CBS has bumped up one of their farm team reporters to the big leagues.

Beginning in January, Ben Tracy will join CBS News in the LA bureau. Tracy comes to CBS from the network's O&O in Minneapolis-St. Paul, WCCO. The Minnesota native has been contributing to The Saturday Early Show. He also reported for the CBS Evening News following the collapse of the I35 bridge.

Click continued to read the release...

>More: An emailer tells us Ben Tracy replaces retired CBS LA-based correspondent Jerry Bowen "who also came to CBS from WCCO...30 years ago."

Ben Tracy is named CBS News Correspondent, announced today by Sean McManus, President of CBS News and Sports. Tracy joins CBS News officially in January 2008 and will be based in Los Angeles.

Prior to today’s announcement, Tracy was a contributor to the CBS SATURDAY EARLY SHOW while working for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. During his time on the SATURDAY EARLY SHOW, Tracy brought his signature “Good Question” segment started at WCCO-TV, to a national audience. Tracy has also contributed hard news stories to CBS News. This year, Tracy covered the collapse of the 35W Bridge in Minneapolis and flooding in southern Minnesota for the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC.

As a Correspondent for CBS News, Tracy will report for the EARLY SHOW and the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC.

"Ben is an impressive and talented reporter,” said McManus. “I am confident his distinctive style of reporting will add to our outstanding team of correspondents at CBS News.”

Earlier in his career, Tracy worked as a reporter at WISN-TV in Milwaukee and WBAY-TV in Green Bay. Tracy has won five Emmys for his work.

Tracy is a native of St. Paul, MN. He earned bachelor's degrees in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science as well as a master’s degree in Public Service at Marquette University.

Tracy resides in Los Angeles, CA.