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WRAL reporter Heidi Kirk announced on Facebook that her last day at the station will be Friday, July 31.
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Kirk shared the news in a written post on the social media site on Monday, July 27, to her 13,000 followers.
Kirk has worked for the NBC-affiliate station owned by Capital Broadcasting Co. since November 2023, covering Eastern North Carolina and Cary.
“It’s hard to put into words what this job has meant to me. Before I started at WRAL, everyone told me this newsroom was full of excellence,” Kirk said on social media. “Working alongside some of the best journalists in the business has challenged me, inspired me, and made me a better reporter, and more importantly, a better person.”
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The Arkansas native began her journalism career reporting for WRDE Coast TV in coastal Delaware. She earned journalism degrees from the University of Arkansas and American University, where she won a student Emmy for reporting in Washington, D.C.
“To everyone who welcomed me into their homes five nights a week: thank you,” Kirk said. “I’m not saying goodbye to journalism. I’ll still be doing what I love, just in a whole new part of the country. I can’t wait to share what’s next very soon.”
The News & Observer reached out to Kirk Tuesday morning, but has not received a reply at the time of publication.
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This story was originally published July 28, 2026 at 11:57 AM.