740 KTRH and 950 KPRC host Matt Patrick diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus
Matt Patrick
In an emotional announcement on NewsRadio 740 KTRH this morning, Matt Patrick told his audience that he has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer.
"In Houston, there is no better place to be treated for what I'm being treated for," Patrick said on air. "It is the place that people come from all over the world. That is why God brought me here."
The first person Patrick said he called Friday after learning of the diagnoses was his co-host Shara Fryer. You might remember Fryer is a cancer survivor.
"She has been an incredible friend to me," Patrick said.
"I have a broken heart, but a very strong spirit on your behalf," Fryer told Patrick.
The KTRH morning man went on to thank his family, the iHeartMedia Houston staff and all of his listeners for their support.
Patrick acknowledges this will be a tough fight, but says so many more have even tougher events to cope with in their lives. He mentioned the grieving family of the murdered Deputy Darren Goforth and the families of the school bus victims who lost their lives Tuesday.
While the cancer battle might take him out of the studio some, Patrick says he does have a studio at his house for the days when he can still broadcast, but not make it in for his KTRH and 950 KPRC shows.
"I will fight like hell," Patrick added.
You can show your support for Patrick with the #sandboxstrong hashtag. Listen to Patrick's own words below.
Good news for Bob Allen and Matt Patrick as they battle cancer
Bob Allen
So many people have been asking me about KHOU 11 sports director Bob Allen. Today, I'm happy to share his outstanding news he posted on Facebook.
"Once again, thanks again for your many thoughts and prayers, as I'm coming down the home stretch of this cage match with lymphoma," Allen wrote. "All signs are pointing to lymphoma tapping out. Got great news late last week. I'm in total remission! In a few weeks I check into MD Anderson for a stem cell transplant. The type of lymphoma I had has a tendency to recur, but the transplant gives me a complete new immune system, which could likely be a complete cure."
Also on the cancer battle front, for the first time in over a month, 740 KTRH/950 KPRC's Matt Patrick was back behind the microphone for Houston's Morning News at 5am for the show's entirety!
Temporary hosts have been filling in for Patrick on both stations as he gets treatment.
But today, a nice normalcy returned to the KTRH studio.
Once again, thanks again for your many thoughts and prayers, as I'm coming down the home stretch of this cage match with...
Posted by Bob Allen KHOU on Monday, November 30, 2015
Dallas' Talk Radio 1190 gets some Houston talkers in Michael Berry and Matt Patrick
Looks like 740 KTRH/950 KPRC radio talkers Michael Berry and Matt Patrick are getting syndicated in Dallas-Fort Worth on Talk Radio 1190 starting today. Berry is already syndicated in several markets around the US. Here is the full release from IHeartMedia DFW:
Matt Patrick
iHeartMedia Dallas/Ft Worth today announced the launch of its new station, Talk Radio 1190, effective Monday November 17, 2015. The station will deliver the area up to date talk and news programming, airing local and Texas based syndicated talk shows including The Russ Martin Show, The Michael Berry Program and The Matt Patrick Show.
Talk Radio 1190 will provide a fresh approach for Dallas/Ft. Worth radio by blending local talk radio with national shows, showcasing a variety of views. The station will primarily focus on a wide array of popular current talk shows ranging in topics from lifestyle to politics, and includes live and local news, traffic and weather updates.
Michael Berry
The Russ Martin Show will lead weekday mornings from 7a-11am, followed by Texas based syndicated shows with hosts Matt Patrick from 2-5pm and Michael Berry from 5-7pm. The remainder of the day will showcase local and national talk shows.
“We are thrilled to bring this talk intensive format to the DFW airwaves,” said Patrick Davis, Vice President of Programming, iHeartMedia Dallas/Ft Worth. “We hope to evolve the news format to represent today’s modern consumer.”
Matt Patrick and Lois Melkonian finished their first day on the new NewsTalk 740 KTRH “Houston’s Morning News with Matt Patrick.” The two gave video recaps on the KTRH YouTube account with an old NewsRadio 740 KTRH banner behind them (see video embed below).
I'm getting lots of reader complaints today concerning the dismissal of Lana Hughes and J.P. Pritchard from the newscast.
So did you listen to the new morning radio show? I did not. I'm still having trouble getting Matt Patrick's name correct because of Matt Thomas on 790 KBME and Dan Patrick on 700 KSEV.
More interesting is the talk Matt Patrick had with the other KTRH (and 950 KPRC) big dog Michael Berry the other day. Berry told Patrick that Houston has hot TV weather women, but then singled out KPRC 2 traffic reporter Jennifer Reyna as the hottest. The former city councilman then told Patrick the story of how KTRH traffic guy Darby Douglas was let go from KHOU 11 and replaced with 'hottie' Katherine Whaley (Berry did not mention Whaley by name).
