Help Mike McGuff fight Alzheimer's disease by doing what you love

Twenty-one years ago today, my mom died of younger-onset Alzheimer's disease.

This year, I'm the executive chair of the Houston & Southeast Texas Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association's Do What You Love to End ALZ campaign.

Do What You Love gives you the flexibility to do whatever it is you want to fight Alzheimer's disease.

For example, I kicked off the campaign event in October with a screening of my 101 KLOL documentary "Runaway Radio" at the legendary River Oaks Theatre, featuring Outlaw Dave and Jennifer Reyna, with host Michael Garfield.  

Here are some suggestions to help get your ideas flowing!

FUNDRAISE ONLY
> Use social media and your following to raise money.

EXERCISE
> From challenges to an outing on a scenic trail, there are plenty of ways to turn exercise into an enjoyable fundraiser!

SPORTS
> Bring friends, family, and colleagues together by organizing a tennis or golf tournament with registration fees that benefit the cause.

GAMES
> Pick your favorite game, like bridge, board games, Mah Jongg, or livestreaming, and turn it into a fundraiser.

PARTIES & EVENTS
> Organize a costume or dance party to raise funds to advance the care, support, and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association.

ARTS
> Host a karaoke night, knit-a-thon or an art auction. There’s no limit to what you can do!

HOBBIES
> Bake cookies for your family or office in exchange for a donation, or host a fishing competition with an entry fee.

OTHER
> A graduation, holiday, or other celebration can make for a special fundraiser. Set up a fundraising page and ask friends and family to make donations in lieu of gifts.

This is not limited to individuals.  Businesses such as restaurants, all the way to entertainment venues, like escape rooms, can participate. 

Reach out to me, and we can help you with ideas and guidance on getting started.

Or you can register below and get started on your own. 

https://events.alz.org/event/dowhatyoulove/

Dementia is a growing public health crisis in Texas. The impact of Alzheimer’s is projected to rise, according to recent data:

 

- 459,000 people aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in Texas.

- 1.1 million family caregivers bear the burden of the disease in Texas.

- $4.3 billion is the cost of Alzheimer’s to the state Medicaid program.

Your dollars make a difference. Funding has helped fight the disease's side effects with recent advances. Although current medications cannot cure Alzheimer’s, some drugs change disease progression, with benefits to cognition and function. Other medicines may help lessen symptoms, such as memory loss and confusion, for a limited time.

Also, the Alzheimer's Association U.S. POINTER study recently found that healthy lifestyle interventions, such as diet, exercise, and cognitive engagement, have a powerful impact on brain health and can improve cognitive function, helping protect cognition from normal age-related decline.

Thanks,
Mike McGuff
Houston & Southeast Texas Chapter Alzheimer's Association board member

KSAT anchors hop on 2016 trend

Matthew Stell joins FOX Charlotte

Matthew “Matt” Stell is joining Queen City News FOX Charlotte WJZY.

Stell just left KLBK Lubbock in December after more than four and a half years, where he co-anchored the 6pm and 10pm newscasts.  He also produced “Matt Stell Reports”, a monthly segment dedicated to in-depth interviews and the unforgettable personal stories of people in our community. The station says he was Lubbock's first African American evening news anchor.

Before KLBK, Stell was a reporter and weekend anchor at KLBK’s Nexstar Media Group sister station KAMC Lubbock.

A University of Houston grad, Stell interned with the Texas House of Representatives and the Dallas County Magistrate’s Office.

Stell is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, the 100 Black Men of West Texas, and the National Speech and Debate Association. He served on the Board of Directors for Communities in Schools of the South Plains and for the Panhandle Plains Chapter of the American Red Cross. 

Mark Garay guest blogs about barber shops

BY MARK GARAY

Barber. 

I’ve not always had great friendships with barbers. And as I waited for a recent haircut, certain things began to dawn on me and prompted more than a few questions.

My first ever haircut was an absolute disaster. For some reason, I vomited on the poor guy, which should tell you all you need to know about how I process stress. It was a local barber close to my home in a neighborhood known as Forest Hills. I remember it being dreadful. Cleanup required coordinated efforts to manage my discharge, and a trip to the store for air freshener. My mom was appalled, but smiled, nonetheless.

And my fears of the barbershop pole didn’t improve in the 6th grade when another guy accidentally sliced my ear. I’d arrived at Fisherman’s Wharf at 5 a.m. that day to board a big boat and embark on a five-hour fishing trip. The early hour, combined with the rough San Francisco Bay waters seemed to slow me, and I later fell asleep in the chair. When I nodded off, the scissors clipped the top of my right ear. My mom was appalled, but smiled, nonetheless.

