Maria Sotolongo leaves CW39 KIAH

Maria Sotolongo is leaving CW39 KIAH she announced Friday on Instagram Stories.

"I will no longer be working at CW39 as of October 14th and this was a huge decision, not made lightly," Sotolongo said in a message on Instagram Stories. "But I am really feeling peaceful about it and grateful that I had this experience. And just looking forward to being with my kids full-time and not waking up at 2:30 in the morning, that is going to be really nice."

Leaving CW39 is not the only big life change for Sotolongo, as she and her family will be leaving Houston for the ranch life near College Station.

And she even gave us a clue as to who might be replacing her. Well, Sotolongo didn't give a name or where her successor is coming from, but she did mention it will be a guy. Stay tuned!

UPDATE
Hours after I posted this, we find out meteorologist Adam Krueger is taking over for Sotolongo at CW39 KIAH Houston from Spectrum News Austin and Spectrum News San Antonio.

This will also not be the only big change recently for channel 39's morning newscast, which is of now its only news offering. Recently the station dropped the "Morning Dose" branding in favor of the new "CW39 NO WAIT WEATHER + TRAFFIC."

Sotolongo joined the station in 2018 for the Houston-only relaunch of the formerly syndicated Morning Dose.

Before channel 39, she produced documentaries such as "Breathe” and “Changed: When the Dams Opened.”

Prior to moving to Houston, Sotolongo was the morning meteorologist/entertainment reporter for FOX 4 KDFW's "Good Day" in Dallas - Fort Worth.

In the past she held weather and entertainment duties for Telemundo’s “Primera Edicion.”

Sotolongo's career started when she was just 19 years old while working for Telemundo’s nationally syndicated music video show, “Ritmo Latino” where she landed interviews with the likes of Julio Iglesias and Jennifer Lopez.

She has degrees in communications from the University of Houston and in broadcast meteorology from Mississippi State University.