Some changes for Houston Clear Channel stations NewsRadio 740 KTRH and The 950 KPRC. For one thing, Houston radio listeners get more Michael Berry, meanwhile Glenn Beck moves to 950AM and more. Here is the Clear Channel release from today:
Clear Channel Radio announced today that Houston’s top talk show will now be heard twice a day on KTRH, effective Monday, Jan. 9, 2012. The popular Michael Berry show will continue to air weekdays from 5-7:00 p.m. and will also air weekday mornings from 8-11:00 a.m. on AM 740 KTRH. Berry has served the Houston community as a former Mayor Pro Tem and city councilman.
“We heard from KTRH listeners that they wanted more of the Michael Berry Show, and our goal is to provide listeners with programming they want to hear. Local talk is alive and well in Houston,” said Bryan Erickson, Director of AM Operations, Clear Channel Radio. “Going into a huge election year, and at a time when politics are on everyone’s mind, this lineup reflects our listeners’ passion.”
“Our commitment to provide the best local talk and news content is stronger than ever. While most news operations around the country are downsizing, we’re adding staff to our news team,” said Erickson.
KTRH is a 50,000 watt heritage station that began broadcasting in 1922 and has the largest signal in Texas. Berry will replace Glenn Beck in the mornings. Beck’s program will broadcast on sister station, KPRC 950 AM, weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon. The KTRH Morning News with Matt Patrick and Lois Melkonian will air weekdays from 5-8:00 a.m. Patrick will take over Berry’s weekday hosting position on KPRC AM 950 from 2-5:00 p.m.
“Patrick has been a great addition to the station,” said Erickson. “He is eager to take on this new opportunity and challenge.”
“I am excited for both Michael Berry and Matt Patrick; both are incredibly smart and entertaining. Berry and Patrick are two of our companies rising superstars and I am pleased that their loyal listeners will now be able to hear them in both mornings and afternoons,” said Houston Clear Channel Market Manager Eddie Martiny.
The KTRH lineup will feature Houston’s Morning News from 5-8:00 a.m.; the Michael Berry Show from 8-11:00 a.m.; the Rush Limbaugh Show from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sean Hannity from 2-5:00 p.m.; the Michael Berry Show from 5-7:00 p.m.; and Mark Levin from 7-10:00 p.m.
Fans can listen to KTRH, on the station’s website, ktrh.com, as well as on iHeartRadio.com and the iHeartRadio mobile app, Clear Channel’s best-in-class customizable digital listening experience, offering more than 800 of the nation's most popular live broadcast and digital-only radio stations, plus user-created Custom Stations which provide listeners more songs, better music intelligence, more user control and deeper social media integration, all combined in one free, fully-integrated service.
I noticed that Michael Garfield's time slot on KPRC is being filled by Glenn Beck. Waiting to find out what happens to the High Tech Texan's show The World According to Garf on weekdays.
UPDATE: The Clear Channel media rep told me the new 950 KPRC schedule and then it was released on the station's Facebook page:
6a-10 Joe Pags
10a-Noon Glenn Beck
Garf will now be Noon-2pm weekdays
2p-5p Matt Patrick
5p-8p Michael Savage
Outlaw Dave goes to 8-10pm week nights
10p-1a Dennis Miller
Lana Hughes and J.P. Pritchard are out of 740 KTRH after 27 years. And now the station drops the news front and goes with the talk moniker.
"This is an exciting time for our station," Clear Channel Houston AM Operations Manager Bryan Erickson said in a statement. "Like other forms of media, we have to continue to adapt. We have to serve our listeners by being informative and entertaining. Lana and JP are an institution in Houston, they are true professionals, and we, along with our listeners, will miss hearing their comforting voices every morning. We know our new show has big shoes to fill."
With a change in the morning show comes a change in direction for KTRH. No more NewsRadio 740 KTRH branding. Now the station is called NewsTalk 740. That's because the days of this station being a news station have been fading quickly over the last years. Clearly it is a conservative talk station now with no apologies. History buffs will note that KTRH used to be a talk station in the early 80s too. KTRK 13 investigative reporter Wayne Dolcefino had a talk show on it.
Well we should have seen this coming. Just last week I linked to the Denver Post article stating that Lois Melkonian was on her way to Houston. Melkonian was just a talk show host at Denver Clear Channel station KOA (KTRH is a Clear Channel station). While she just did talk, Melkonian does have news experience having worked at KCBS radio and KGO-TV in San Francisco as an anchor/reporter.
But the star of the new show according to the Clear Channel press release is Matt Patrick. In fact the show that debuts July 5th (5 to 9am) is actually called “Houston’s Morning News with Matt Patrick.”
