Chrystal Blair
Reporter with Missouri Public News ServiceChrystal Blair is a veteran news broadcaster with more than 30 years of experience in radio and television reporting, producing, and writing. She was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and earned a degree in Communication/Radio, Television, Film from Eastern Michigan University.
Prior to starting her career, Chrystal worked as a flight attendant for a major airline, indulging her passion for travel. After a year of flying, she relocated to Los Angeles, California, where she began her career as a reporter at a community public access television station. While working at the station, Chrystal was selected “Reporter of the Year” for the community news awards.
Since then, Chrystal has worked in television and radio for several mainstream media affiliates and has been honored with several prestigious awards, including CBS Radio’s “World Class Performer” award.
In addition to her professional pursuits, Chrystal has a passion for performing arts and has acted in several professional plays. She is also an animal lover and cares deeply for animal welfare. During her leisure time, she enjoys spending quality time with her rescued dog and cat.
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Some Missouri workers are marking Labor Day by joining the national ‘Workers Over Billionaires’ movement, saying it’s about more than holiday weekend barbecues when the state’s top 1% of residents make nearly 16 times what the average worker earns. -
As Missouri students return to class, the American Heart Association says healthy teachers are key to student success. But more than 70% of Missouri educators have thought about leaving this year, citing stress, low pay, student behavior and lack of support. -
Missouri’s State Board of Education will shutter 12 schools for the severely disabled by next school year, part of a plan to revamp the program and expand support for students with extensive needs. -
Food insecurity is on the increase in Missouri, according to the University of Missouri's new 2025 Missouri Hunger Atlas. Released every two to three years, the report maps where need is rising and helps guide efforts to get food to those who need it most. -
Mental health experts say back-to-school season in Missouri is about more than supplies and schedules. With one in five young Missourians facing a diagnosable mental health disorder and serious struggles on the rise, advocates say it’s time to treat mental health like school prep. -
Missouri advocates for families say the federal budget "megabill" could make it harder for them to put food on the table. The changes shift more of the administrative costs for SNAP, the federal program formerly known as food stamps, onto the state, and make it harder for some people to qualify for benefits. -
On a single night in 2023, more than 6,700 people in Missouri didn’t have a place to call home - and that included hundreds of families and teens. Now, with the passage of the new federal budget, donations to homeless shelters are down, and even the helpers need help. -
New Medicaid work rules are raising fears among many Missourians about losing health insurance. Under the new federal budget bill, adults on Medicaid expansion will have to prove 80 hours of work or volunteer time each month. However, health experts say Medicaid backlog is the real issue. -
Drivers with zTrip’s IRIS microtransit program are suing, accusing the company of cheating them out of thousands in overtime. The federal class-action suit, filed in Kansas City, says drivers regularly worked more than 40 hours a week without time-and-a-half pay because zTrip wrongly treated them as independent contractors. -
As the Trump administration considers overhauling the nation’s disaster relief agency, a Pew Research Center poll shows most Americans, including Missourians, support more federal help when extreme weather strikes.
