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 ELECTION NEWS | Aug 11, 2026Political consultant calls Hobbs-Giles ticket ‘good strategy decision’ aimed at McCain Republicans
"It's a good strategy decision. I think it's actually going to pay off for the Hobbs campaign," Stan Barnes said.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Aug 11, 2026U.S. Marshals take over global hunt for fugitive son tied to Litchfield Park deaths
What started as a missing persons case escalated into a homicide investigation after the parents' remains were found in the family's backyard.
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ARIZONA ELECTION NEWS | Aug 11, 2026Katie Hobbs praises John Giles running mate pick; Andy Biggs team calls him Democrat ally
Giles served as Mesa mayor from 2014 to 2025 and has opposed President Donald Trump and the MAGA coalition. He endorsed Hobbs as well as former Vice President Kamala Harris.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Aug 10, 2026Man faces robbery, kidnapping and sexual assault charges after Phoenix bus stop attack
A woman gave the gunman her last dollar, and her boyfriend offered him a homeless resource card, before the suspect sexually assaulted her, court documents say.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Aug 10, 2026Phoenix man accused of holding his Shake Shack co-workers at gunpoint during robbery
According to arrest records, the suspect told investigators he had been struggling and had children to support.
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ARIZONA WEATHER NEWS | Aug 10, 2026Back-to-back haboobs blanketed Phoenix with dangerous levels of dust
One of last week’s dust storms lasted a record 16 hours, according to an expert who helped create the Phoenix Dust Storm Scale.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Aug 7, 2026Police released new information about missing Avondale couple, search for son
The Avondale Police Department identified 27-year-old Matthew Flores, the missing couple's son, as a suspect in the homicide investigation.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Aug 7, 2026Murder charge filed more than 3 years after Scottsdale woman disappeared
Erin Weber went missing in 2023. A breakthrough in the case came when Scottsdale Police identified 41-year-old Joseph Ryan Vigil as their suspect.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Aug 7, 2026Man found in ‘extremely critical condition’ after fight broke out at Maryvale soccer game
Officers responded to a report of an unconscious man found in Sueno Park around 8 p.m. Thursday.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Aug 7, 2026Drive-by shooting at Phoenix bus stop sends woman to hospital
The victim was waiting Friday morning on 51st Avenue near Interstate 10 when a vehicle stopped and someone inside shot at her, police said.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Aug 7, 2026Police investigating after floating body pulled from canal in Phoenix
Crews responded to a water rescue call around 7:30 a.m. Friday and found the body in the Arizona Canal.
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ARIZONA RESTAURANT NEWS | Aug 6, 2026Angie’s wants to recruit Salad and Go workers who lost their jobs after bankruptcy killed the chain
Angie's, a local restaurant chain founded by the entrepreneurs behind Salad and Go, is looking to help affected workers after the sudden closures.
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ARIZONA BUSINESS | Aug 6, 2026Garage, Johnny Rockets opening this weekend at Chandler Fashion Center
The Montreal-based streetwear store and nostalgic diner are both debuting Saturday at the East Valley shopping hub.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Aug 6, 2026Human remains found in Litchfield Park backyard during Avondale missing persons investigation
The missing couple's adult son is considered a suspect, and Avondale Police believe he fled the country before they checked the residence on Tuesday.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Aug 6, 2026Arizona man sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually exploiting children
Luis Alberto Ortiz interacted with material showing a minor younger than 15 being sexually exploited in 2023 and 2025, prosecutors said.
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ARIZONA BUSINESS | Aug 6, 2026Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says Trump admin ‘laser-focused’ on Arizona semiconductors
Along with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Arizona's own Juan Ciscomani, Bessent toured a factory in Casa Grande on Wednesday.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Aug 5, 2026SAFE Alert canceled after missing 77-year-old woman last seen in Phoenix found safe
The Phoenix Police Department said 77-year-old Jill Heard contacted her family and was in good health.
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ARIZONA RESTAURANT NEWS | Aug 5, 2026From salads to coffee? Dutch Bros could take over closed Salad and Go spots
In its bankruptcy filing, Salad and Go asked a Texas court to approve the sale of leases to Dutch Bros for a purchase price of $105 million in cash.
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ARIZONA BUSINESS | Aug 5, 2026APS breaks peak energy demand record again as air conditioners blast across Valley
Peak demand is when customers use the most electricity, often during extreme heat as air conditioners run harder.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Aug 5, 2026Goodyear charter school teacher arrested on 2 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor
Samuel Durham Cooper, 39, admitted to searching for and sharing material depicting children being sexually abused and exploited online, police said.
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ARIZONA ELECTION NEWS | Aug 4, 2026Democrat Katie Hobbs reportedly taps longtime Republican John Giles as Lt. Gov. running mate
Gov. Katie Hobbs plans to name former Mesa Mayor John Giles, a Republican-turned-independent, as her lieutenant governor pick in a bipartisan play for her reelection bid.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Aug 4, 2026Former Habitat for Humanity executive director sentenced for embezzling $826K from nonprofit
"Ms. Northcutt's selfish choice to steal from a charity hurt many needy local families and tarnished the trust that the public has in our charitable institutions."
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ARIZONA NEWS | Aug 4, 2026Arizona police operation leads to 5 men being arrested for luring minor for sexual exploitation
"If you see something suspicious, say something. Report it to law enforcement. Protecting children is a shared responsibility."
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ARIZONA ELECTION NEWS | Aug 4, 2026Andy Biggs, Katie Hobbs to field questions, but not from each other, at public safety policy forum
The Republican and Democratic nominees for governor won't debate, but they'll speak separately at a forum hosted by the Arizona Police Association on Aug. 25.