Lisa Foronda and Jerome Gray reunite in new TV commercial

Houston TV viewers are noticing a new commercial for the Harris County Toll Road Authority that reunites former KHOU 11 anchors Jerome Gray (also KPRC) and Lisa Foronda.

Foronda left the TV business in 2006 and transitioned into the PR and marketing world. She is now the Senior Director of Investor Communications at Legacy Community Health.

Gray also left television news behind at KPRC 2 in 2010 and became the Vice President and Senior Press Officer for the Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO).  

In 2024, he left METRO to join the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) as Deputy Director of Communications.

Gray gives the mikemcguff.com readers the inside scoop on how the two former KHOU anchors reunited and what it was like being behind the anchor desk once again.

Mike McGuff:  So, how did this new HCTRA TV commercial come about? 

Jerome Gray: It’s not unusual for the Harris County Toll Road Authority to use TV commercials to share what we’re doing to improve mobility throughout the region. Ever since I joined HCTRA several months ago, I have been on a mission to amplify the HCTRA story. What better way to share the good news and inform the public than to enlist the aid of some familiar faces who once did that on a daily basis? And yes, I wrote the scripts. 

MM: What was it like having a KHOU reunion? 

JG: As you know, everyone who works in media in the Houston region is part of a small, tight-knit family.  Many of us stay in touch long after we’ve left “the business.”   Lisa and I are not only former colleagues we’re friends. So, we had fun working together again. You will be seeing more commercials from us on the anchor desk. 

MM: What was it like being behind the anchor desk again? 

JG: It was just like riding a bike, and I didn’t even need training wheels. I will forever be grateful for my time behind the anchor desk. It afforded me the opportunity to do what I love most, tell great stories and meet some incredible people. I also learned a lot.  

All those fond memories came rushing back and while my anchor days are behind me, it was fun to play an anchor on TV one more time.

MM: Where did you shoot the commercial with the fancy "HCTRA News" set?  

JG: We shot the commercials at Captiv Studios on a basic desk that was dressed up to look fancy with a HCTRA branded piece of wood placed on the front of the desk to help with the look and feel of a news set. 

MM: Is there anything else you'd like to add?  

JG:  While we recognize these spots will probably bring a bit of nostalgia to viewers and radio listeners who’ve been around for a while, we really hope people hear the message and have a better understanding of how vital the toll road system is to our region. Toll fees are being used to not only operate and maintain the lanes but also fund future mobility improvements. 

 

(Thanks Doug!)

Mariza Mendoza returns to News 4 San Antonio as morning anchor

Mariza Mendoza announced this week she is back at News 4 San Antonio Today WOAI as a morning anchor with David Chancellor.

"It’s official! I’m so happy to be back with my @news4sa family," Mendoza posted.  "I’m so thankful for the opportunity to bring you stories that impact our families and community every day. Hope you can join me and [David Chancellor] every morning starting at 4:30 am!"

She takes over for Diana Rocco, who left in December 2024.

Mendoza let me know two things here. Not only is she the new News 4 SA morning anchor, but she also left in December and has since returned.  I totally missed her post saying that she had left the station, like Rocco, in December.

The last time she joined WOAI, Mendoza was hired as a reporter for News 4 San Antonio and Fox 29 KABB in December 2022.

She had been a reporter with cross-town rival KSAT 12 since 2013.

Houston television watchers might recognize the award-winning journalist as KPRC 2 morning reporter Mariza Reyes from 2006 to 2011.

The DePaul University grad also worked for:

- WLUC 6 Marquette, Michigan

- WJFW Newswatch 12 Rhinelander, Wisconsin

- KOAT Action 7 News Albuquerque, New Mexico

- Hawaii News Now KGMB Honolulu, Hawaii 

- WSYX ABC 6 Columbus, Ohio.

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97.9 The Box's Young Jas and JMac get real on The Nightcap

J-Mac and Young Jas from 97.9 The Box KBXX Houston's morning show, "Good Morning H-Town," joined Carolina Sanchez on FOX 26 KRIV's "The Nightcap" for a revealing interview about their working relationship, their true feelings about each other's love lives and the reasons they are single.

