Daniella Guzman's message to KPRC 2 viewers upon her return

Daniella Guzman returned to the KPRC 2 Houston morning newscast this morning with an apology to viewers.

After the newscast, Guzman sent me this message to her viewers:

“To my viewers, friends, and community:

Over the past several days, many of you have reached out to me with questions, concern, and encouragement. I have read your messages, and I am deeply grateful for your kindness and support.

Recently, I accepted tickets to two events from a longtime personal friend. Because I believed they were personal gifts, I did not disclose them as required under station policies. That was my responsibility, and I should have handled it differently… and for that I was wrong and I am truly sorry.

KPRC 2 conducted a thorough review, and I fully cooperated throughout the process. That review found no ethical violations or conflicts or interest. I respect the station’s commitment to maintaining the highest ethical standards, and I accept responsibility for my unintentional mistake. I have donated the cash value of the tickets to a local non-profit organization that will impact Houstonians in need directly.

I’ve been a journalist for more than 20 years and I have tried to serve the communities and viewers with honesty, fairness, and integrity. Those values remain at the heart of who I am, both personally and professionally. While this experience has been difficult, it has also been an important reminder that even honest mistakes can have serious consequences.

I am thankful for the opportunity to return to work and continue doing what I love, serving the Houston community through journalism.

Your trust means everything to me, and I will continue working every day to earn it.”

Guzman was placed on leave while the station conducted an internal review into tickets she accepted for a concert and FIFA World Cup matches. Although the review found no evidence that the tickets influenced or were connected to her journalism or news coverage, Guzman acknowledged that accepting them could create the appearance of a conflict of interest.

To address those concerns and eliminate any perception of a conflict, she made a charitable donation equal to the cash value of the tickets.

CBS Austin to change morning news, two anchor positions eliminated

CBS Austin KEYE is revamping its morning newscast, the station tells mikemcguff.com, and with that change, I have learned, come job cuts for anchor John-Carlos Estrada and traffic anchor Jenna Wilson.

"Beginning September 14, CBS Austin will debut a refreshed format for 'CBS Austin This Morning,' designed to better serve our audience while continuing to deliver the local journalism and community coverage our viewers expect," a CBS Austin representative told mikemcguff.com.  "As part of that transition, the station has made the difficult decision to eliminate two positions. We are grateful to the talented employees whose positions were impacted and thank them for their contributions to the newscast."

A source tells me that the recent departure of reporter Farrah Walton is unrelated to the morning newscast changes.

At the same time, the station has made recent summer 2026 hirings while I was on my blogging break, including multimedia journalist Audrey Wong and Live Desk Reporter Alexia Stanbridge.

John-Carlos Estrada

Estrada is leaving CBS Austin after seven years as the station's weekday morning anchor.

He joined CBS Austin in August 2019 to anchor CBS Austin This Morning, airing weekdays from 4:30 to 7 a.m. During his tenure, he also created and produced the weekly Central Texas history segment Turning Back Time, while earning honors from the GLAAD Media Awards, Telly Awards, Texas Association of Broadcasters, Texas Associated Press, and other journalism organizations.

Before arriving in Austin, Estrada anchored and reported at WINK-TV in Fort Myers, Florida, where he covered Hurricane Irma, major wildfires, and other breaking news. Earlier stops in his career included serving as lead anchor and managing editor at KTRE in Lufkin, Texas, news anchor at KAVU in Victoria, Texas, and producer roles with NBC News and ABC News in New York City and Washington, D.C.

In addition to his television career, Estrada is an award-winning filmmaker. He co-directed and produced the documentaries Barbette + Fontaine and This Is Texas, both of which received national recognition. He is also writing a biography of Texas entertainer Vander Barbette for the University of Texas Press, with publication expected in 2027.

A Dallas native who was raised in Garland, Estrada holds degrees from Columbia Journalism School and The George Washington University. He is also active in the Austin community, serving on nonprofit boards and mentoring students interested in journalism.

Jenna Wilson

Wilson joined the CBS Austin KEYE team in August 2025 as the station's morning traffic anchor.

She arrived in Austin from Fox 26 KNPN in St. Joseph, Missouri, where she spent more than three years as a multimedia journalist before being promoted to Friday evening anchor. During her time at KNPN, she earned 2025 Missouri Broadcast Awards for her reporting on the city's most dangerous intersections and its growing homeless population.

A graduate of the University of Kansas with a degree in journalism.

Farrah Walton

Walton joined the CBS Austin KEYE news team as a reporter in May 2024.

