NBC10 and Telemundo62 Philadelphia announced Valentina Sanchez has been named news reporter and multimedia journalist. Sanchez will begin reporting for NBC10 and Telemundo62 this month.
“Valentina is a talented journalist with a passion for storytelling and a proven ability to connect with audiences across diverse communities,” said Noe Gonzalez, Duopoly News Director for NBC10 and Telemundo62. “Her experience as a bilingual reporter, combined with her commitment to elevating the voices and issues that matter most to residents, makes her an outstanding addition to our news team. We are excited for our viewers to get to know Valentina and benefit from the compelling journalism she will bring to Philadelphia.”
Sanchez comes to WCAU and WWSI from Phoenix, where she served as a reporter and multimedia journalist for Telemundo Phoenix / KTAZ and Telemundo Tucson / KHRR. Prior to that, Sanchez worked as a news reporter and host for Telemundo Atlanta / WKTB for more than two years.
“What excites me most about coming to Philadelphia is the opportunity to get to know the people and communities that make this city so special,” said Sanchez. “As a bilingual journalist, I believe every community deserves to feel seen, heard, and represented. I look forward to sharing the stories that celebrate Philadelphia’s rich culture and history while highlighting the issues and experiences that shape everyday life across the region.”
Born in Bogota, Colombia, Sanchez was raised in Atlanta. She graduated from Kennesaw State University in Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and emerging media, with a concentration in marketing. She is a two-time Emmy Award winner and also received a Telly Award for outstanding broadcast and digital content.
Natalie Spala will join the NBC 5 Chicago WMAQ News team as weekend sports anchor/reporter beginning Monday, August 31. Spala will also contribute to NBC 5 Chicago’s weekly sports highlights and features program, Sports Sunday, hosted by Lou Canellis.
The announcement was made by Vince Lattanzio, News Director, NBC 5 Chicago.
“Natalie is an exceptional journalist whose energy, knowledge and passion will be tremendous assets to our team,” said Lattanzio. “From breaking news to championship moments, Natalie has demonstrated an ability to connect with audiences through thoughtful reporting and engaging storytelling. We’re excited to welcome Natalie to NBC 5 and look forward to introducing her to sports fans across the Chicago area.”
Prior to joining NBC 5 Chicago, the Emmy Award-winning journalist served as a sports anchor/reporter at WJLA-TV, the ABC affiliate in Washington, D.C., from 2023 to 2026. During her tenure, she anchored weekday and weekend sportscasts and extensively covered the region’s professional sports teams with an emphasis on the NFL’s Washington Commanders. In addition, Spala recently earned an Emmy Award for her coverage of the tragic 2025 Potomac River mid-air collision.
From 2021 to 2023, Spala was a weekend news-sports anchor/reporter and sideline reporter at WCIV-TV, the ABC affiliate in Charleston, S.C. In that role, she anchored weekend sportscasts and newscasts, delivered live reports, and produced numerous sports and news feature stories. Spala also co-anchored the station’s popular high school football program, Friday Night Rivals, served as a color analyst for live high school basketball broadcasts and South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) state championship games, and worked as a sideline reporter for the state’s high school football championship coverage.
Spala started her television career at WPBN-TV, the NBC affiliate in Traverse City, Mich., where she worked as a news anchor/reporter and sports reporter from 2019 to 2021. In that role, she reported for evening newscasts, spot anchored broadcasts, and wrote, edited, and co-anchored the station’s Friday night football and basketball highlights programs.
A native of Livonia, Mich., Spala earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and screen studies from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where she was a four-year scholar-athlete and standout member of the Wolverines women’s basketball team.
(Taken from a press release sent to me by NBC Universal)
TAMPA, Fla. – Aug. 24, 2026 – Telemundo 49 Tampa / WRMD, part of NBCUniversal Local’s Telemundo Station Group, announced that Andrea González has been named news anchor for Noticiero Telemundo 49, effective today, Monday, Aug. 24.
González has more than 17 years of journalism experience across the United States and Mexico. Most recently, she served as anchor of Punto de Visión on Visión Latina Network in Los Angeles. Prior to that, she spent eight years as an anchor for Univision 34 in Los Angeles, where she anchored the station’s 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts.
