Chita Craft flies on Hurricane Hunter mission

Chita Craft and photojournalist Ivan Gibson flew into Hurricane Ian when it was a Category 4 storm.

The KHOU 11 morning meteorologist, who was a passenger on the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters out of Keesler Air Force Base near Biloxi, MS, posted on Facebook they experienced lots of turbulence.

"The flight was EXTREMELY turbulent- we passed through the eye of Hurricane Ian four times...the third pass - well, the turbulence got the best of my stomach. (They give you a bag when you enter the plan for a reason). The turbulence was so strong- even with my seat belt buckled the turbulence would lift me out of my seat."

Craft said she asked to fly on one of the Hurricane Hunter flights back in July. 

Ashley Parker named KSAT San Antonio general manager

Ashley Parker has been named Vice President and General Manager of KSAT 12 San Antonio effective October 1, 2022.

Parker, who has held the role of General Sales Manager at the Graham Media Group San Anontio station since 2013, takes over for Phil Lane who was recently named KPRC 2 Houston VP and GM. KPRC is also owned by Graham Media Group.

“I am honored and humbled to have this amazing opportunity to lead KSAT,” said Parker in a release. “It has been a lifelong dream that is coming true. I am excited for the future of broadcast television and look forward to serving the San Antonio community through our relentless commitment at KSAT.” 

In her 19 years with KSAT, Parker has served as Local Sales Manager, Digital Sales Manager and an Account Executive. 

“Ashley has been an integral part of KSAT’s success, helping spearhead major station initiatives and driving KSAT to achieving greater revenue goals year after year,” said Catherine Badalamente, President and Chief Executive Officer, Graham Media Group. “Her commitment to transforming the business and leading KSAT into the future, is, and has always been, a top priority.” 

Prior to joining KSAT in 2003, Parker worked for KIII Corpus Christi and KRBC Abilene.

Parker is a member of the San Antonio Women Leaders Association. 

Rocio De La Fe joins CBS 8 KFMB San Diego

Rocio De La Fe joined CBS 8 KFMB San Diego as a reporter in June 2022 from KFDM 6 News and FOX4 Beaumont KBTV where she was a reporter/anchor.

I know, I know...here it is September and I am just blogging about news from June.  De La Fe is probably not concerned because she gets to work with San Diego TV anchor legend Carlo Cecchetto. 

The George Bush High School and the University of Houston grad was raised in Houston. 

She got her start in the TV biz as an anchor/reporter for NTV Houston. 

Greg Pollak joins Spectrum News New York

Greg Pollak is joining Spectrum News New York as a meteorologist in early October 2022.

Here is part of what Pollak  posted on Facebook:

"Our time in Texas has come to an end. The past two years and nine months have been an incredible experience for both Kristie and myself. We welcomed both our children in San Antonio, worked with amazing people, and experienced a city like no other. 

Being far away from family for almost three years has been difficult. With a new baby and a (almost) two year old, we decided we didn’t want to deprive them of being around grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and good friends. 

With all that being said, Kristie and I will be moving back to the Capital Region! Kristie and I are so excited to be back in the place we know so well."

As he mentioned in his post, Pollak and wife Kristie just had their second child Milena in September 2022.

Most recently, Pollak has been freelancing for Spectrum News 1 Texas since April 2022. 

Pollak left News 4 San Antonio WOAI and FOX 29 KABB as the weekend meteorologist in January 2022.  He had been with the Sinclair Broadcast Group stations since December 2019.

He will be returning to the Albany area where he worked pre-Texas at WNYT NewsChannel 13.

Pollak also worked for:

- Western Mass News WGGB Springfield, MA - Freelance Meteorologist

- WBNG 12 News Binghamton, NY - Morning/Noon Meteorologist/Reporter

- KVRR Fargo, ND -  Weekend Meteorologist

KBTX 3 Bryan/College launches "The Three"

KBTX 3 Bryan/College station has launched a new half-hour lifestyle show at 3pm called "The Three" or "The Thr3e" depending on where you look. 

The Brazos Valley station's digital anchor Abigail Metsch hosts the new show with Jatrissa Wooten who arrives from 41NBC News WMGT Macon, Georgia where she was a reporter/MMJ.  An’Jonae Woodson is the show's producer.

And in other news, Katie Aupperle joins KBTX News 3 as 4pm anchor from Gray Television sister-station KWTX 10 Waco/Temple/Killeen where she was a multimedia journalist (MMJ).

TUNE IN: KBTX's new lifestyle show "The Three" airs every weekday at 3 p.m., starting today! We'll keep you updated on family, food and fun in the Brazos Valley. pic.twitter.com/JVV1ekqTrx

— KBTX News (@KBTXNews) September 12, 2022

Marcus Moore named ABC News London based correspondent

ABC News president Kim Godwin sent the following note to the news division announcing that Dallas-based correspondent Marcus Moore is beginning a new role as a foreign correspondent based in London.

Before ABC News, Moore worked in Texas TV news for WFAA 8 DFW and KBTX News 3 Bryan-College Station (and stations outside of TX). 

Here is Godwin's internal memo to the ABC News staff:

"I am excited to share that Marcus Moore will begin a new role next week as a foreign correspondent based in London.  

For his new position, Marcus will move across the pond from Texas, where he’s been a vital part of our news division since 2017, serving as a Dallas-based correspondent.  

