Olivia Dance joins FOX 26 Houston

Olivia Dance is joining FOX 26 Houston as a reporter in the summer of 2026, and even pulled out a cowgirl hat in her announcement video to prepare!

Fitting, since the newbie TV reporters always seem to get assigned the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo beat.

Before FOX 26, Dance spent four years as a reporter at FOX45 News WBFF in Baltimore, Maryland, her home state. 

Prior to Baltimore, Dance joined the FOX Buffalo WNYO team as a multimedia journalist in June 2021, covering breaking news and stories affecting Western New York. Before that, she spent two years reporting for CNY Central's NBC3, CBS6, and CW6 stations in Syracuse, New York.

Originally from the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C., Dance is a graduate of The University of Alabama, where she earned a double major in News Media and Communication Studies and graduated with honors.

During college, Dance spent three years at WVUA 23 News in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She began her career behind the scenes in production and editing before advancing to an on-air multimedia journalist role. 

The summer before her senior year, Dance interned at Fox News in New York City, becoming the FOX News Campus Ambassador for the rest of her time in school. 

(Thanks, Taylor!)

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Jason Nguyen named KPRC 2 Early Evening Executive Reporter

Jason Nguyen was promoted to the KPRC 2 Houston's Early Evening Executive Reporter position in June 2026.

While this sounds like an on-air position, it is not.  However, Nguyen has appeared on the Channel 2 newscasts when needed. This would be like an executive producer role at another TV station, but from what I understand, it involves working more closely with field reporters.

Nguyen takes over for longtime FOX 26 KRIV reporter John Donnelly, who, according to multiple sources, has left KPRC.  Donnelly was one of the first executive reporters hired in 2025 for this newly created position, along with former ABC13 KTRK reporter Kevin Quinn.

"These Executive Reporter roles reflect our commitment to building a more field-oriented newsroom. We’re adding more reporters than ever, and with that growth comes the responsibility to support them with strong, respected leaders," Ana Lastra, KPRC 2's news director, told mikemcguff.com at the time. "John and Kevin will work side-by-side with our teams to elevate storytelling, improve execution in the field, and ensure our journalism remains accurate, compelling, and deeply connected to Houston’s communities."

Nguyen joined KPRC 2 in 2022 as an Investigative Producer and quickly became a key member of the station's renowned investigative unit. He was promoted to Senior Investigative Producer in 2024, helping co-lead an 11-member team responsible for some of Houston's most impactful investigations across television, digital, and streaming platforms. 

Throughout his career, Nguyen has earned recognition for producing and reporting award-winning investigations and documentaries. His work includes co-producing The Evidence Room: The Texas Killing Fields, which earned a Lone Star Emmy Award, and Drained: Exposing Corruption and Water Billing Issues, which received an Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) Award. He also helped produce the Telly Award-winning documentary ASTROWORLD: Countdown to Tragedy.

Before arriving in Houston, Nguyen served as an Investigative Reporter and fill-in anchor at ABC4 Utah in Salt Lake City, where he conducted in-depth investigations into government accountability, public safety, education, and first-responder mental health. He also launched the "Weight of the Call" series, examining the emotional toll of emergency response work.

His television career has taken him across the country, including reporting/MMJ/photojournalist positions at KATU in Portland, Oregon; KTVX in Salt Lake City; WKYC in Cleveland; and WINK News in Fort Myers, Florida. Nguyen began his journalism career in 2007 as a photographer and editor at WTVG in Toledo, Ohio.

Beyond the newsroom, Nguyen is known for his commitment to community engagement and mentorship. At KPRC 2, he founded CelebrAsian, an employee resource group within Graham Media Group focused on representation, culture, and workplace belonging.

Outside of his investigative work, Nguyen made some news of his own when he proposed to his girlfriend, and former ABC13 reporter Rosie Nguyen, at the Asian American Journalists Association’s 2024 annual convention!

Corbin Voges leaves KVII Amarillo

Corbin Voges is leaving his ABC 7 Chief Meteorologist role with KVII in Amarillo.

"I am not going anywhere, but I am getting out of TV," Voges posted.  "Again, I want to thank each and every one of you for being there through the highs and lows over the past 7 years. I want to thank KVII for taking a chance on me helping me grow personally and professionally. If you see me out in public, don't be a stranger!"

