KPRC 2 in a Google Pixel commercial

In 20-plus years of writing this blog, I have never seen a Houston TV station appear in a national commercial campaign for a product, but KPRC is keeping it interesting for me.

That's right, KPRC 2 Houston is part of a Google Pixel and Gemini ad. In the ad, clearly labeled as sponsored, Channel 2 employees and news department journalists are interviewed about how they use their phones in their daily workflows.

I assume KPRC is still shooting video with ENG cameras and Pixels.

Shooting with mobile devices is nothing new in Houston, as FOX 26 Houston KRIV experimented with covering stories on iPads as far back as 2011.

What is new is AI as a tool, in which newsrooms across the country are struggling to integrate into their workflows. The commercial shows Gemini helping with headline ideas for Houston weather. 

I interviewed a former Google employee last week for my real job and admitted to her that I am a Pixel fanboy, but even so, this commercial makes me uncomfortable.  

Call me old school, but it is really odd to me that a TV station is promoting a product.  I get it, television stations make money from commercials, but a TV station appearing in a commercial still gives me the ick. 

But I also know that in these challenging times, TV station owners have to figure out how to keep the lights on by finding new ways to generate revenue. What do you think?

OK...KHOU, FOX 26, and ABC13...who is appearing in an iPhone or Samsung ad next?

Karla Gil Joins Noticiero Telemundo California

Karla Gil has joined Noticiero Telemundo California (Telemundo 33 Sacramento / KCSO and Telemundo 51 Fresno / KNSO) as weather anchor for weekday newscasts at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. She will make her on-air debut on Monday, Feb. 16.

Gil joins Noticiero Telemundo California after serving as a weather anchor for Telemundo Kansas City / KGKC from 2023 to 2025. During that time, she also worked simultaneously as a weather anchor for Telemundo St. Louis / WXST, Telemundo Minnesota / KMNW, and Telemundo Portland / KJYY from 2024 to 2025, covering a wide range of severe and impactful weather events.

“Karla’s ability to communicate critical weather information in moments that matter most strengthens our commitment to serving our communities with accurate and trusted coverage,” said Candy Durán, News Director for Noticiero Telemundo California. “We are happy to welcome her to our newsroom, and I’m confident her strong experience in weather reporting and a clear, engaging on-air presence will resonate with our viewers.”

Gil has received multiple regional Emmy Awards for her work in the Weather and Environmental Science categories, including coverage of extreme cold conditions and tornado formation. She has also been recognized with a Best Weather Anchor Mid-America Emmy Award.

Gil holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Universidad Arturo Michelena.

Noticiero Telemundo California broadcasts simultaneously on KCSO and KNSO, Monday through Friday at 12 p.m., 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m., and weekends at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. 

Sylvia Corkill leaves News 9 KWTV Oklahoma City

Sylvia Corkill left her News 9 KWTV Oklahoma City weekend anchor position in early February 2026.

Corkill joined the News 9 team in October of 2016 and became famous outside of television news after her appearance in the Netflix docu-series "Tiger King."

A proud Okie from Lawton, Corkill previously worked for KSWO 7News, Lawton, where she worked her way up to evening anchor.

She is a graduate of Cameron University.

Melissa Wilson surgery updates

I told you how FOX 26 Houston KRIV morning anchor Melissa Wilson had surgery to fix a facial injury caused by an airbag.

"This is the first day I've been fully awake since surgery," Wilson told mikemcguff.com after surgery.  "Just wanted to update you that I had reconstruction to all my airways because of a severe airbag injury to my face years ago. Scar tissue eventually built up and led to sleep apnea. Even though I'm still swollen, I can't believe how good it feels to breathe well again. Love and hugs to all. And yes... I sit WAY BACK now, further from the dash to prevent it from ever happening again."

We now have more updates from the popular, longtime Channel 26 morning anchor.

- Tom Zizka is having surgery, too

Wilson started working for FOX 26 Houston in 2000. Originally on the evening shift with co-anchor Mike Barajas, and she then moved to the morning desk with José Griñán in 2010.  Wilson now co-anchors with DaLaun Dillard.

The Baylor University graduate also worked for Florida's News Channel and NewsChannel 6 KAUZ Wichita Falls.

Mikayla Smith joins KOCO 5 Oklahoma City

Mikayla Smith joined KOCO 5 in Oklahoma City in February 2026 as a meteorologist.

