97.5 KWTX-FM Waco turns 55

BY MICHAEL BRAUN
guest blogger

Once the home of the “Golden Sound of Beautiful Music,” KWTX-FM has entertained Central Texas listeners in one form or another for 55 years.

The station’s inaugural broadcast was Dec. 7, 1970.

The new Waco FM station at 97.5 MHz was owned and operated by KWTX Broadcasting Co., the licensee of KWTX-TV (Channel 10) and KWTX-AM (1230 kHz).

Throughout the 1970s, the station aired easy-listening music in stereo with limited interruptions. Instrumental selections by Percy Faith, Mantovani , Ray Conniff, Ferrante and Teicher, Andre Kostelanetz, 101 Strings, plus many other similar musical artists entertained listeners from 6 a.m. to midnight.

The station also carried national news on the hour from the Mutual Broadcasting System. Local announcers gave the time and temperature on the quarter-hour, a short headline news report, and a weather forecast every half-hour.

Announcers had to cope with working inside a confined space, sometimes for up to six hours. The FM control room wasn’t much larger than a small walk-in closet and crowded with equipment and storage shelves.

Many KWTX-FM hosts brought “Beautiful Stereo Music” to Central Texas listeners for over a decade until the format changed in the early ’80s to personality DJs playing contemporary hits 24 hours a day.

Today, KWTX-FM “97.5 FM #1 Hit Music” and KWTX-AM “NewsTalk 1230” are owned by IHeartMedia. KWTX-TV is part of the Gray Television Group.

Contributed by Michael Braun
The author worked at KWTX AM and FM during 1975-1979 as an announcer, DJ and board operator. He is a personal collector and preservationist of Central Texas broadcasting memorabilia.

VIDEO: Alan Holt signs off 3NEWS KIII Corpus Christi

Alan Holt signed off from his 3NEWS KIII Corpus Christi chief meteorologist role on Friday, December 5, 2025.

Here is the beginning of Holt's on-air goodbye (FULL VIDEO BELOW):

"So before we start, I just want to say, wow, that since this was announced that I was leaving, the amount of love that has poured in has been truly overwhelming. I was not fully aware of the impact living here has had on both me and I guess a lot of you too. The messages, the comments, the thank yous, the love. I feel it.

It has brought tears to my eyes. 

Today I was sitting in the weather center by myself for like four minutes just crying. And now, somehow I'm supposed to follow all of that emotion with a classy, composed on-air goodbye. No promises it is flawless, but this is it. It's easy for me to believe that 13 years have passed, mostly because I look exactly the same as the day I walked into this building, and also because of how much fun I've had here."

Holt has been with KIII for 13 years and will join TEGNA sister station News Center Maine, WCSH Portland, Maine.

Here are the videos Holt's KIII colleagues put together for him, along with his final goodbye to the Coastal Bend.

Another Texas meteorologist, Rachel Briers, will soon be leaving ABC13 Houston.

Rachel Briers leaves ABC13 Houston

Rachel Briers is leaving the ABC13 Houston KTRK weather department and saying goodbye to TV for now to be a stay-at-home mom, sources tell mikemcguff.com.

During her time forecasting Houston weather, Briers also gave birth to two daughters.

The meteorologist's last day will be Tuesday, December 9, 2025, but I understand she might return to do some fill-in work in the future.

Briers joined ABC13 in December 2018 and is now a three-time Emmy award winner.

Before Channel 13, Briers worked for NewsWest 9 KWES Midland-Odessa and KLBK Lubbock.

A native of Plano, Briers graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in Atmospheric Sciences, interning at WFAA 8 Dallas-Fort Worth and KBTX News 3 Bryan-College Station.

ANOTHER TEXAS METEOROLOGIST LEAVING
Alan Holt leaves 3NEWS KIII Corpus Christi

Ethan Pilson joins KCEN 6 Waco

Ethan Pilson joined KCEN 6 Waco-Temple-Killeen as a weekend meteorologist in November 2025.

He attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and interned at FOX8 WGHP in High Point, North Carolina.

Pilson most likely takes over for Jeff Mangum, who was previously the KCEN weekend meteorologist.  While writing this post, it appears meteorologist Whitney Huddleston is no longer with KCEN either.

- Faith Colbert joins KCEN 6 Waco

Mike Iscovitz gives 2025 update on father's murder case

FOX 26 KRIV Houston chief meteorologist Mike Iscovitz took to social media to give us a 2025 update on the justice system's handling of the tragic murder of his father, Stanley, in December 2020.

In the same month, FOX 26 legal analyst and attorney Chris Tritico's daughter, Maria, was also killed in a shooting. 

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A post shared by Mike Iscovitz (@fox26mike)

Texas 2026 Crystal Radio Award Finalists

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced the 50 finalists for the 2026 NAB Crystal Radio Awards. 

The Texas 2026 Crystal Radio Awards finalists are:

106.9 AND 107.5 KGLK-FM, Houston, Texas

93Q KKBQ-FM, Houston, Texas

Candy 95 KNDE-FM, College Station, Texas

La Jefa 102.7 KNDE-HD3, College Station, Texas

SEE ALL FINALISTS

The awards will be presented during a special ceremony at the NAB State Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., on March 3, 2026.

Since 1987, these awards have honored radio stations for their outstanding community service efforts, from radiothons for their local children’s hospitals and support for veterans to food drives after severe weather events. Ten Crystal Radio Award winners will be chosen from the finalists by a panel of judges representing the broadcast industry, community service organizations, and public relations firms.

Ashley Gonzalez joins KSAT 12 San Antonio

Ashley Gonzalez joined KSAT 12 San Antonio as a sports reporter in November 2025.

Gonzalez comes to San Antonio from Jacksonville, Florida, where she spent more than two years at First Coast News WTLV 12 as the weekend sports anchor. 