Voges announced his departure after nearly seven years at the station, where he worked his way up from multimedia journalist to meteorologist, morning meteorologist, and ultimately chief meteorologist.

He joined KVII in August 2019 as a multimedia journalist, producing agriculture and weather-related stories while also forecasting weather for the Texas Panhandle. In June 2020, he moved into a full-time meteorologist role, where he covered severe weather, winter storms, and breaking weather events while providing forecasts across television and digital platforms.

In 2023, after working mornings, Voges was promoted to chief meteorologist at KVII, taking over for Joe Puma.

A graduate of Texas A&M University, Voges earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology in 2019.

Buzz Adams gets hair "buzzed" by the Spurs

Future broadcasters, listen up. Never make a bet you will regret.

Who knows if 95.5 KLAQ El Paso morning show host Buzz Adams regrets getting his hair and eyebrows shaved off as part of a San Antonio Spurs bet with fellow staffer Nico, but it happened.

Houston TV viewers might remember that back in 1995, ABC13 KTRK traffic anchor Don Nelson had the same thing happen to him!

Stephania Jimenez says ENOUGH with the 10pm news

KPRC 2 evening anchor Stephania Jimenez announced she is leaving the Graham Media Group's top-rated 10pm newscast (May ratings) for a spell to work on the upcoming show ENOUGH, which the station has been promoting since earlier this year.

ENOUGH was originally supposed to premiere on May 4, 2026.  You might have seen a mention of it in my break post. What was I doing during my break?  I won three Telly Awards and three Communicator Awards!

I like the name ENOUGH, as McGuff had enough of blogging and the media! It even rhymes.

Here is how KPRC describes ENOUGH on its website:

"ENOUGH is KPRC 2 News’ commitment to accountability journalism, reporting that asks hard questions, examines systems, and pushes for answers when something isn’t working the way it should."

KPRC 2 VP/General Manager and self-described "local news innovator and disruptor" Sean McLaughlin describes ENOUGH when talking about hiring its still open Investigative Executive Reporter role:

"Audiences are getting smaller and older.  Enough!  At KPRC, we are about to do the unimaginable.   We are blowing up the late news.  That’s right. We are #1 in the May ratings at 10pm, our top-rated newscast, and we are about to do what’s needed to happen for years: developing a new approach.  Enough is a news show devoted to diving deep into a major story each day.  Investigations and accountability.  No fluff.  Built digital first, and around a constant 2-way communication stream with our community.  No more fake breaking news, no more crime-obsessed stories as you end your day.  Instead, stories that aim for impact and results, serious reporting meant to connect with people wanting to understand what is happening in Houston and why.  Stories told creatively.  This isn’t going to be your parents’ newscast.  A modern approach that aims to re-engage our communities, on the platform of their choice."

They say what is old is new again, and this takes me back to 2010, when Tribune was launching NewsFix in Houston.  Sounds like the same attitude about the reinvention of the dying local newscast, but with an investigative bent. And NewsFix was toned down by the time it debuted in 2011. I finally saw the pilot demo!  Wow!  Some of you will have no idea what I am talking about.  I'm like the old man on the porch, thinking back to TV days gone by.  IYKYK. Remember the Imaginator position? 

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Here is a transcription of what Jimenez said in her 10pm ENOUGH announcement:

"I have an announcement. I'm going to be off the 10:00 news for just a little bit. And the reason why is super exciting. I'm going out doing a lot more stories, and obviously I need the time to go out, speak to so many of you and do these stories for our upcoming show, ENOUGH, which we've been telling you about here on KPRC 2. And so I'm going to be going out more and more doing these stories. But in order to do that, I need the time. And so what I'm doing is anchoring the 6:00 and also reporting, getting those stories together. And eventually in just a little bit, then eventually I will come back to the 10:00 news, but I just wanted to keep you guys in the loop and let you know exactly what's happening, because it's important to be transparent. And I just wanted to let you know exactly what I'm doing right now. My colleague Lisa Hernandez is going to be temporarily taking over the reins along with my co-anchor, Keith Garvin. Them two, they're going to be anchoring the 10:00 news here on KPRC two news. So watch them and just keep watching KPRC two. And remember that we're here for you. Oh, and pretty soon I'm going to be posting more conversations and just kind of asking you guys to give me some input on some of the stories that I'm going to be doing. I can't wait to hear what some of you have to say. And I look forward to keeping this conversation going. So thank you so much. Have a fantastic Thursday and I'll see you tonight on KPRC two News at Six."

