Snake bites KXAS' David Finfrock

 NBC 5 KXAS Dallas - Fort Worth is reporting its own senior meteorologist David Finfrock is recovering from a rattlesnake bite.

The snake attack went down Monday while he was volunteering at the Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center in Cedar Hill.  

"It must not have injected much venom and doesn’t hurt much," Finfrock tweeted.  "But I will be at the RR for 6 hours of observation."

KXAS says Finfrock has a ranch in North Texas and is used to rattlers giving that undeniable warning in the past, but this time, there was no such message.  It just attacked him through his jeans. 

The Texas A&M University graduate joined KXAS in 1975.

TV anchor snakebites have happened in Houston too.

In 2016, abc13 KTRK anchor Art Rason was bitten by a snake in his own driveway.

It’s definitely #2020
I was volunteering at Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center pulling up ragweed this morning when a big rattlesnake bit me. It must not have injected much venom and doesn’t hurt much. But I will be at the RR for 6 hours of observation. pic.twitter.com/oHE7n3u4nD

— David Finfrock (@DavidFinfrock) September 28, 2020

KXAN's CW Austin debuts weather and traffic AM news

KXAN Austin is following sister station CW39 Houston KIAH's lead with a NON-STOP weather & traffic morning newscast on its CW Austin station KNVA 54. 

KXAN weekend meteorologist Kristen Currie fills us in:

"NEW SHOW: starting tomorrow, get NON-STOP weather & traffic weekday mornings from 7AM-9AM on the CW Austin. 

It’s a morning show like you haven’t seen before. 

We’re taking you beyond the forecast & traffic cams with new graphics, in-depth weather/climate segments, Q & A discussions & only 1 MINUTE commercial breaks. 

[David Yeomans] & [Amanda Dugan] will be leading the charge - and I’ll be poppin’ in every Wednesday, Thursday & Friday to join the fun."

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NEW SHOW: starting tomorrow, get NON-STOP weather & traffic weekday mornings from 7AM-9AM on the CW Austin. It’s a morning show like you haven’t seen before. We’re taking you beyond the forecast & traffic cams with new graphics, in-depth weather/climate segments, Q & A discussions & only 1 MINUTE commercial breaks. @davidyeomansweather & @amandadugankxan will be leading the charge - and I’ll be poppin’ in every Wednesday, Thursday & Friday to join the fun. ⚡️🚦 • • KXAN Weather & Traffic • CW Austin • Monday-Friday • 7AM-9AM. #Austin #ATX @kxan_news

A post shared by Kristen Currie (@kristencurrietv) on Sep 27, 2020 at 9:49am PDT

Julia Morales has her baby

 

 Houston Astros and Rockets broadcaster Julia Morales and husband Matt Clark reveal their baby news. 

They had a daughter! 

Congrats!

 

Y’all. Meet Valerie Rose Clark.
🤍@MattClark60 and I are so in love. pic.twitter.com/kCrtPxl5VZ

— Julia Morales (@JuliaMorales) September 26, 2020

Ron Stone reporting in 1962 for KHOU

Here is recently uploaded video to YouTube of legendary Houston news anchor Ron Stone reporting in 1962 from High Island on how Hurricane Carla (1961) was still hurting Texas ranchers.

The YouTube uploader titled this as airing on KPRC, but Stone did not work for channel 2 until the early 70s.  

So this must be Stone's time at channel 11. 

Here is the transcript of the report:

"This is Texas cattle country. Ranchers in this area have made thousands of dollars in the past, and they'll make it again. 

They traditionally have their problems with the weather. It's either too hot like it is today or sometimes too cold. And they're having problems now with the effects of a weather phenomenon of last year.

 Hurricane Carla deposited large pools and some small pools of salt water all over the area. And in them gigantic mosquitoes have bred. And it's the mosquitoes that are giving cattle like these fits this summer. 

So far, the loss has been estimated at somewhere around a half million to two million dollars in deaths of cattle. 

These cattle traditionally are lean and mean, but they're leaner now than they have been. They very rarely stand still. They're always swishing their tail and flicking their ears or stomping their feet to keep dreaded mosquitoes away. 

The mosquitoes have pounced on them in such numbers that in some places the cattle move around all the time and don't have time to eat. And as a result, they die from simply starving to death. 

Farmers have told me that young calves being born are abandoned by the mother because she just can't stand to stay with them. The mosquitoes have driven her away. 