In fact here is video of Matt Patrick taking Texas to task from his website:
According to a station release, Patrick has been splitting time between Indiana (95.3 MNC, Michiana) and Ohio (WTAM, Cleveland and WLW, Cincinnati) and will be moving to Houston, along with his wife and three children. mattpatrickshows.com
The station adds the rest of the show lineup remains the same. I assume there will still be news updates at top and bottom of the hour too.
Now back to Lana and JP. I posted how both legendary news anchors were inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2009. Just two years ago, KTRH sent me this release about the radio duo:
Through it all, “Lana and JP” have been the staple of the morning radio landscape in Houston. They are currently enjoying very high ratings, as good as ever. “Lana and JP are as good as they’ve ever been, and they get better every day,” said Houston market manager Eddie Martiny. “They’re just now starting to hit their stride. We think they have at least 25 more great years to inform and entertain Houstonians.”
No doubt, JP and Lana have been the first voices many Houstonians have heard in the morning for many, many years. That puts them in a special place for many listeners. They sounded great and had tremendous chemistry together. They did what they could over the last few years with the dwindling resources they were given as a result of cutbacks.
Think about it, a decade ago, Lana and JP has a huge news staff behind them on the streets and freeways (traffic) telling Houston what was happening with news and traffic. Trust me when I say that KTRH was pre-set number one on the car radios of the other journalists in town. That clearly changed over the last decade as more and more news blocks disappeared in favor of syndicated talk shows. This reminds us that broadcasting is a business about money and not news coverage. These talks shows do after all get ratings or they would not be there.
But out of respect for these two broadcasting giants, here are Lana and JP's bios:
A native Houstonian, Lana Hughes is a graduate of Conroe High School and has a B.A. in English and journalism/communications from Baylor University. Her career began as a newspaper reporter at the Daily Courier in Conroe, before going into broadcasting at Conroe's KIKR. She first joined KTRH as weekend anchor and field reporter, before teaming up with JP Pritchard on the KTRH Morning News.
Lana's lifelong passions are writing and animals! Her love of both come together in her blog, Animal House. Her pet page showcases the efforts of area rescue groups and shelters to help those with no voice, and is dedicated to providing news and information to help stop the needless suffering of abused, neglected and abandoned animals.
JP Pritchard has been anchoring at NewsRadio 740 KTRH since 1982, and with Lana Hughes as his on-air partner since 1984. JP received a degree in journalism from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. After doing stints as reporter/anchor and news director at radio stations in the midwest, he was recruited to be news director at KULF Radio, now KBME SportsTalk 790. He and Lana have won many awards honoring their work as writers, anchors and interviewers. And JP and Lana have won the "Best Anchor Team" and "Best Newscast" awards several times from the Texas AP Broadcasters. In 2000, JP won the "Best Documentary" award for a two-hour production on the history of Houston. He and his wife, Esther, and have three grown sons and two grandsons.
For one thing, Houston radio listeners get mega-doses of Michael Berry and Matt Patrick on the two Houston Clear Channel stations. Glenn Beck is also moving from 740 KTRH to 950 KPRC from 10am to 12pm. A domino effect ensues where Michael Garfield moves to 12pm to 2pm (The High Tech Texan shows remains Saturdays 11am to 2pm) and Outlaw Dave to 8pm to 10pm. Outlaw Radio is back!
Monday through Friday
4am - 5am -- Wall Street Journal This Morning
5am - 8am -- Houston’s Morning News with Matt Patrick
8am - 11am -- Michael Berry
11am - 2pm -- Rush Limbaugh
2pm - 5pm -- Sean Hannity
5pm - 7pm -- Michael Berry
7pm - 10pm -- Mark Levin
10pm - 4am -- Coast to Coast AM with George Noory
The 950 KPRC programming lineup schedule 2012
Monday through Friday
5am - 6am -- Best of Joe Pags
6am - 10am -- Joe Pags
10am - 12pm -- Glenn Beck
12pm - 2pm -- Michael Garfield
2pm - 5pm -- Matt Patrick
5pm - 8pm -- Michael Savage
8pm - 10pm -- Outlaw Dave
10pm - 1am -- Dennis Miller
1am - 3am -- Phil Hendrie
3am - 5am -- Mancow
740 KTRH let me know about a series of town hall meetings it is holding about the upcoming elections. The hosts will be Michael Berry and Matt Patrick:
Newsradio 740 KTRH will host three Town Hall Meetings to discuss political issues with its listeners during special live broadcasts; the first taking place on March 5. KTRH talk-show hosts’ Michael Berry and Matt Patrick will address the upcoming Presidential election’s political topics with listeners.
KTRH will invite listeners to the Clear Channel Houston studios to participate in the Town Hall Meetings. Likely voters, from a cross section of KTRH’s audience, will sit on panels to discuss the timely political issues they face prior to the election. Throughout the broadcast, Berry and Patrick will pose questions to the panel for discussion. KTRH listeners can participate in the Town Hall Meetings in person, on-air and online.