 

2026 Edward R. Murrow Award Texas winners

 

Testing...testing...is this blog still on?

Texas broadcast winners in the Radio Television Digital News Association's (RTNDA) 2026 Edward R. Murrow Awards for Region 6.

CONGRATS!

SEE THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS

Thanks for 20 plus years

I want to thank all of my readers for a fun-filled 20-plus years of first covering the Houston media and then expanding to the rest of Texas.

For now, I will be taking a break.  

At the moment, I am handling a lot of projects for McGuff Media and my new company, Rise 4 It Marketing.  If you want to work with me on a video or web project, let me know.

The blog has always been a hobby, and I cannot let it interfere with my real work.  Imagine if blogging were my actual job...the TV stations would hate it.

Since this blog first started as a way to deal with the grief of my parents' dying, specifically my mother's battle with Alzheimer's disease, you can still help me ENDALZ by doing what you love.  This can be personal or corporate teams. 

Also, one of the Houston TV stations is about to reformat its 10pm news. So be on the lookout for that.  I will step back on this one, and I'm sure you'll hear more about it from the station soon.

And I just got an email telling me Frank Billingsley is leaving Houston Public Media. So that will be my last bit of info to share with you...for now.

If you care about 101 KLOL news, I will probably still post on the Runaway Radio site occasionally.

This is Mike McGuff signing off.

Texas TV news and radio job moves March 2026

Send tips for the monthly Texas media job list here.

DALLAS - FORT WORTH

This Texas Media Mogul Owns the Local News: Irving-based Nexstar controls more TV stations than any other company. CEO Perry Sook aims to grow it even bigger.

Dallas officials feared WFAA-TV would leave downtown over parking dispute, emails show.

After nearly 13 years, the WFAA newsroom said goodbye to assistant news director Sheena Autin.

KERA breaks ground on headquarters, prepares to launch local news show.

Audacy names Erik Bradley Brand Manager of 98.7 The Spot in Dallas.

Ricky Cody renewed his contract as Chief Meteorologist with Spectrum News and will be staying in Texas for the next three years.

FOX 4 KDFW Chief Photographer Bob Hawman retired in March 2026.

Cumulus Media’s New Country 96.3 and 99.5 The Wolf Raise $360,000 for Cook Children’s Medical Center at 5th Annual Texas Independence Jam at Billy Bob’s Texas.

- Damien Lodes joins CBS News Texas
- Ana Mafud joins Telemundo 39 DFW
- Nelly Carreno joins CBS News Texas
- Nicole Nielsen leaves CBS News Texas
- Steve Pickett celebrates 30 years with CBS 11 KTVT
- Nexstar + Tegna, what about Texas stations, plus the dissent
- Mariel Ruiz caught a meteor over Texas breaking apart while live on air

HOUSTON

iHeartMedia Houston Director of Promotions & Marketing, Rob Skinner, is celebrating his 30th year with the radio company.

The Country Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was announced, and Bruce Logan, Vice President of Programming for Audacy/Houston, with direct oversight of 100.3 KILT, is an inductee.

After 70+ years of telling the stories that make our neighborhoods feel like home, The Leader will close its doors. 

Nielsen Acknowledges Houston PPM Encoder Misuse From Illegally Operating Translators.

Space City Home Network announces Astros legend Ryan Pressly joining the broadcast

Meet the 96-Year-Old Texas Legend and iconic broadcaster, René Cárdenas, who helped solidify Houston as a baseball town.

After seven years at the Houston Chronicle covering state politics, Taylor Goldenstein joins the Texas Tribune.

Demarcus Ellis joins KPRC 2 as a technical director.