The barbers of my youth were not at all that distinctive; mostly older gentlemen with graying hair, spectacles and a short-sleeved shirt made of some strange paper-like microfiber. These men were usually soft-spoken. They smiled a lot. Many had red noses due to scotch cocktails after the day’s last cleaning.

The barbershops were always straightforward. Mine had the typical checkered floor and that mysterious blue-green potion where the combs lived in a clear jar. I never knew what that stuff was. And I never asked.

Fast forward to today. My Sugar Land spot still holds a blue and red pole hanging on an arm connected to the storefront. Inside, the configuration is still the same. But today’s barbershops have more chairs on average than yesteryear. Gone is the one- or two-chair shop. Mine has five and they’re all filled as I approach. My 80s barber would never dream of blasting music during procedures. The owner in Sugar Land is a 32-year-old kid from Richmond, and he cranks Zeppelin. I’ve asked him if that’s a strategy to attract older customers with deeper pockets. He assures me it is not.

As I ease down on a leather sofa to wait my turn, it occurred to me that walk-in appointments are rare with online booking. I wonder if anyone under 40 has ever called to make an appointment. I commented on how much this exiting client looks like Nate Bargatze. No one finds it amusing, highlighting, I later noticed, how little conversation exists between client and cutter. Today’s guys seem more focused on the task and less likely to enjoy conversation. They make an effort, but it’s a lie. I’m twice their age, and weight. What the hell do we have in common?

I’m also perplexed why all clients are faced away from the mirrors, and I suspect it’s a new trend to keep clients from nitpicking before the job is done. Or maybe to build up the drama. My guy takes about 30 minutes. It’s a good job, and I leave happy. I briefly ask him why he faces his customers away from the mirrors as he works. He says it’s so he can more easily access his tools on the shelf under the glass. Makes sense. I’ve concluded that the experience today is different from my memories, but not by much. I guess like furniture, hot tea and baseball, there’s not a lot of room to change the formula. By the way, I paid $57 for my recent trim.  $5 used to cover it.

(Former ABC13 Houston KTRK anchor Mark Garay returns to mikemcguff.com as a guest blogger!)

Josh Johns joins FOX 4 KDFW DFW

Josh Johns is joining FOX 4 KDFW Dallas–Fort Worth as a meteorologist, forecasting on weekend evenings, select noon shows, and Texas Weather Live.

Johns arrives from 25 News KXXV in the Waco–Temple–Killeen market, where he spent the past six years as a morning and weekend evening meteorologist.

Here is a portion of what Johns posted on social:

"I’ve always had the desire to forecast for my hometown, those I grew up with, and my family. 

Few get that opportunity, and I feel truly blessed and humbled to announce I will be joining the  Fox4Warn Weather Team in DFW as their new weekend evening meteorologist! 

My last day at KXXV will be next Friday January 23, I’m so thankful that 25 News took a chance on me and that Matt Hines KXXV has provided steady leadership and support in my career. I’d be honored to have your support and connect with you for one last week!"

Shoutout to the Waco-Temple-Killeen-Bryan-College Station market, where I got my start, since now FOX 4 has hired Johns from KXXV and KBTX News 3 meteorologist Berkeley Taylor within the last month. I have noticed over the last five years or so that the Waco-to-North Texas TV pipeline is growing even stronger.

Previously, he served as chief meteorologist at KSAN 3 in San Angelo and as a weekend meteorologist at Nexstar Media Group's sister station KLST. Shortly before stepping into the chief role, Johns assisted with Hurricane Harvey coverage at sister station KXAN in Austin. During his time in San Angelo, he covered numerous severe weather events, including multiple EF-2 and EF-3 tornadoes across the Concho Valley. One EF-2 tornado tracked directly through San Angelo, missing the station by just two blocks. After losing power, Johns and his team continued to cover three additional tornadoes via Facebook Live and any available resources.

Johns began his broadcast career with a brief stint at KRGV 5 in the Rio Grande Valley and also filled in at KFDX 3 in Wichita Falls.

A North Texas native from Cleburne, Johns earned a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from Texas A&M University. While in college, he interned at CBS 11 KTVT DFW and KWTX 10 Waco, where he made his on-air debut.

Abby Ham signs off WBIR Knoxville

Abby Ham, a longtime WBIR Knoxville, Tennessee, morning anchor, had her final day on the anchor desk on January 16, 2026, marking the end of an era for 10News Today.

Ham first burst onto Knoxville television screens in 2006 as a weekend anchor at WBIR. 

She left for WKYC-TV in Cleveland, Ohio, where she anchored a top-rated morning newscast. However, it wasn’t long before Abby returned to East Tennessee to take her place as the weekday co-host of 10News Today.

From the stage of Dancing with the Knoxville Stars, to an audition for America’s Got Talent, to unforgettable—and often hilarious—Halloween costumes, Abby became a fixture of Knoxville mornings. 