Before moving to Austin, Walton spent nearly three years at KTXS News in Abilene, where she joined the station in July 2021 as a weekend anchor and reporter before being promoted to weeknight evening anchor. Her coverage of the tornado that devastated the West Texas town of Matador earned a nomination in the General Assignment category at the 2023 Texas Broadcast News Awards.

A Pasadena, California native, Walton is a graduate of San Francisco State University.

Deven Clarke leaves KPRC 2 Houston

Deven Clarke announced this afternoon that he is leaving KPRC 2 Houston.

"After five and a half incredible years at KPRC, my time is coming to an end. But what a ride it's been," Clarke said in a goodbye video (embedded below).  "It's not the awards or the accolades that I'll remember most. It's the emails, the conversations from you, the viewers telling me to keep fighting because I meant something to them. Some of those moments came when I quietly needed them most. What I'll take with me more than anything is knowing that together we were able to make a difference from the bottom of my heart. Houston, thank you."

In the video, Clarke notes that from ducking bullets to helping get innocent people out of jail, and even being unofficially dubbed the Superman of consumer advocacy, he did earn three Lone Star Emmy nominations.

Clarke joined the KPRC 2 Houston news team in 2021 after serving as the Crime and Justice Reporter at KSAT 12 in San Antonio.

His previous television stops include serving as a morning reporter at Fox 8 WVUE in New Orleans, a reporter at WHBF in Rock Island, Illinois, and an anchor at WJAC in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

A native of Brooklyn, New York, Clarke is a graduate of Howard University. Raised in a family of missionaries, he says his passion for helping others led him to journalism. While attending Howard, he was asked to fill in as a sports anchor for the university's newscast, which sparked his broadcasting career.

(Thanks, Taylor!)

KPRC 2 Statement regarding anchor Daniella Guzman

HOUSTON – August 4, 2026 – Daniella Guzman will return to anchoring KPRC 2 News Today beginning Thursday, August 6.

UPDATE AUGUST 2026
Daniella Guzman's message to KPRC 2 viewers upon her return

Daniella was placed on leave while the company conducted an internal review regarding tickets she received for a concert and FIFA World Cup matches. While there was no conclusion that the tickets influenced or were connected to her journalism or news coverage, Daniella acknowledged that accepting the tickets could be perceived as a conflict of interest. 

To eliminate any appearance of a conflict, she has made a charitable donation that reflects the cash value of the tickets. 

Throughout her career, Daniella has earned the trust of viewers through her commitment to journalism and service to the Houston community. We appreciate her cooperation throughout the review and look forward to welcoming her back to the anchor desk.

Because this is a personnel matter, KPRC 2 will not comment further on the internal review or any personnel actions.

Daniella will address the matter when she returns to KPRC 2 News Today on Thursday morning.

(Post taken from press release sent to me by KPRC)

Texas TV stations affected by E.W. Scripps layoffs

The E.W. Scripps Company is cutting 268 positions, TVNewsCheck reports, as the broadcaster "pivots toward a 24/7 streaming model" using internal AI systems to streamline workflows.

Scripps owns four stations in Texas.  They are KXXV 25 News Waco-Temple-Killeen (satellite station 15 ABC KRHD Bryan-College Station), KRIS 6 Corpus Christi and Telemundo Corpus Christi KAJA.

Rhyma Castillo of the San Antonio Express-News reports a Scripps spokesperson confirmed there are impacted positions at KRIS in Corpus Christi and KXXV in Waco.

MySA South Texas Reporter Dina Arévalo, who first broke the news, reports the "layoffs will affect both on-air talent, studio crew and other newsroom staffers." 

“We can tell you the roles impacted are primarily tied to traditional newscast production workflows, including some producer and director positions. These decisions were not made lightly, and we are grateful for the contributions of the employees who will be moving on,” a Scripps spokesperson told Arévalo.

John Oliva of the Corpus Christi Caller Times reports at least 12 employees with KRIS 6 News were laid off August 4th. 

“These decisions are being made in service to a mission that is too important to let fade because we weren’t willing to do the hard work of evolving,” Scripps President and CEO Adam Symson wrote in a memo to employees.

Tessa Barrera joins Hello Houston

 

Tessa Barrera will join Ernie Manouse as co-host of Hello Houston beginning Monday, August 17, 2026, Houston Public Media announced today.

I'm told Barrera will not continue working afternoons for Sunny 99.1 KODA since she will be moving down the dial to News 88.7 KUHF, where Hello Houston airs on the radio.

“Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to tell the stories of the people who make Houston so special,” said Barrera. “Joining Hello Houston is an incredible opportunity to celebrate our community and connect with audiences in a new way. I’m honored to join Houston Public Media and work with the entire Hello Houston team to help shine a light on the stories and voices that make Houston such a remarkable place.”