Rowdy Yates continues to expand his national footprint. The SuiteRadio program “Ridin’ with Rowdy” has been added to the nightly lineup on 96.1 KWS-FM in Charleston, West Virginia. Yates is also now heard weeknights on WUUQ-FM in Chattanooga. A special Saturday-only edition of the show has been picked up by KPXZ-FM in Las Cruces, New Mexico, while his afternoon-focused program “The Rowdy Ride Home” has landed in Butte Falls, Oregon on KWWL-FM. With the latest additions, Yates’ weekday reach now climbs to an impressive 70 affiliate stations.  

- Bill Barajas gets married
- Texas 2026 NAB Crystal Radio Award Winners
- Deanna Schultz to lead Houston Times and Dallas Herald Magazines
- KPRC 2 Houston has layoffs
- Haley Hernandez interviewed by Houston Moms
- Maggie McKethan Memorial Scholarship named after FOX 26 producer
- Coppelia Acevedo on trusting God in every season
- Tim Geraghty named KHOU 11 news director
- Pat Cavlin joins WPIX New York City
- Coffee House Houston moves to The Heights
- Jillian “JJ” Simmons joins 89.3 KSBJ Houston and Worship 24/7
- Owen Conflenti after KPRC 2 Houston
- Nicole Nielsen joins KPRC 2 Houston
- Tessa Barrera to leave Houston Life
- Houston Children’s Charity Makes History with Largest-Ever “Chariots for Children” Van Distribution
- Wayne Dolcefino profiled by Houston Chronicle
- Texas CBS News correspondent reportedly laid off
- Re'Chelle Turner is pregnant
- Remember Michelle Merhar from FOX 26 Houston KRIV?
- “Frito & Katy” no longer on 100.3 The Bull KILT Houston
- Ryan Shoptaugh on KHOU 11 Houston

SAN ANTONIO

Sam Pieprzyca rises to 102.7 Jack-FM KJXK Program Director.

WOAI anchor Mandy Noell plans a perfect day in S.A.

Graham Media Group's KSAT 12 has removed the bios of producer Hardy Meredith, Content Gatherer Avery Meurer plus digital journalists Ivan Herrera, Mason Hickok, Andrew Wilson and Ryan Cerna from its website.

Landon Lowe has been promoted to KSAT12's Nightside All-Platform Executive Producer.

- KSAT 12 San Antonio layoffs
- KSAT 12 meteorologist arrested, accused of assault
- Roxy Van Ruiten is engaged

AUSTIN

101X KROX goes local in mornings with the debut of “Morning X” featuring Trevin Smith and Sawyer Stull.

Texas Monthly Contributor Elliott Woods Wins Overseas Press Club Award for Migrant Series.

Sarah Smith joins KVUE as a producer.

- CBS Austin responds to viral video
- Scott Braddock on the new Quorum Report Radio
- Where is KVUE's Rob Evans?
- Sam Stark leaves KXAN for Austin Current
- Jordan Darensbourg leaves KVUE Austin

AROUND TEXAS

After four decades on 710 KURV Rio Grande Valley, Davis Rankin is retiring. He says he'll still fill in from time to time.

Most Stations In Country’s Top 20? Texas Holds ‘Em.

KWTX 10 Waco engineer Mike Jugert is retiring after 26 years.

NewsWest 9 Anchor Victor Lopez opens up about cancer setback.

KXII 12 Sherman added multi-media journalists (MMJs) Taylor Brooks, Maresa Sisk and Mia Medellin in the last year.

TEGNA's KCEN 6 Waco-Temple-Killeen news director Jim Hice leaves the TEGNA station.

KCEN 6 Waco-Temple-Killeen director and "Director's Chair with Shawn Hobbs" host, Shawn Hobbs ' bio has been removed from the station website, with no new movie critic since January 2026.

TEGNA's 12News Now - KBMT Beaumont Nightside Executive Producer Korbyn Lee and Digital Producer Sharinna Byrd are no longer listed on the station's website bio page.

12 News KBMT Beaumont producer Nick Northrup has been announced as leaving the station.

ABC 7 KVIA El Paso reporter Tyaun Marshburn has left.

KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock's Madeleine Hall has been promoted to full-time reporter.

ABC 7 KVIA El Paso adds Katrina Villarreal and Alberto Silva as producers.

Twenty Cumulus & Townsquare Media Stations cease operations, Texas included.

Emily Paulson joined KBTX as a multimedia Journalist in November 2025.