Before her move to Florida, Gonzalez made her mark in Corpus Christi. She became the first woman to serve as sports anchor at 3NEWS KIII Corpus Christi. She began at the station in 2019 as the weekend morning editor while still a college senior, later transitioning to a full-time news reporter before stepping into the sports anchor role.

A native of Weslaco, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley, Gonzalez graduated from Texas A&M University–Kingsville with a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications and a minor in Journalism.

Her earlier experience includes roles with the Corpus Christi Hooks, where she worked on the Game Day Production Staff, and the sports information department at Texas A&M–Kingsville.

Alan Holt leaves 3NEWS KIII Corpus Christi

Alan Holt is leaving his 3NEWS KIII Corpus Christi chief meteorologist position to join TEGNA sister station News Center Maine WCSH Portland, Maine.

VIDEO UPDATE: Watch him officially sign off 

Holt has been with KIII for 13 years will have his last day on Friday, December 5, 2025.

“I’ve grown into my adult life here, both personally and professionally,” Holt said in an online statement. “I’ve celebrated milestones that will forever tie me to the Coastal Bend – covering Hurricane Harvey, the snow that followed that December, getting married, and welcoming our baby girl into the world.”

In 2021, Holt transitioned from the morning newscast to become KRIS-TV’s chief meteorologist, succeeding longtime weather leader Bill Vessey upon his retirement.

Speaking of changes, in 2024, Holt welcomed baby daughter Rayleigh.

Before returning home to Texas, Alan spent two years at KTWO in Wyoming, where his work earned him recognition from the Wyoming Association of Broadcasters as one of the state’s top meteorologists.

A San Antonio native, Holt graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a bachelor’s degree in Communication. He later earned a master’s degree in Geosciences with a concentration in Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University. During his time at MSU, he was also a proud member of The Famous Maroon Band, where he played snare drum.

“Alan’s deep ties to the Coastal Bend and his dedication to serving this community have been extraordinary,” 3NEWS President and General Manager Rebecca Cantu added. “We understand the strong pull of family and the chance to be closer to loved ones in the Northeast. Though we’ll miss Alan’s leadership and presence in our newsroom, we’re proud to see him take this next step within the TEGNA family.”

“Alan and I started working at 3NEWS just weeks apart," said 3NEWS News Director Jonathan Munson.  "He’s been part of the heart of this newsroom ever since and I’m so glad to say I got to grow alongside him for all these years. He’s been a trusted source of information, a mentor to so many, and a true friend. As a Corpus Christi native, I can say he’s left a mark on this community that will last well beyond his time on the air.”

ANOTHER TEXAS METEOROLOGIST LEAVING
Rachel Briers leaves ABC13 Houston

KTSM 9 El Paso brings in radio hosts for morning newscast

KTSM 9 El Paso is making changes to its morning newscast on December 2, 2025, involving a former radio show.

Mike Martinez and Tricia Martinez, the non-related former morning radio duo of 93.1 KISS FM KSII El Paso, have joined KTSM on TV from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.

"The traditional format isn’t enough anymore – having two, three, four, or even five anchors/reporters repeating the same handful of stories for two, three, or even four hours isn’t fair to the viewer," KTSM News Director Chris Babcock said in an online statement.  "And if we’re being honest, we’ve done the same, so we decided it was time to change and make a difference for our viewers. They’ve already seen most of their news on their smart device – phone, tablet, or TV; how do we make it relevant?"

Anchor Ian Roth, who joined the AM newscast in 2023, will continue with the former radio hosts.

“Viewers don’t want to be hit over the head with flashing lights and incessant breaking news alerts right after waking up – or worse – the same news you saw when you went to bed…that’s not a good way to start any day,” Babcock adds. “That’s the mission for this new show and team members. Not just rapid-fire videos, stories, wrecks, and weather, but taking time and talking about what’s going on and really digging into the impact in our viewers’ daily lives.”

The new "KTSM 9 News Today with Ian, Mike, and Tricia" newscast will use the standard news desk and a new multi-use digital studio. Just like a traditional radio show, Viewers will be able to call in, message, or text their thoughts in real-time.

So, where is the other KTSM morning news anchor, Karla Draksler, going?

Draksler is shifting from the news side of the building to the sales side. She is stepping away from news reporting and anchoring to become a dedicated original content creator for the station’s streaming app, KTSM+.

For Draksler, this move is about finding a new outlet for her creativity. She realized that, while she valued her time in news, the traditional path of chasing bigger markets or a main anchor role no longer fueled her.

Her passion has shifted to shooting, editing, and creating stories that make people happy. Her new focus will be on bringing community stories and entertainment stories to life.

Even as she moves to a new department, Draksler’s commitment to quality local journalism remains strong.

"I very much so, love local news, support local news, and believe journalism, especially local journalism, is now more important than ever," she said in an Instagram video.

Draksler also acknowledged how much she will miss the daily routine with co-anchor Roth.

"Ian and I just had the best time ever," Draksler added. "Every morning, even though we had to wake up really early, we still loved doing it for our viewers and providing you something fun and informative at the same time, because we all know we need a little bit of joy in the morning, especially if you're waking up early. So I'm so glad that I got to be a part of that world. And I got to create a little bit of the morning show legacy in El Paso, especially here at KTSM." 

Draksler started anchoring the KTSM morning newscast in 2023 after serving as a weekend anchor.

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A post shared by Karla Draksler (@karladraxktsm)

Angel San Juan returns to KFDM and FOX 4 Beaumont

Angel San Juan returned to the KFDM 6/KBTV Fox 4 Beaumont morning newscast Monday morning after suffering a minor stroke. 

He had been off-air since October. 

While back at work, he will continue with physical therapy.