Brianda Villegas, who departed her morning traffic anchor position at WFAA 8 Dallas-Fort Worth in September 2025, has resurfaced on Florida Tonight, airing on FOX 13 News Tampa Bay WTVT and FOX 35 Orlando WOFL.
The version of Daybreak that Villegas joined back then is now completely different as of 2026, with Dia Wall and Matt Howerton now the anchors. Erica Lopez took over morning traffic anchor duties.
Before moving to North Texas, Villegas spent four years at WFLA News Channel 8 and WTTA The CW Tampa Bay, where she joined the station in January 2021 as a feature reporter. In addition to her reporting duties, she regularly filled in as the morning traffic anchor and anchored both English- and Spanish-language newscasts.
Earlier in her career, Villegas worked at WCJB TV20 News in Gainesville, Florida, first as a multimedia journalist and later as the station's weekend anchor.
A graduate of the University of Florida, Villegas is also a former Gators mascot.
Bryanna Moore announced this week that she is joining CW39 Houston KIAH from Nexstar Media Group sister stations Louisiana First News, WVLA NBC Local 33, and WGMB Fox 44 in Baton Rouge.
Here is a portion of what Moore posted on social:
"Houston... I'm coming home.
God did.
There were moments I prayed for opportunities I couldn't yet see, trusted His timing when it didn't make sense, and believed He was writing a story bigger than I could imagine. Today, I get to see part of that story unfold.
After an incredible chapter at Louisiana First News, I'm beyond excited to share that I'm joining the amazing team at CW39 Houston!
As a proud Houston native, this moment is more than a new job—it's a full-circle blessing. The city that raised me is now the city I'll have the honor of serving through storytelling."
Moore has served as the Weekend News Anchor and reporter for Louisiana First News since February 2025.
Before her promotion to the anchor desk, she launched her television news career as a multimedia journalist (MMJ) at sister station KNWA-TV and FOX24 News KFTA in Northwest Arkansas.
A Houston native, Moore attended Klein High School and the University of North Texas (UNT), where she earned a bachelor's degree in Converged Broadcast Media with studies in public relations, advertising, and applied communication. While at UNT, she also gained on-air experience as a news anchor for North Texas Television and completed a public relations internship with Pierpont Communications.
Moore is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
One CW39 journalist job change that went unreported while I was on blog break was the departure of reporter Daryl Matthews, whose bio was removed from the station website.
Matthews started at the station in the fall of 2025 after working at WFTV Channel 9 in Orlando, Florida, where he had been since May 2023. A Temple University grad, he previously worked in Greensboro, North Carolina, Elmira, and New York.
Houston TV viewers are asking me what happened to MeTV Toons on KPRC 2.5.
Here is what Channel 2 told me:
"Weigel chose not to renew our agreement for MeTV Toons. Since we don't currently have a replacement service that makes sense for the channel, we've temporarily discontinued KPRC 2.5 to improve bandwidth for our remaining channels.
Weigel also owns KYAZ in the Houston market, which carries MeTV, and they have elected to move MeTV Toons to one of their own digital subchannels 51.6.
We’ll continue evaluating programming options for KPRC 2.5."
Chase Franks has joined KVUE Austin as the station's weekend morning meteorologist. In addition to forecasting on weekend mornings, he will also deliver weather for the midday and 4 p.m. newscasts Monday through Wednesday.
Franks arrives in Austin from WLBT 3 On Your Side Jackson, Mississippi, where he has served as the morning meteorologist since January 2024.
Before joining WLBT, Franks worked at Gray sister station WTOK 11 Meridian, Mississippi, as the weekend meteorologist from March 2022 through January 2024, launching his broadcast career while still in college.
A Dallas native, Franks developed a passion for weather at an early age and has been storm-chasing across the Great Plains since he was 14. His fascination with severe weather ultimately led him to pursue a career in meteorology.
Franks earned his degree in broadcast meteorology from Mississippi State University, where he was active with the East Mississippi chapter of the National Weather Association and the American Meteorological Society. Before transferring to Mississippi State, he was a kicker on the football team at the University of the Incarnate Word.
KVIA ABC-7 El Paso has seen several notable talent changes across its newsroom and sports department during the summer of 2026.
Weekend sports anchor and reporter Bea Martinez departed the station in July 2026 after serving in the role since January 2024. During her time in El Paso, she covered local high school athletics, UTEP sports, and regional sporting events while anchoring weekend sportscasts. In addition to her duties at KVIA, Martinez worked as a freelance sideline reporter for ESPN+ during the 2024-25 season. She is a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, where she earned a master's degree in sports journalism after receiving her bachelor's degree from the Academy of Art University.
To fill the sports department vacancy, KVIA hired Paige Wood as its new sports anchor and multimedia journalist. Wood comes to the Borderland after earning a graduate certificate in leadership from the University of Texas at El Paso. She previously worked as a UTEP Athletics sideline reporter on ESPN+, a sports correspondent for ESPN 600 El Paso, and served as sports editor for Oklahoma City University student media while competing as a collegiate golfer.
