Kathryn Brown to leave WRAL: 'I'm going toward something, and that is time with family'

"I’m not leaving something, so much as I’m going toward something, which is time with my family," she said.

"Over the years, her reporting prowess has been on display, especially during breaking news and hurricanes," said WRAL News Director Rick Gall. "Throughout her time here, we’ve appreciated Kathryn’s attention to detail, high quality work, and commitment to excellence."

The first couple of weeks working at home were so surreal," she said. "It was challenging in ways I hadn't been challenged in a while, and I actually enjoyed that."

It also gave her a renewed perspective: her responsibilities as a mother outweighed her responsibilities as a journalist.

"This is such a demanding job, and you make a lot of sacrifices," Brown said.

Brown has decided to leave the local news business to truly be there as her children grow up. She described the decision as bittersweet.

"We have the best time, every night," Brown told co-anchor Gerald Owens. "I don’t think it’s coming to an end. We’ll evolve in a different way."

Brown will still appear as a fill-in anchor on occasion at WRAL.