Monty Torres, a familiar face to Northern California viewers for over two decades, has announced his retirement from his role as a news anchor at KMPH Fox26. The decision comes after a personal battle with stage 4 lung cancer, a diagnosis he shared with his audience nine months ago.
In a video message released Thursday night, Torres, who has been a fixture on the Fresno news scene for more than 20 years, expressed gratitude for the community's support during his health challenges. He revealed that while the cancer was initially diagnosed as inoperable and incurable, his symptoms have significantly subsided. Recent biopsies of fluid in his lungs have shown no traces of malignant cells, though doctors have cautioned that the cancer could potentially exist elsewhere in his body.
Despite this encouraging development, Torres stated his intention to step away from the news desk permanently. "After more than 20 years as part of the Fox26 news family, I am here also tonight to sadly announce that I will not be returning to the news desk," he said. He plans to remain in the Central Valley with his family as he continues to focus on his recovery.
Torres initially addressed his absence from the airwaves in October, revealing the lung cancer diagnosis. He described experiencing severe shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, wheezing, and coughing. An X-ray at the time showed fluid in his lungs, with one lung two-thirds collapsed, leading to further tests that confirmed the stage 4 diagnosis. He explained that the cancer's location made it inoperable, but it remained treatable.
Born and raised in Southern California, Torres began his broadcast career in Los Angeles. He moved to Fresno in 1996 as a general assignment reporter for KMPH. After working at stations in Florida, Michigan, and North Carolina, he returned to Fresno in 2006 to anchor the Fox 26 10 o’clock news.
Torres is married to his wife, Lorretta, and the couple has six children.