Manouse said he's excited to welcome Barrera to the program.

“Tessa brings tremendous energy, curiosity and a genuine love for this city," Manouse added.  "I’m looking forward to sharing the desk with her, and I can’t wait for our audience to get to know her.”

Together, Barrera and Manouse will continue to host conversations with newsmakers, community leaders, artists and everyday Houstonians, offering audiences an engaging look at the people, events and issues shaping Greater Houston, the station promises.

“Tessa’s warmth, curiosity and ability to connect with people make her an outstanding addition to Hello Houston,” said Josh Adams, associate vice president and general manager of Houston Public Media. “Alongside Ernie, she’ll continue the thoughtful, community-focused conversations that reach audiences across radio, television, digital, HPM+ streaming and social platforms.” 

She brings 13 years of television and radio experience to the new position.

Barrera succeeds Frank Billingsley, who departed Hello Houston just a few months ago. In an interesting twist, Houston Public Media once again tapped a former KPRC 2 personality for the role. Barrera left KPRC 2's lifestyle program Houston Life in March 2026 after three years as co-host.

The Corpus Christi native officially joined Houston Life in July 2023 alongside Derrick Shore after several months as a guest co-host following Courtney Zavala's departure.

Barrera first arrived in Houston in 2019 after being selected through a nationwide search to join iHeartMedia's 94.5 The Buzz KTBZ as a co-host on The Rod Ryan Show. For more than a year, she balanced both her television and radio careers before leaving the morning radio program in December 2024 to focus full-time on Houston Life.

Before returning to Texas, Barrera worked in Los Angeles as a news anchor and executive producer at KFI AM 640.

She launched her broadcasting career in her hometown of Corpus Christi at KRIS 6 and KZTV Action 10 News, where she made history as the region's first Latina sports anchor. During her time there, she covered the Corpus Christi Hooks, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders, Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas, and numerous high school sports teams and events.

'Hello Houston' debuted on Monday, March 31, 2025, on News 88.7 KUHF and online weekdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the slogan, "Your connection to the heart of the Bayou City."

The new radio show and podcast was originally hosted by former KPRC 2 chief meteorologist Frank Billingsley, Ernie Manouse, and Celeste Schurman. Former 97.9 The Box KBXX Madd Hatta Morning Show producer James Kovacik, also known as Jim Beazy, serves as executive producer.  William Menjivar and Garrett Bohlmann are the show's producers.

Texas TV news and radio job moves July 2026

 

Send tips for the monthly Texas media job list here.

- 2026 Lone Star Regional Sports EMMY Nominees

DALLAS - FORT WORTH

Steve Pickett has won awards over his 30 years at CBS 11, but has he told you about Earth, Wind & Fire? 

Spanish Christian “Fuzion Radio” debuted Tuesday, July 7, as the former Adult R&B “Majic 94.5” KZMJ becomes KFZN.

Radio One Begins Dallas Changes With Rickey Smiley Move & KZMJ Sign-Off.
Radio One Sets New Dallas Market Leadership.
Radio One Acquisition Triggers Dallas Staff Cuts.

John Clay Wolfe Celebrates 20 Years on Radio with New iHeartMedia Deal.

Univision has broken the Spanish Rhythmic Latino Mix simulcast on 107.1 KQBU-FM Benbrook/Fort Worth and 107.9 KDXX and launched Spanish AC Amor 107.1 KAMV.

After 28 great years at WFAA, senior director Aaron Butler signs off.

Farewell Cody Marcom, WFAA's photography director.

Derik Lattig has been hired as a producer for Point of View Radio. He previously worked for Dr. Phil's Merit Street Media.

Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News restaurant reporter, wins food journalism award.

Texas Rangers flee Victory+, create new DTC option mid-season.

Former FOX 4 KDFW reporter Calvert Collins named CEO of Klyde Warren Park.

- Brianda Villegas Debuts on Florida Tonight After Leaving WFAA
- Tiffany Liou leaves WFAA 8 for ABC7 San Francisco
- Sophia Beausoleil named NBC 5 DFW weekend morning anchor
- Erin Heft joins WFAA 8
- CW33 KDAF DFW gets a 9pm newscast again
- Morgan Young returns to WFAA 8 from maternity leave
- Drew Davis leaves Hawaii News Now
- Lauren Crawford leaves CBS News Texas

HOUSTON

Chuck Tiller Exits Salem Houston.

Checking The Odds on Audacy’s Sports Betting In Houston.

