Laura Sather named KVUE Austin assistant news director

Laura Sather was promoted to assistant news director at KVUE Austin in June 2026 after nearly a decade of helping lead and shape the station’s newsroom operations and editorial coverage.

“Laura is someone who consistently steps up, leads by example, and helps make the KVUE news team better every day,” KVUE news director Travis Sattiewhite said when announcing the promotion. “This promotion is well-deserved and reflects her hard work and dedication.”

She takes over for Andrew McKibbin, who left the station in June after nearly 17 years for "an amazing opportunity outside of commercial television." 

McKibbin joined KVUE in August 2009 as an associate news producer and was promoted to news producer in 2010. In 2013, McKibbin advanced to executive producer, overseeing KVUE’s Daybreak and Midday newscasts. He was elevated to assistant news director in September 2019

Sather joined KVUE in June 2018 as a producer and was elevated to executive producer in 2021. 

“Can’t even begin to express how grateful I am to Travis Sattiewhite, Jr., MBA for the opportunity, and I can’t wait to formally start a new adventure at KVUE,” Sahter added.

Before arriving in Austin, Sather spent two years at First Coast News in Jacksonville, Florida, producing the 6 a.m. hour of Good Morning Jacksonville and helping coordinate content across the station’s morning newscast. Earlier in her career, she worked as a daybreak producer at WOWT in Omaha, Nebraska.

A graduate of The University of Kansas, Sather earned bachelor’s degrees in Journalism and English. During college, she built experience across print, digital, and broadcast platforms through leadership roles at The University Daily Kansan and KUJH-TV. She also studied abroad at the University of Leicester in England.

WITHIN THE LAST YEAR OF AUSTIN TV MANAGEMENT
Erin Garza named CBS Austin news director

Astrodome featured on CBS Sunday Morning

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- The Astrodome past and future
- Our #domecoming2018 adventure!
- KHOU 11's 1994 Astrodome moving April Fools' joke
- Old cartoon explains Astrodome's 'real' origins
- VIDEO: Houston newsreel video from the 1940s to 1960s
- "Building the Houston Astrodome"

Robert Arnold leaves KPRC 2 Houston

Robert Arnold is leaving KPRC after many decades on the reporting beat.

"After 26 years at KPRC and 31 years as a journalist, I have decided to live life without a deadline," Arnold posted.  "My last day is Friday, June 19."

That means two KPRC 2 reporters are gone in the same week.  If you saw yesterday's post about Gage Goulding leaving, I hinted at another rumored upcoming departure from Channel 2.  That was in reference to Arnold. Guess they had enough.

Arnold, an Emmy Award-winning investigative journalist with more than two decades in Houston television news, has been a trusted presence at KPRC 2 Houston since joining the station in July 2000. 

He has been at KPRC so long that he pre-dates my blog's start in 2005.  A rarity these days.

His reporting has covered a wide range of issues, including immigration, environmental concerns, government corruption, and taxpayer waste. Several of Arnold’s investigations have extended beyond headlines to influence public policy, prompting legislative and procedural changes at both the local and national levels.

Among his notable works was an investigation into how a private university police department handled the off-campus arrest of a bicycle theft suspect. The reporting ultimately contributed to the Texas Legislature passing a law that placed private university police departments under the Texas Public Information Act, expanding public access and accountability.

Arnold’s investigative excellence has earned him more than three dozen journalism awards throughout his career. In addition to his reporting duties, he serves as investigative reporter and show producer for KPRC 2+’s original docuseries The Evidence Room, which takes viewers deeper into complex cases and investigations.

Beyond investigative journalism, Arnold has also reported extensively from the field during severe weather events, covering more than two dozen tropical storms and hurricanes impacting the United States and Mexico.

Before joining KPRC 2, the  University of Houston grad worked as a police beat and investigative reporter at 740 KTRH from 1996 to 2000 and began his reporting career at KNUZ/KQUE radio. 

- KPRC 2 to bring back a morning traffic anchor

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Pat Fant addresses broken neck and upcoming surgery

Pat Fant is a legendary Texas broadcaster best known as the architect of Rock 101 KLOL, one of Houston’s most influential rock radio stations. 

