Missing Calif. TV anchor returns home

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. Santa Barbara County authorities say the anchorwoman for television station KEYT who was reported missing is back home and safe.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Kelly Hoover says Paula Lopez was reported missing by concerned family members on Wednesday morning, and they contacted authorities at about 5:30 p.m. to say she was home.

Hoover declined to comment on the reasons surrounding Lopez' disappearance, citing a private family matter.

The 48-year-old Lopez is a co-anchor of the 11 p.m. newscast at the ABC affiliate, where she has worked since 1996. Before that, she worked at KCAL-9 in Los Angeles for six years, according to her online biography.CBS Station KCBS Los Angeles reported that Lopez first worked at KEYT as an intern in 1985 while at UC Santa Barbara.

Deputies, two K-9 units and a helicopter searched for Lopez, along with detectives and search and rescue personnel.