Texas TV news and radio job moves November 2022

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- 2022 Lone Star EMMY award winners
- Texas Radio Hall of Fame 2022 ceremony photos

DALLAS - FORT WORTH

Long running host Ed Wallace retired from "Wheels" on 570 KLIF.  The Saturday morning show is now hosted by David El Attrache and John Ingram. Earlier in April, Wallace retired from his weekly car reviews on FOX 4 KDFW's "Good Day" after 26 years.

Chief editor Brian Hardcastle retires from TEGNA after 30 years with the company (BELO, Gannett too) - 18 years at WFAA and 12 at KHOU.

Gini Mascorro leaves 91.7 KKXT after 22 years.

Danny Balis joins 97.1 The Freak KEGL as co-host of "The Downbeat."

101.1 WRR plays classical holiday music in advance of KERA's assuming management duties.

- Lauren Przybyl on "LIVE with Kelly and Ryan"
- Laura Harris of NBC 5 Today KXAS DFW is engaged
- FOX 4 KDFW Good Day song

HOUSTON

Houston's Dominique Sachse talks leaving TV, beauty tips, and how women can live their best lives.

Cox Media Group announced Stephanie Callihan as VP/Market Manager of its Houston cluster.

Midday host Jen Driskill celebrates 15 years with 89.3 KSBJ.

Weekend morning anchor Erica Simon celebrates five years with abc13 KTRK. 

SuiteRadio’s Rowdy Yates celebrates signal number 12 for his “Rowdy Ride Home” with the addition of WMKZ (93.1fm) in  Monticello, Kentucky.  The syndicated country radio show designed specifically for afternoon drive signed on the air in May of this year. 

Investigative reporter Alex Stuckey leaves the Houston Chronicle after five years.

The Houston Chronicle hired Jonathan Diamond to be the business editor.

St. John Barned-Smith joins S.F. Chronicle as City Hall reporter from Houston Chronicle.

Houston Chronicle names Farha senior editor, new audiences and innovation.

Houston Biz Journal hires Wyatt Loy as data reporter.

KPRC 2 news producer Cynthia Capers heads to produce for CBS 2 New York WCBS.

Chanel Preston joins abc13 KTRK as senior producer from KPRC 2.

KPRC 2 photographer Charles Holmes heads to Orlando.

Audacy announced the completion of the sale of its four tower site of “Sports Radio 610” KILT for $15.6 million.

VSiN partners with Gow Media.

- Christine Noël announces KPRC 2 departure
- Houston TV reporter tries bug in mouth live shot?
- Phil Archer, Deborah Wrigley and Tom Koch retirement party
- Lauren Freeman leaving KPRC 2
- Broadcasting & Cable honors Houston stations
- Kate Upton's love for the Astros cannot be censored
- Sydney Simone joins NBC Local 33 and Fox 44 Baton Rouge
- abc13 baby boom 2022-23!
- Sofía Ojeda's KPRC 2 return is here
- Bill Balleza co-hosts Houston Life
- Bernice Kearney named KPRC 2 news director
- Rita Garcia's baby shower
- Derrick Lewis joins abc13 KTRK Houston
- 2022 Walk to End Alzheimer's Houston video
- Mo from 100.3 The Bull gives birth
- Caroline Collins joins FOX 26 Houston
- Tiffany Justice leaves FOX 26 Houston
- Houston morning TV TikTok war on the horizon?
- Where is Jose Griñan 2022?

SAN ANTONIO

Remembering when the San Antonio Express-News owned KENS 5.

How the Spurs radio voice, Bill Schoening, became a Hall of Fame broadcaster.

KENS 5 Great Day San Antonio host Roma Villavicencio shares her beauty tips.

Robert Roberts, Joe Calgaro Promoted At CMG San Antonio.

The San Antonio Business Journal named Ed Arnold editor in chief.

San Antonio law enforcement, FBI investigate explosion underneath statue next to TPR's headquarters.

- Isis Romero drops some secrets
- Mia Montgomery of KSAT San Antonio is engaged
- Get to know KENS 5 Weather Chief Bill Taylor
- Chris Suchan is married
- Jessica Coombs takes over traffic duties for Holly Stouffer on KENS San Antonio

AUSTIN

FOX 7 Austin KTBC morning traffic anchor/reporter Jane Lonsdale celebrates 5 years as a member of the Good Day Austin team.

Austin American-Statesman promotes three newsroom staffers.

The Texas Tribune hires Emily Foxhall to cover energy from the Houston Chronicle.

Austin growth and development reporter Asch departing for Texas Standard.

- Courtney Aitken has joined Spectrum News 1 Texas
- Ryan Chandler joins KXAN Austin
- FOX 7 Austin KTBC's 70th anniversary

AROUND TEXAS

Texas Country Music Awards honor 2022 Artist And Radio Winners.

