Texas TV, radio and media gifts 2025

The holidays are almost upon us, so what are some quick gifts you can buy on Amazon related to Texas TV, radio, or media in general?

Now, this idea didn't occur to me just because my 101 KLOL documentary "Runaway Radio" is now on DVD and would make a perfect Christmas gift. It is available on Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and Barnes & Noble websites. 

No, I thought about the Texas television anchors, reporters, meteorologists, and other journalists who have worked hard on a labor of love like your favorite lowly Texas media blogger did with his 14 year in the making film.

This list is drawn from books I have received releases for over the years, with a few bonus titles from before my blog existed. To illustrate how difficult it is to be an author, some of the books I have featured over the years are no longer available to make this list! 

Here are some Texas media gift options from Houston to Dallas, Austin, and El Paso, plus surrounding areas in the Lone Star State!

Runaway Radio on DVD

Director Mike McGuff

https://amzn.to/4fXE5nX (also available in Houston at Cactus Music)

Desperate Times (Prepper Aftermath Book 2) - November 11, 2025

by Tom Abrahams

https://amzn.to/4pwsDo6

101 Ways to Rock Networking: It’s not what you know. It’s who you know! - December 5, 2023

by Dayna Steele

https://amzn.to/3BnmNS2

A Place to Anchor: Journalism, Cancer, and Rewriting Mi Vida as a Latina on the Border Hardcover – February 7, 2023

by Estela Casas

https://amzn.to/4gnDLyy

Life Makeover: Embrace the Bold, Beautiful, and Blessed You Hardcover – April 5, 2022

by Dominique Sachse 

https://amzn.to/3B8Kcqw

When America Fell Silent - August 20, 2019

by Freddy Cruz 

https://amzn.to/3DhCpXL

Good Evening, Friends: A Broadcaster Shares His Life - July 1, 2019

by Dave Ward

https://amzn.to/3BaUkix

Always and Never: 20 Truths for a Happy Heart Paperback – April 11, 2019

by Lisa Shumate

https://amzn.to/3OUsp9r

Swabbed & Found: An Adopted Man's DNA Journey to Discover his Family Tree Hardcover – October 1, 2017

by Frank Billingsley

https://amzn.to/4g1aDxk

"It's News to Me" - April 11, 2017

by Olga Campos Benz

https://amzn.to/4f5HYGc

Houston's Morning Show: The True Story of Hudson & Harrigan - November 6, 2015

by Randy Hames

https://amzn.to/4f6bN9r

"I Gotta Story" My 30 Years in TV News Paperback – January 26, 2015

by Minerva Pérez

https://amzn.to/3DjhuDJ

A Wild Ride on the Water Cycle (Jake & Alice) Hardcover – November 1, 2014

by Anthony Yanez 

https://amzn.to/3MOIHTy

Anybody Seen Dan Lovett?: Memoirs of a Media Nomad Paperback – April 17, 2014

by Dan Lovett 

https://amzn.to/41r12LP

Texans Behind the News: Texas Journalists of the Twentieth Century Hardcover – January 1, 2000

by Dede W. Casad

https://amzn.to/3ZpZyyV

Texas Country Reporter: Stories from the Backroads Hardcover – January 1, 2000

by Bob Phillips 

https://amzn.to/3ZHZOuq

Moments: The Life and Career of a Texas Newsman Hardcover – October 1, 1995

by Chip Moody

https://amzn.to/3BhH6At

*I am getting affiliate fees from these links

Victoria Balderrama replaces Salina Madrid at KFOX14 El Paso

Victoria Balderrama is joining the KFOX14 El Paso morning newscast, stepping into the anchor seat previously held by Salina Madrid, who is leaving the television news industry.

- KTSM 9 El Paso brings in radio hosts for morning newscast

Balderrama made her on-air debut on December 5, 2025, and will co-anchor alongside Stephanie Muñiz.

The New Mexico State University graduate returns to her hometown after nearly five years with KRIS 6 News Corpus Christi, where she worked as a multimedia journalist (MMJ).