"Now I get to join Oklahoma’s best! @koco5news has been a dream job in a dream city I’ve wanted to call home for years," Smith posted.  "There is no greater honor than being part of the First Alert Storm Team. OKC let’s do this!"

- Sabrina Bates leaves KOCO 5 OKC for WLWT News 5 Cincinnati

She comes from weather consulting company, HailTrace, where she worked as a meteorologist beginning in October 2025.

Before that, Smith was part of the team at FOX23 News KOKI, joining the station in 2022 after working at News12 KXII in Sherman, Texas.

Smith gained national attention for launching “Signing Science with Smith,” a series delivering weather updates in American Sign Language for both deaf and hearing audiences. The Rockwall, Texas native says she was inspired to learn sign language in seventh grade by her mother, a special education teacher.

While a senior at the University of Oklahoma, Smith worked at KXII from January to April 2022. She also completed an internship at News on 6 KOTV in Tulsa.

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Hannah Rucker is engaged

Hannah Rucker got engaged and announced it on the most "lovely" day of the year, Valentine's Day.

"Forever Valentines," Rucker posted. "To think, my soulmate was born across the globe." 

Rucker, the KVUE Austin morning anchor, is now set to marry the University of Texas Rugby head coach and Australian-born Van Stewart.

Rucker joined KVUE in 2020 from WBTW in Myrtle Beach, SC, where she was a reporter/anchor.

She moved from the weekend morning anchor desk to weekday mornings in 2021.

RELATED: TX TV love is in the air for Valentine's Day!
AT THE SAME TIME: Grace Thornton leaves KVUE Austin

- KVUE Austin employee adopts child featured in station segment
- KVUE anchor can't resist the pet segment
- Dolly Parton on KVUE Austin?

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A post shared by 🔆 HANNAH RUCKER 🔆 (@hannahruckertv)

TX TV love is in the air for Valentine's Day!

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Hannah Rucker is engaged

Mayra Moreno's baby shower

Mayra Moreno celebrated her pregnancy with her ABC13 KTRK Houston colleagues this week with a baby shower. 

Miya Shay says Moreno is not finding out the baby's gender in advance, so the party is divided into “Team Boy” and “Team Girl.” 

Shay was on Team Boy.  Makes sense, she has two sons!

Grace Thornton leaves KVUE Austin

Grace Thornton has announced she is leaving KVUE Austin, where she has served as the weekend morning Daybreak meteorologist.

Here is what Thornton posted on social:

"This is such a bittersweet post for me as I have truly cherished these past 3 years in Texas. This place has been a gem to discover. Texas is hot, and its people are warm! Thank you all.

I won’t be off air for long - another capital city is calling…"

Thornton joined KVUE in January 2023. Prior to her move to Austin, she worked at WMBB News 13 in Panama City, Florida, as a weekend meteorologist and multimedia journalist, beginning in March 2021.

Before TV weather, Thornton worked as an operational meteorologist at Maxar Technologies, forecasting weather patterns to inform global crop futures. Her work focused on tracking monsoonal systems impacting coffee, sugar, and cocoa production worldwide. 

A 2018 graduate of Salisbury University, Thornton earned a degree in geography with concentrations in geographic information systems and atmospheric science. While in college, she gained early broadcast experience interning with the WBAL 11 Weather Team in Baltimore and earned course credit storm-chasing across the central United States, traveling more than 3,000 miles from Nebraska to New Mexico.

- Thornton is engaged
AT THE SAME TIME: Hannah Rucker is engaged

ugh - so long partner…♥️

This is such a bittersweet post for me as I have truly cherished these past 3 years in Texas. This place has been a gem to discover. Texas is hot, and its people are warm! Thank you all.

I won’t be off air for long - another capital city is calling… pic.twitter.com/coTvGRDWu6

— Grace Thornton KVUE (@GraceThorntonWX) February 11, 2026

FOX 4 KDFW new studio video update

FOX 4 KDFW Dallas-Fort Worth Good Day morning anchors Brandon Todd and Chip Waggoner give us a tour of the station's future state-of-the-art studio building in Irving's Las Colinas.

- FOX 4 KDFW to get new Las Colinas home
- FOX 4 KDFW breaks ground on new state-of-the-art studio