Monique Brand joins KAGS Bryan-College Station as Assistant News Director from the Lampasas Dispatch Record.

KAMR Local 4 News Amarillo evening anchor Andy Justus celebrates 25 years with the station.

Patrick Johnstone leaves KRIS 6 News Corpus Christi as a reporter.

Marfa Public Radio announced the hiring of Travis Pope as the new station manager. 

Warren Vause joined the KBTX news team as a Multimedia Journalist.

KAGC Bryan flips to ‘Christmas 97.3.’

Star 106.3 KKHR Abilene re-branded as Spanish CHR "My 106.3."

O. Gloria Okorie leaves KXXV 25 Waco/Temple/Killeen for KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco/Oakland to work as digital content producer.

- Marco Ramirez promoted to CBS 4 morning anchor
- KLBK Lubbock celebrates 70 years
- Lindsay Liepman joins KCEN Waco

REMEMBERING

Longtime KGBT Rio Grande Valley weatherman Larry James has died.

Scotty Preston, 64, also known as Scotty P on 99.9 KLUR Wichita Falls, died on November 2, 2022, from complications due to cancer. 

R.I.P.: Johnny Walker, Legendary Austin Rock Personality.

Where is Jose Griñan 2022?

Loyal FOX 26 Houston KRIV viewers have been asking me about the whereabouts of morning anchor Jose Griñan.

Others have been asking on Twitter.

Griñan has been off the air for a spell in the past. 

In 2016, he had back surgery and in 2014 neck vertebra surgery.  

Back in July, the station celebrated Griñan's 70th birthday with a big on-air event. This year, the legendary anchor is celebrating 30 years with FOX 26!

Hope to see Griñan back soon!

Houston morning TV TikTok war on the horizon?

 

Caroline Collins signed off her morning anchor role from KSEE24 as she heads to evenings for FOX 26 Houston KRIV in December 2020.

Co-anchor Brody Logan and the KSEE24 Sunrise News Fresno crew edited together a "best of Caroline Collins" clips that included spilling coffee live on air and her live shot for the NBC TODAY Show.

Logan and weather anchor Reuben Contreras also presented Collins with a cake that reads:

"Best wishes to your new co-anchors"

That cake is dedicated to her new future FOX 26 colleagues, because the Fresno crew says Collins will put them in her TikToks.  That being said, in another clip, Contreras admitted he created a TikTok account yesterday to pick up social media duties since Collins won't be around anymore.

Is there a Houston morning TV TikTok war coming?

Lots has been made of Collins' 1.5 million followers, but hold the phone, because as I blogged in 2019, KPRC 2 morning anchor Owen Conflenti is BIG TikTok.

Forget ATM smash and grab stories...let the dance offs begin!!!

Guessing there will not be a TikTok TV war in South Dakota for this senator's district. 

FOX 7 Austin KTBC's 70th anniversary

Tiffany Justice leaves FOX 26 Houston

Tiffany Justice announced she has left her evening reporter position with FOX 26 KRIV Houston as of November 2022.

ALSO HAPPENING IN NOVEMBER 2022
Caroline Collins joins FOX 26 Houston

"I have chosen to leave and am no longer with Fox26," Justice posted on Instagram.  "Really excited about my future. Remember, always do what is best for you!"

Justice joined FOX 26 as a reporter in 2019 from KUTV 2 Salt Lake City where she was a reporter/fill-in anchor since 2017. This job was a homecoming for the University of Utah grad who grew up in West Point, a small farming city 40 minutes outside of Salt Lake City.

The Rocky Mountain Emmy Award winner previously worked for KOCO5 News Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as a weekend morning anchor/reporter.

She started her television news career as a producer/reporter/anchor with KTVZ NewsChannel 21 Central Oregon.

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Jessica Coombs takes over traffic duties for Holly Stouffer on KENS San Antonio

Jessica Coombs is the new KENS 5 San Antonio morning traffic anchor from 4:30 to 7am and again at noon. She started November 23, 2022.

"I am thrilled to be joining an exceptional team that puts people first," Coombs said in a statement. "I look forward to doing my part to continue that line of excellence as we work to always engage and protect our community."

"Jessica brings a great deal of personality and energy to the morning show, and I believe viewers will welcome her to San Antonio with open arms," said Jack Acosta, news director for KENS 5.

Holly Stouffer leaves KENS 5 San Antonio

Coombs takes over for Holly Stouffer who is moving back to Florida.

