Serena O’Sullivan is a Phoenix-based news reporter and content editor at KTAR News since 2023. Serena’s career includes roles as a reporter for Arizona Republic, Phoenix New Times and the Phoenix Business Journal. A Cronkite School graduate and SPJ award finalist, she also worked as a digital content coordinator, social media manager and freelance feature writer. Serena covers stories on politics, crime, policing, technology, education and more.
Expertise
- News writing
- Copy editing
- Radio reporting
- Project management
- Content strategy
Education
Arizona State University – Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communications, with a minor in communications
Achievement & Awards
- First-generation college graduate
- Wrote cover story for Phoenix New Times in 2023
- Wrote cover story for Phoenix Business Journal in 2019
- Contributed to KTAR News’ regional Edward R. Murrow Award-winning newscast in 2024
Social media profiles
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ARIZONA NEWS | Apr 14, 2025$5M gift to help provide 72 scholarships to new ASU medical school students
Seventy-two students studying medicine and advanced engineering at Arizona State University will benefit from a $5 million scholarship.
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ARIZONA EDUCATION NEWS | Apr 14, 2025Gov. Katie Hobbs signs bill to get harmful junk food out of schools
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, signed a junk food bill into law on Monday. The bill has been supported by RFK Jr and Tom Horne.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Apr 14, 2025Arizona man sentenced to 20 years in prison for 2023 murder
Noel Jesus Gordillo, 37, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the 2023 murder of Christopher Gonzales, prosecutors announced on Monday.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Apr 12, 2025Phoenix man gets life sentence for killing, dismembering 79-year-old victim
The Phoenix Police Department discovered a murdered and dismembered elderly victim in his home in 2022. The suspect was recently sentenced.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Apr 11, 2025Phoenix officials holding grand opening to celebrate new city park in Laveen
Farmland Park in Laveen, a Phoenix community, is set to open officially on Saturday with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting event.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Apr 11, 2025Mesa police chief retiring after 30 years in law enforcement
Mesa Police Chief Ken Cost will retire on June 30 of this year, according to a Thursday news release from the city of Mesa highlighting his career.
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ARIZONA EDUCATION NEWS | Apr 11, 2025Arizona joins lawsuit to stop Trump administration from blocking billions in funding for schools
The Trump administration's education funding cuts have spurred Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes to join another multistate lawsuit.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Apr 10, 20252 men arrested after kidnapping, assault at Paradise Valley resort
A Paradise Valley kidnapping and assault that took place on Tuesday has led to the arrests of Reginald Kimbrough and Tradarian Clewis.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Apr 10, 2025Dozens of Arizonans have reported delays in Social Security checks
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said her office has received dozens of reports of Social Security disruptions, including late checks.
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ARIZONA EDUCATION NEWS | Apr 9, 2025Buckeye coach, special needs teacher wins Bruce and Gaydos’ monthly teacher tribute award
April's Teacher Tribute award from Outspoken with Bruce and Gaydos went to Verrado High School teacher Donn Duplain.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Apr 9, 2025Backyard breeder arrested after abandoning 18 dogs for weeks without food or water, MCSO says
A Gila Bend man was arrested for various animal abuse charges after MCSO deputies allegedly found he left over 12 dogs in severe conditions.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Apr 9, 2025Mexican man arrested in Arizona for trying to smuggle firearms out of US
A man from Sonora, Mexico was sentenced on Monday to 37 months in prison for weapons trafficking, according to prosecutors.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Apr 9, 2025Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona hopes to see fewer child drownings this year
The president of the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona shared tips parents and guardians can use to prevent child drownings this year.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Apr 8, 2025Mesa LDS temple hosting free Easter pageant depicting life of Jesus Christ
Every year, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hosts the free Mesa Easter Pageant, which depicts the life of Jesus Christ.
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ARIZONA POLITICS NEWS | Apr 8, 2025Arizona legislators have mixed reactions to visit from Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar
State legislators had mixed reactions to border czar Tom Homan's speech at the Arizona Capitol on Tuesday. Some, like Analise Ortiz, were upset.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Apr 8, 2025MCSO takes a suspect into custody following hourslong standoff in Peoria
A man was arrested after a SWAT standoff in a Peoria residence near 91st and Grand avenues, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's office.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Apr 8, 2025Hit the ground running: Pat’s Run set to fill Tempe streets this weekend
The Pat Tillman Foundation will host the 21st Pat's Run this Saturday in Tempe. The event honors an NFL player who left to join the Army after 9/11.
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ARIZONA BUSINESS | Apr 8, 2025Arizona adds 2 members to its billionaire club, according to 2025 Forbes list
Two successful business leaders joined the Arizona billionaires club in the past year, according to Forbes.
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ARIZONA POLITICS NEWS | Apr 7, 2025Hobbs signs bill to expand protections for children reporting sexual abuse in Arizona schools
Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a bill that expands protections for students in Arizona public schools on Monday.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Apr 7, 2025Senate president asks Trump administration to revoke Phoenix Police DOJ report
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen sent a Monday letter to a Trump official that challenged the 2024 DOJ report on Phoenix Police.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Apr 7, 2025Latter-day Saints church to build a temple in northern Arizona
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints will open a temple in Flagstaff. There are now nine existing and coming LDS temples in Arizona.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Apr 7, 2025Preliminary report shows 2025 Arizona Gives Day generates $4.1 million in donations
A preliminary report of the total donations made during Arizona Gives Day 2025 was released. Organizers were happy about the final amount so far.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Apr 6, 2025Endangered desert pupfish return to Ayer Lake at Boyce Thompson Arboretum
Over 450 desert pupfish have been successfully returned to their home in Ayer Lake, according to a Wednesday announcement from AZGFD.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Apr 5, 2025Texas woman sentenced for IRS fraud conspiracy involving Arizona tax firm
A 53-year-old Texas woman was sentenced to 18 months in prison for defrauding the IRS by targeting an Arizona tax firm, prosecutors said.