"I'll still be doing what I'm doing, and that's interviewing wonderful people in this community," Harder said on Facebook. "I mentioned this a lot because up on the 21st floor of the Alico Building, you can look out and see the Silos and on the on the wall of the silos, Chip and Joanna [Gaines] have printed, 'Everyone has a story worth telling' and I do believe that. And so I'm going to try to interview everyone."
Former WACO 100 morning host Zack Owen started hosting a daily live show on the RMN in January.
In this role, Logan will oversee programming and operations for Mix 96.5 (KHMX-FM), The Bet Houston (KIKK-AM), SportsRadio 610 (KILT-AM), 100.3 The Bull (KILT-FM), 95.7 The Spot (KKHH-FM) and Mega 101 FM (KLOL-FM).
JR Ammons expands his role as the new Brand Manager of Mix 96.5, overseeing the station’s content strategy, talent, operations and branding. Ammons will continue to serve as Brand Manager of 99.7 The Point (KZPT-FM) and 106.5 The Wolf (WDAF-FM) in Kansas City, 102.5 KEZK (KEZK-FM) and Y98 (KYKY-FM) in St. Louis and Vice President of Programming for Audacy Kansas City.
“We’re excited to welcome Bruce back and bring JR to the Audacy Houston team. Bruce is a Country expert and one of the original architects of The Spot. He has always been a great partner and leader, and I can’t wait to see what he cooks up!” said Sarah Fraizer, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy Houston. “JR is a great leader who has delivered outstanding results and I look forward to seeing him expand his expertise to Mix 96.5.”
“I’m so excited to be returning to Audacy and Houston!” said Logan. “Thanks to Sarah Frazier, Brian Purdy, Tim Roberts, Dave Richards, Jeff Sottolano and Chris Oliviero for once again handing me the keys to these legendary Houston brands. I know Houston is hot, I know it’s where to find the best queso in the world, and I know how to help teams achieve success! We start immediately.”
"Mix 96.5 is one of the most listened to Hot AC stations in the country, with a weekly audience of over a million people. I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to work alongside the talented team at KHMX,” said Ammons. “A huge thank you to Jeff, Dave, Brian and Sarah for trusting me to be part of something so special.”
Logan is a radio veteran who began his career at iHeartRadio in 1996, where he held roles ranging from Operations Manager to Regional Vice President of Programming. He moved to Audacy Houston in 2013 as the Operations Manager and quickly rose to Vice President of Programming. Most recently, he was the Operations Manager and Brand Content Director for Hubbard Broadcasting.
Ammons has over three decades of industry experience and an extensive background in operating multiple stations. He rejoined Audacy in 2022 after 11 years as Operations Manager for WZPL-FM, WNTR-FM and WXNT-AM in Indianapolis. He also has prior programming stops at Atlanta sister station Star 94 (WSTR-FM), WAPE-FM in Jacksonville, FL and KMXV-FM in Kansas City.
Sarah Al-Shaikh is joining ABC13 KTRK Houston from KXAN Austin, where she has been a reporter.
Al-Shaikh started with KXAN in July 2022 as its Hays County reporter.
Before returning to Austin at KXAN, Al-Shaikh worked at WLNS 6 in Lansing, Michigan, where she served as a weekend anchor and reporter from November 2020 to August 2022.
A Houston native, Al-Shaikh holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Edward’s University in Austin and a master’s degree from Syracuse University. During her time at Syracuse, Al-Shaikh was honored with an Excellence in Broadcasting Award from the New York State Broadcasters Association for “Outstanding College Feature News Story.”
While pursuing her graduate studies, Al-Shaikh gained newsroom experience as a Nexstar Media Group news associate, working at WJET/WFXP in Erie, Pennsylvania, and WIVB/WNLO in Buffalo, New York. She also completed an internship with CNYCentral, where she contributed to the newscasts of NBC3, CBS5, and CW6.
Viewers are asking me about set changes this week at ABC 13 Houston.
On Monday night's 10 pm newscast, it appears they are using a temporary set. ABC13 Meteorologist David Tillman did the weather from this desk/video wall setup, for example.
So the updated set the station has used since then hasn't been around for too long.
UPDATE Now, before we all get too excited, ABC13's VP, News and Digital, Keaton Fox, tells mikemcguff.com there are no set changes, just lighting adjustments by replacing old tungsten fixtures with LED ones.
