Jordan Williams to leave 12News Beaumont

Jordan Williams, 5, 6, and 10 p.m. evening anchor and executive producer at 12News KBMT Beaumont, is departing the station after seven years to join Lamar University’s advancement office.

"For the past 22 years, I've dedicated myself to journalism and the communities we serve. I've worked tirelessly to share stories that matter, to uplift voices of the marginalized, and to fight for transparency," Williams said.

"Jordan Williams has been more than an anchor for 12News. He's been a steady, trusted voice for Southeast Texas through some of our most difficult days," 12News News Director Ginny Sweeney reflected. "While his departure is bittersweet, we're proud that he's found an opportunity that allows him to continue serving this community in a new way. The foundation he's helped build here is strong, and our team is ready to carry that forward."

In his new role as a major gifts officer, Williams will help secure funding to strengthen academic programs and ensure students continue to have access to higher education opportunities.

A Port Neches native, Williams returned home to Southeast Texas in 2018. Before becoming an evening anchor, Williams served as Assistant News Director at KBMT from 2018 to 2020. In that role, he oversaw nightside operations for the ABC and NBC affiliates.

Before returning to Texas, Williams spent more than five years as a news anchor and reporter at WIVB News 4 Buffalo, New York, where he co-anchored 3.5 hours of live morning newscasts and led overnight breaking news coverage for broadcast and digital platforms. 

He previously worked for KRGV 5 Rio Grande Valley as an anchor and investigative reporter, producing award-winning coverage that exposed government corruption and tackled complex border and immigration issues. His investigative work earned national and regional recognition for its depth and public impact.

Before that, he was a reporter at KOCO 5 News in Oklahoma City.

Williams began his career at NewsWest 9, Midland, Texas, where he anchored the 4 p.m. newscast and led the top-rated morning show. 

Throughout his 22-year journalism career, Williams has earned eleven regional Emmy Awards — including five Lone Star Emmys for his work on 12News at 10. Under his leadership, 12News captured the Lone Star Emmy for Evening Newscast (Market 61+) in five of the past six years.

In 2024, Williams received five Texas Broadcast News Awards, including Best Anchor Team and Best Breaking News for coverage of the historic Jasper County Wildfire — coverage that also earned a regional 2023 Edward R. Murrow Award. He previously received a regional Murrow Award in 2020 for reporting on the TPC Explosions and has been honored multiple times by the Press Club of Southeast Texas for excellence in anchoring, newscasts, and investigative reporting.

Williams graduated with honors from Trinity University in San Antonio in 2003, earning a Bachelor of Arts in both Communication and Music.

Karen Borta celebrates 30 years with CBS News Texas

Karen Borta is taking over my blog this week, but it's not every day that the CBS News Texas KTVT Dallas-Fort Worth anchor celebrates 30 years on the air and becomes the first to broadcast the news from an Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) studio.

Make sure to watch the above video to see Borta talk to herself from 30 years ago!  I think the KTVT creative services team was using a little AI for that one!

Borta joined CBS 11 back in 1995 (see, even as a former journalist, I can sometimes do math). Over the past three decades, she has anchored every newscast the station offers — from evenings to mornings — and currently co-anchors CBS News Texas at 4 p.m. alongside Ken Molestina, as well as CBS News Texas at 11 a.m.

Before joining CBS Texas, Borta built her career as an anchor and reporter FOX 13 WTVT Tampa Bay, KRBK 13 (now KMAX) Sacramento and KCEN 6 Waco.

Borta was born and raised in North Texas, graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), which honored her in 2003 with its Distinguished Alumni Service Award.

Throughout her career, Borta has received regional Emmy Awards, Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Awards, Press Club of Dallas Katie Awards, and the Association of Women Journalists’ Vivian J. Castleberry Award. In 2019, she was named a Legend of North Texas Journalism by the Press Club of Dallas — the organization’s highest lifetime achievement honor.

Beyond the newsroom, Borta is deeply committed to community service and advocacy. She has supported organizations such as Mi Escuelita, Cook Children’s Medical Center, Baylor Sammons Breast Center, and A.W.A.R.E. (Alzheimer’s Women’s Association for Resources and Education).

Her dedication to finding a cure for breast cancer is personal — the disease has affected her mother, both grandmothers, and several other relatives. As the mother of two daughters, Borta has been a tireless advocate for research and awareness, earning multiple honors for her efforts. She has served as Honorary Co-Chair for the 2000 Komen Dallas Race for the Cure, received a Macy’s Heart and Soul Award, and was the inaugural recipient of the Commitment to the Cure Award in 2005.