A waterhole where these cattle take refuge from the midday's heat, could be the same waterhole that is spawning the thousands of mosquitoes that are driving them crazy during the day. 

This branch is dry now, but mosquitoes have come from it with a little bit of rain, a little standing water. More can come. 

Farmers and ranchers say the problem is a serious one. The federal government, they say, should help. Some help they say is needed. Something has to be done about the mosquitoes. It's a job they can't take care of themselves. 

This is Ron Stone reporting from High Island on the Texas Gulf Coast."

2020 Lone Star EMMY Nominations announced

The 2020 Lone Star EMMY Nominees have been announced for the Texas TV world.

SEE THE LIST

Congrats to all of the nominees.

Houston Public Media Announces $8 Million Anonymous Gift

 The largest commitment in Houston Public Media history will support local public media in Greater Houston for years to come

 

HOUSTON – (September 25, 2020). Houston Public Media has received an $8 million testamentary gift from an anonymous couple, the largest gift the station has ever received, to “promote and produce public educational television and radio programming for the use and benefit of humanity.” The commitment will support Houston Public Media’s mission to provide the Greater Houston community with news reporting and programming in education, arts and sciences.

“The couple grew up with public radio and television and know the impact it makes on rural and urban communities,” said Lisa Shumate, Houston Public Media’s associate vice president and general manager. “They are longtime supporters of NPR and PBS and their gift will support Houston Public Media’s emphasis on advancing free speech, educating the community and ensuring fair, unbiased news. It’s such an honor that University of Houston alumni support Houston Public Media in this way.”

This strategic investment will allow Houston Public Media to serve as the community catalyst for Greater Houston with new content and resources. As Houston Public Media’s broadcast reach expands and programming becomes more accessible, so do opportunities to use their multi-media platform (TV, radio, web, mobile, and social) resources for investment in civic engagement, education and cultural reflection.

“This couple has made a truly extraordinary commitment to enrich the lives of Houstonians and beyond,” said Eloise Brice, vice president for university advancement for the University of Houston. “Their gift will define Houston Public Media’s impact for a generation and create a lasting legacy.”

Houston Public Media is a service of the University of Houston and the gift was made as a part of the University of Houston System’s “Here, We Go” Campaign. The Campaign ended on August 31 with more than $1.2 billion raised to support the UH System’s long-term priorities and its partnership with Houston.

About Houston Public Media

Houston Public Media is a service of the University of Houston and supported with financial gifts from the community. Houston Public Media combines broadcast and digital assets to serve residents of Southeast Texas with trusted local news and entertainment, as well as national programming from NPR and PBS. With a combined weekly audience of more than 1.6 million, Houston Public Media is committed to delivering content that expands minds and possibilities with trusted information.

(This post was taken from a release sent to me by Houston Public Media)

Mayde Gomez joins FOX 29 San Antonio KABB

Mayde Gomez, ABC10 KXTV Sacramento, California weekend morning anchor joins Fox News First morning newscast on FOX 29 KABB San Antonio

Fox News 29 San Antonio KABB announced this morning that it has hired Mayde Gomez to anchor its Fox News First morning newscast along with Ernie Zuniga.

“San Antonio continues to extend its arms to me,”  Gomez said on the Fox San Antonio website. “I could not be more ecstatic to join the morning team and return to the city that gave me my first shot in news.”

She fills the vacated morning news chair left by Breanna Barrs who left FOX 29 in late July. 

 Barrs's Instagram account bio now says, "morning news anchor on temporary commercial break" with her location set as Copenhagen, Denmark.

Gomez has been the weekend morning anchor for ABC10 KXTV Sacramento, California for the last two years.

Before that she was a multi-media reporter (also called MMJ) for ABC7 KABC Los Angeles.

San Antonio television viewers might recognize Gomez from her time as an MMJ for KSAT 12's SA Live.

Prior to her time with the SA ABC affiliate, Gomez was a video journalist for Telemundo 60 San Antonio KVDA.

Gomez started in TV news for Telemundo 39 Dallas KXTX.

The National Association of Hispanic Journalists member is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington. 

KABB says Gomez's first day will be October 19th.

FOX 26's Chelsea Edwards and her Beta kitten rescue

 

FOX 26 KRIV reporter Chelsea Edwards is getting lots of attention for her kitten rescue during Tropical Storm Beta!

