Profile for Robert Kittle

Robert Kittle is an award-winning reporter and photographer for N7 On Your Side's Columbia Bureau and is responsible for our "Statehouse Watch".

He was named South Carolina Reporter of the Year for 2006 by the SC Broadcasters Association. CapitolBeat, the Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors, has awarded him First Place nationwide for Statehouse Beat Reporting in 2005, 2006 and 2007. He has also won awards from the Associated Press for general reporting.

Robert has been covering the capitol for 7 On Your Side since January 1989 and has been Chairman of the Statehouse Press Corps since 1999. He was born and raised in Atlanta and graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Political Science. While at UGA, he interned at WSAV-TV 3 in Savannah.

His first job after college was at WMBB-TV 13 in Panama City, Florida, where he worked from May 1985 until January 1989. He was a one-man-band, meaning he shot his own video and was a reporter. He was also a fill-in anchor for news, weather and sports. Robert came to News Channel 7 in January 1989 to work in the Columbia Bureau and continues to shoot, write, edit and report his own stories.

Robert and his wife have two sons. They are active in their church, Shandon Baptist in Columbia, where Robert teaches Sunday School. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, photography, golf, reading and watching Georgia Bulldogs sports.

Recent Content

Child abuse signs to look for that may not be obvious

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month in South Carolina and nationwide, and a spate of recent cases highlights the need for it.

04/23/2012 7:02 PM
SC Lawmakers Won't Change $300 Sales Tax Cap on Vehicles

One of the best-known sales tax exemptions in South Carolina, the $300 sales tax cap on vehicles, is not going to be addressed by a package of tax-reform bills in the state House of Representatives.

04/09/2012 5:50 PM
SC budget: More for teachers, raise for employees, less for roads

COLUBMIA, SC — In a rare unanimous vote, the South Carolina House sent its $6.5 billion state budget for next year to the South Carolina Senate Thursday. It includes raises for state employees and teachers, tax help for businesses and health care for more children, but less money for repairing state roads.

03/15/2012 9:11 PM
McConnell sworn in as SC Lt. Gov.; Courson chosen senate president pro tem

COLUMBIA, SC - For the first time in state history, the leader of the South Carolina Senate gave up his office to become the state's lieutenant governor Tuesday. Glenn McConnell was president pro tempore of the Senate, the most powerful position in that chamber, but is now lt. governor, a mostly ceremonial position with very little power.

03/13/2012 8:39 PM
Bill would require SC voters to join parties to vote in primaries

COLUMBIA, SC -- A bill that would require South Carolina voters to become members of political parties in order to vote in party primaries passed a House subcommittee Wednesday.

03/07/2012 6:30 PM
SC House Committee Advances Private School Choice Bill

COLUMBIA, SC - A new plan that would give South Carolina parents help paying for private school or home school is on its way to the full House floor. The House Ways and Means Committee passed the bill 16-8 Tuesday afternoon.

03/06/2012 11:24 PM
SC House Republicans to introduce major tax changes

COLUMBIA, SC- South Carolina House Republicans plan to introduce a major tax reform plan, possibly this week, as a series of several bills.

03/05/2012 7:38 PM
Changes to SC retirement plan would cut benefits, deficit

COLUMBIA, SC -- A plan introduced in the South Carolina House would cut the $13 billion deficit in the state retirement system by $2.2 billion and decrease benefits for state and local employees -- including teachers.

02/29/2012 6:01 PM
SC House GOP agenda targets tax reform

COLUMBIA, SC -- The South Carolina House Republican Caucus announced its agenda for the year Wednesday and said, if successful, it would mean lower taxes and more jobs for the state.

02/08/2012 5:38 PM
Bill would require ignition interlocks for first offense DUIs

COLUMBIA, SC -- South Carolina already requires drivers guilty of a second drunken driving offense to put ignition interlock devices on their cars. A driver has to blow into the machine to start the car and if the ignition interlock detects an illegal alcohol level, the car won't start.

02/01/2012 6:47 PM
GOP presidential candidates come out swinging in final debate

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - The four remaining Republican presidential candidates debated in North Charleston Thursday night for the final time before South Carolina voters go to the polls Saturday.

01/20/2012 12:00 AM
SC lawmakers to consider ending $300 sales tax cap on vehicles

South Carolina's current cap means someone buying a $6,000 used car pays the same sales tax as someone buying a Rolls Royce, a multi-million dollar yacht or a jet.

01/06/2012 7:40 PM
Budget and Control Board bans sleeping at SC Statehouse

The emergency regulation would prohibit anyone from camping or sleeping on the Statehouse grounds, a response to Occupy Columbia protesters who are living on the grounds in tents.

12/20/2011 7:51 PM
FBI sanctions State Law Enforcement Division

The FBI has sanctioned the State Law Enforcement Division for not properly monitoring the local law enforcement agencies in the state that access national crime databases through SLED.

12/16/2011 6:55 PM
Report: Haley told insurance panel what to do

COLUMBIA, SC - South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is being criticized for appearing to manipulate a state committee studying the federal health care law, and for a lack of transparency, despite that being her signature campaign issue.

12/15/2011 8:18 PM
Prefiled bill would end all SC sales tax exemptions

That means you would have to start paying the sales tax on things like groceries, gasoline, electricity and water bills, prescription medicine and services like hair cuts and dog grooming that are exempt now.

12/14/2011 7:15 PM
SC House panel adopts retirement changes

A special committee of the South Carolina House on Monday adopted a working plan to make major changes to the state retirement system, which affects about half-a-million South Carolinians.

12/12/2011 7:22 PM
Mandatory helmet bill prefiled in South Carolina senate

COLUMBIA, SC - One of the prefiled bills in the South Carolina Senate would require all motorcyclists in South Carolina to wear helmets. Now, only riders under 21 years old have to wear them.

12/09/2011 11:20 PM
Subpoenaed Haley staffers say there was no influence on DHEC board

COLUMBIA, SC - As far as South Carolina state senators know, it had never happened before; staff members of the state's governor were subpoenaed to testify Thursday before a Senate committee.

12/08/2011 8:14 PM
Bill would cut South Carolina gas tax 10 percent

COLUMBIA, SC - Sharon Calhoun has been driving from her home in Greenwood to Columbia for job training, so she's been putting a lot of gas in her car lately. She was glad to hear about a bill prefiled in the South Carolina House that would cut the state's gas tax by ten percent.

12/07/2011 11:21 PM