Caroline Brown is pregnant

Caroline Brown announced on KPRC 2 Houston today that she is pregnant. 

And one thing for sure, my inbox will got a lot lighter, because believe you me, channel 2 viewers have been asking me about any potential baby news for the TV meteorologist.

Here is a transcription of the above video:

Andy Cerota: Welcome back. We have a very special announcement and this is breaking news. You are hearing it for the first time right here on KPRC two News at noon. Our KPRC two family is growing. Caroline, take it from here.

Caroline Brown: I have been so excited to share this announcement. So let's show you that mid range forecast coming up. And I am forecasting a baby boy coming February next year. My husband and I are so overjoyed that we're having a baby boy, a seventh generation Texan. We posted this photo on social media about our little pumpkin coming very, very soon. Many people might have noticed, and now we're just overjoyed to let everybody know. Another KPRC baby coming.

Cerota: And we are so thrilled for you and Jack starting a family. Have you picked out a name?

Brown: We have picked out a name, so he's going to be Jack junior. The plan is to call him JJ. So baby JJ.

Brown married her husband Jack Chadderdon at a family ranch outside of Houston in March of 2024.  The couple was engaged in Miami in the spring of 2023.

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Daniel Perreault joins KVUE Austin

Daniel Perreault joins KVUE Austin as a multi-skilled journalist(MSJ)/reporter starting October 14, 2024.

Perreault comes from KWWL News 7 Waterloo, Iowa, where he has been a multimedia journalist (MMJ) since June 2020. In 2021, he became the weekend evening anchor.

The University of Missouri grad worked as an anchor/political reporter/producer for the school-owned KOMU 8 News while a student.

He interned with WESH 2 News in Orlando and EURACTIV.

Thank you, Eastern Iowa, for letting me tell your stories over the last four years. pic.twitter.com/fsmeuNP8Gu

— Daniel Perreault (@DPerreaultTV) July 1, 2024

 

"Building the Houston Astrodome"

See a film heralding the construction of the Astrodome.  On October 28th, you can see another Houston institution on the big screen at the River Oaks Theatre for the last scheduled Houston showing of "Runaway Radio!" 

- The Astrodome past and future
- Our #domecoming2018 adventure!
- KHOU 11's 1994 Astrodome moving April Fools' joke
- Old cartoon explains Astrodome's 'real' origins
- VIDEO: Houston newsreel video from the 1940s to 1960s

Blake Mathews leaves Spectrum News 1 Texas

Blake Mathews announced he is leaving the Spectrum News 1 Texas weather team where he has been since September 2023.

Here is a small portion of what Mathews posted on X:

"The time has come. After 17 years in television news, I’ve decided to switch the mic off on my broadcast meteorology career. Next Friday, October 11th, 2024 will be my last day in this field.

{snip}

My decision to step away from television has been years in the making. I’ve laid awake many-a-nights thinking about what makes me happy along with the volatility of the industry—and no matter what angle I approached from, I arrived at the same conclusion: it was time to go. It was time to take a bold step in a new direction, teeming with exciting opportunity, challenge, and growth. William Faulkner said, “you cannot swim for new horizons unless first you have courage to lose sight of the shore.” So when the opportunity came along to take the bold step forward, I leaped. 

As far as where I’m going or what I’ll be doing, I can’t say quite yet. I’ll reveal that in the next few weeks—but it won’t be at another tv station, that much I can tell you. The new opportunity will be full of opportunity, adventure and challenge. Exactly what I need. 

To all those who trusted me over the last 17 years, thank you. It really has been a dream come true and the honor of my life to serve those who also call this great state home."

In an accompanying graphic, Mathews says he has been with six television stations in five cities.

Before Spectrum, Mathews worked freelance for CBS News Texas KTVT from October 2021 to April 2022.

Before moving up I-45 to the Metroplex, Mathews worked in the KHOU 11 Houston weather department from 2016 to 2021. He was at the Allen Parkway studio when Hurricane Harvey's flood waters took over and eventually wrote the book "Harvey Hell: Off the Air and on the Ropes."

Mathews previously worked for:

- WJXT 4 Jacksonville, Florida as a meteorologist/weather producer

- KPRC 2 Houston assignments editor

- KBTX 3 Bryan/College Station morning and weekend meteorologist

CAREER UPDATE 🚨

The time has come. After 17 years in television news, I’ve decided to switch the mic off on my broadcast meteorology career. Next Friday, October 11th, 2024 will be my last day in this field.

Helen Keller reminds us that life is either a daring adventure or it… pic.twitter.com/MYAdlWLSNG

— Blake Mathews (@BlakeMathews08) October 3, 2024

 

Elyse Smith working for ABC News this week

Elyse Smith traded ABC13 Houston for ABC News Live in New York this week, using her meteorological talents to help with national Hurricane Milton coverage. 

"A midwestern girl forecasting a record hurricane for ABC News in New York… what," Smith posted.  "It’s a catch 22 though to have a major career milestone thanks to a major hurricane. Milton is a life-threatening and likely will be life-changing storm for so many during a season that has already been one for the record books."

Smith credits her experience covering Hurricane Beryl and several other Gulf of Mexico storms this season when talking about climate change related to Milton.

In the video above, the Houston TV meteorologist appears with ABC News Live anchor Linsey Davis.