As noted, Madrid is departing the TV business after nearly a decade, with her final day set for December 10. She shared the following message with viewers:

"While I am stepping away from KFOX14, I am not stepping away from serving this community. In January, I will be joining the Las Cruces Police Department as their Public Information Officer. It is a role that will allow me to continue connecting with you in a new way. I am especially looking forward to working alongside Chief Jeremy Story, whose commitment to transparency and community engagement is something I greatly admire. I am excited to help amplify that message and highlight the work happening within LCPD.

Many of you also know how personal this next chapter is for me. I recently opened Every Kidz Corner, an inclusive play space in Las Cruces inspired by my son and built for all children in our community. Being able to pour more time into that mission, while still serving my hometown, is something I am deeply grateful for."

On a related note, Madris launched a KFOX14 series called 'Beyond the Diagnosis' earlier this year.

Madrid joined KFOX14’s morning team in January 2023 after previously anchoring CBS4 Mornings on sister station KDBC. She helped launch that newscast, noting on air that it was the first female anchor team in El Paso.

A longtime member of CBS4/KFOX14, Madrid began with the stations in 2018 as a production assistant, later advancing to reporter and then anchor.

The NMSU alum previously anchored and reported for the student-run News22 on KRWG and completed an internship with WCIV ABC News 4 in Charleston, South Carolina.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Salina Madrid (@salinamadrid)

Elliot Wilson joins KSAT 12 San Antonio

Elliot Wilson is joining KSAT 12 San Antonio as the station’s newest meteorologist.

“It’s official,” Wilson announced. “I’m honored to be the newest meteorologist at KSAT 12 in San Antonio! I’m extremely excited for this new adventure and very glad to be back in the Lone Star State.”

Wilson most recently served as the morning meteorologist for Good Day OK on FOX 25 KOKH in Oklahoma City.

Before that, he spent four years forecasting for Central Texas viewers at KWTX 10 in the Waco–Temple–Killeen market. His broadcast career began straight out of college in Rockford, Illinois, where he worked as the weekend meteorologist at WTVO/WQRF.

A graduate of Ball State University, Wilson earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Atmospheric Science in 2016 and completed an internship at WISH Indianapolis during his studies.

97.5 KWTX-FM Waco turns 55

BY MICHAEL BRAUN
guest blogger

Once the home of the “Golden Sound of Beautiful Music,” KWTX-FM has entertained Central Texas listeners in one form or another for 55 years.

The station’s inaugural broadcast was Dec. 7, 1970.

The new Waco FM station at 97.5 MHz was owned and operated by KWTX Broadcasting Co., the licensee of KWTX-TV (Channel 10) and KWTX-AM (1230 kHz).

Throughout the 1970s, the station aired easy-listening music in stereo with limited interruptions. Instrumental selections by Percy Faith, Mantovani , Ray Conniff, Ferrante and Teicher, Andre Kostelanetz, 101 Strings, plus many other similar musical artists entertained listeners from 6 a.m. to midnight.

The station also carried national news on the hour from the Mutual Broadcasting System. Local announcers gave the time and temperature on the quarter-hour, a short headline news report, and a weather forecast every half-hour.

Announcers had to cope with working inside a confined space, sometimes for up to six hours. The FM control room wasn’t much larger than a small walk-in closet and crowded with equipment and storage shelves.

Many KWTX-FM hosts brought “Beautiful Stereo Music” to Central Texas listeners for over a decade until the format changed in the early ’80s to personality DJs playing contemporary hits 24 hours a day.

Today, KWTX-FM “97.5 FM #1 Hit Music” and KWTX-AM “NewsTalk 1230” are owned by IHeartMedia. KWTX-TV is part of the Gray Television Group.

Contributed by Michael Braun
The author worked at KWTX AM and FM during 1975-1979 as an announcer, DJ and board operator. He is a personal collector and preservationist of Central Texas broadcasting memorabilia.

VIDEO: Alan Holt signs off 3NEWS KIII Corpus Christi

Alan Holt signed off from his 3NEWS KIII Corpus Christi chief meteorologist role on Friday, December 5, 2025.

Here is the beginning of Holt's on-air goodbye (FULL VIDEO BELOW):

"So before we start, I just want to say, wow, that since this was announced that I was leaving, the amount of love that has poured in has been truly overwhelming. I was not fully aware of the impact living here has had on both me and I guess a lot of you too. The messages, the comments, the thank yous, the love. I feel it.

It has brought tears to my eyes. 