Now, Fant is sharing with mikemcguff.com a bit about an accident he has been keeping quiet about lately, but he wanted to address it publicly to let the media community know what is happening as he awaits surgery.

Here is what Fant wrote:

"2026 has been a rough year for the Fants.  

On May 3 I fell at home and hit my head hard enough on the floor to break my neck.  The fall shattered my first 2 cervical vertebrae which form the spinal structure that holds up the head.  The 911 ambulance guys knew exactly what had happened and put me in a cervical stabilization collar to immobilize the neck.  I haven't had the collar off since that night 6 weeks ago.  Turns out that a broken neck is just one step away from becoming paralyzed due to resulting spinal cord damage.  That's the fear that never goes away until you can get in for the spinal fusion procedure.  

Fortunately, I am set for that on June 30 which is where the titanium rods come in to re-stabilize the whole cervical structure and help lock everything in place as the fractured vertebrae fuse back together.  I have to make it 2 more weeks to get rebuilt by the fantastic Methodist spinal neurosurgeons.  After the operation and recovery, it is spinal re-hab in a specialized facility where you'll meet your new best friend Dr Morphine.  

You may not think about any of this until you need it, but living in Houston does come with having the Texas Medical Center right up the street!  

Then there is my Lydia.  What an angel she has been through it all.  Smart, gorgeous, sweet and loving, Lydia has really kept me safe and upright throughout this entire ordeal. She has made it possible for me to survive the whole thing and I love and appreciate every minute of her help.  Thank you so much honey!  And my 2 wonderful girls came down from Dallas to help out too.  

This whole broken neck episode came right on top of a hip replacement last September (a shared experience with my friend Lanny Griffith,)  So after this mess, I promise I am going to stay out of the hospital once and for all.  I just want to go back to cold beer, hot BBQ, driving my classic Caddy around and writing another page of jokes for Uncle Otis - as is God's plan.  At least I have had Fox News to keep me entertained while lying around waiting for bones to grow back together.  

Pat's Broken Neck:  Think of it like being in a motorcycle accident but without all the laughs!"

At just 21 years old, Fant became KLOL’s first program director when the station launched on August 7, 1970, introducing Houston listeners to a new era of rock radio by playing The Who’s “I’m Free” as KLOL’s first song and serving as its first on-air voice.

Fant later returned as KLOL’s general manager in the early 1980s, helping transform the station into a cultural force through bold promotions, memorable branding, and the station’s signature “Runaway Radio” identity. He recruited the legendary Stevens and Pruett morning show in 1985 and expanded KLOL into television and live events, including the iconic Holiday Ball.

After leaving KLOL, Fant launched Houston’s The Buzz and went on to lead stations including KIOL, KFNC, KRBE, KHJK and KTXQ. A graduate of the University of Houston, he later founded RFC Media, LLC and SuiteRadio LLC and is also the creator of the KISS Kasket.

A member of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame, Fant’s innovation and influence continue to shape Houston's broadcasting landscape.

- “Runaway Radio” wins three 47th Annual Telly Awards
- “Runaway Radio” scores major wins at the 32nd Annual Communicator Awards

Gage Goulding leaves KPRC 2 Houston

Gage Goulding announced tonight that he is leaving his KPRC 2 Houston reporting job this week.

ALSO HAPPENING:
- Robert Arnold also leaves KPRC 2 Houston
- KPRC 2 to bring back a morning traffic anchor

Here is what Goulding posted:

"Thank you, Houston. 

This week will be my last at KPRC 2.

When I arrived in Houston, I knew I was joining one of the biggest, most diverse and passionate communities in the country. What I didn't know was just how much of an impact this city would have on me.

Over the past several years, you've welcomed me into your homes, trusted me with your stories and allowed me to witness some of the most significant moments in our community.

Together, we've endured hurricanes, heartbreaking tragedies, incredible victories and countless reminders of what makes this city so special.

For that trust, I am deeply grateful.

While my time at KPRC is coming to an end, this isn't goodbye. A new chapter begins soon and I look forward to sharing more about it.

Until then, thank you, Houston."

And stay tuned...I hear there will be another departure from Channel 2 this week (UPDATE: Robert Arnold).