“KTRH’s Town Hall Meetings will offer our listeners the ability to instantly participate in on-air discussions which is a great aspect of talk-radio,” said Bryan Erickson, AM Operations Manager, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Houston. “We’re excited about the opportunity to hear from our listeners in this unique setting.”
The KTRH Town Hall Meetings will be held on:
Monday, March 5, from 7-8:00 p.m.
Date to be determined -- The evening prior to the Texas primary from 7-9:00 p.m.
Monday, November 5, from 7-9:00 p.m.
Newsradio 740 KTRH announced today that Shara Fryer will join its news team, effective Tuesday, September 4, 2012. Fryer will anchor Houston's Morning News with Matt Patrick from 5-8:00 a.m.
Fryer spent more than 25 years working in broadcast television at ABC 13 (KTRK), where she covered stories from Houston and around the globe. She is also an award winning journalist, conducting interviews with presidents, foreign heads of state, well known Texans and national and international celebrities. Fryer currently serves as Director of the World Affairs Council of Houston. As a cancer survivor, she devotes much of her time to various cancer outreach programs and established the Shara Fryer Cancer Research Fund in the Department of Surgical Oncology at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
"Shara is a pro with an incredible reputation and we are fortunate to have her join our talented team at KTRH," said Eddie Martiny, President and Market Manager, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Houston. "Over 25 years of major market broadcast excellence combined with her commitment to numerous charities in Houston make Shara the perfect choice for mornings on KTRH. This further proves KTRH's commitment to serving Houston with the most up to date news and information."
"I'm excited by the energy and raw spirit of radio. It's a brand new world for me and I see Clear Channel with iHeartRadio as an innovator for a new future of broadcasting," said Fryer. "There's a spark with Matt and the entire KTRH team that I hope listeners will feel and join us weekday mornings. I'm thrilled to be a part of the energy, conversation and connection of KTRH and our community."
"We are thrilled to have Shara on board," said Bryan Erickson, Director of AM Operations, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Houston. "Shara will bring an unmatched level of credibility and trust as a veteran news anchor. For over two decades Houstonians welcomed her into their homes on a nightly basis and now they can ride to work with her."
The KTRH Newsradio 740 programming line-up:
· Houston's Morning News with Matt Patrick and Shara Fryer from 5-8:00 a.m.
· The Michael Berry Show from 8-11:00 a.m. and 5-7:00 p.m.
· Rush Limbaugh from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
· Sean Hannity from 2-5:00 p.m.
Houston, Texas – August 18, 2017 – iHeartMedia Houston’s Newsradio 740 KTRH, Houston’s News, Weather & Traffic Station, announced today that Jimmy Barrett will join Houston’s Morning News as the program’s new co-host effective Monday, September 11, 2017. Barrett will join Shara Fryer, Houston’s Morning News anchor from 5 - 8 a.m. on weekdays.
Newsradio 740 KTRH’s Houston’s Morning News wakes up local listeners with a mix of local and national news, and broadcasts discussions about pop culture and entertainment topics throughout the morning.
Barrett joins Houston’s Morning News from Richmond, VA where he served as the morning host for iHeartMedia’s News Radio 1140 WRVA for 16 years. He’ll replace former KTRH morning host Matt Patrick who passed away in early July after a lengthy and heroic battle with cancer.
“Jimmy has a big voice, a big heart and big shoes to fill,” said Bryan Erickson, Director of AM Programming for iHeartMedia Houston. “It’s impossible for anyone to replace Matt Patrick and we all know that. I think Matt’s audience will embrace Jimmy as we move forward from what has been a very difficult time.”
"It took an exciting city and great radio station to get me to leave my home for the last 16 years,” said Barrett. “I'm very proud to join the team at KTRH and looking forward to becoming a part of the Houston community.”
Full Newsradio 740 KTRH programming line-up:
Houston’s Morning News with Jimmy Barrett and Shara Fryer from 5-8 a.m.
The Michael Berry Show from 8-11 a.m.
Rush Limbaugh from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sean Hannity from 2-5 p.m.
The Michael Berry Show from 5-7 p.m.
iHeartMedia is a leading media outlet in the Houston market with multiple platforms, including its broadcast stations; live events; data; and its digital businesses and platforms, including mobile, social and its own iHeartRadio, the leading all-in-one streaming music and live radio service – with more than 1.4 billion app downloads and 100 million registered users.
Now let's examine what has happened to Mix 96.5 KHMX and 740 KTRH since replacing Maria Todd with Kidd Kraddick and Lana Hughes and J.P. Pritchard with Matt Patrick respectively. I can tell you that both got a huge reaction on my blog from readers.