Mike Morris named Houston Chronicle local government editor.

KKBQ-HD2 Partners To Become Pasadena Rodeo Radio.

The Houston Chronicle’s local politics team is expanding with the addition of reporters Sam González Kelly and Isaac Yu. 

KHCB Media Group announces Shawn Farrington as Vice President of Content & On-Air Operations. 

Matthew Antonitis joins KHOU 11 as a producer from KPRC 2.

Holly Galvan joins KHOU 11 as Story Desk Editor.

Mike Horton leaves KPRC 2 to join Houston First Corporation as Manager of Media Relations.

Adrian Ashford joins Houston Chronicle as new religion reporter covering faith in Texas.

SuiteRadio's Rowdy Yates continues to add affiliates for his nightly "Ridin' with Rowdy" program, with Connoisseur Media adding the show on KAYO-FM Wasilla, AK; KLGR-AM/K240CJ Redwood Falls, MN; and KAUS-FM Austin, MN. With these new clearances, Rowdy's weekday show affiliate count rises to 75. In other Rowdy news, his longtime weekend program, "The Original Country Gold," has returned to Connoisseur-owned KKUS-FM in Tyler.

- Will Kunkel to work for ESPN
- Brheanna Berry debuts on KHOU 11 Houston
- Joe McCoy joins ABC13 Houston
- Texas TV anchoring is a family affair!
- Gage Goulding Joins CNN as Seoul-Based International Correspondent
- Trevor Birchett Joins KHOU 11 Houston
- Melanie Camp to leave KPRC's 'Houston Life'
- What happened to MeTV Toons on KPRC 2.5?
- Bryanna Moore joins CW39 Houston
- KPRC 2 Houston alters weekend morning news and programming
- Jennifer Reyna is fill-in anchoring
- KHOU 11 to provide CW39 9pm newscast
- Mo Haider departs ABC13 Houston
- SportsRadio 610 becomes 95.7 The Fan Houston
- Rachel Briers joins KPRC 2 Houston
- Tessa Barrera joins Sunny 99.1 Houston afternoons
- Shelby Rose joins Houston Public Media
- Zach Lashway shares about life after KPRC 2 and TV
- Kelly Wiley joins KPRC 2 Houston
- Ajay Patel joins KPRC 2 Houston
- Vida Unida expands weekday live programming, announces new on-air lineup
- Daniella Guzman suspended from KPRC 2 during 'ticket' investigation
- Sherman Desselle joins CenterPoint Energy
- Caroline Brown goes on maternity leave 2026
- Chelsea Edwards on Divorce, Motherhood & Reinventing Her Career

SAN ANTONIO

Former San Antonio TV host Tanji Patton shares cancer diagnosis.

Melissa Andrade joins KSAT 12 as General Sales Manager.

- Emma Allen leaves San Antonio for KATV Little Rock
- Bella Popadiuk joins KENS 5 in San Antonio
- Olivia Dague joins KSAT 12 San Antonio

AUSTIN

- Chase Franks joins KVUE Austin
- Shay Lawson joins KVUE Austin
- Esmeralda Zamora leaves KXAN Austin

AROUND TEXAS

‘Voice of Bears’ headlines 2026 Hall of Fame Class.

Travis Bubenik is stepping into a new leadership role at Marfa Public Radio. 

Ashley Henderson joins KCEN 6 Waco-Temple-Killeen as a Multiskilled Journalist/Reporter.

Reporter Tori Garcia leaves KTXS Abilene.

CBS19 Sports Anchor Dan Mallea announces engagement.

- NewsChannel 6 KAUZ Wichita Falls purchased by Gray Media
- KVIA ABC-7 El Paso summer 2026 changes
- Leslee Lacey joins KXXV as Good Morning Texas meteorologist
- Derick Garcia signs off CBS4 Rio Grande Valley
- Ashley Bowerman joins KBTX Bryan-College Station
- Isabella Garriga named First Alert 7 KOSA evening anchor
- Parker Rehm leaves FOX 44 KWKT Waco
- RGV TV comings and goings in the past months

REMEMBERING

Susan Starnes, fmr. KHOU 11 and KPRC 2 reporter, dies at 73

Ben & Skin moving to Lone Star 92.5 DFW mornings

The Ben & Skin Show is making another move on the Dallas-Fort Worth radio dial.

Beginning Monday, August 10, 2026, The Ben & Skin Show will air weekday mornings from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Lone Star 92.5 KZPS, bringing Ben Rogers, Jeff "Skin" Wade, Krystina "K-Ray" Ray, and Kevin "KT" Turner to the station's morning lineup.