Goulding joined KPRC 2 Houston as a reporter in December 2023.  Hopefully, neither this nor that caused him to leave.

In good Houston news, he got married in 2024 while working here. 

On a serious note, Goulding was always putting himself out there on places like Reddit to get the Houston news scoops. 

Before arriving in Houston, Goulding spent three years at NBC2 WBBH in Fort Myers, Florida, joining the station in December 2020.

Earlier in his career, Goulding worked as an anchor and reporter at WTOV News 9 in Steubenville, Ohio, and as a digital content producer at KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Since joining KPRC 2, Goulding has continued to earn industry recognition. He received the 2025 Texas Broadcast News Award for Best News Reporter and was part of award-winning coverage recognized with two 2024 Lone Star Emmy Awards for Weather/News (“Driving Through a Tornado”) and Breaking Spot News-Team (“Lakewood Church Shooting”). He previously earned a 2024 Suncoast Emmy Award for Best Reporter for “Live, Local and Breaking – Gage Goulding Reports.”

A graduate of Robert Morris University, Goulding earned recognition early in his career, winning multiple journalism honors, including a Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award while still in college.

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Best May 2026 TV News Bloopers

Brheanna Boudreaux returns to Houston at KHOU 11

Brheanna Boudreaux is returning to Houston television, joining KHOU 11 as a consumer reporter and 4pm anchor, mikemcguff.com has learned from multiple sources.

Boudreaux has spent the last few years at TEGNA sister station WWL-TV 4 in New Orleans as a morning anchor.

Houston viewers may already know Boudreaux from her previous stint at ABC13 KTRK, where she worked from 2019 to 2023 as a traffic anchor, fill-in anchor and reporter under the name Brhe Berry.

UPDATE: Here is a portion of what Boudreaux posted to social after this post was published:

"We’re headed home to Houston!!! H-TOWN!For what feels like the first time in my career, I won’t be waking up before the sun! I’ve missed Houston, I’ve missed Texas, and I can’t wait to get back to work and be close to family. My Houston friends, you can catch me anchoring the evening news and sharing stories that will hopefully help us all navigate this crazy economy."

She will be joining former ABC13 KTRK colleagues Jacob Rascon and Ilona Carson, now also at KHOU.

At WWL-TV, Boudreaux anchored alongside fellow former Houston television journalist Brandon Walker, who departed KPRC 2 in March 2023.

KHOU has been without a consumer reporter since Grace White left in 2024 and a 4pm anchor since Shern-Min Chow left in February 2026.

Boudreaux returned to New Orleans after leaving Houston. She described Louisiana as the first place that truly felt like home, despite having grown up in a military family and having lived throughout the United States and overseas. She also served in the Louisiana Army National Guard while launching her journalism career.

During her time at ABC13, Boudreaux covered some of the biggest stories affecting the Houston area, including the Uvalde school shooting, the Astroworld Festival tragedy, the killing of Harris County Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal and major weather events that prompted large-scale evacuations. She also hosted a citywide domestic violence town hall.

Before arriving in Houston, Boudreaux worked as an anchor, reporter and social media director at WTKR News 3 in Norfolk, Virginia. Earlier stops included KELOLAND News in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where she served as a morning anchor, reporter and health reporter.

Her journalism career began in Louisiana at News 10 in Lafayette, where she worked as a weekend anchor, reporter and multimedia journalist after graduating from James Madison University with a degree in journalism and a minor in sports communication.

Away from the newsroom, the Emmy Award-winning journalist is a mother of three young daughters and is active in community service and mentorship programs. She has worked closely with organizations including Dress for Success, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, veterans outreach initiatives and the American Red Cross. She has also volunteered to teach classes, support foster children and mentor young women.

UPDATE 

*post updated

KPRC 2 to bring back a morning traffic anchor

 

KPRC 2 is bringing back the morning traffic anchor position in 2026.  

Channel 2 hasn't had that position since Justina Latimer left in 2024, and, as I blogged at the time, the station apparently dropped it.

Like Lanny Griffith says, "Treat it as a four-way stop. Huh!!"  And KLOL lovers will be happy to hear that Griffith has something in the works! Stay tuned!