Let me start by saying I only am looking at the 12+ ratings numbers from Arbitron. They are the only ones released to the public (Nielsen does not offer any Houston TV ratings publicly). That being said, we will not get a full picture of how a radio station is doing in certain demos and time slots (examples of metrics used to sell advertising and make money for the stations).
Luckily for us, David Barron of the Houston Chronicle does see more than just the 12+ Arbitron numbers. He reports that for the first time in his memory, SportsRadio 610 KILT is nipping at the heels of 740 KTRH for top rated AM station in Houston:
KTRH continues to lead KILT in the weeklong persons 12-plus ratings, as reported by Arbitron for September, with a 2.8 percent audience share to 2.2 for KILT (for comparison purposes, Clear Channel's KODA, 99.1 FM, is No. 1 overall at 7.0).
But KILT leads by two-tenths of a point in the weeklong adults 25-54 ratings, and it leads by seven-tenths of a point in morning drive, which reflects KILT's Texans-fueled surge and the KTRH's slump as the Astros dawdled toward 100 losses and also since it ditched longtime news anchors Lana Hughes and J.P. Pritchard in favor of talk show host Matt Patrick. Since the numbers for June, the last full month that Pritchard and Hughes were on the air, KTRH is down more than a point in morning drive share for adults 25-54. KILT is up by about a point. READ MORE
There are currently rumors swirling around town of an all news station replacing an FM station on the Houston radio dial. Connected to the departure of Lana and J.P.? Who knows? Place for former KTRH reporters and anchors to work if rumors are true...maybe.
Next over at Mix 96.5 KHMX, the public 12+ Arbitron numbers over the last three months show a decline in ratings:
KHMX-FM
July 2011 - August 2011 - September 2011
3.2 1,158,300 | 2.9 1,172,500 | 2.2 1,100,200
CBS Houston declined to comment on this. However I talked to an informed source in the broadcast ratings world and was told the station has been declining in the ratings even before Maria Todd was taken off mornings. It might have more to do with the station's format being affected by sister station Hot 95.7 KKHH and across town rivals 104.1 KRBE and Sunny 99.1 KODA.
Chris X (Chris Blayney in real life) has hosted shows on 650 KIKK and AM 1070 "The Answer" KNTH
Chris "X" Blayney
Chris X (Chris Blayney in real life) has hosted shows on 650 KIKK and AM 1070 "The Answer" KNTH. Now this week, he's filling in for Matt Patrick on 740 KTRH's Morning News (5-8am).
"I'll be filling in next Thursday and Friday, so I'm looking forward to the opportunity," Blayney told mikemcguff.com. "I'll bring filling in for a week in June as well."
When not doing fill in on the mighty KTRH, Blayney can be found on Raging Elephants Radio weekdays 9 to 10am.
"Since Raging Elephants Radio has really shaken up the political climate in Austin, I welcomed the opportunity to step in and have an impact as well," Blayney said. "I have a lot of freedom with my program, so I'm really enjoying being back on the airwaves. Raging Elephants Radio is Texas-centric, so we focus mainly on issues that affect us as Texans."
The Waco–Temple–Killeen television market has experienced turnover over the past several months, with changes involving anchors, reporters, meteorologists, and station management.
I wasn't blogging when some of these happened, so let's go.
One of the biggest departures is Jasmin Caldwell, a longtime face of KCEN 6 and its Texas Today morning newscast. Caldwell announced that August 11, 2026, would be her final day at the TEGNA-owned station after nine years.
Caldwell joined KCEN in 2017 and worked her way into the station's anchor lineup after previously serving as a weekend evening anchor and weekday reporter. She became part of a historic moment in 2022 when she, Taheshah Moise and Ashley Carter formed what NBC News described as the first Black female anchor team of its kind in the country.
During her career at KCEN, Caldwell covered some of Central Texas' biggest stories. She was among the first to report that skeletal remains discovered in a Killeen neighborhood were those of missing Fort Hood soldier Gregory Morales, who had been classified as AWOL before his death was discovered nearly a year later.
Caldwell also provided extensive coverage of the funeral of former President George H.W. Bush as Texas A&M University prepared to bury him at his presidential library and museum. Her investigative reporting included a look at Bull Hill Cemetery, a historic burial ground used for enslaved people in Texas dating to 1849.
Her reporting has also earned appearances on programs including Dateline, Nancy Grace, Investigation Discovery and Daily Blast Live.
In announcing her departure, Caldwell emphasized her connection to Central Texas, telling viewers that journalism was about more than being on television and that some of her most meaningful experiences came from connecting with people throughout Waco, Temple, Belton, Killeen and surrounding communities.
Caldwell also made clear on Facebook that she is not leaving Central Texas: "Just to be clear, I will still be living here in Central Texas. I'm not moving. So you will still see me around."