Ilona Carson was announced as the new KHOU 11 morning co-anchor with Jacob Rascon, Jennifer Reyna and Chita Craft on today's AM newscast.
"Houston has been my home for years, and every day I'm reminded what an honor it is to be part of this incredible community," Carson said. "It's a true privilege to be welcomed into your home, share your stories, and help you start your day."
It's an ABC13 KTRK reunion, but the duo never actually worked at the station together at the same time. As Jacob noted on the morning newscast, Carson and his father, Art Rascon, worked together.
Carson will join the KHOU morning newscast on July 28, 2025, and stay on for the KHOU 11+ streaming portion until 9am.
Stephanie Simmons will be moving to the dayside schedule. If I had to guess, Simmons will fill the 4pm newscast vacancy left by Rekha Muddaraj.
UPDATE Rumor is Stephanie Simmons will anchor the news newscast, and Shern-Min Chow will move from 12 p.m. to the 4 p.m. news with Ron Treviño. I asked KHOU for verification of this, but have not heard back.
Speaking of Muddaraj, back in April when I posted that she was leaving KHOU, I wrote:
"Sources tell mikemcguff.com that KHOU is hiring another new morning co-anchor. In fact, I am aware of one notable Houston TV anchor that has tried out. Stay tuned. This could get very interesting. I've been telling people in the TV industry that when new KHOU GM David Loving was hired in May 2024, given that he had already run the top-rated station in Houston a few years ago, he was going to hit the ground running and shake up the ratings. Stay tuned."
The person I was referencing was Ilona Carson, who auditioned at Channel 11 many months ago.
Last year in an interview, Carson told me she left the TV biz to escape "the daily whirlwind of live news" and focus more on her family since she is a mom to three busy kids in elementary, middle, and high school.
"When I departed from ABC 13, I thought I was retiring," Carson told mikemcguff.com in 2024. "While it was a much-needed sabbatical, I learned a lot about myself and the importance of finding a new challenge, the next step in my career. The opportunity at Comcast was simply the right fit — not just for my own professional development but also for the flexibility that my family needs. Everyday, I get to do some amazing work for one of the nation’s biggest technology and media companies. I still get to tell impactful stories and share them with Houston area viewers - which will always be in my DNA. There really is a wonderful life after news!"
Carson left ABC13 after 16 years in June 2021 and was one of the many departures around that time. She joined Channel 13 in 2005 as anchor of the 4 p.m. newscast. Over time, she expanded her role to include the 6:30 p.m. news and eventually the 10 p.m. newscast.
Before making the move to Houston, Carson worked at FOX 10 KSAZ in Phoenix. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, she also spent part of her early career at KAMR in Amarillo.
Over the course of her career, Carson has been recognized with numerous honors, including a Lone Star EMMY, a National Headliner Award, and a Gracie Award.
"Ilona brings exceptional experience and an authentic connection to Houston that our audience will immediately recognize," said David Loving, KHOU 11 President and General Manager. "Her proven track record of guiding our community through challenging moments with facts, compassion, and perspective makes her an incredible asset to our team."
"Ilona is a hands-on anchor and solution-focused journalist who combines extensive experience with a relatable style that connects with viewers and reflects her love for Houston," said Kathryn Bonfield, KHOU 11 News Director. "Her ability to deliver news with both professionalism and heart makes her the perfect addition to the KHOU 11 family."
I have to add that out of the various positions I held in the TV industry, field producing was one of my favorites. It's probably why I went on to direct/produce a Houston documentary!
It can be off-air TV reporting. You just have to worry about the story, not the performative nature of being talent.
Alex Porter has been promoted to KTEN 10 Sherman evening co-anchor with Lisanne Anderson after the retirement of Bob Brackeen.
"After three years of reporting, I’m excited to share the next step in my career is here," Porter posted. "Starting next week, I will officially be the new evening news anchor for KTEN alongside Lisanne Anderson KTEN News, a journalist who I highly respect and who I’ve come to learn is revered in Texoma. I can’t express enough gratitude to our news director, Brendan Agans, and general manager, Dave Tillery, for believing in me, before I even graduated from Ohio University."
A graduate of Ohio University, Porter joined KTEN as an Ardmore news bureau reporter in May 2022.