“Andrea is an accomplished journalist whose extensive anchoring and reporting experience makes her a strong addition to our newsroom,” said Meredith Veloz, News Director, Telemundo 49 Tampa. “Her commitment to journalism and ability to connect with Latino audiences will strengthen our news team, and we are excited to welcome her to Tampa Bay.”
Prior to joining Univision 34, González served as Univision’s Mexico Correspondent from 2014 to 2016, covering major national and international stories, including the disappearance of the 43 Ayotzinapa students and the prison escape of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Earlier in her career, she served as lead anchor for the morning newscast INFO7 on TV Azteca Noreste.
González’s work has earned her five Emmy Awards, including a 2019 regional Emmy for “Hollywood: The Sign That Changed History.” Her journalism has also been recognized for newscast, election, breaking news and informational programming.
González earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City. She is also the author of Latinas de Éxito, published in 2024 and based on interviews highlighting the stories of successful Latina women in the United States.
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Aug. 24, 2026 – Telemundo 39 / KTAZ and Telemundo 40 / KHRR, part of NBCUniversal Local’s Telemundo Station Group, announced the promotion of Christian Villegas to news director, effective today, Aug. 24.
In his new role, Villegas will oversee news editorial, production and operations for Noticiero Telemundo Arizona across Telemundo 39 and Telemundo 40’s TV, streaming, digital and social platforms. He will report to Andrew Deschapelles, President and General Manager of the Telemundo-owned stations serving Phoenix, Tucson and Las Vegas.
A four-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, Villegas has spent the past 11 years with KTAZ and KHRR, most recently as executive producer. He joined the stations in 2016 as an intern and advanced through editorial and newsroom leadership roles, including photojournalist, assignment editor, content producer, evening news producer, and senior producer.
“Christian is a passionate newsroom leader who has spent the past 10 years helping build our culture of service from within,” said Deschapelles. “He understands our audience, knows our newsroom and shares our team’s deep commitment to serving the community. I’m incredibly proud to promote him into this critical leadership role and excited to see him lead our news team into the future.”
Throughout his tenure with KTAZ and KHRR, Villegas has played a key role in the newsroom’s editorial strategy and special coverage, serving as political coverage lead and special coverage coordinator and helping guide a team whose work contributed to Noticiero Telemundo Arizona achieving No. 1 rankings across all languages for both daytime and primetime newscasts.
“I am deeply honored to continue leading our exceptionally talented team of journalists who work every day to empower our community,” said Villegas. “Our community relies on access to transparent and valuable information, and at Noticiero Telemundo Arizona, they can count on us to deliver it with accuracy, integrity and commitment.”
Villegas’ journalism has been recognized with four Emmy Awards for work spanning field production, photojournalism and newscast production. He attended Mesa Community College and is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
Noticiero Telemundo Arizona is presented on Telemundo 39 and Telemundo 40 Monday through Friday at 11 a.m., 4 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5 p.m., and 10 p.m., and weekends at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Cecily Tynan announced she will retire on Monday, August 31, 2026, from her 6abc WPVI Action News Philadelphia Chief Meteorologist position after more than 35 years in broadcasting.
“I’m so honored to have been a member of the 6abc Action News team for more than three decades, starting as the station’s first-ever weekend meteorologist, then becoming its first female chief meteorologist. I’m proud of the work we’ve done and thankful to 6abc viewers for trusting me with their weather forecasts,” said Tynan. “Now, instead of forecasting snow, I’m looking forward to spending my winters in Florida water skiing, traveling and having lots of quality time with my husband, Greg; two adult children, Luke and Emma; and three rescue pups, Nala, Shelby and Charlie. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
“From the moment she first walked off the elevator and joined Action News, Cecily has been a trusted voice for viewers, a leader in our newsroom, and one of the most talented broadcasters in Philadelphia,” said John W. Morris, WPVI-TV general manager. “Whether guiding us through storms or being part of our holiday traditions, Cecily has been a part of our lives for a long time. As much as our viewers are going to miss her, we will miss her even more.”