Borta’s advocacy also extends to Type 1 diabetes research, a cause she embraced after her youngest child’s diagnosis in 2015. She actively volunteers with both the Dallas and Greater Fort Worth-Arlington chapters of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

Among her many career highlights, Borta counts her exclusive one-on-one interview with President Barack Obama at the White House as one of the most memorable.

Borta and her husband, Jim, are proud parents of three Texas A&M graduates: Jake (Class of 2020), Katie (Class of 2022), and Kylie (Class of 2024). 

CBS News Texas goes virtual reality with 11am newscast

CBS News Texas KTVT Dallas - Fort Worth is now producing its 11am newscast from its Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) technology-driven studio starting this week.

Legendary anchor Karen Borta was the guinea pig on this one as she was tasked with being the first to deliver the news from the giant floor-to-ceiling green screen.

In a KTVT promotional social media video, when Borta was asked how she was feeling ahead of the debut, she said she was a little nervous:

Unnamed station staffer: When was the last time you were nervous? Before an 11 a.m.?

Karen Borta: Uh, probably 30 years ago.

Staffer: So this is the. So we could say this is the most nervous you've been in 30 years on the air.

Borta: Yeah. Even more than when I was interviewing the president. Yeah.

Looks like Borta knocked it out of Globe Life Field.

CBS News Texas has been using the new technology for the weather segments, but this marks the first time for news anchoring.

The DFW station joined the ranks of CBS sister stations in June 2025, when it launched the 20,384 cubic square feet AR/VR studio for North Texas. 

Did you catch today's 11 a.m. news on our new augmented reality/virtual reality set, making it the only station in the region to offer the groundbreaking technology.

The new set offers a new way to deliver weather and news, immersing audiences in the story. pic.twitter.com/3BVJbwdiZG

— CBS News Texas (@CBSNewsTexas) October 15, 2025

 

Newly married media members in Texas

93Q KKBQ Houston Afternoon Drive Host and Assistant Program Director/Music Director Lauren “Lo” Sessions is now married and is Lo Barker.

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FOX 7 Austin KTBC morning anchor Katie Orth, who is originally from Sugar Land, was also married.

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Bryanna Carroll joins FOX 7 Austin

Bryanna Carroll has joined FOX 7 Austin as a reporter as of September 2025.

Carroll arrived from NBC Montana (KECI Missoula, KCFW Kalispell, and KTVM Butte all simulcasting through KDBZ in Bozeman, Montana), where she had been a multimedia journalist since 2023.

The New York University grad double-majored in economics and journalism, with a minor in the business of media, entertainment, and technology.

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Angel San Juan suffers minor stroke

Angel San Juan viewers who are missing the morning anchor from the KFDM 6/KBTV Fox 4 Beaumont airwaves have been wondering where he has been. 

Turns out San Juan had a minor stroke.  Here is what he posted:

"I wanted to let folks know I recently suffered a minor stroke.  That’s why I have been off the air.  I was released from the hospital today, and will be recovering for the next month.  

This is a wake-up call that I’m taking very seriously.  

I want to thank the wonderful doctors and nurses at Baptist Hospital. They are outstanding and provided me awesome care.  

Thank you to my friends and family who called or came to check on me and who stay on me to focus on my health.  They saved me.  

I also want to thank  my co-workers who are my friends and family. They spoiled me with love, attention and beautiful flowers.   

I’m blessed to have so much love and support.  

Please continue sending those prayers.  I feel them."

Evan Andrews signs off FOX 4 KDFW "Good Day"

Evan Andrews officially retired from FOX 4 KDFW Dallas-Fort Worth's "Good Day" on Friday, and he even got the morning band back together with Chip Waggoner!

"A special heartfelt thanks to our band, our Goodday team (Chip, Lauren, Brandon, Shannon, Paige and everyone who works there for their tireless work!) our weather team and YOU the viewers who have allowed us into your homes and hearts my 26 years at KDFW. Now, it's time to retire," Andrews posted.

The Ali Turiano "Good Day" era is set to begin next.

A special heartfelt thanks to our band, our Goodday team (Chip, Lauren, Brandon, Shannon, Paige and everyone who works there for their tireless work!) our weather team and YOU the viewers who have allowed us into your homes and hearts my 26 years at KDFW
Now, it's time to retire! pic.twitter.com/wSxol28uZD

— Evan Andrews (@EvanAndrewsWX) October 10, 2025

Doug Abernethy returns to Radio One

There is a leadership change at Radio One Houston as Doug Abernethy returns to the group as Regional Vice President over Texas, starting November 10, 2025. 