As part of the programming changes, 97.1 The Eagle KEGL will replace the afternoon show with three additional hours of rock music weekdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The station says listeners can expect "a host to be named later."

Ben Rogers and Jeff "Skin" Wade have been friends since they were 12 years old and have hosted radio shows together in the Dallas-Fort Worth market since 2001. Their show blends humor, pop culture, sports, local news, parody songs, game shows, and listener interaction, with longtime contributors K-Ray and KT rounding out the cast.

The duo most recently returned to 97.1 The Eagle on May 8, 2024, when the station revived its rock format following the end of The Freak talk format. Prior to that move, Ben & Skin hosted the midday show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on The Freak. Before that, they worked together on 105.3 The Fan KRLD.

Madd Hatta's new book "Kase's Little Adventures" & tour

Benjamin E. Thompson III, known to Houston audiences as Madd Hatta, is bringing "Kase's Little Adventures" to families across the city.  

The 34-page hardcover picture book for ages 2-10 turns a family moment into an engaging lesson about imagination, ancestry, confidence, and entrepreneurship.

The book began while Hatta's wife, Ashley, was pregnant. He rhymed to her belly about the things their son might grow up to do; those words became the opening pages. The story follows Kase, a smart and curious child who discovers an old family lemonade recipe and uses creativity, persistence, and family wisdom to build a neighborhood business.

Madd Hatta created the book so his son could see himself in the story - and so other children,  particularly Black and Brown children, could see themselves as readers, creators, and future business owners. Illustrated by Adam Bailey, with contributions by Julia Strange, the book encourages children to read, dream, build and create.

"Fatherhood changed the way I think about legacy," said Madd Hatta.  "I wanted to create something my son could grow with and other families could share. This is not just a book tour - it is a literacy and fatherhood mission."

The free Storytime with Madd Hatta series recognizes National Black Business Month and back-to-school season. Each event features an interactive reading, a family conversation with Ashley and Kase, audience Q&A, photo opportunities, book signing, and giveaways. The first 10 children at each stop will receive a complimentary copy, plus additional prizes.

For more than 30 years, Madd Hatta has been a familiar voice in Houston media. He currently hosts The Madd Hatta Show weekday afternoons on Majic 102.1, is a Texas Radio Hall of Fame inductee, and leads Paid in Full Entertainment and the Madd Hatta Cares! Foundation. The book tour extends his community work around literacy, active fatherhood, education, and opportunity.

TOUR SCHEDULE

AUG. 8 | 3:00-4:30 PM

Alief-David M. Henington Regional Library

11903 Bellaire Blvd.

AUG. 15 | 3:00-4:30 PM

McGovern-Stella Link Neighborhood Library

7405 Stella Link Rd.

Sarah Acosta to leave KSAT12 San Antonio

Sarah Acosta announced she is leaving her weekend morning anchor position at KSAT12 San Antonio and the TV industry on August 8, 2026, ending more than eight years at the station.

"I'm not leaving San Antonio, you're going to see me out and about," Acosta said to the audience and meteorologist Shelby Ebertowski on the KSAT Saturday morning newscast.  "I just think it's time for me to step back from the news industry. Now that I have a baby, I want to slow down. This industry, it's a lot. Like, you know, you have a crazy schedule mentally, physically, it's a lot. I just want to, you know, slow down life and enjoy my time with my baby girl."

Acosta joined the KSAT 12 News team in April 2018 as a morning reporter for Good Morning San Antonio. During her tenure, she advanced to weekend morning anchor while continuing to report on stories across South Texas.

Before returning to her home state, Acosta worked as a breaking news and morning reporter for FOX40 KTXL in Sacramento, California. 

A Corpus Christi native, Acosta was excited to return to South Texas when she joined KSAT, noting that San Antonio felt like home and allowed her to be closer to her family.

Acosta graduated from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in Convergence Journalism. She began her journalism career at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, where she covered local news and entertainment while creating multimedia content that led to regular appearances on Clear Channel's C101 Rocks and KIII 3News.

In 2013, she joined KIII 3News in Corpus Christi as a morning reporter before moving to Sacramento in 2016 to join FOX40.

An accomplished athlete, Acosta competed in tennis, cross country, and track during high school before playing on the SMU women's tennis team. While in college, she also served as editor-in-chief of her high school yearbook, an experience that sparked her passion for journalism. She was a member of the Chi Omega sorority and completed internships with the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, The Dallas Morning News, NBC 5 DFW, and the Texas Tribune.

- Olivia Dague joins KSAT 12 San Antonio

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by KSAT Sarah Acosta (@sarahpacosta)