Tynan has been a familiar face in the Delaware Valley for more than three decades, guiding viewers through some of the region's most significant weather events. Throughout her career at 6abc, she provided daily forecasts and extensive live coverage of Hurricane Sandy, the Blizzard of 1996, devastating tornado outbreaks, record-breaking heat waves, historic flooding, and other major weather events. She also hosted seasonal specials focusing on snowfall predictions and changing weather patterns across the region.
Tynan joined WPVI in October 1995 as the station's weekend meteorologist and a general assignment reporter. She arrived in Philadelphia from KTNV in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she served as a weather and news anchor on Good Morning Las Vegas.
Before her time in Las Vegas, Tynan worked at WDBJ in Roanoke, Virginia, as the weekend weather anchor and a general assignment reporter. A native of Connecticut, she graduated magna cum laude from Washington and Lee University with double majors in journalism and politics. She later completed meteorology coursework and earned the American Meteorological Society's Seal of Approval.
Her work has earned numerous honors throughout her career, including "Best On-Air Talent" from the Las Vegas Electronic Media Awards and "Best Weathercaster" from the Las Vegas Review-Journal. In Philadelphia, she was recognized as "Best Weathercaster" by Philadelphia Weekly and "Best Weathervane" by Philadelphia Magazine.
Liv Johnson joined PIX11 New York WPIX as a traffic anchor and lifestyle show host in July 2026 after spending more than two years as a weather anchor and reporter at FOX 5 New York WNYW.
Johnson joined the FOX 5 weather team in February 2024, delivering forecasts and reporting on weather stories across the New York City metropolitan area. Prior to that, she was a news reporter at WESH 2 in Orlando, Florida, from February 2023 to February 2024.
Before moving to Florida, Johnson worked as a reporter for Nexstar Media Group's KSEE24 and CBS47 in Fresno, California, from January 2021 to February 2023.
Johnson began her television career in January 2020 as a multi-skilled journalist at FOX West Texas stations KIDY and KXVA in San Angelo.
A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Johnson also has deep ties to the Northeast. Her mother is from Long Island, New York, and her father is from Bergen County, New Jersey.
She graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast and Digital Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. While at Syracuse, Johnson served as a student ambassador for the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, reported for NCC News, and completed a summer internship with CNN in Atlanta.
Johnson is also continuing her meteorology education through Pennsylvania State University.
Xitlaly Ruiz has been named anchor and multimedia journalist for Noticias Telemundo Colorado KDEN.
Ruiz joins Telemundo Colorado from Univision Arizona / KTVW , where she has served as multimedia journalist, traffic anchor, fill-in anchor and producer since April 2022. In that role, she has covered breaking news, traffic and stories impacting local communities, while also producing and anchoring the station’s morning newscasts.
“Xitlaly is a versatile journalist whose experience as a reporter, anchor and producer makes her an outstanding addition to our newsroom,” said Emmanuel López-Capó, News Director of Telemundo Colorado. “She understands the responsibility that comes with informing our viewers and has demonstrated a genuine commitment to serving Latino communities. We’re excited to welcome her to Colorado and look forward to the connection she’ll build with our audience.”
Ruiz began her career in Palm Springs, California, where she worked as a news reporter for Entravision Communications from 2014 to 2018. In that role, she researched, shot, wrote, edited and presented daily news stories, reported live during breaking news and covered issues impacting the local community.
Her work has earned her two Emmy Award nominations and the Citizenship Award, presented by the Consulates of Guatemala and Mexico. Ruiz has also received recognition from local and state government officials for her service to the community.
Noticias Telemundo Colorado airs weekdays at 4 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Jennifer Stanonis has been named chief meteorologist at CBS Sacramento, KOVR/KMAX, returning to her hometown to lead weather coverage for the region.
Stanonis officially joins the station on July 27, 2026.
With more than 20 years of experience, Stanonis has reported on major weather events ranging from tornado outbreaks and blizzards to wildfires, floods and extreme heat. She will spearhead CBS Sacramento’s weather strategy.
“Joining the CBS Sacramento team and coming back home to serve the community I grew up in is a tremendous honor,” said Stanonis. “Growing up in Northern California, I learned and experienced the complex local microclimates and extreme weather, including flooding rain events, historic mountain snowstorms, wildfires and severe heatwaves. I look forward to keeping our community informed and prepared.”
