CBS anchor Liz Quirantes is leaving the network after more than three decades on television.
The longtime South Florida journalist according to reports broke the news herself, telling viewers that walking away from the station, the staff, and the life she built will be incredibly difficult. Her exact words? "I'm going to miss this." And honestly, after 35 years at one network, who wouldn't?
So where is she headed? Oklahoma. That's right, she is packing up her South Florida life to be closer to her kids, who apparently have zero plans of returning to the Sunshine State. Quirantes revealed that what sealed the deal was her children talking about having families of their own. She basically said, "OK, they are not coming back, so mom and dad have to go to them." Classic parent move.
Here is the wild part about her career trajectory. She never planned to stay at CBS12 in West Palm Beach. She landed there in 1991 as a temporary weekend reporter, and she and her husband Craig Williams did not even sell their Miami home because they fully expected to bounce back south. That temporary gig turned into a 35 year institution. She literally became the defining voice of the entire station.
And the resume? Absolutely stacked. Two Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards. One came for her boots on the ground coverage in the Bahamas following Hurricane Dorian's destruction in 2019. The second was earned for reporting on the horrific Parkland school shooting in 2018. She was also present at Ground Zero during the September 11 terrorist attacks, covered countless crime scenes, moderated political debates, and sat across from some of the most famous celebrities and elected officials on the planet.
Before stepping away, she was anchoring four separate newscasts, the 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. broadcasts. That is an absolutely grueling schedule, and she held it down like a pro.
Quirantes also showed off her lighter side when reflecting on her years in front of the camera, joking about her ever evolving hairstyle. She noted that she started with curly hair, then chopped it short and went dark because she felt she looked too young, cycled through bangs and no bangs phases, and now it is long again. She called her hair "its own entity," which is honestly the most relatable thing any television personality has ever said.
When it comes to her legacy, she knows exactly how she wants to be remembered. "I want them to remember that I was a devoted mom, a devoted wife, a good Christian, and an excellent journalist," she said. CBS12 is apparently giving her the royal sendoff she deserves, dedicating an entire month to celebrating her career and highlighting her greatest moments on air.
This was only her second job after college. Let that sink in. Thirty five years at one station, in one market, building something permanent. That kind of loyalty barely exists anymore in any profession, let alone the cutthroat world of broadcast news. Oklahoma just gained one heck of a grandma.
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