Cynthia Newsome, a beloved fixture on Kansas City television screens for nearly three decades, passed away on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, after a long and courageous fight with cancer.
The former KSHB 41 anchor and community leader was widely celebrated not only for her journalism but for the warmth and grace she brought to everyone around her.
Newsome joined KSHB 41 in 1997 after working in Oklahoma City, where she covered one of the most defining moments in American history: the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.
Her interviews with survivors and victims were later preserved at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, a testament to the depth of her reporting.
She spent 25 years at KSHB 41 as a reporter, anchor, and eventually Director of Community Partnerships, a role she stepped into in 2022 after years behind the anchor desk.
A Career Built on Excellence and Service
Newsome’s professional achievements were many. In 2012, she was inducted into the Silver Circle by the Mid America Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, a lifetime achievement honor given to television professionals with 25 or more years in the industry.
Her 2008 reporting on radon awareness and lung cancer earned her a first-place award from the American Cancer Society. The Kansas Association of Broadcasters also recognized her for coverage of mold discovered at Central High School.
In December 2025, KSHB 41 honored her contributions by naming its newsroom “The Cynthia Newsome Newsroom.” Speaking at the dedication, Newsome told those gathered, “You’re with me, and I love you, and I appreciate you so much.”
Off-air, Newsome co-founded Awesome Ambitions alongside Kansas City Star journalist Angela Curry.
The nonprofit focused on college and career readiness for Black and brown girls and continues to operate today. She also hosted 10 years of fundraising galas for Rose Brooks Center, a domestic violence shelter in Kansas City.
A Personal Journey Shared With Viewers
Newsome was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011. After treatment and a period of remission, the cancer returned in 2019 as metastatic breast cancer.
Then, in May 2025, she shared the news that she had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Throughout every stage of her illness, she chose to be open with her audience.
“I like sharing my story because there are so many other people who are going through what I’m going through as well,” she said in 2025.
Her husband Ed Newsome told The Kansas City Star that just one year ago, doctors had given her six months to live. The couple responded by traveling to South Africa, Saint Lucia, Houston, and Canada, where they rode the Rocky Mountaineer train together.
“We loved and lived every single day as if it was the last day,” Ed Newsome said. “And so the last day came yesterday. And she still lives in everybody she touched.”
Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, May 30, 2026, at United Believers Community Church, 5600 E. 112th Terrace, Kansas City, Missouri. A public viewing will be held from 9 to 11 a.m., with the funeral service to follow immediately after.
