WCCO's Jason DeRusha To 'Take A Leap,' Step Away From Anchor Desk

MAPLE GROVE, MN — Jason DeRusha, who has spent almost two decades at WCCO and hosted its morning shows since 2013, announced Tuesday that he’s planning to leave the anchor desk next month.

DeRusha, who lives in Maple Grove, told viewers he “won’t be the person who helps you wake up every morning” after making the “decision to take a leap and try a new adventure.”

DeRusha joined WCCO as a reporter in 2003 and was named a co-anchor of its morning news broadcasts in 2013 after more than five years with “Good Question” and almost two years as a weekend anchor, according to the CBS affiliate.

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He earned 11 Regional Emmy Awards for anchoring, breaking news coverage and reporting during his time at WCCO.

DeRusha, who coaches the Maple Grove High School debate and speech team, also produced a weekly food segment called “DeRusha Eats,” and he was recognized as a James Beard Award finalist for his culinary coverage.

He said he will continue to report on special assignments for WCCO and “anything they’ll let me do,” while announcing June 23 will be his last day as anchor.

“In many ways, I am living the job I dreamed of when I was a middle-class kid in suburban Chicago, watching the news from my family’s living room,” DeRusha said Tuesday. “I’ve met people and I’ve gone places I never imagined I would.”

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But DeRusha said “there’s been a stirring in my soul” that pushed him to consider “something different.”

“After 19 years of opening the same door, what doors might open if I tried a new one?” he said Tuesday of his decision to step away from full-time duties at WCCO.

Kari Patey, news director of WCCO/CBS News Minnesota, called DeRusha a “leader both in our newsroom and community.”

“From leading our on-air and digital coverage for big stories impacting our communities to mentoring the next generation of journalists in our newsroom, Jason’s time at WCCO will have lasting impact,” Patey said.

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DeRusha took over last year as a coach of the Maple Grove High School debate and speech team alongside co-coach Madeline Benson.

DeRusha and Benson are set to lead the debate team to the 2022 National Speech and Debate Tournament in June in Louisville after the team won the Northern Lights National Qualifiers tournament last year.

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