Tony Kovaleski

Anthony Carl "Tony" Kovaleski (born 1959) is an investigative reporter currently working at Denver ABC Scripps' KMGH-Channel 7. Previously Kovaleski worked at NBC Bay Area, KNTV in the San Francisco Bay Area. From 2001 to 2011, he was the investigative reporter at KMGH-TV in Denver, Colorado.

Kovaleski was born in Iron River, Michigan and graduated from San Jose State University.

Kovaleski joined the NBC Bay Area Investigative team in December, 2011. His most recent work includes exposing problems at sporting venues throughout California. His investigations into Santa Clara County's VTA Light Rail system have exposed abnormally high fair evasion rates. His second report showed that after two years, the light rail system was still unable to provide credit card readers for its riders. In addition, his reporting on mechanical breakdowns of a major East Bay school bus provider alerted several East Bay school districts to a history of unreported problems.

In the summer of 2008, while at KMGH-TV in Denver, Kovaleski aired a series of stories that chronicled problems with emergency ambulance service in Denver including response times that were nearly double the national standard. The stories also showed there was no permanently stationed ambulance at Denver International Airport even though the facility was more than twenty miles from the city center.

In December 2008, more than 100 people were on Continental Airlines Flight 1404 when the pilot lost control. The plane slid off Runway 34 Right and burst into flames during take-off. Kovaleski obtained records of the ambulance response showing the first emergency ambulance needed 33 minutes to reach the scene. The investigative documentary "33 Minutes to 34 Right" aired in March, 2009 and lead to significant changes in Denver's ambulance procedures and policies including the permanent assignment of an ambulance at DIA.

In May 2010, Kovaleski reported on several state-appointed board members of Pinnacol Assurance accepting gifts and an all- expense-paid trip to Pebble Beach. The board was tasked with oversight of Pinnacol Assurance including the agency's spending. Kovaleski's investigation forced an overhaul of the board including the appointment of a new president and the implementation of strict regulations on travel and gifts accepted by board members.

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