Caldwell is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she earned a degree in Broadcast Journalism.
KCEN has seen additional changes to its morning lineup. Lindsay Liepman moved from the station's evening newscasts to Texas Today in February 2026. Liepman previously appeared on KCEN's 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts alongside Baylee Bates and Adrian Carbajal. She moved to mornings, where she joined the Texas Today team.
Meanwhile, Micah Wilson, who joined Texas Today as a co-anchor in 2023 and became known for the "JustAKidFromTheCreek" branding, departed KCEN. Wilson subsequently joined the News 9 team in Oklahoma in April 2026 as a weeknight reporter, where he is covering stories across the state.
Julieanna Jackson leaves KCEN
KCEN 6 also said goodbye to Julieanna Jackson, who announced her departure in August 2026 after two years at the station.
Jackson joined the 6 News team in August 2024 as a multimedia journalist. During her time in Central Texas, she covered a wide variety of stories, including the military, transmission lines, data centers, crime, fires, investigations, ranching, economics and education.
In announcing her departure, Jackson reflected on beginning her professional television career at KCEN immediately after college.
Jackson graduated cum laude from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor's degree in Journalism and a minor in Law. While at Ole Miss, she worked as a reporter and anchor for the student-run NewsWatch Ole Miss.
Leh joined KXXV in August 2023 and served as the Neighborhood Reporter for Waco and Baylor University. Before coming to Central Texas, she spent two years at KBMT in Beaumont as a reporter, editor and producer.
A native Texan, Leh moved to Kingsville when she was six, then later settled in Kirbyville, where she graduated from high school in 2017. She attended Lamar University, where she played four years of women's tennis and earned a degree in broadcasting in 2021.
KXXV added Thomas Patrick earlier in 2026. Patrick joined 25 News and 15 ABC as a weekend meteorologist and Neighborhood Reporter in March 2026. He arrived in Central Texas after forecasting in Spokane, Washington, at KREM.
Before his time in the Pacific Northwest, Patrick worked at WICS in Springfield, Illinois. His television broadcast meteorology career began at KNBN in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Patrick brings approximately 13 years of weather experience and has worked in television markets across the country before landing in Central Texas.
Mike Lee, a longtime Texas television executive and former KXXV general manager, retired from his role with Nexstar's FOX 44 KWKT Waco-Temple-Killeen after a career spanning more than five decades in broadcasting.
A retirement party honoring Lee was held at the Greater Waco Chamber in June 2025.
Lee had been promoted by Nexstar in 2020 to vice president and general manager overseeing the company's broadcast and digital operations serving the Waco, Temple and Bryan markets, including KWKT-TV and KYLE-TV.
His career in Waco television dates back years before that. Lee served as vice president and general manager of KXXV for 11 years before leaving the station in 2016.
He previously spent decades with KFDA-TV in Amarillo, beginning his broadcasting career there in 1971 while still in high school. He eventually rose through the ranks to become KFDA's vice president and general manager in 1987.
By the time of his retirement, Lee had accumulated more than 50 years of experience in broadcast management, sales, marketing and television operations.
After 740 KTRH morning host Matt Patrick's untimely death from cancer last summer, FOX 26 KRIV was put in the unfortunate position of finding someone new to step in his role on FOX Faceoff with Houston activist Quanell X.
The decision has been made and the new person on the debate couch is former investigative reporter Wayne Dolcefino.
“Wayne Dolcefino and Quanell X represent a perfect point/counter-point of opinion presenting our viewers with unique perspectives on the social, governmental and cultural topics of our times from Houston to Washington and beyond," KRIV Vice President and News Director, Susan Schiller told mikemcguff.com.
You can see the lively debate between X and Dolcefino Monday, Wednesday and Fridays at 5:50pm and 9:50pm.
Dolcefino previously contributed to the station's weekly political show What's You Point? with Greg Groogan.
In his time away from television news, Dolcefino is at the helm of Dolcefino Consulting.
But even with his own company, his current investigations lead the TV cameras from all of the stations his way anyway.
Earlier this afternoon, I posted that longtime San Antonio based 950am morning man Joe Pags was parting ways with his Houston show.
Now the Walton and Johnson Facebook page says the show is returning Tuesday at 5:30am in Houston. It just so happens that all of KPRC's online sites say tune in Tuesday at 5:30am to hear a new show. Coincidence?
Now most people know that Walton and Johnson broadcast from Houston to a bunch of different radio stations in the region. Since December 2012, when they were let go from 93.7 The Arrow, they've still been living in broadcasting from Houston to the other cities, just not to a local station. From what I understand, they were still even broadcasting from Clear Channel Houston under a lease agreement.