In June, longtime reporter and anchor Isabella Martinez signed off after nearly three years with the El Paso station. Martinez, who served as a reporter on Good Morning El Paso, anchored the noon newscast and most recently hosted the station's Seven in the City social media feature, announced she was returning home to Miami to spend time with family while considering the next chapter of her career.
Meanwhile, KVIA also added to its weather team with Mikey Tongko, who joined the station as a weather forecaster and reporter. Originally from Arkansas and now living in nearby Las Cruces, New Mexico, Tongko is pursuing a degree in journalism and media studies at New Mexico State University.
Melanie Camp is leaving KPRC 2's lifestyle program, Houston Life and Space City, this Friday, mikemcguff.com has learned.
Camp joined Houston Life in 2022 as a reporter after arriving from WKBW-TV in Buffalo, New York, where she co-hosted the station's lifestyle program, AM Buffalo.
A native of Australia, Camp has built a career that spans television, radio, acting, and journalism.
According to her KPRC biography, she appeared in school plays alongside the late Heath Ledger before pursuing a career in entertainment. She also earned acting credits, including a role on the HBO series True Blood.
Camp began her media career as a DJ at a small radio station in the Australian outback before transitioning to television. She later spent several seasons as a correspondent on a lifestyle program in her hometown of Perth, Western Australia.
After moving to Los Angeles, Camp worked as a reporter for the Venice Beach community newspaper Yo! Venice, where she covered breaking news by following the LAPD helicopter to crime scenes in the early morning hours, hoping to get the story first.
Throughout her career, Camp has also earned industry recognition, including five Telly Awards for her work.
Former Houston Life co-host Tessa Barrera left in March 2026.
Trevor Birchett joins KHOU 11 Houston as a meteorologist.
Here is a portion of what Birchett posted to social:
"Southeast Texas has some of the most active and impactful weather in the country, and I’m honored to be joining a team that’s so passionate about keeping viewers informed and safe.
I’ve already had the chance to explore the city, meet some wonderful people, and try some great food. I can’t wait to officially call Houston home!"
Birchett arrives from KHOU's TEGNA sister station, ABC24 WATN and CW30 in Memphis, Tennessee, where he most recently served as Chief Meteorologist. He joined the station in May 2021 as Weekend Meteorologist before being promoted to Morning Meteorologist in 2022. In April 2025, he was named Chief Meteorologist.
During his time in Memphis, Birchett led coverage of numerous severe and winter weather events, provided expert radar analysis during active weather, and helped transition the station's weather coverage to a digital-first, streaming-first approach. As chief meteorologist, he also oversaw weather department operations, coordinated staffing, and worked to maintain consistent weather branding across all platforms.
Before joining ABC24, Birchett worked at WCBI 4 in Columbus, Mississippi, where he served as Weekend Meteorologist while attending college.
A graduate of Mississippi State University, Birchett earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology in 2021. While at Mississippi State, he was active in the East Mississippi Chapter of the National Weather Association and the American Meteorological Society.
The Lone Star Sports EMMY Awards celebrate excellence in Sports Broadcasting from across the State of Texas throughout the broadcast year. Congrats to the 2026 nominees.
Gage Goulding is leaving KPRC 2 Houston and local TV behind for a role with CNN on the global stage.
CNN announced this morning that Goulding has joined the network as an international correspondent based in Seoul, South Korea. In the new role, he will report on major stories from South Korea and across the Asia-Pacific region for CNN's television and digital platforms.
"We are pleased to welcome Gage to our CNN Asia Pacific team," said Ellana Lee, CNN's Group Senior Vice President, General Manager of Asia Pacific and Global Head of Productions for CNN International. "Gage's passion for fast-paced, high-impact storytelling will be an asset when reporting on the important developments from this hugely dynamic and influential part of the world."
"I’m thrilled to share that I’m joining CNN as an International Correspondent based in Seoul, South Korea," Goulding posted. "Journalism has given me the privilege of meeting incredible people, witnessing history unfold and telling stories that truly matter. I'm excited to continue sharing impactful, genuine storytelling from across the Asia-Pacific region, bringing context, humanity and curiosity to the stories shaping our world."
His local TV work earned widespread recognition, including being named Best News Reporter by the Texas Association of Broadcasters in 2025. Goulding also received multiple regional Emmy Awards, including two 2024 Lone Star Emmy Awards for Weather/News ("Driving Through a Tornado") and Breaking Spot News-Team ("Lakewood Church Shooting"), as well as a 2024 Suncoast Emmy Award for Best Reporter for "Live, Local and Breaking – Gage Goulding Reports." He was also part of Edward R. Murrow Award-winning teams recognized for Overall News Excellence.
Before arriving in Houston in December 2023, Goulding spent three years as a reporter at NBC2 WBBH in Fort Myers, Florida, beginning in December 2020. Earlier in his career, he worked as an anchor and reporter at WTOV News 9 in Steubenville, Ohio, and as a digital content producer at KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh.
A native of Ligonier, Pennsylvania, Goulding graduated from Robert Morris University with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism. Even before launching his professional career, he earned multiple journalism honors, including a Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award while still a student.