MMJ Adam Beam leaves KRIS 6 Corpus Christi for 7 News WKBW Buffalo.

KTEN 10 Sherman reporter Ryan Thorpe leaves.

Connoisseur Media has sold one of its three stations in the Sherman/Denison market.

Al Caldwell turns 90: Watch this 'PM Magazine' story from 1980 featuring radio legend.

Sarah Howard joins KBTX 3 Bryan-College Station as a Meteorology Fellow.

Emily Schmalz joins KFOX-TV/CBS4 El Paso as a weekday reporter and the weekend meteorologist.

KBTX’s Rusty Surette and Kayleigh Thomas arrested...for a good cause.

- Kellianne Klass joins KIII 3NEWS Corpus Christi
- Cristina Rodda leaves KTSM 9 News El Paso
- Lisely Garza leaves KGNS Laredo
- Priscilla Meza leaves News Channel 6 KAUZ Wichita Falls
- Lauren Margolis joins FOX 35 Orlando
- Recent Texas anchor baby announcements
- Brayel Brown joins WREG Memphis

REMEMBERING

Remembering Gary Stricklin: Former KTXS Sports Director Dies at 71.

89.7 KACC Alvin's Paula Guidry passed away after a battle with Colon Cancer. 

Rene Vasquez, a longtime radio personality on Majic 104.9 FM and known as "The Voice of Robstown" for decades, has died.

KPRC drops 3pm newscast...for now

KPRC 2 viewers are letting me know that the Graham Media Group's 3pm newscast has not been airing this week.  

UPDATE: KPRC 2 tells me the 3pm newscast is on hiatus until Monday, April 13, while the staff is in newsroom training.

According to KPRC's own TV listings, the newscast has been replaced by a half-hour of The Drew Barrymore Show and Entertainment Tonight.

The Drew Barrymore Show still airs for a full hour on Channel 2 at 11am.  And Entertainment Tonight is still airing in its multi-decade slot at 6:30pm.

As the chronicler of all Houston media, I remember blogging back in 2023 when the 3pm newscast debuted with co-anchors  Andy Cerota, Lisa Hernandez, and meteorologist Justin Stapleton.  

At the same time, KPRC debuted "KPRC 2 News Today at 10am." Less than a year later, the 10am newscast was replaced by...you guessed it...Drew Barrymore.

The former movie star has become quite the pinch hitter for KPRC's newscast substitutions.

(Thanks, Shad)

 

“Frito & Katy” no longer on 100.3 The Bull KILT Houston

“Frito & Katy” is no longer airing on 100.3 The Bull KILT Houston, as the show has been removed from the Audacy station's website.

Multiple reports in radio industry trades say owner Audacy is currently undergoing nationwide layoffs, and Frito and Katy are included.

Tucker “Frito” Young and Katy Dempsey joined 100.3 The Bull on January 10, 2025, taking the morning slot previously held by “The Morning Bullpen with George Mo and Erik,” who departed the station in December 2024 after nearly a decade.

The pair came to Houston from Y100 KCYY in San Antonio, where they hosted the morning show since January 2022. 

"It just wasn't something I thought would be in the cards," Frito told mikemcguff.com in February 2025 about working in Houston. "We never focused on getting to any one market. We just wanted to do great radio and build great radio stations. If that had only ever happened in College Station, I would have been more than fine with that. If we had stayed in San Antonio for 20 years, that would have been great, too. We've just been extremely lucky to be presented with some amazing opportunities that were almost impossible to say no to."

Before the Alamo City, they handled the AM drive at Candy 95 KNDE in College Station.

Texas natives, Young and Dempsey have earned numerous industry honors, including the 2024 CMA Award for Major Market Personality, a 2021 Marconi Award, multiple Crystal Awards, and the Bonner McLane Award for Community Service from the Texas Association of Broadcasters.

"At the end of the day, radio is a public service. We can’t lose sight of that," Dempsey told mikemcguff.com in February 2025. "It’s a way to directly connect a community with opportunities to serve it. That’s such a large part of how we program and create content. Given the nature of our business and the flexibility of this medium, I believe we have a duty to go beyond merely entertaining audiences on their commutes. To be effective, we need to help where we can."