So now the two are probably returning to their home pre-Arrow which was 950 KPRC. When the longtime morning duo showed up on KPRC in 2007, the station even totally re-branded to the 9-5-0 Radio Mojo. It's ironic that now the duo is returning, the station just re-branded to KPRC AM 950 last month.
UPDATE 4/30/2013 8AM
OFFICIAL WORD FROM CLEAR CHANNEL HOUSTON:
950 KPRC ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF THE WALTON & JOHNSON SHOW
Houston, Texas – April 30, 2013 – 950 KPRC, Houston's More Stimulating Talk Radio, announced today the return of The Walton & Johnson Show, beginning today, Tuesday, April 30. The Walton & Johnson Show will broadcast weekdays from 5:30-10:00 a.m.
The Walton & Johnson Radio Show is one of the most respected and universally imitated radio programs in the nation. The show offers listeners a unique mix of "stream of consciousness,"opinionated and compelling talk, celebrity guests, musical elements, fictional characters,famous impersonations and skits. The show features John Walton and Steve Johnson, who are affectionately known as the Radio “Gawds” by their dedicated listeners and advertisers.
"We are thrilled to have Walton & Johnson back on KPRC," said Bryan Erickson, Director of AM Programming, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Houston. "They have a proven track record of great ratings and we look forward to them continuing that success on KPRC.”
KPRC AM 950's updated programming line-up:
• Walton & Johnson from 5:30-10:00 a.m.
• The Glenn Beck Show from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
• Michael Garfield from 12-2:00 p.m.
• Matt Patrick from 2-5:00 p.m.
• Janine Turner from 5-7:00 p.m.
• Outlaw Dave from 7-9:00 p.m.
Texas names in the news
Alicia Dean joins KXAN-TV in Austin, TX, as the Assistant News Director. She’s been working for KNSD-TV in San Diego as a reporter, though she began there as an Executive Producer. Plus Shannon Hammel is going to stay at KXAS-TV in Dallas/Ft. Worth as Managing Editor.
Jennifer Reyna is the parade marshal
KPRC 2's Jennifer Reyna had the honor this Fourth of July to act as Parade Marshal for The City of Meadows Place.
Jedi Mind Tricks: Most of you forget your reporting skills in the News Director's office
You walk into the office, wondering why you've been stuck with a bad shift, bad stories, whatever. You are all set to unload your frustrations and then the ND lets the air out of your balloon with the magical phrase. You think, "Oh, well I'd better not complain. They have big plans for me."
KTBU sale approved by FCC
The sale of KTBU, channel 55, to Spanish Broadcasting Systems has been approved by the FCC.
Halff ran WOAI and several other businesses
San Antonio businessman Hugh Halff Jr., whose family owned and operated WOAI Radio and TV and who led several firms, among them one listed on the American Stock Exchange, died Monday at age 76.
Reporter LIZ McKERNAN to KOAT, Albuquerque (from KBMT, Beaumont).
Liz is represented by Steve Swienckowski of DCA (The David Crane Agency). http://www.davidcrane.com.
Tomorrow is NewsRadio 740 KTRH anchor Lois Melkonian's last day at the Clear Channel Houston station.
"I'm joining my husband in Denver, preparing to care for my parents, then branching out to explore new opportunities," Melkonian told mikemcguff.com over email. "The people here at KTRH have been wonderful."
Melkonian, an accomplished journalist, came from KOA radio in Denver. Before Denver, she was a TV reporter/anchor at KGO 7 in San Francisco. Ahead of the TV gigs, she worked at KCBS Radio in San Francisco.
In other KTRH news, All Access is reporting that the station's web reporter Samantha Jordan is leaving the station in June. Jordan has emailed me to say this is not true.
Shara Fryer's absence was addressed on 740 KTRH's "Houston Morning News" show on the morning of December 2, 2024. As promised, I have updated this post from mid-November, when she disappeared, with the new information.
Co-host Jimmy Barrett delivered the news concerning Fryer's situation, as many questions have been sent to this blog and, I am sure, to the 740 KTRH newsroom.
As many feared, Fryer has departed KTRH. Based on what Barrett said on-air, her exit is related to the recent IHeartMedia layoffs nationwide (Barret's full on-air statement in text below):
"Let's see, um, how well I can tackle this. This is, um, this is not the kind of duty I like having. Certainly, but I agree, you know, everybody's been asking, where's Shara Fryer, where's Shara? What's going on? And you deserve to know that Shara is no longer with our KTRH morning show, with Houston's Morning News.
And if you're wondering why that is, the best I can tell you is, is that we are in a business...a media business that is constantly changing. And with that comes constant staffing changes. Consolidation leads to changes. And when the changes happen, then positions come and positions go. You may have heard that Rachel Maddow, for example, just took a big, huge salary hit over MSNBC. Um, the media business constantly goes through this, and it's going through one of those periods right now. And it's not just here in Houston, it's all across the country. So with this reorganization, Shara is no longer with our morning show.
