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Monday, December 04, 2023

Mike Iscovitz gives update on father's murder trial


Mike Iscovitz took to social media to update us on the justice system's handling of the tragic murder of his father in December 2020.

Here is a portion of what the FOX 26 Houston KRIV chief meteorologist posted on Instagram:


"Today is the three year anniversary of my father’s murder. 


Sorry to put it bluntly, but that’s the reality - a person stabbed him in broad daylight in an unprovoked attack out of nowhere in Houston. 


Why he chose my dad, an 80 year old person walking to the store, we may never know, but I have suspicions. 


You might be curious about an update on justice...the admitted killer is in jail awaiting trial after violating his bail. 


Still have no court date after three years. 


My heart goes out to all victims of violent crime because the wheels of justice are unacceptably slow."



Back in 2020 in the same month, FOX 26 legal analyst and attorney Chris Tritico's daughter, Maria, was also killed in a shooting






 

Tim Gerber to leave KSAT 12 San Antonio


Tim Gerber announced plans to leave KSAT 12 San Antonio after 20 years.

Here is a portion of what Gerber wrote on Facebook:


"It’s time to go home.


About a year ago I took my family up to my home state of Ohio for a Fall adventure. It was the first time in about a decade that I’d been up North to see the beauty of the changing seasons and all the colorful leaves. It was a magical trip for my daughter who has spent her entire life here in Texas, with just small glimpses of my former life in Ohio when we would go back 'home' for visits each year.


That trip was another reminder of what was missing in my life outside of Ohio. I had grown tired of living so far from family and it was time to do something about it. By the end of the week the entire course of our lives had been altered. My wife and I decided it was time to go home for good.


Nearly 20 years ago I came to San Antonio from Toledo, Ohio where I was working as a reporter and anchor at WTVG, the ABC owned station. I met my wife Anne at the station where she worked as a producer. We were married in September 2003 and by November I was looking for a new job.


Fortunately for me, Jim Boyle, the news director here at KSAT at the time, found my resume and invited me down for an interview in early January 2004. It went very well and a few weeks later I moved here to start my career at KSAT. The rest, as they say, is history.


On January 26 next year I will reach my 20th Anniversary working here. Five days later, I will walk out the doors for the final time.


Walking away from the job you’ve worked for two decades certainly isn’t easy, but it is a decision I am fully at peace with. This wasn’t a snap decision made in a vacuum. It’s one I’ve wrestled with probably for the past 5 years. It was also the subject of many conversations with my wife about our future."



Gerber joined KSAT in 2004 where he has worked as a Defenders team investigative reporter and in 2017 replaced Charles Gonzalez as weekend anchor. He also worked as a Sunday morning newscast anchor. 

The Miami University grad previously worked as a reporter/anchor for 13 Action News WTVG Toledo, Ohio and consumer/investigative reporter/fill-in anchor for WIBW 13 Topeka, Kansas.








Best TV News Bloopers November 2023



Texas TV news and radio job moves November 2023



Sunday, December 03, 2023

Lainie Fritz's dad is new UH head football coach

Lainie Fritz

No one is coming to my blog for University of Houston sports or BIG XII news, but today the searches for Lainie Fritz were way up due to her father, Willie Fritz, being hired as the new UH head football coach from Tulane.

I'm assuming no sports anchor will being a commentary like this one about Mike Elko's Texas A&M hiring.

Lainie Fritz left her KPRC 2 sports reporter/anchor job in August 2019, later appearing on WDSU New Orleans as the "Texans Insider."

In August 2020, I blogged that Fritz left the news biz behind for a life outside of  TV.

She joined KPRC in 2016.



Friday, December 01, 2023

KPRC 2 gets new studio in 2024


KPRC 2 anchors announced the station is getting a new studio for 2024 and I thought to myself, "Didn't they just build the current one?"

Well...it has actually been six years since KPRC got the current studio when its new building was completed. 

Time flies when you are having fun covering the Houston media I guess.

