Alex Almanza
Multimedia Journalist/Photographer
Alex Almanza is an award-winning photojournalist and reporter who brings an assortment of experiences to the 16 News Now team.
Born in the ‘burbs of Chicago and raised in South Bend, Alex always had a passion for storytelling, even at a young age. He would often borrow his dad’s video camera to make short films.
This passion soon turned into reality when he attended Riley High School where he was a jack of all trades in the Film and Broadcast Media class. There, he was a student audio/visual engineer, radio deejay and multimedia journalist. He won first place for photojournalism and news anchoring in the Indiana Association of School Broadcasters his senior year.
While Alex may seem new to the broadcast scene, he’s no stranger to WNDU. A senior in high school, he was hired in 2019 as a video editor and photojournalist and has been working behind the scenes ever since.
Alex currently attends Ball State University where he is double majoring in Journalism and Media. There he’s taken on the role of evening anchor/reporter for NewsLink Indiana, a nightly newscast for Delaware county. Recently, he was promoted to Assistant Production Manager.
In his free time, Alex enjoys visiting Chicago and trying out new restaurants here in South Bend.
Mishawaka joins Concord and Elkhart community school districts along with several other schools on the national level to bring a lawsuit against companies like YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, etc.
44-year-old Chad Yops is about to embark on his first 5K walk this Saturday, Aug. 19.
Throughout the month, community listening sessions and presentations take center stage, giving each resident a voice.
The new space is being called a “pocket park,” and will feature a selfie spot, seating areas, a bicycle rack, and even a mural.
Riley High School commissioned local artist Brooklyn Davis with “ArtByBd” to create a more welcoming and inspiring environment.
On Saturday, 86-year-old Michael Stephen will be able to cross one item off his bucket list!
Joseph Troupe, 19, is facing several charges.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help the families involved in Saturday’s fatal rollover crash involving an ambulance and a sedan.
Susanna’s Kitchen is open in the basement of Grace Lutheran Church in Elkhart, Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to noon.
The three female victims, one adult and two juveniles, were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
An open house to show off the new Camp Millhouse facility is Sunday, Aug. 6, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
City leaders say that existing housing options in Nappanee are filling up “rather quickly”; thus, plans were drawn to build a new subdivision: Wellfield Community.
A near-total ban on abortion in Indiana was supposed to go into effect Tuesday, however petitions and certifications of rulings delayed the law once again.
When the ban does take effect, all abortions will be prohibited in the Hoosier state — except in cases of rape, incest, fetal abnormalities, or when the mother’s life is at risk.
A technology camp for middle school girls is helping to close that gap in the STEM workforce between women and men.
A high-speed police pursuit that spanned multiple states Wednesday night ended in downtown South Bend.
Saint John of the Cross Episcopal Church leaders are racing against time to preserve the church’s historic stained-glass windows.
South Bend officials say that the number of shootings in the city has gone down compared to previous years.
Police are still looking for a suspect as the Violent Crimes Unit is leading the ongoing investigation.
Ambitious plans are in store for the city of Benton Harbor as a revitalization plan is drafted.
Despite favorable conditions for ticks, Berrien County has seen a downtick in Lyme disease cases throughout the past few years.
A former employee at Landmark Recovery tells 16 News Now she's furious and heartbroken over the deaths of three patients in less than a week.
Nicole Arnold was struck and killed during an unrelated dispute between a married couple during a hit-and-run car chase.
Throughout the weekend, thousands of artists and art enthusiasts were in St. Joseph for the event.
The roof of the former St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church crumpled under its own weight Wednesday.
Police in two separate Michiana communities are looking into homicides from over the weekend.
The smell of food, the sound of music, and the twinkling lights of carnival rides are all the best parts of this Midwestern gem.
A new Indiana law would use uncrewed speed enforcement cameras to penalize drivers who speed in work zones.
Archer has previously had animals seized from a Cassopolis home in years past.
Emma Beserra was hired by the department in 1975 and has worked in various positions.
Both fruit and vegetable farmers in Southwest Michigan say that while the dry conditions are cause for concern, irrigation is keeping their heads above water.
The proposal has caused controversy for months, but recently, an appeal was filed to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and is pending review.
Event organizers are hoping for the continued growth of the Niles Juneteenth Festival for years to come.
While the walk demonstrates the progress we’ve made, people are saying there’s still a lot more work to be done.
39th annual Father's Day Festival held at Lemon Creek Winery
Hundreds of people were on hand for Saturday’s celebration.
In an effort to save one of Stevensville’s only public beaches, city officials say they’re putting together plans to revive it.
On Thursday, the Whirlpool Corporation hosted a “Day of Impact” employee volunteer day of service.
The Bees were escorted by local police and fire vehicles as they made their way out of the city and on their way to East Lansing to play in the state semifinals.
The traditional hiring process for new officers can take months, but applicants who attend Prospect Day can complete a majority of the hiring process in just one day.
Not more than four hours after she graduated from Riley High School, police say Hanna Sawyer’s car was hit by a car driven by a suspected drunk driver.
The doors are officially closed at Michiana’s only abortion clinic.
Some changes are coming to residents of the River Park neighborhood which includes Potawatomi Park, and the city of South Bend is asking for your help to make it happen.
While the classrooms might be empty right now, these school systems are offering free food programs all summer long!
The recent dry conditions may cause problems for some blueberry farmers.
Staff members say that while the situation is still fluid, they hope to increase their guard numbers in the future.
If you plan on heading to the beach this summer, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office has a few tips for you.
As the heat starts to ramp up and dry conditions continue, local farmers and gardeners, are sharing insight into what the forecast means for their crops.
Those who attended said it’s important to express our gratitude to our fallen heroes on Memorial Day.
Community members say it’s great to be back on the parade route after the pandemic and volunteer shortages led to a four-year hiatus.