Stanonis’ career spans multiple markets, including on-air meteorology roles at: WGRZ-TV (Buffalo, N.Y.), where she served two tenures, most recently as the main weekday evening meteorologist; WKBW-TV (Buffalo, N.Y.); and KCWY-TV (Casper, Wyo.). She has earned numerous honors for her weather coverage, including a New York Emmy Award.
“Jennifer is one of the most respected meteorologists in the industry, with a proven track record of helping communities navigate severe and rapidly changing weather conditions,” said Scott Warren, regional president and general manager of CBS Bay Area and CBS Sacramento. “For Northern California viewers, weather coverage isn’t just about forecasting – it’s about providing timely, accurate information that helps people make decisions and stay safe. Jennifer’s experience, deep connection to this region and passion for public service make her the ideal leader for our weather team, and we’re eager to welcome her back home to Sacramento.”
Beyond broadcasting, Stanonis is a passionate advocate for science education. She is the author of the award-winning children’s book Willy and Lilly’s Adventures with Weather, which introduces young readers to complex meteorological concepts in an engaging, accessible way.
A Northern California native, the Emmy Award-winning meteorologist began her broadcasting journey in the Sacramento region and the San Francisco Bay Area. She holds a degree in meteorology from SUNY College at Brockport and a degree in broadcasting from San Francisco State University, and has earned the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) designation from the American Meteorological Society, the highest certification in the field.
Ryan Baker will depart CBS Chicago 2 WBBM after nearly two decades, concluding an accomplished broadcasting career spanning more than 35 years, the station announced.
Baker, a respected figure in the Chicago sports media landscape since joining CBS Chicago in 2008, will transition to the nonprofit sector as the new president and CEO of First Tee Greater Chicago, an organization dedicated to mentoring young people and teaching life skills through golf.
His final day with CBS Chicago will be June 25, 2026.
“Ryan Baker’s impact on the Chicago sports landscape is truly immeasurable,” said Jennifer Lyons, regional president and general manager of CBS Chicago and CBS Detroit. “For decades he has been a trusted voice for fans and a respected presence in our newsroom, as well as a committed member of the Chicago community. We are grateful for his many contributions to CBS Chicago and wish him continued success.”
During his tenure at CBS Chicago, Baker served as Sports Director for more than a decade before moving to the anchor desk in 2019 as co-anchor of the station's weekday morning newscasts. In 2024, he returned to the role of Sports Director, continuing to cover Chicago's major professional and collegiate sports teams while earning recognition as an award-winning journalist and trusted voice for Chicagoland viewers.
Baker's broadcasting career began in central Illinois after graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a degree in journalism. He worked as a reporter, producer, and photographer at WICD-TV in Champaign before moving to WCIA-TV, where he served as a general-assignment news and sports reporter, anchor, and host of a public affairs show.
He later joined KFMB-TV in San Diego as a news and sports reporter/anchor before becoming Sports Director at WKMG-TV in Orlando in 1995. During his eight-year tenure there, Baker anchored weekday sportscasts and hosted several popular programs, including "Sports Jam," "Inside Magic," and the high school football show "6 Yard Line."
In 2003, Baker returned to Chicago as a sports anchor and reporter at NBC 5 Chicago WMAQ, where he covered the Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, the 2004 Olympic Games, and the NCAA Final Four. He also co-hosted the station's "Sports Sunday" program and served as host of the Chicago Bears-produced pregame and postgame shows "Bears Gameday Live" and "Bears Gamenight Live," including the team's run to Super Bowl XLI.
Beyond his local television work, Baker has served as host of University of Illinois basketball programming and worked as a studio host for the Big Ten Network from 2016 to 2018, anchoring football and basketball coverage for the conference network.
Throughout his career, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign grad has been known not only for his sports expertise but also for his commitment to community service and mentorship. In his new role, Baker will lead First Tee Greater Chicago's efforts to expand its reach and have a positive impact on more young people across the region.