Ham anchored WBIR’s high-energy, 4.5-hour morning newscast, led editorial and creative decision-making, mentored newsroom staff, and helped guide a #1-rated news team recognized with Emmy, Associated Press, and Edward R. Murrow Awards. 

Off the air, Ham devoted her time and talents to uplifting the community, supporting organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

For more than 13 years, Abby Ham and Russell Biven (now of WVLT 8 Knoxville) were a dynamic duo—one that became part of the daily rhythm of East Tennessee mornings.

How FM radio was almost destroyed

Learn more about early FM radio and the birth of AOR radio in "Runaway Radio."

Zach Lashway leaves KPRC 2 Houston

Zachery Lashway, or Zach, announced he is leaving his KPRC 2 anchor/reporter position as of today.

Here is a portion of what Lashway posted on social:

"After more than 15 years in TV news and more than seven incredible years with Graham Media Group, I am stepping away. Today’s 3 PM show is my final newscast at KPRC 2.  

There’s never an easy time to leave something you love, but there can be a right time. And for me, that time is now.

 

As for me, my work continues too. It will look different, but the purpose is the same: share what matters, tell it clearly and help keep our community safer, stronger, and closer.

 

Lashway joined KPRC 2 Houston in October 2021 as a reporter from sister station WJXT–News4Jax in Jacksonville, Florida, where he served as a weekend morning anchor.

In March 2023, KPRC 2 debuted a new hour of morning news on its digital streaming platform, KPRC2+, airing from 8 to 9 a.m., with Lashway in the anchor chair. The show later expanded, launching “KPRC2+ Now” at 9 in August 2023 with Lashway alongside Haley Hernandez.

During his time at KPRC 2, Lashway has covered numerous major national and international stories. He was the first—and only—Texas reporter to travel to Poland two consecutive years to report on the humanitarian crisis stemming from the Russia–Ukraine war. His assignments have also taken him to Philadelphia for the 2022 World Series and to Los Angeles for Super Bowl LVI. In addition, Lashway has flown over the Gulf with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to observe security operations and has gone behind the scenes with the Transportation Security Administration during flight attendant self-defense training.

Lashway also hosts the KPRC original series “Solvable,” which focuses on cold cases within marginalized communities.

Before WJXT, the two-time Edward R. Murrow Award recipient and an Emmy-nominated journalist worked as an anchor and reporter at KARE 11 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

His previous experience includes roles as an anchor/reporter at PHL 17 WPHL in Philadelphia and as a morning anchor at KRTV/KXLH in Great Falls, Montana.

While attending the State University of New York (SUNY) at Plattsburgh, Lashway interned with CBS News.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Zachery Lashway (@kprc2zach)

(Thanks, Shad, Taylor, and Satch!)

 

Sarah Pepper returns to Houston

Just as Jessie Watt moves shifts at MIX 96.5 KHMX this week, her former morning co-host, Sarah Pepper, returned to host the Chevron Houston Marathon.

Pepper joined KPRC 2's Houston Life and even squeezed a few seconds on air with her other former co-host Lauren Kelly!

Pepper left Mix 96.5 mornings in May 2024 to move back to Indiana.

“The Dana Cortez Show” assumed the Mix 96.5 morning show role in November 2024.

Casey Bartholomew exits WBAP 820 DFW

Casey Bartholomew announced he is no longer in the 9 to 11am slot at WBAP News Talk 820 AM Dallas-Fort Worth.

Here is what the talk show host posted on social:

"This was weird…After almost 4 years, and raising the ratings over 300% in some areas, I was informed that I was leaving my job to “pursue other opportunities.” I didn’t even know I was looking at other opportunities. I wanted to ask them what they were, but they got off the phone before I could. (Yes. They did it over the phone.) 

So, if anybody knows what these “other opportunities” are, could you let me know?"

Reports from my North Texas radio listeners say they are hearing WBAP afternoon host James Parker filling in on the 9 to 11am show while also doing his afternoon show. Talk about a team player.

Cumulus owns WBAP and recently announced the return of The Dan Bongino Show, which just so happens to match this time slot. Just throwing that out there. UPDATE:  Nope, I guessed wrong. WBAP has a job posting for a Mid-Morning 9am-11am host. 

On August 12, 2022, Bartholomew, the program director for News/Talk 98.9FM and 1400AM KFRU in Columbia, Missouri, announced he was taking over Ernie Brown's former slot on WBAP. 

A nationally recognized radio talk show host with a career spanning across the United States, Bartholomew has been heard on the airwaves of not only DFW but also from Los Angeles, New York, to Miami.  According to his bio, he has even reached international audiences in New Zealand and Canada.

In other related 820 WBAP news, former news anchor Nicole Osei just joined KERA News 90.1.