Today I was sitting in the weather center by myself for like four minutes just crying. And now, somehow I'm supposed to follow all of that emotion with a classy, composed on-air goodbye. No promises it is flawless, but this is it. It's easy for me to believe that 13 years have passed, mostly because I look exactly the same as the day I walked into this building, and also because of how much fun I've had here."

Holt has been with KIII for 13 years and will join TEGNA sister station News Center Maine, WCSH Portland, Maine.

Here are the videos Holt's KIII colleagues put together for him, along with his final goodbye to the Coastal Bend.

Another Texas meteorologist, Rachel Briers, will soon be leaving ABC13 Houston.

Rachel Briers leaves ABC13 Houston

Rachel Briers is leaving the ABC13 Houston KTRK weather department and saying goodbye to TV for now to be a stay-at-home mom, sources tell mikemcguff.com.

During her time forecasting Houston weather, Briers also gave birth to two daughters.

The meteorologist's last day will be Tuesday, December 9, 2025, but I understand she might return to do some fill-in work in the future.

Briers joined ABC13 in December 2018 and is now a three-time Emmy award winner.

Before Channel 13, Briers worked for NewsWest 9 KWES Midland-Odessa and KLBK Lubbock.

A native of Plano, Briers graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in Atmospheric Sciences, interning at WFAA 8 Dallas-Fort Worth and KBTX News 3 Bryan-College Station.

ANOTHER TEXAS METEOROLOGIST LEAVING
Alan Holt leaves 3NEWS KIII Corpus Christi

UPDATE MONDAY: Rachel Briers posts her goodbye message

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rachel Briers (@rachelabc13)

Ethan Pilson joins KCEN 6 Waco

Ethan Pilson joined KCEN 6 Waco-Temple-Killeen as a weekend meteorologist in November 2025.

He attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and interned at FOX8 WGHP in High Point, North Carolina.

Pilson most likely takes over for Jeff Mangum, who was previously the KCEN weekend meteorologist.  While writing this post, it appears meteorologist Whitney Huddleston is no longer with KCEN either.

- Faith Colbert joins KCEN 6 Waco

Mike Iscovitz gives 2025 update on father's murder case

FOX 26 KRIV Houston chief meteorologist Mike Iscovitz took to social media to give us a 2025 update on the justice system's handling of the tragic murder of his father, Stanley, in December 2020.

In the same month, FOX 26 legal analyst and attorney Chris Tritico's daughter, Maria, was also killed in a shooting. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mike Iscovitz (@fox26mike)

Texas 2026 Crystal Radio Award Finalists

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced the 50 finalists for the 2026 NAB Crystal Radio Awards. 

The Texas 2026 Crystal Radio Awards finalists are:

106.9 AND 107.5 KGLK-FM, Houston, Texas

93Q KKBQ-FM, Houston, Texas

Candy 95 KNDE-FM, College Station, Texas

La Jefa 102.7 KNDE-HD3, College Station, Texas

SEE ALL FINALISTS

The awards will be presented during a special ceremony at the NAB State Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., on March 3, 2026.

Since 1987, these awards have honored radio stations for their outstanding community service efforts, from radiothons for their local children’s hospitals and support for veterans to food drives after severe weather events. Ten Crystal Radio Award winners will be chosen from the finalists by a panel of judges representing the broadcast industry, community service organizations, and public relations firms.

Ashley Gonzalez joins KSAT 12 San Antonio

Ashley Gonzalez joined KSAT 12 San Antonio as a sports reporter in November 2025.

Gonzalez comes to San Antonio from Jacksonville, Florida, where she spent more than two years at First Coast News WTLV 12 as the weekend sports anchor. 

Before her move to Florida, Gonzalez made her mark in Corpus Christi. She became the first woman to serve as sports anchor at 3NEWS KIII Corpus Christi. She began at the station in 2019 as the weekend morning editor while still a college senior, later transitioning to a full-time news reporter before stepping into the sports anchor role.

A native of Weslaco, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley, Gonzalez graduated from Texas A&M University–Kingsville with a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications and a minor in Journalism.

Her earlier experience includes roles with the Corpus Christi Hooks, where she worked on the Game Day Production Staff, and the sports information department at Texas A&M–Kingsville.