Fubo to Stream Texas Rangers Baseball

FuboTV Inc. and Rangers Sports Network announced today an agreement that will bring the Texas Rangers’ broadcast network to the sports-first live TV streaming platform. 

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Additionally, Fubo, the streaming leader in Major League Baseball coverage, has been named a Proud Partner of the Texas Rangers.

Starting today, Fubo will stream Rangers Sports Network’s coverage of every available Texas Rangers game, including pre-and postgame shows, to subscribers of its English-language paid channel plans in the Rangers Sports Network footprint across Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Additionally, Fubo will launch Rangers Sports Network as a standalone subscription that can also be added to the Fubo Free plan or Latino plan in those markets.

As a Proud Partner of the Texas Rangers, Fubo will launch branding at Globe Life Field, including behind home plate, and fan engagement opportunities with the team such as sweepstakes.

The addition of Rangers Sports Network further solidifies Fubo’s position as the home for local sports. Fubo’s leading sports offering includes more than 55,000 live sporting events annually, with many streaming in 4K, and over 35 regional sports networks in its base package at the lowest cost compared to other streaming options. Fubo is also the streaming leader in Major League Baseball coverage carrying MLB.TV, MLB Network, MLB Strike Zone, regional sports and broadcast networks, local broadcast networks and national sports networks ESPN and FS1. In addition to its leading sports coverage, Fubo also streams popular live entertainment and news programming and features more than 40,000 TV shows and movies on-demand each month.

“As the streaming leader in Major League Baseball coverage, we cannot be more thrilled to add Rangers Sports Network to Fubo,” said Todd Mathers, executive vice president, content strategy & acquisition, Fubo. “Our robust carriage and sponsorship agreement means Fubo subscribers can watch Texas Rangers baseball all season long while engaging with the team through multiple fan opportunities.”

“Since the launch of Rangers Sports Network was announced in January, we have continued to work on additional agreements to provide options to watch our games," said Neil Leibman, chairman, Rangers Sports Media and Entertainment Company. "Fubo's carriage of RSN gives fans another tremendous avenue to watch Rangers baseball this season. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Fubo and hope that fans will take advantage of this new opportunity."

(This post was taken from a press release)

Karla Salinas joins FOX5 Las Vegas

Karla Salinas joined FOX5 KVVU Las Vegas as an anchor/reporter in October 2024.

Salinas moved from Texas where she hosted the lifestyle show "Take 5" on KRGV 5 Rio Grande Valley.

She was previously the RGV correspondent for the Sinclair syndicated show "Daytime with Kimberly and Esteban" (now called "Daytime").

The Lone Star EMMY nominee graduated from the Robert C. Vackar College of Business at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV).

KXII Sherman anchor changes in late 2024

We have some weekend anchor changes for News 12 KXII Sherman that happened in late 2024.

Olivia Thompson, who joined KXII, in June 2024 as a reporter, was promoted to Saturday evening anchor in October 2024. She is a 2024 University of North Texas Magna Cum Laude graduate. 

On Sundays, Drew Mowrer, who joined the station in December 2024, is the anchor. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of North Texas also in 2024.

TV anchor and weather baby news early 2025

KSAT 12 San Antonio weekend anchor Sarah Acosta gives birth to baby girl Dotty. Her first child.

"We Are Austin" KEYE co-host Chelsey Khan gives birth to baby Lily. 

Also at KEYE, CBS Austin meteorologist Avery Tomasco welcomes a baby boy to his growing family.

Everyone gets the forecast wrong sometimes.

IT'S A BOY! Our mid-March baby turned into a late February baby after joining us Wednesday afternoon. Everyone is happy and healthy, and I'll be taking time to fall further in love with the little man. See y'all again in April! pic.twitter.com/ng6NYzbwct

— Avery Tomasco (@averytomascowx) February 28, 2025

KWTX Waco-Temple-Killeen meteorologist Jillian Johnson is waiting for baby Melody's arrival.