And like you, I will miss not having her, not only to just be a co-host, but also to talk to every morning. I can tell you that I have talked with her. I think she's fine.
I absolutely believe that she will probably come up with her next best life of what it is that she wants to do. Um, and I will never forget how she welcomed me to Houston, you know, gave me all the background information. Here's what you need to know about Houston. Here's what's important. All this other...I couldn't have made the transition I made to this new city of mine, my new hometown, without Shara Fryer. And I owe her a debt of gratitude for that. I...We look forward to seeing and hearing whatever she does next.
And I hope you're going to continue to listen to us here on KTRH. I promise you we will do the best morning show we know how to do, and Sky Mike, and Cliff, and I will put all of our energy into making this show as good as we can make it. So obviously, you know, change happens sometimes change happens that we don't like. I know this is probably not the news you wanted to hear, but we felt it important for you to know. And as soon as it was possible to pass that along, that's what we've done."
In the original post, I found that Fryer's image and social media links have been removed from the KTRH website's morning newscast page. However, she is still listed in the text field along with co-anchor Jimmy Barrett, whose photo remains online. I emailed my official KTRH contact and Fryer, but never heard back.
Fryer joined KTRH in September 2012 with then-host Matt Patrick.
Before transitioning into her new radio career, Fryer spent over 25 years in TV with ABC13 KTRK Houston, co-anchoring with Dave Ward.
In addition to anchoring, Fryer earned many honors for her reporting and long-form coverage in her EMMY award-winning "IN FOCUS" documentaries and "Up Close and Personal" interview segments with everyone from US presidents to foreign heads of State.
Fryer was recently honored with the Dave Ward Excellence in Media Award at the 2022 Crime Stoppers of Houston, Houston Heroes Award Luncheon.
Before joining Channel 13 in Houston, Fryer built her career across Texas at television stations like KSAT 12 San Antonio, KVUE 24 Austin, and KLRN Austin.
Fryer is a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International, has been honored as a Woman of Distinction by the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, received the Ben and Julie Rogers Ecumenism Award from the Anti-Defamation League of Houston, the Community Builder Award from the Grand Masonic Lodge of Houston, and has been recognized by the governments of Japan and Israel for her efforts toward international goodwill. She has also served as the Director of the World Affairs Council of Houston.
A cancer survivor, she has dedicated much time to cancer outreach initiatives and established the Shara Fryer Cancer Research Fund within the Department of Surgical Oncology at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Cindy Scull swaps shifts with Nikki Sixx
At Rock KEGL/Dallas, night host Cindy Scull moves back to mornings, while the syndicated Sixx Sense with Nikki Sixx moves to nights.
H2O Dallas To Get Hot?
Less than a year after launching the “H2O Radio” brand in Dallas with the potential to expand elsewhere, Univision appears ready to transition 107.9 KESS-FM Lewisville/Dallas to a more traditional radio brand.
Through his radio sermons, a Dallas rabbi helped residents reflect on the JFK assassination
Immediately after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, hatred toward Dallas left the city bewildered, defensive and ashamed. The legacy lingered for weeks, then months, then years. Rabbi Levi Olan, who led Temple Emanu-El from 1949 to 1970 and had a radio show on KRLD, helped people process the tragedy and the hatred.
Joe Pags back in Houston?
Lot's of people were leaving angry comments on my blog about Joe Pags on the outs at 950 KPRC, but he's back here again subbing for Matt Patrick on 740 KTRH this week.
TSU, UH tip their caps to famous alums
That's Doctor Michael Strahan to you, Kelly. Strahan, the former All-Pro defensive end for the New York Giants and co-host with Kelly Ripa of the ABC weekday morning show "Live with Kelly and Michael," received an honorary doctorate of humane letters Saturday from his alma mater, Texas Southern University.
KVUE’s news team grows
Foti Kallergis and Amy Johnston-Harper are both filling in at KVUE for the next few months, helping the station out while anchors Jade Mingus and Jessica Vess take maternity leave.
Hit-and-run injures TV crew
A McAllen TV reporter and her photographer were hospitalized after their work vehicle was struck by a speeding vehicle Monday morning.
Jenelle Shriner leaves KVUE and lands at KPRC 2 as the Executive Producer for KPRC's Morning News.
Ray Fisher, former KIAH 39 sports weekend anchor, has left his job as the Digital Content Manager for Fox Sports Houston and is now the Social Media Community Manager at the Shell Oil Company.
CW33's Daniel Novick latest to join PR parade
Reporter Daniel Novick, who survived CW33’s transition to the comedy-infused 9 p.m. Nightcap (“A Different Kind of Newscast”), has decided to make a career change.
