professional honors listed in event biographies include an Emmy for the documentary Hong Kong Under the Dragon, as well as awards from the Houston Press Club and Texas Associated Press. Chow was also recognized in 2014 in a Houston-based program highlighting influential women in the region.

Civic visibility in Houston

Chow has been a regular moderator and speaker at Houston-area civic events, with organizational bios describing extensive community appearances over the course of her career. Those bios also list advisory and board affiliations tied to local nonprofit and cultural institutions, including the Asia Society Texas Center and the Chinese Community Center, among other organizations.

Departure arrives amid newsroom leadership transition

Chow’s exit follows a separate change in KHOU’s newsroom leadership. In January 2026, the station’s news director, Kathryn Bonfield, left KHOU, and internal communications described assistant news director Wiley Post as overseeing day-to-day newsroom operations until a replacement is hired.

• Who: Shern-Min Chow, KHOU 11 anchor and reporter
• What: Departure from KHOU 11
• When: Feb. 9, 2026 (last day)
• Context: Nearly 30 years at KHOU; concurrent leadership transition at the station

Chow said she intends to pursue additional projects after leaving full-time television work, and she encouraged viewers to stay in touch through social platforms.