Rita Garcia appears on Los Angeles TV

Rita Garcia is away on maternity leave with Baby Jordan, but the abc13 KTRK Houston morning anchor did take the time out of her busy schedule to wish former FOX 11 Los Angeles KTTV "Good Day LA" co-anchor Tony McEwing a happy retirement. 

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And for Garcia's LA and Houston fans, here is video of Baby Jordan (LA readers here is the SoCal news you  have been asking for!):

TEXAS-SIZED GOODBYE: @TheRitaGarcia shares a sweet farewell message to @Tonysuniverse with her new bundle of joy. https://t.co/nCx2riIqze pic.twitter.com/haUNogYbkm

— Good Day LA (@GDLA) February 3, 2023

"Tony, I am sending you double the love from Texas from me and my little Jordan here who just arrived. 

We just want to say congratulations on this next chapter on retirement. The LA market is not going to be the same without you. 

I had the privilege of sitting next to you at Good Day LA and what an honor. 

Always readily available to answer all of my questions, we had some great conversations. 

You have the biggest heart, Tony, and most importantly, you always shared your snacks with me, so thank you for that. I never went hungry. And all the candy that you gave me, too, so thank you for that as well. 

And I know you're going to be spending a lot of time in the desert and I'm telling you, we always joked we would put a camera there, so maybe we should do that. So you can retire, but you can't go far. Congratulations."

McEwing has become a legend in Los Angeles morning TV with more than 30 years of anchoring in Southern California. He had a total TV career of 43 years. 

Garcia just left the venerable "Good Day LA" back in 2021, returning to Houston at channel 13.

She had been with FOX 11 Los Angeles since 2017. 

Before LA, Garcia was a morning anchor with FOX 26 Houston KRIV joining the station in 2011.

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Jose Gant of WFAA Dallas sports is retiring

Jose Gant, the WFAA 8 DFW assistant sports director, who has been with the Dallas TV station for 43 years, is retiring. 

After covering the 1978 Super Bowl, where the Dallas Cowboys beat the Denver Broncos, for his first station KTBC 3 Shreveport, Louisiana, Gant met WFAA staffers and ended up getting a job with the legendary station as an editor in 1980.  

The rest as they say is history.

Esteban Solis, FOX 29 San Antonio host, arrested with DWI charge

Esteban Solis becomes the second San Antonio television on-air talent to be arrested for driving while intoxicated charges in the last weeks.

Solis, host of FOX 29 KABB's "Daytime with Kimberly and Esteban," was arrested early Friday morning according to his own station.

He did not appear on the show Friday which is produced by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. and airs on stations across Texas.

MySA reports this is the TV host's second DWI offense.

Next TV writes Solis joined the station in 2013.

In reporting of the arrest, the San Antonio Current says the "Daytime with Kimberly and Esteban" has been featured on HBO's "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver."

At the end of January 2023, KSAT 12 sports director Greg Simmons was also arrested and charged for suspected DWI.  Simmons resigned from KSAT the next week. 

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KXAN Austin has transmitter issues due to ice storm

KXAN Austin issued an update Sunday night via chief meteorologist David Yeomans concerning its transmitter troubles from last week's ice storm:

---ORIGINAL POST FROM FRIDAY---

KXAN Austin reports that it's having transmitter issues due to this week's terrible Texas ice storm.

A KXAN transmitter is down due to damage from this week’s ice storm. We are working to get it fixed ASAP. This affects services like DirecTV and DISH, as well as people trying to access it over the air. Watch KXAN newscasts here: https://t.co/WaN8U42aGg pic.twitter.com/vQAYGPdMP0

— KXAN News (@KXAN_News) February 3, 2023

Once again due to the ice storm, earlier this week, KVUE Austin lost power to its studio which took the station off air for a few hours.

In related news, KXAN just debuted its new set Thursday. 

KXAN Austin debuts new set 2023

KXAN Austin debuted its new set on February 2, 2023 after operating from a temporary one since June 2022 during construction.

"We made it work for 7 (long) months — moving in during the first week of what would become our hottest July on record & moving out during one of the most severe ice storms in the last couple of decades," posted meteorologist Kristen Currie.  "It was a good ride… but can’t wait for y’all to see our new home." 

I understand the new KXAN set doubles the amount of studio space. 