KRIS 6 News Corpus Christi evening anchor Clara Benitez welcomes a baby son.

Brian LaLima leaves 'Sean Salisbury Show' on SportsTalk 790 KBME Houston

Brian LaLima announced he was leaving SportsTalk 790 KBME's morning show "The Sean Salisbury Show" as of March 13, 2025 for a new career in the oil and gas industry.

"I walk away from 790 accomplishing a life long goal of being on-air," posted LaLima.  "Your calls, support, disagreements & laughs made it all so gratifying. I can’t thank you enough for the ride & I’m excited for my future." 

"I need to publicly thank my [Sean Salisbury Show] co-host of the last three years [Brian LaLima] who is moving on for a career in oil/gas, for being the best teammate I’ve ever had in local radio in 30 years of this career," Salisbury posted. "The chemistry, fun, passion, and great banter we’ve had is irreplaceable. You revitalized my love for this job! A great friend and cohost, and we will find a way soon to do this again soon.  Appreciate and love you brother!"

LaLima says he will continue with Apollo Media.

It was almost three years ago when LaLima joined Salisbury on July 5, 2022.

A proud Houston native and Sul Ross graduate, LaLima was a three-year starter, two-year team captain, and American Southwest Conference All-Conference Outfielder for the Lobos Baseball team. 

Finally, I walk away from 790 accomplishing a life long goal of being on-air. Your calls, support, disagreements & laughs made it all so gratifying. I can’t thank you enough for the ride & I’m excited for my future. I will stfu now and drink myself a cold one. pic.twitter.com/n0ysWlzD5N

— Brian LaLima (@BLima790) March 14, 2025

I need to publicly thank my @SSalisburyShow co-host of the last three years @BLima790 who is moving on for a career in oil/gas, for being the best teammate I’ve ever had in local radio in 30 years of this career. The chemistry, fun, passion, and great banter we’ve had is…

— Sean Salisbury (@SeanUnfiltered) March 13, 2025

Gina Sunseri Wins 2025 National Space Club & Foundation Press Award

Houston-based ABC News producer Gina Sunseri has been named the recipient of the prestigious 2025 National Space Club & Foundation Press Award. 

This annual honor recognizes journalists who have made significant contributions to public understanding of astronautics and space exploration. Sunseri was selected by a panel of experts led by Mary Engola for her outstanding coverage of the aerospace industry over the past two decades.

The Committee’s citation highlights Sunseri’s ability to translate complex space missions into compelling narratives for a broad audience. Her extensive body of work includes hundreds of articles and broadcast news segments covering NASA, international partners, and commercial space missions. With a career marked by excellence in space reporting, she has earned three Emmy Awards, as well as Murrow and Peabody honors, cementing her reputation as a leading voice in the field.

Sunseri will receive the award at the Club’s annual Robert H. Goddard Memorial Dinner, which will be held on March 21, 2025, at the Washington Hilton. 

This latest recognition follows Sunseri’s 2024 Space Communicator Award from the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation, which she received on April 26, 2024. That honor acknowledged her exceptional ability to convey the excitement and importance of space exploration to the public.

Sunseri’s journey into space journalism began in 1996, with one of her earliest assignments covering astronaut Shannon Lucid’s historic stay aboard Russia’s Mir space station. Since then, she has been at the forefront of reporting on space shuttle missions, spacewalks, commercial space ventures, and deep space exploration. Her coverage has spanned major events, including five Mars missions and the upcoming Artemis II mission scheduled for launch in 2026.

Following the tragic 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, Sunseri played a key role in ABC News' reporting on the investigation and safety reforms leading up to NASA’s 2005 return to flight. Her work on "Columbia Final Mission," which aired on "Primetime Thursday," was instrumental in ABC News earning an Emmy Award for investigative journalism.

When she isn’t covering the latest developments in space exploration, Sunseri enjoys traveling, listening to music, and gardening. She is married to retired KPRC photographer John Treadgold and is a proud mother of two.

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He got busted by the FCC for a pirate radio station