Dakota Sherek
Multimedia Journalist
She has been passionate about broadcast journalism since childhood. Now, after starting her reporting career in northern Wisconsin in 2016, Dakota Sherek will continue her journey in Green Bay.
Dakota joined WBAY's Appleton bureau in May 2019 and is a general reporter on weekends. Before coming to WBAY, she worked as a senior reporter, anchor and producer in the Northwoods at WJFW. She’s glad to continue telling Wisconsinites’ stories.
Dakota grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. She graduated magna cum laude from Western Kentucky University with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and a minor in political science. She also interned at Louisville’s CBS affiliate, WLKY, during her time as an undergrad.
After graduation Dakota was a student fellow for the Native American Journalists Association and attended the first ever Tribal Youth Gathering in Washington D.C. After the fellowship, Dakota worked in news production at the NBC affiliate in Louisville, WAVE 3.
When she’s not working, Dakota enjoys reading, listening to music (preferably live in concert) and catching a movie at the theater.
Dakota would love to hear from you. If you have any story ideas, please send them to dsherek@wbay.com.
For two consecutive months this spring, Winnebago County recorded zero suicides. Now an Oshkosh nonprofit hopes that trend continues.
The City of Appleton announced plans back in September to upgrade its public library. Now the city wants community members to give their input as the design comes together.
So far this year there have been 12 deadly ATV/UTV accidents this year. The Wisconsin DNR says that’s double the number from 2020 at this time.
The Heckrodt Wetland Reserve in Menasha closed a specific piece of trail due in part to “unacceptable visitor behavior”.
The Department of Health Services (DHS) Secretary hosted a roundtable in Menasha Thursday to learn more about dementia care specialists. The hope is to convince legislators a multi-million dollar investment into the state program is worthwhile.
Sgt. Aaron Pynenberg has spent 26 years with the Appleton Police Department. He’s spent nearly as long becoming a Historical Fencing master.
Some wildlife rehab centers that normally take in fawns this time of year will have empty pens due to recent changes made by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The unemployment rate in Wisconsin sits under four percent according to the latest report from the Department of Workforce Development. But employers can’t seem to find the workers they need.
The City of Waupaca’s main street reconstruction project has begun, clearing the way for a new and improved downtown.
Solutions Recovery in Oshkosh provides a number of programs and resources to people recovering from addiction. Now the organization is expanding its sober living program.
The Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau had a record setting year in 2019 with more than $500 million in tourism spending. But 2020 erased that growth, and now the organization is looking ahead.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) started accepting applications for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund on Monday.
Sinclair Robins, a Fox Valley Lutheran High School senior, got to take part in a newly released book.
After serving the community for more than 40 years, the Sexual Assault Crisis Center – Fox Cities is expanding its mission.
On Monday, the EAA Museum broke ground on a new project.
Several new apartment complexes are popping up in downtown Appleton.
Appointments are strongly recommended for the pop-up clinic Saturday at Long Cheng Marketplace.
Action 2 News first reported last year that the company in charge of the Rock and Country USA music festivals filed for bankruptcy, ending the longtime events. Now, a new event promoter is taking over the former Ford Festival Park in Oshkosh.
Multiple fire departments in the Fox Valley are teaming up to train new recruits together.
A decades old case has a new break. One which investigators hope can bring a family some peace. a UW-Oshkosh anthropology class is trying to help make that happen using their forensic skills.
The Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office is investigating two reports of attempted abductions, believed to be unrelated.
Vaccinations may be up, but that doesn’t mean everyone is leaving home just yet. Each day ADVOCAP drivers pack up meals, providing home deliveries for seniors in need.
Restaurants lost a lot of business last year due to the pandemic. but now things are looking up, a new problem is plaguing the industry.
As the state’s moratorium on utility disconnection nears its end, WPS finds less than one percent of its customers at risk.
The Johnson and Johnson COVID vaccine is on pause as the CDC and FDA investigate a possible link between the vaccine and a specific type of blood clot. That leaves people who’ve already gotten the shot wondering how concerned they should be.
After nearly a year closed to the public, the Fox Cities Job Center is open to in-person appointments. But the Fox Valley Workforce Development Board hasn’t seen too many people taking advantage yet.
Food pantries in particular help ensure families stay fed, even in tough times. With needs still great during the pandemic, some new pantries are popping up in the fox valley.
After sitting empty for nearly two years, Waupaca’s old Shopko building is showing new signs of life.
The Howard-Suamico School District celebrated the success of its two referendums Wednesday, which passed in the Spring Election Tuesday.
The Appleton International Airport teamed up with the Autism Society of Greater Wisconsin. It’s now considered an “Autism Friendly Community Partner” in the Fox Valley.
Monday morning a small group gathered outside the ThedaCare Regional Medical Center Neenah to recognize Donate Life Month.
When visiting Appleton’s Public Library, people may notice a new solar charging station out front. It’s one of three UnitedHealthcare has installed statewide .
Volunteers across the area went to work Thursday, creating visual displays for Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention month. This comes at a time when, in Outagamie Co., reports of abuse have gone up.
Wisconsin has a shortage of math and science teachers. So, two area colleges are working together to try to help.
Several Wisconsin GOP Assembly members held a press conference at the Resch Expo Center Tuesday, laying out what they did and didn’t like about the governor’s plans for up to $3.2 billion.
Appleton Downtown Inc. wants to focus on the future after taking stock of 2020 during its annual review.
The Grand Oshkosh recently added some upgrades that not only give it a fresh look, but also open the way for a new form of revenue.
UW-Oshkosh recently kicked off a new mental health campaign, targeted toward a particularly vulnerable population.
Though more people have started getting their COVID-19 vaccines, people still have plenty of questions about them. Outagamie County officials took time Wednesday to host a public Q&A to try to provide some answers.
UW Health has started providing COVID-19 vaccines to some of its most vulnerable and isolated patients by taking the vaccine to them.
One of ThedaCare’s hospitals is the first in North America to acquire a specific kind of blood analyzer technology.
A couple weeks ago Action 2 News first reported about St. Joseph Food Pantry’s plans to switch up its distribution method. The new drive-thru started up for the first time this week.
A nonprofit in Neenah strives to be a place where people can collaborate and learn about STEM: science, technology, engineering, and math.
The Kaukauna Veterinary Clinic works to keep pets happy and healthy. But recently an industry issue hit close to home when the practice manager learned of a Madison veterinarian who died by suicide last week.
Green Bay’s Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary is all about helping cats. But one of the nonprofit’s latest fundraisers has a different focus.
The Senate confirmed New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland as President Biden’s interior secretary Monday. It makes Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo Tribe, the first Native American to hold a cabinet position.
The move comes amid a reduction in COVID-19 infections and high vaccination rates among nursing home populations.
The Diocese of Green Bay has 54 Catholic schools in ten counties with about 8,900 students overall. Now, after being one of the school systems that’s remained in-person since the fall, its enrollment application numbers are on the rise.
Several community members, both for and against the proposed plans, spoke during a City Council meeting on Wednesday
In the Green Bay area, some may notice more police officers have been helping kids make their way home from school instead of crossing guards. That’s because there’s currently a shortage.