“Having grown up in the south suburbs watching Channel 2 every night and idolizing the legendary Johnny Morris, it’s been an indescribable dream come true to sit in his sports anchor chair for the bulk of the last 18 years at WBBM-TV,” said Baker. “However, I’m ready for the next chapter and challenge in my life as I continue to serve the community as the CEO of First Tee Greater Chicago. I depart with nothing but sincere gratitude to my talented colleagues, and terrific station managers. But most of all, thank you to the Chicagoland viewers who’ve trusted and supported me for over two decades.”
CBS Chicago will recognize and celebrate Baker's contributions in the coming weeks as he prepares for the next chapter of his distinguished career.
TAMPA, Fla. – Feb. 19, 2026 – Telemundo 49 Tampa / WRMD, part of NBCUniversal Local’s Telemundo Station Group, announced Gregory Jaimes has been named news anchor for Noticiero Telemundo 49. He will make his on-air debut on Monday, March 9.
A veteran journalist with nearly 15 years of experience as a news anchor, reporter and producer, Jaimes joins Telemundo 49 from Univision Nevada / KINC in Las Vegas, where he served as an anchor for Noticias Univisión Nevada beginning in September 2024.
Previously, Jaimes was a reporter for Telemundo Las Vegas / KBLR, part of Telemundo Station Group, covering breaking news and major events across Southern Nevada, including Super Bowl LVIII in 2024 and the return of Formula 1 racing to Las Vegas in 2023.
“Gregory’s strong journalism background and experience anchoring high-impact newscasts make great addition to our team,” said Meredith Veloz, News Director for Telemundo 49 Tampa. “His commitment to delivering the most important stories and relevant news aligns perfectly with our mission to serve Central Florida’s Spanish-speaking audiences.”
Earlier in his career, Jaimes worked as a reporter and producer in Caracas, Venezuela, contributing to digital and broadcast news coverage. He also served as a producer for Primer Impacto at Univision’s Caracas bureau and held reporting and editorial positions with Televen, Telecaribe, and Caraota Digital.
Jaimes earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Universidad Santa María in Caracas, Venezuela.
Karla Gil has joined Noticiero Telemundo California (Telemundo 33 Sacramento / KCSO and Telemundo 51 Fresno / KNSO) as weather anchor for weekday newscasts at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. She will make her on-air debut on Monday, Feb. 16.
Gil joins Noticiero Telemundo California after serving as a weather anchor for Telemundo Kansas City / KGKC from 2023 to 2025. During that time, she also worked simultaneously as a weather anchor for Telemundo St. Louis / WXST, Telemundo Minnesota / KMNW, and Telemundo Portland / KJYY from 2024 to 2025, covering a wide range of severe and impactful weather events.
“Karla’s ability to communicate critical weather information in moments that matter most strengthens our commitment to serving our communities with accurate and trusted coverage,” said Candy Durán, News Director for Noticiero Telemundo California. “We are happy to welcome her to our newsroom, and I’m confident her strong experience in weather reporting and a clear, engaging on-air presence will resonate with our viewers.”
Gil has received multiple regional Emmy Awards for her work in the Weather and Environmental Science categories, including coverage of extreme cold conditions and tornado formation. She has also been recognized with a Best Weather Anchor Mid-America Emmy Award.
Gil holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Universidad Arturo Michelena.
Noticiero Telemundo California broadcasts simultaneously on KCSO and KNSO, Monday through Friday at 12 p.m., 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m., and weekends at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Sylvia Corkill left her News 9 KWTV Oklahoma City weekend anchor position in early February 2026.
Corkill joined the News 9 team in October of 2016 and became famous outside of television news after her appearance in the Netflix docu-series "Tiger King."
A proud Okie from Lawton, Corkill previously worked for KSWO 7News, Lawton, where she worked her way up to evening anchor.
Mikayla Smith joined KOCO 5 in Oklahoma City in February 2026 as a meteorologist.
"Now I get to join Oklahoma’s best! @koco5news has been a dream job in a dream city I’ve wanted to call home for years," Smith posted. "There is no greater honor than being part of the First Alert Storm Team. OKC let’s do this!"
She comes from weather consulting company, HailTrace, where she worked as a meteorologist beginning in October 2025.
Before that, Smith was part of the team at FOX23 News KOKI, joining the station in 2022 after working at News12 KXII in Sherman, Texas.