Abernethy tells me that when he walked into the Radio One conference this week, it felt like he was home.

"I had the honor of leading all the stations with my time at Cox and Radio One," Abernethy told mikemcguff.com.  "Now they are under one roof. It was truly a heartfelt family reunion. It is such a humbling opportunity to lead such a great group of talented people. I look forward to reconnecting with our advertisers, listeners, and community."

Most recently serving as Regional President for Audacy, Inc., Abernethy has overseen major markets across Texas and the South, guiding teams to sustained ratings and revenue success while fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation.

Based in Austin, Texas, Abernethy joined Entercom (now Audacy) in 2015 as Vice President and Market Manager for South Florida before advancing to regional leadership roles. He recently launched Austin’s 95.9 Texas Country.

Before joining Entercom, Abernethy spent more than a decade with Radio One, where he served as Regional Vice President for Texas, overseeing five powerhouse stations in Houston and Dallas, including  97.9 The Box KBXX, Majic 102.1 KMJQ, KROI-FM 92.1 Houston and at the time 97.9 The Beat KBFB and 94.5 KSOC in Dallas - Fort Worth. 

Earlier in his career, Abernethy held senior sales and management positions at Cox Radio Houston, AM/FM Dallas, Radio One Washington, D.C., and Entercom Pittsburgh. His success in building high-performing teams and driving market share earned him national recognition — including being named Radio Ink’s Major Market Best Manager in Radio in both 2007 and 2008, and the 2008 Radio Wayne Award for Market Manager of the Year.

So what happens to current Radio One VP/Market Manager Pamela McKay? Well, I am told she is heading to Radio One's stations in Atlanta.

Before joining Radio One Houston in 2017, McKay served nearly a decade as Market President for iHeartMedia Austin, where she managed a six-station cluster, Total Traffic Network, digital/integrated marketing operations, and the University of Texas Broadcast Partnership. 

Earlier in her career, McKay held key sales leadership roles in Houston radio, including General Sales Manager and National Sales Manager for iHeartMedia (formerly Clear Channel Radio).

The Texas Southern University graduate, known for her client-focused approach, McKay has supported organizations such as the Center for Child Protection, March of Dimes, and the Alliance for Women in Media.

Bo Roberts exits Lone Star 92.5 KZPS Dallas - Fort Worth

Bo Roberts has been let go from classic rocker Lone Star 92.5 KZPS Dallas-Fort Worth this week, according to multiple sources.  

His morning show page has been removed from the KZPS website.  Roberts is most likely a victim of the ongoing iHeart Radio layoffs nationwide. 

UPDATE: Roberts told the Dallas Morning News his firing came 13 days before his 72nd birthday and with no official goodbye.

“I am just an old disc jockey who doesn’t want to retire yet,” Roberts told columnist Robert Wilonsky. "I am still going, get out of the way. I’ve had a great time. I’ve had a good run. I just hate it when I don’t get to say goodbye. So goodbye, thanks for putting up with us, and thanks for all the condolences, since it’s all over.

“But not really. I’ll be back. It’s just another job I wasn’t prepared to be fired from. But I’ll be OK. I will be all right.”

In the legendary morning show's place is Lonestar Mornings hosted by Alan Ayo and Anna De Haro.

Roberts is a famous half of the longest-running rock morning show in DFW radio history, "The Bo and Jim Morning Show," along with now-retired partner "Long" Jim White.

The Bo and Jim team began waking up rock fans in 1982 on the now-defunct Q102, KTXQ. When Q102 went off the air, the duo moved to KZPS in 1998.

White retired from the show in 2022, with producer and traffic anchor Randy James staying on.

Their fans, known as Rascuals, listened to their comedic stylings and characters such as BBQ Bob, The Professor, Skillet, and Miss Beulah at the front desk.

The duo was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame class of 2018.

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Estéreo Latino 93.3 returns to Houston

Estéreo Latino 93.3 returns to the Houston radio airwaves, swapping the KQBU call letters with KESS, which were previously used on 107.1 Dallas-Fort Worth.

The new format, "La Casa de los Exitos Norteños," replaces Spanish-language sports programming on TUDN 93.3 FM, "Your Station Of Champions."

Houston radio listeners around in the early 1990s might remember the first version of Estéreo Latino 93.3, which played ballads, Latin pop, and tropical rhythms.

It's not the only new station in town, as Puro Tejano 106.1 launched a few weeks ago.