"My decision to leave KENS and TV news, in general, wasn't an easy one to make," Stouffer said. "Working in San Antonio as a reporter and anchor has been the highlight of my career. I love this station, this community and my colleagues, who feel more like family. But, my heart tells me it's time to move back home. My husband and I are thrilled to start the next chapter of our lives together in Florida."

Coombs previously worked at WSAV News 3 Savannah, Georgia as an anchor/producer/multimedia journalist (MMJ).

The Brigham Young University Summa Cum Laude graduate interned with NY1 News in Manhattan and ABC4 Utah KTVX.  She also worked for ABC4 as a freelance associate producer. While a BYU student, Coombs worked as an anchor/reporter/producer for the Utah PBS station BYUtv KBYU where she received a Mark of Excellence Awards. She was also nominated for three student production Emmy Awards.

In addition to television news, Coombs has also worked as performed around the world, including the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, as a professional pianist. She also represented her home state nationally as Miss Utah's Outstanding Teen.

Stouffer joined KENS 5 as a reporter in July 2019.  She later moved to afternoon traffic anchor in September 2020.  By October 2021, Stouffer was the morning anchor after Stacia Wilson moved to the DFW area. 

Prior to San Antonio, Stouffer was a:

- reporter/fill-in anchor for KXXV 25 Waco/Temple/Killeen

- multi-media journalist (MMJ) WHSV - TV 3 Harrisonburg, Virginia

The University of Central Florida grad worked for the school as an MMJ and interned with WKMG News 6 Orlando.

Caroline Collins joins FOX 26 Houston

Caroline Collins is joining FOX 26 KRIV Houston in December 2022 to anchor various station evening newscasts.

RELATED
Houston morning TV TikTok war on the horizon?

We can assume that Collins fills the opening from the departure of Kaitlin Monte. 

FOX 26 made the announcement last week when I was away in Big Bend.  For those keeping score, I was not ignoring the story, even though you were still seeing new posts.  I pre-wrote and scheduled some goodies to give you some extra T-Day week coverage along with stuffing and pie.  BTW, see any close call football games on Thanksgiving Day?

The Fresno Bee reports Collins has 1.5 million followers on social media and is a TikTok star.  As for me, I stopped signing up with social media companies after Snapchat.  That was my digital sign that old age is creeping in for me. Instead of going viral, I'll be going curmudgeon yelling at kids filming TikTok videos to get off my freakin' lawn!

With that many followers, she is bound to already be known in Houston.  And from my own social media messages...that totally checks out.  While I was hiking the Ernst Tinaja, many excited Houston TV viewers were messaging me about the Collins hire.

"In this fast-paced world of digital platforms and on-air broadcasting, Caroline's strong journalistic skills and ability to reach and serve our viewers on whatever platforms they consume news and information will be an asset to our audience," FOX 26 KRIV Vice President and News Director, Susan Schiller said in a release.

Get this...Collins earned her Master’s Degree in Communication Technology with a social media specialization.

I guess Collins in the TikTok version of former Local 12 WKRC Cincinnati's Clancy Burke who ruled TV news reporting on YouTube. 

"I'm looking forward to delivering the important news impacting these diverse Houston communities, while fully embracing the area myself," Collins added.  "From the restaurants, to sporting events, and, of course, the golf courses, I want to experience it all in the fastest growing city in the US."

Collins is joining FOX 26 from KSEE24 Sunrise News Fresno, California where she's served as a morning anchor since December 2020.

Before Fresno, Collins was a weekend evening anchor and multi-media journalist at 21 WFMJ Youngstown, OH.

The graduate of Point Park University in Pittsburgh started her TV news journey for WJET/WFXP Erie, PA as a general assignment reporter, fill-in anchor and producer. 

In addition to TV news, Collins has also hosted a national golf show, "The Swing Clinic" for FOX Sports.

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Ryan Chandler joins KXAN Austin

Ryan Chandler is joining KXAN Austin as a Texas Legislature reporter from Nexstar Media Group sister-station KAMC Lubbock where he is a reporter/anchor.

"I’m comin’ home," Chandler tweeted.  "Next month, I’ll be back at the Capitol covering #txlege and chasing stories across Texas, based with my friends @KXAN_News and airing statewide.  And Lubbock, this is not my 2 week notice - I’ll still be on KAMC/KLBK! Can’t wait to see you all soon."

Chandler has been with KAMC since August 2021. 

Before that he was a legislative aide during the 87th session.

The University of Texas at Austin 2021 grad was a political intern with KXAN.  He also interned with Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Adrian Garcia's campaign for Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 2.

Mo from 100.3 The Bull gives birth

Monica "Mo" Lunsford from The Morning Bullpen on 100.3 The Bull KILT Houston is thankful today after giving birth to baby Briggs Byler.

Briggs was born on November 7, 2022 and weighed 7lbs 8oz.

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