I was there documenting the new studio's construction all the way from the beginning to the finish as you can see in the above video.

The new studio upgrade should be completed in January according to Haley Hernandez with the newscasts being anchored from the newsroom and Studio B. 







(Thanks Shad and Doug!)




Brandi Smith leaves KHOU 11


Brandi Smith, the KHOU 11 Houston digital anchor, announced she is leaving the station and from what it looks like the television news business.  Stay tuned to find out if she's totally exiting TV.

Here is a portion of what Smith wrote on Facebook after I has posted the news here about her channel 11 departure:


"Houston, thank you for trusting me with your stories and allowing me to share them with our community. This 22-year whirlwind of a career has been a blessing beyond blessings — and it’s not over yet, though my chapter at KHOU 11 is. 

When I started this career in 2001, I had no idea what was to come – the experiences, the heartbreak, the moves and the growth – but I’m so glad it brought me to Houston. This is an incredible city, filled with some of the most compassionate people I’ve met in my career. I’ve been lucky enough to document how you all stepped up for each other in the worst of times and celebrated each other in the best of times. Y’all lift each other up every opportunity you get and are truly an inspiration to see in action. As long as you keep doing amazing things, I hope you’ll keep letting me share those stories, even if it’s just here on social media. 

We have seen each other through so much these past (almost) seven years and I am so grateful to all of you and my supportive coworkers for helping me to truly grow as a journalist, neighbor and human."


Smith has been with KHOU 11 since February 2017.  

Over the years, Smith has been channel 11's morning newscast's social media anchor, Saturday morning anchor and reporter.

In fact, Smith made a viral splash early on during Hurricane Harvey when she was the only person on the air from her live shot location while the KHOU studio was flooding. She even managed to help save a man's life.

KHOU 11 demolition photos

Smith is in a relationship with KPRC 2 meteorologist Justin Stapleton, so you will often see them together on social media. 


Before channel 11, Smith worked for:

- KBMT 12 Beaumont weekday anchor/investigative MMJ 

- CW39 KIAH's NewsFix and EyeOpener fill-in anchor/producer

- KEZI 9 News Eugene, Oregon evening anchor/MMJ/producer

- KOIN 6 Portland, Oregon producer

- Idaho News 6 KIVI Boise, Idaho reporter/weekend weather anchor/producer 

- KPIC 4 Roseburg, Oregon MMJ/fill-in anchor/producer




(This post has been updated with Brandi Smith's message on leaving KHOU 11 Houston after I had posted Friday, December 1, 2023.)




Texas TV news and radio job moves November 2023



Send tips for the monthly Texas media job list here.

2023 Lone Star EMMY winners


DALLAS - FORT WORTH

The Dallas Morning News correspondent Alfredo Corchado leaves the newspaper after more than 30 years. 

Brandon Todd celebrates 25 years at FOX 4 KDFW.

Derik Lattig joins the Producing staff at Merit Street Media, Dr. Phil's recently announced Network. Lattig started the Spectrum News 1 Texas' Dallas bureau three years ago and picked up an EMMY along the way. He has worked in the past for CBS Newspath and Stations in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.

Mitchell Parton leaves the Dallas Morning News to join the Dallas Business Journal as commercial real estate reporter.

Michael Autovino joins NY1 New York.

Brooke Katz leaves CBS News Texas
Pete Delkus of WFAA DFW honored as top meteorologist by B+C
Keenan Willard joins NBC DFW
The 60th Anniversary of the JFK Assassination
DFW sports anchor "engages" with Aggie fanbase



HOUSTON


Houston Public Media afternoon anchor and transportation reporter Gail Delaughter celebrates 15 years with 88.7 KUHF.

The Houston Business Journal's new editor-in-chief, Sean McCrory, comes from the Orlando Business Journal.

10pm anchor Erica Simon celebrates 6 years with abc13 KTRK.

How Rockets, Astros are navigating new order of regional sports networks.

