When was this published?

This article was first published on August 17, 2026 by KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) and curated for The Midland readers.

Who reported this story?

This story was reported by Wade Smith at KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS).

Where can I find related coverage?

See more local coverage from The Midland, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs.

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Get to know Following Leads host Laura Hettiger

Summary by The Midland Editorial Desk · Byline on the source page: Wade Smith, as published by KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) · August 17, 2026 · 1 min read

Photo: KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) · view original

Laura Hettiger is a host and co-creator of a podcast called Following Leads. She is based in St. Louis and also hosts other programs, including Great Day St. Louis and Live With Laura.

She has a background in journalism, having graduated from the University of Illinois with degrees in News-Editorial Journalism and Broadcast Journalism.

Further details about Laura Hettiger's life and career are available from KOSA CBS7, including information about her experiences and motto.

Why this matters

Local news anchors readers in their community — the people, places, and decisions that shape day-to-day life. The Midland covers these stories because national outlets often won't.

About this story

As published by KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS). The Midland surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page.

For the complete original report, visit KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS). Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom.

Category: local · Published: August 17, 2026 · Source: KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) · Reading time: 1 min

Summary created by	The Midland Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Byline on source page	Wade Smith, as published by KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS)
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Aug 17, 2026
Indexed here	Aug 17, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

Get to know Following Leads host Laura Hettiger

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