UPDATE: We have the best viewers! Thanks so much to everyone who reached out offering to take in our flood rescue “Beta”! This sweetie spent the day napping, hanging with me & Mocha, and is now with her loving new family with plenty of kiddos & other pets to keep her busy! pic.twitter.com/etUJ9KmYM8

— Chelsea Edwards (@ChelseaFox26) September 22, 2020

An angel, in the form of @ChelseaFox26. Live shots @ kitten rescues in the rain. https://t.co/LB7cQv5oL0 pic.twitter.com/zNuxc1IBOs

— Stephen Morgan FOX 26 (@StephenMorganTV) September 22, 2020

 

KRGV adds Azteca America, hires new anchors

KRGV Rio Grande Valley hires Marianela Aguirre and Hugo Magallan to anchor Azteca America's HECHOS Valle a las 5 and HECHOS Valle a las 10

Marianela Aguirre hired by KRGV

 KRGV is pleased to announce that on October 1, 2020, Azteca Valle will be available

over the air on Channel 5.2 and on Spectrum Cable Channel 1240. 

Azteca America serves over 60 stations in different cities across the United States with large Hispanic and Latin American populations, now including the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas.

The Rio Grande Valley will now have a new option for Spanish language programming, which

includes local news, sports, entertainment, miniseries and novelas.

HECHOS Valle newscasts will be produced by KRGV in Weslaco and will offer more local news in

Spanish than any station in the area.

"Our goal is to provide our audience with local news they can trust in the language they prefer"

said John Kittleman, KRGV-TV General Manager. "We are here to serve our community. The Rio

Grande Valle trusts Channel 5 News and now we want to provide the Valley with high quality

Spanish-language programming and local news."

News anchors Daisy Martinez and Arturo Vargas from Somos Noticias will continue to anchor

for HECHOS Valle.

KRGV is happy to announce the hiring of Marianela Aguirre to anchor HECHOS Valle a las 5 and

HECHOS Valle a las 10.

Aguirre previously spent more than 16 years at KNVO-48, the Univision affiliate in McAllen,

working in several capacities including news anchor and News Director. She also worked at

KGBT -TV as Azteca America anchor.

Another addition to the HECHOS Valle team is Hugo Magallan, who will be co-anchoring with

Aguirre. Magallan worked for several years anchoring at KNVO-48 before moving to KTLM-TV,

the local Telemundo station, where he was weekend anchor.

News Director Zoltan Csanyi-Salcedo says, “With the launch of Hechos Valle and the addition of

Marianela and Hugo, Azteca Valle and Hechos Valle will have two of the strongest well known

anchors in the Spanish language TV in the RGV. Combined with CHANNEL 5 NEWS, we will have

the most experienced news and weather team in the Valley regardless of language.”

(This post was taken from a releases sent to me by KRGV)

Bria Bell returns to Dallas as a reporter

WBTV News Charlotte, NC reporter Bria Bell is heading back home to Texas. UPDATE:  Bell updated her Twitter bio location to Dallas.

"After 3 years, my time w/ WBTV is up," Bell tweeted. "My love for Charlotte will never be lost on me. I’ve met the most beautiful, kind, inspiring & resilient humans here," Bell tweeted. "I’m moving on to fulfill a childhood dream of reporting back home in TX. That’s all I can say for now, more deets later."

Considering the size of Texas and how many TV markets we have (if is she is returning for a television job that is), that's not much for us to go on. 

Any extra details come from Bell's Instagram comments where her friends are welcoming her back to Dallas.  

Stay tuned as we find out more.

Bell joined WBTV in 2017 and has been a reporter in the Gaston County bureau.  

Before that she was an anchor, reporter and producer for KCAU Sioux City, Iowa.  

Bell got her start in the television news business working for the Irving Community Television Network in Irving, TX. 

  She has a master's degree from Texas Christian University.  While at TCU, she worked as a projects editor for TCU 360.

Bell has a bachelor's degree from St. Mary's University in San Antonio where she freelanced for The Rattler Newspaper.

She interned at FOX 4 KDFW.

After 3 years, my time w/ WBTV is up. My love for Charlotte will never be lost on me. I’ve met the most beautiful, kind, inspiring & resilient humans here.

I’m moving on to fulfill a childhood dream of reporting back home in TX. That’s all I can say for now, more deets later 😊 pic.twitter.com/M7xXyig62G

— Bria Bell (@BriaBellTV) September 21, 2020