Paulina Villegas

Washington D.C.

Reporter covering breaking and national news.

Education: Columbia University, M.S. in Journalism

Paulina Villegas is a General Assignment reporter covering national and breaking news. Previously, she worked at the New York Times' Mexico and Central America bureau, where her work focused on drug crime, government corruption and human rights issues. Her work on the TV documentary “El Chapo’s Son: The Siege of Culiacán,” won a News and Documentary Emmy Award for Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story in 2020. She has reported from more than a dozen countries in Latin America.
Latest from Paulina Villegas

UNC-Chapel Hill graduate student charged with murder of professor

Tailei Qi, a graduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a faculty member.

August 29, 2023

UNC faculty member killed in campus shooting; suspect in custody

A person is in custody Monday after allegedly shooting and killing a faculty member at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

August 28, 2023

Gunman kills UNC faculty member, authorities say

The school sent an alert at 1:03 p.m., warning of a danger to the campus. It told people to “resume normal activities” three hours later.

August 28, 2023

Ukraine live briefing: Russian investigators confirm Prigozhin’s death; ex-U.S. official says crash was retribution

Russia’s Investigative Committee confirmed that Yevgeniy Prigozhin died in a plane crash. Former National Security Council official Fiona Hill said his death was probably retaliation.

August 27, 2023

San Francisco archdiocese files for bankruptcy amid child abuse lawsuits

The archdiocese said the move would help facilitate restitution, but critics called the move an attempt to deny justice and transparency for abuse survivors.

August 21, 2023

Hilary lashes wide swaths of California, Nevada with flooding, mudslides

Officials warned that Tropical Hilary would lead to road closures, power outages and other ‘catastrophic’ conditions in regions unaccustomed to heavy rainfall.

August 20, 2023

Tropical Storm Hilary’s center enters California amid earthquake, flooding and mudslides

Tropical Storm Hilary heads toward Southern California, where heavy rainfall, winds and flooding are expected. Follow live updates as we cover the storm.

August 21, 2023

Mississippi ex-officers plead guilty to state charges in torture of Black men

The six officers, who branded themselves the "Goon Squad," admitted to attacking the two Black men with Tasers, a sword and other objects.

August 14, 2023

Death toll in Maui wildfires, now 93, expected to rise as search continues

Here are the latest updates on the Maui fire containment, deaths and recovery as efforts continue across Hawaii.

August 14, 2023

Ukraine live briefing: Russia strikes Ukrainian air bases; Zelensky condemns attack on blood transfusion center

The strikes targeted an air base where Ukraine keeps Su-24 bombers, a Ukrainian Air Forces spokesman said.

August 6, 2023