Still a ‘wonderful time’ for Linda Yu

Linda Yu

Linda Yu

Linda Yu, the Chicago television treasure whose amazing longevity is exceeded only by her popularity, marked her 30th anniversary at WLS-Channel 7 Wednesday by doing what she’s always done — anchoring a top-rated newscast on the ABC-owned station.

“It’s been a lucky, fascinating, learning, productive, wonderful time,” she told Facebook fans. “I’m grateful and humbled by your support all these years!”

Linda Yu (1980)

Linda Yu (1980)

Yu came to Chicago in 1979 as a 32-year-old weekend anchor at WMAQ-Channel 5, eventually moving up to the 10 p.m. weekday newscast. After five years at the NBC-owned station, she jumped to ABC 7. “Linda Yu hits air, signs 3-year contract with Ch. 7,” read the headline of my Sun-Times column on April 3, 1984.

She soon teamed with veteran anchor Joel Daly on a new 4 p.m. weekday newscast, which Yu has anchored continuously since then (now alongside Alan Krashesky). For three decades, it’s never been out of first place in the ratings.

Earlier this year, Yu, 67, was sidelined for a month after she broke her left leg in a traffic accident while vacationing in Florida. Following two surgeries, she’s still undergoing physical therapy, but hasn’t missed a scheduled day since she returned.