Considering Austin is in the middle of an ice storm, there are not a lot of photos or video available since the crews are busy with real news, but here is what I could gather for you.

LAUNCH ALERT!! A huge #congratulations to @KXAN_News in #Austin, #TX on the premiere of their beautiful new #set. It was a pleasure to help you bring this fantastic design to life, #KXAN!#texas #localnews #broadcast #setdesign #ResearchDrivenDesign #FXDesignGroup #DesignedBy FX pic.twitter.com/eRlQY2nt1R

— FX Design Group (@FXDESIGNGROUP) February 3, 2023

Closed out a chapter today at @KXAN_News. @nickbannin & I anchored the very last show from our temporary set.

You can see the debut of the brand new studio this afternoon at 4 with @JenSandersTV! pic.twitter.com/qXhxaiePFk

— Will DuPree (@willrdupree) February 2, 2023

 

Lileana Pearson joining abc13 KTRK Houston

Lileana Pearson is joining abc13 KTRK Houston as a reporter from WBTV News 3 Charlotte, North Carolina mikemcguff.com has learned.

Here is Pearson's goodbye message to WBTV television viewers which was posted on Instagram:

"After two incredible years in the Carolinas, I’m off on my next adventure.

The past years have been a period of incredible professional and personal growth. I have so many of you to thank for helping shape me. Whether you shared your story, or encouraged me from afar, each moment has powered me through."

Pearson joined WBTV in January 2021 where she worked as a reporter/anchor.

In July 2021, Pearson and her boyfriend were in a head-on collision on the way back from a vacation in Hilton Head. The TV reporter was off the air for many months in physical therapy and recovery.

Pearson previously worked for:

- WOWT NBC Omaha, Nebraska as a news reporter

- KCRG-TV9 Cedar Rapids, Iowa as a freelance MMJ/Reporter

- KWQC TV-6 News Davenport, Iowa as a freelance MMJ/Reporter

- WKYT Lexington, Kentucky as a news reporter

- WFFF Burlington, Vermont as a reporter

The Lindsey Wilson College grad and  S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University master's degreed Pearson interned for WAER Syracuse, New York.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lileana Pearson (@lileana.pearson)

Stan Norfleet joins Sportstalk 790 KBME

Stan Norfleet will join the lineup of iHeartMedia Houston’s Sportstalk 790 KBME, Houston’s Home for Your Astros, Your Rockets, & Your Home Teams, from 10am-12pm weekdays, effective February 13, 2023.

"It is a tremendous blessing and honor to join the renowned iHeartMedia Houston family," Norfleet said in a statement.  "I have long been a fan and avid listener of Sportstalk 790 and respect the history and contributions of its personalities. My affinity for Space City spans nearly two decades and I look forward to connecting with old friends and new listeners in the market.”

“Stan brings amazing passion to everything he does,” said Bryan Erickson, Director of AM Programming for iHeartMedia Houston. “He has strong local ties and we’re thrilled to add him to the team.”

Norfleet replaces Sportstalk 790 host and former NFL player, ND Kalu, who is departing to focus on his growing real estate business.

“ND is a tremendous talent and one of the most down to earth people I’ve ever had the privilege to work with. He will be missed,” said Erickson.

An NFL prospect, Norfleet, played football at the University of Virginia and Texas Southern University. 

He later worked for the Houston Texans and the Houston Rockets before transitioning into broadcasting as a host, analyst and sideline reporter.

Full Sportstalk 790 KBME Programming Lineup:

“The Sean Salisbury Show” 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

“Next Up with Stan Norfleet & Chris Gordy” 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

“The Matt Thomas Show” 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

“The A-Team with Adam Clanton & Adam Wexler” 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Sonia Azad's new podcast "The Shift"

Sonia Azad left WFAA 8 in December 2022 and has already debuted "The Shift with Sonia Azad" in February 2023.

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In the first episode of the video podcast, Azad sits down with former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Tony Casillas.

Azad says the YouTube show will explore the changes and challenges in life, plus healthy ways to navigate them.

"I’ve always believed that while our individual lives are very different, there is a lot of emotional overlap in our human experience," Azad said.  "Hearing from people about ways they’ve had to shift in uncomfortable, tragic and even traumatic times — whether expected or unexpected— will help us all to remember that we are not alone, that we are in fact unified and connected."

And we know the Houston native can shut down trolls too!