Marcus is a talented reporter who brings sharp coverage to all of our programs and platforms, and he is no stranger to traveling the globe. He recently reported from Kyiv, Ukraine, and the Poland border on the ongoing war; from Guatemala and Mexico on families migrating and risking their lives in the process; and from the eye of Hurricane Dorian, as the category 5 storm devastated Marsh Harbour, Bahamas. He’s also reported on the assassination of former President of Haiti Jovenel Moïse and kidnapped missionaries from Haiti, on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, and on the deadly White Island volcano eruption in New Zealand.  

Marcus is an Emmy Award winner who has also been on top of defining moments here at home, including the protests surrounding the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the deadly mass shootings in Uvalde, El Paso, Santa Fe and Sutherland Springs, Texas. Marcus is fluent in Spanish and Russian and before ABC, he was an anchor and reporter at WFAA, our Dallas affiliate. At WFAA, he reported on impactful stories including the November 2015 Paris attacks and filed reports on the Syrian refugee crisis from Istanbul, Turkey. While working as a reporter for ABC affiliate KMBC in Kansas City, he covered the 2010 rescue of 33 trapped miners in Chile and as a reporter for WAPT in Jackson, he broadcasted live as Hurricane Katrina battered the gulf coast. Marcus landed his first TV gig at just 16 years old at KBTX in Bryan, Texas, as a studio camera operator, working his way up to weekend reporter by age 18.

We are so lucky that Marcus is part of our ABC News family. Please join me in congratulating him on his new, well-deserved position!"

Telemundo Poll: State of the Latino Vote in Texas, 2022

DALLAS-FORT WORTH – (September 27, 2022) – The Telemundo stations in Texas (KXTX, KTMD, KVDA, KTLM, KTDO) today announced results from their exclusive new survey that polled likely Latino voters in Texas. 

The Telemundo poll shows that Democratic gubernatorial candidate O’Rourke leads Governor Abbott 54% to 31% in the Texas governor's race.

Key Poll findings: 

    Identifying as “Democrats”: The number of Latino voters identifying themselves as Democrats has dropped from 63% to 54% (compared to the previous Telemundo poll from November 2019). Individuals identifying as Independents has increased from 17% to 25%.  The number of individuals identifying as Republican is mostly unchanged.  

    Democrats’ Support for O’Rourke: While O’Rourke leads Abbott among Latino voters, the September 2022 survey revealed that O’Rourke’s support is now in the lower 50% range as opposed to 2018 when it ran in the 60-65% range among Latinos in his U.S. Senate race against Ted Cruz. The drop off is most noticeable among younger Latino voters. 

    Gun Control: Individuals surveyed thought that gun control should be stricter in Texas (63% to 32% and 5% not sure), indicating that recent gun shooting incidents are fresh in people’s minds. 

Poll results: Click here to access the 2022 poll results.

(This post was taken from a Telemundo press release)

FOX 26 debuts "The Nightcap" with Carolina Sanchez

"The Nightcap," hosted by Carolina Sanchez, is debuting on FOX 26 Houston KRIV on October 10, 2022 and airing weeknights at 11:30pm following “The Isiah Factor: Uncensored.”

"We hope to add ‘The Nightcap’ to our successful list of non-news local programming initiatives which already include ‘What’s Your Point’ and ‘The Isiah Factor: Uncensored,’" announced FOX 26 KRIV Senior Vice President and General Manager, D’Artagnan Bebel.  "We have taken non-traditional routes of identifying passions and potential within our station’s talent to create successful brands and shows that showcase them and resonate with viewers. Producer Raabe Pegado and Host Carolina Sanchez are the next winning combination."

The local Houston half-hour late-night program will explore all of the taboo and provocative topics that television often avoids while featuring interviews with newsmakers and celebrities visiting its signature pink couch to share their opinions on controversial topics.

Besides the pink couch, the set also includes a full bar with a rotating cast of bartenders pouring up cocktails. 

"We’re using this unique opportunity to talk about all the stuff you’re not supposed to talk about – especially on TV," host Sanchez said.  "We’ll explore and question other lifestyles and cultures with an enthusiastic, open mind and hope to leave our viewers happily pondering new perspectives."

“The Nightcap” is produced by Raabe Pegado, with editing and photography by Jake Hooper.

Adrienne Vonn joins NBC 5 KXAS DFW

 

Adrienne Vonn started on-air NBC 5 KXAS Dallas - Fort Worth as a meteorologist on September 25, 2022 after leaving FOX 26 KRIV Houston.

Vonn is the new "NBC 5 Today" Saturday and Sunday morning meteorologist with weekend morning anchor Evan Anderson. I am guessing Vonn is the full-time replacement for Keisha Burns who left in January 2022. 

"Howdy North Texas! I made my debut on NBC DFW this morning," Vonn posted on Facebook.  "So excited to call the Dallas-Fort Worth area my new home."

Vonn worked as a FOX 26 Houston fill-in meteorologist from April to August 29, 2022 until new evening meteorologist Remeisha Shade arrived from News 5 WEWS Cleveland, Ohio.  Shade also previously worked for NBC DFW. 

In between the Bayou City and the Metroplex, Vonn visited Egypt! 

Before Houston, Vonn was the midday forecaster for Spectrum News Austin since March of 2019.

The Pennsylvania native, who earned her Bachelors of Science in Meteorology from Millersville University, previously worked for WMAR 2 Baltimore, MD and AccuWeather.

CBS Austin to get new set

CBS Austin KEYE anchor Walt Maciborski posts the Sinclair Broadcast Group station is getting a new set. 

KEYE is not the only television station in Central Texas doing some studio remodeling. KXAN started working on a new set back in June.