Bun B has a song request for CW39 Chief Meteorologist Adam Krueger.

Houston-based SuiteRadio announced its programs are being heard on 62 broadcast radio signals across 29 states in the USA. 

KPFT is broadcasting from Galveston on 89.5FM.

Country Legends 97.1 Houston flips to K-LOVE
Daji Aswad introduces herself to the KPRC 2 audience
Kevin Ozebek gets GMA shout out
Jonathan Bruce promoted to abc13 Houston evening anchor
Dayna Steele interviews Mike McGuff about his mom's Alzheimer's battle
KPRC's Moriah Ballard speaks after her experience during shooting at Prairie View A&M
Terri Thomas exits Radio One Houston
Abigail Dye takes over FOX 26 Crime Files
13 Alert Radar network launches on KTRK Houston
CBS News anchor Michelle Miller talks to Len Cannon
Houston TV reporter has an on-camera confrontation with mayor
Mark Stevens of Stevens and Pruett's battle with Alzheimer's
Khambrel Marshall announces KPRC 2 retirement
Kim Castro moves to KHOU Houston weekdays
Dan Rather remembers KHOU 11 Houston times
Rashi Vats Day
Erica Simon offers baby PSA message to viewers
KPRC 2's 2023 "Holiday Lights Spectacular" full show video


SAN ANTONIO


KENS 5 anchor Sarah Forgany reflects on an unexpected year.

Meteorologist Justin Horne celebrates 13 years with KSAT 12.

KSAT Launches New Community-Oriented News Campaign, 'Know My Neighborhood.'

Fresh Listen: KONO San Antonio, Classic Hits’ Marconi Winner.

Jonathan Cotto leaves KSAT 12 San Antonio
Steven Cavazos to leave KSAT 12 San Antonio
San Antonio TV reporter arrested on suspicion of DWI
Alanna Sarabia leaves KENS 5 San Antonio
Stephania Jimenez thanks viewers after her absence
KENS 5 Sports Anchor Casey Viera and wife Selena welcome baby


AUSTIN


So Long, Longhorn Network.

Tony Plohetski named a finalist with KVUE and Austin American-Statesman for the 2024 duPont-Columbia award.

Quita Culpepper celebrates 25 years at KVUE Austin
Kelly Saberi joins FOX Business Network
Dominique Newland leaves KVUE Austin
- KLOL doc featured on FOX 7 Austin 


AROUND TEXAS


News director Shauna Ziegler is celebrating 20 years with KFOX14/CBS4 El Paso.

KAUZ’s Jaden Knowles Fulfills Dream, Is First Black Meteorologist In Wichita Falls.

Heather Healy joins 25 News KXXV Waco-Temple-Killeen as a reporter/MMJ. Healy most recently worked as a Lifestyle Host/Sideline Reporter Local 15 WPMI Mobile, Alabama. She is a graduate of the University Of Oklahoma.

10pm producer AJ Lopez joins KENS 5 from 3 News KIII Corpus Christi.

William Johnson joins CBS19 East Texas
New KRIS 6 Corpus Christi studio 2023
Trey Meynig of 25 News Victoria shares his struggle with Parkinson's Disease
Natassia Paloma and Trevor Thompson leaving KTSM 9 News El Paso
Texas TV anchors getting engaged
Todd Unger leaves KXXV 25 Waco


REMEMBERING


Big 2 News mourns late anchor Eddie Flores.

William Stevenson Stone, formerly of KHOU 11 and son of KPRC 2 anchor Ron Stone, has died.




A KSAT town hall about infertility with Stephania Jimenez


After discussing her recent miscarriage, KSAT 12 San Antonio evening anchor Stephania Jimenez said she would start a conversation about infertility via a town hall meeting.

Thursday night, KSAT aired "Don’t Suffer in Silence: A KSAT town hall about infertility with Stephania Jimenez."

You can watch it on demand through the above video player.



We're journalists

A little fun for Friday...