Back to KPRC morning traffic, get your resumes handy, which reminds me of Keep The Resume Handy, which Houston radio folks will chuckle at. 

Here is the KPRC job posting:

"Houston has a traffic problem. It’s not going away — it’s getting worse. KPRC 2 is looking for a Traffic Reporter/Anchor who treats that problem like a beat worth owning.

This is not a role for someone who reads boards and moves on. We want a journalist who understands that transportation is one of the most consequential quality-of-life issues in one of the fastest-growing cities in the country — and who can tell that story every day across every platform we have.

KPRC 2 is an NBC affiliate and Graham Media Group station known for aggressive journalism and a genuine investment in digital. We don’t just broadcast the news. We build audiences around it.

What You’ll Do

You’ll anchor traffic coverage across our morning show and contribute to afternoon and evening newscasts as needed. But the on-air presence is only part of it.

You’ll own a beat — transportation and mobility in Houston and its suburbs. That means building relationships with TxDOT, METRO, city transportation officials, and infrastructure project leads. It means understanding the highway expansion debates, the toll road politics, the transit funding fights, and the bike lane controversies — and being able to explain why any of it matters to someone sitting in standstill traffic on I-10 at 7:15 a.m.

You’ll produce digital-first content — short-form video, data-driven explainers, social posts — that reaches commuters before, during, and after the broadcast window. You’ll build your own traffic graphics using Baron and contribute to KPRC 2+ Now and other streaming and digital platforms.

When there’s a major infrastructure story, a transit vote, or a highway project reshaping a neighborhood, you’re the reporter in the field — not just the person at the wall."

Sydney Gray joins KXAN Austin

Sydney Gray joined KXAN Austin in January 2026 as the station’s weekend morning anchor and reporter, marking a return to Texas television.

- Jala Washington joins NBC DFW KXAS

Before arriving in Austin, Gray spent three and a half years at WMC Action News 5 in Memphis, Tennessee, where she anchored weekend mornings. 

Gray previously worked in Texas as the morning anchor at NBC 23 KVEO in the Rio Grande Valley. She joined the station in August 2020 to help launch a brand-new morning newscast and remained there for two years.

Prior to her move to South Texas, Gray worked at KMTV 3 in Omaha, Nebraska, as a multimedia journalist and fill-in anchor.

She began her television career at Gray Television in Ada, Oklahoma, serving as a reporter and multimedia journalist before gaining additional experience as an intern at KTUL Channel 8 in Tulsa.

Gray is a graduate of Oklahoma State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sports Media in 2016.

Where is Scott Fisher?

Scott Fisher, the FOX 7 Austin KTBC chief meteorologist, took to social media to let us know where he has been since going missing in 2026 and to thank viewers for their support.

While I was on my blog break, I received inquiries from Austin TV viewers about Fisher's whereabouts.  One viewer told me that he had not seen Fisher since around February.

Unfortunately, he has been missing from the Central Texas airwaves after having a pancreatectomy procedure, which means part of his pancreas was cut out.

Fisher says he is tired and his stomach constantly hurts.  He can only eat white toast and white rice.

Pancreatectomies SUCK!
0 out of 10 stars.
Do not recommend.
But I'm getting a little stronger every day!@fox7austin pic.twitter.com/Bot2j8IWHj

— Scott Fisher (@ScottFisherFOX7) June 11, 2026

Here is a transcription of what Fisher said on social:

"I sure hope you remember me. It's chief meteorologist Scott Fischer from right here in Austin, Texas at Fox 7. Just when everything seemed to be going great. It wasn't. I've been out of action for a little while after undergoing something called a pancreatectomy. Trust me, I had never heard that word until recently. Basically, it's where they gut you right about here, and they root around. And after a while they find your pancreas and they cut part of it out. Let me tell you, the recovery has been rough. I'm tired all the time. My stomach hurts pretty much all day, every day. And right now all I eat is white toast and white rice. I do have some great doctors. I'm getting a little stronger every day and I'm working my way back. I miss the TV station and I hope to see you soon. Back at Fox 7 forecasting the weather once again. Until then, thank you for the support and I'll see you soon, I promise."