Smith joined the KTRK weather department in May 2023 WGRZ 2 Buffalo, New York.

A Valparaiso University grad, Smith previously worked for KRCG 13 Jefferson City, Missouri, and interned with WGN Chicago's Tom Skilling and James Spann of ABC 33/40 WBMA Birmingham, Alabama.

The last time a Houston meteorologist filled in at the network level, a big job came their way later!

RELATED
- KTRK 13's Casey Curry on GMA, must be the weekend (2011)

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"The Ticket" in DFW named Major Market Station of the Year

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) presented the 2024 NAB Marconi Radio Awards on October 9th, and Sportsradio 96.7 and 1310 The Ticket KTCK won Major Market Station of the Year honors.

Established in 1989 and named after inventor and Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi, the NAB Marconi Radio Awards recognize excellence in radio by awarding radio stations and outstanding on-air personalities.

Other Texas winners include:

Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year

Erica Campbell, Reach Media/Urban One, Dallas, Texas

Major Market Personality of the Year

Rachel Ryan, New Country 96.3 KSCS-FM, Dallas, Texas

SEE THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS

SEE THE TEXAS FINALISTS

Congratulations and THANK YOU P1s! For helping us win a Marconi Award for Major Market Station of the Year! The little Ticket is, officially, America’s favorite radio station!! pic.twitter.com/uDcJ4M8Foc

— 96.7 The Ticket (@dfwticket) October 10, 2024

Wow. Just got word that the Little Ticket won the Marconi for 2024 Major Market Station of the Year! That’s huge for a sports station to beat all the “real” stations in the broad category. Congrats to whole Ticket team and to you, the beautiful P1’s!! pic.twitter.com/KdxbxLcHC5

— gordon keith (@gordonkeith) October 10, 2024

ABC13 Houston studio upgrades 2024

The ABC13 Houston KTRK 2024 studio upgrades have hit our TV and streaming screens.

You will notice a different ABC13 logo on the front of the desk. The wood flooring behind the desk is now dark, and there are a few other lighting changes.

If I missed something, someone will surely let me know.

The Channel 13 newscasts have been happening on a temp set for the last month or so.

The roots of this studio set debuted back in 2015 (for comparisons).

In 2023, KTRK launched new weather and news graphics.

A BIGGER TEXAS TV STUDIO RABBIT HOLE FOR YOU
- KPRC 2 2024 studio - photos and more details
- CBS Austin debuts new set 2023
- KXAN Austin debuts new set 2023
- KHOU 11 studio set upgrades 2022
- NBC 5 DFW KXAS new studio 2022

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A post shared by Charly Edsitty (@charlyabc13)

 

Which San Antonio TV station is funnier?

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A post shared by KENS 5 News (@kens5)

Lisa Shumate to leave Houston Public Media

Lisa Shumate is stepping down in 2025 as associate vice president and general manager of Houston Public Media after 13 years.

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- Kris Jenner interviewed Beyonce on "Good Morning Houston?"
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An email obtained by mikemcguff.com, sent to faculty and staff by the University of Houston Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance Raymond S. Bartlett, says that Shumate will continue to teach at the University of Houston C.T. Bauer College of Business.

Shumate joined Houston Public Media in 2011 and will go down in history as the first general manager to lead a unified KUHT and KUHF (and classical station 91.7 KUHA at the time).  

"Under her leadership, Houston Public Media has upgraded its technical infrastructure to meet future standards, expanded local and digital content, grew sponsorships, major donor and individual contributions and increased audiences on web and social platforms," Bartlett wrote in the email.  "In addition, Houston Public Media has received local, regional and national awards for excellence in journalism and broadcast productions, including the Regional Edward R. Murrow and Regional Emmy Awards. Lisa's service to public media extends to being elected to the PBS Board of Directors, the PBS Foundation Board of Directors, the Chair of APT (American Public Television) and the former Chair of the Major Market Television Group."

The email says a committee is being formed to oversee the national search for Shumate's successor. 

Before Houston Public Media, Shumate was the director of programming and marketing for KHOU 11 Houston. 

Prior to returning to Houston at channel 11, she worked for then KHOU owner Belo as executive director of Belo Marketing Solutions in Dallas, where she was in charge of statewide multi-platform sales and marketing.

Houston TV viewers will know Shumate as ABC 13 KTRK's Lisa Trapani, who co-hosted Good Morning Houston with Don Nelson and anchored newscasts. 

During her 11 years with channel 13, the award-winning Shumate moved from on-air to manager of marketing and special projects, where she negotiated KTRK’s first multi-year, multi-million dollar broadcast rights deal with the Houston Texans.

KHOU 11 Houston studio evacuated

KHOU 11 Houston reports that a suspicious package forced the evacuation of its own Galleria-area building on Monday night.

For the 10 p.m. newscast, Channel 11 staffers left their studio at 5718 Westheimer and relocated to its downtown Houston KHOU Avenida Studio.

Police say an officer heard a vibrating sound around 7:30 p.m. when opening a package sent to the Saudi Consulate General on the 15th floor of the building.

Officers declared the package safe and let everyone back in the building around 9 pm. 

KHOU moved to the Westheimer location in February 2019 after the massive floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey damaged its Allen Parkway studio in 2017.