Smith gained national attention for launching “Signing Science with Smith,” a series delivering weather updates in American Sign Language for both deaf and hearing audiences. The Rockwall, Texas native says she was inspired to learn sign language in seventh grade by her mother, a special education teacher.
While a senior at the University of Oklahoma, Smith worked at KXII from January to April 2022. She also completed an internship at News on 6 KOTV in Tulsa.
Roberts (who goes by Sam) joined Cleveland 19 News in the Fall of 2015. She also served as a meteorologist for Telemundo Cleveland WTCL.
Before she joined WOIO, Roberts worked for Gray Media's sister station, WWBT 12, in Richmond, Virginia.
She has also worked as a meteorologist for WAAY 31 News in Huntsville, Alabama, and as a weather forecaster/sports reporter for 41 NBC WMGT in Macon, Georgia.
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville graduate later earned her Certificate in Broadcast and Operational Meteorology from Mississippi State University.
Dominique Newland has joined ABC7 KABC Los Angeles as a reporter, effective January 2026.
Before making the move to Southern California, Newland joined FOX 10 KSAZ Phoenix in December 2023 as a weekend anchor and reporter.
Prior to Phoenix, Newland worked at KVUE in Austin, where she served as a weekend morning anchor/reporter after joining the station in November 2021. She came to Austin from KYMA 11/13 in Yuma, Arizona, where she had been working since June 2019.
Newland is a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington and previously interned with CBS’s The Late Late Show, as well as Indianapolis stations WISH-TV 8 and WTHR 13. Newland was also an anchor/reporter for Indiana University Student Television (IUSTV) and served as a special affairs chair for the local chapter of The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).
CBS Atlanta launches a new weekday morning newscast, "CBS News Atlanta Mornings," on February 2, 2026.
Why is a CBS-owned station in a market like Atlanta just launching a morning newscast? Well, Gray Media dropped its CBS affiliation on WANF Atlanta last summer. CBS then transitioned WUPA 69 to CBS Atlanta right after and began building a news department.
The newscast will originate from a State-of-the-Art AR/VR News Studio.
“Our goal is to meet viewers where they are in their communities and deliver news that helps them start their day informed, prepared and connected,” said Tom Canedo, president and general manager of CBS Atlanta. “This morning show reflects our commitment to meaningful local journalism, paired with the unmatched resources of CBS News.”
The "CBS News Atlanta Mornings" team includes:
Jobina Fortson-Evans, anchor
Alexa Liacko, traffic anchor
Troy Bridges, meteorologist
Kaley Fedko, reporter
Additional reporters and contributors, including two-time Emmy Award-winning journalist and reporter La’Tasha Givens and Jamal Goss, will join the "CBS News Atlanta Mornings" team in the coming weeks.
Jennifer Horbelt has stepped down from her co-anchor role on WPSD Local 6’s 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts in Paducah, Kentucky, where she anchored alongside Todd Faulkner.
As of January 2026, Horbelt has taken on a new role as Communications Manager at United Systems & Software, Inc. in Benton, Kentucky, marking the next chapter in her career after more than 11 years with WPSD Local 6.
Here is what Horbelt posted on LinkedIn:
"So thankful for nearly 20 years in the television news business, most of that time with WPSD TV... but I'm MOST thankful for the coworkers who became friends/family along the way! The tears flowed Friday night at 6pm for my last show. This goodbye meant so much to me. I'll cherish it forever!
And as is tradition in the news biz, there's no time to waste. Today is my FIRST day in my new role as Communications Manager with United Systems & Software, Inc.!"
She began her professional journey at WPSD as an intern, working her way up to reporter and eventually evening anchor. She previously served as an anchor/reporter at WPSD from 2007 to 2011 before heading to Colorado.
In 2011, Horbelt moved to Colorado Springs to anchor and report at KOAA News 5, where she co-anchored the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts with Rob Quirk and solo-anchored the 6:30 p.m. broadcast. She also reported, shot, and edited enterprise stories during her time there.
After spending three years with a view of the Rocky Mountains, Horbelt and her new husband decided it was time to return to the area she considers home. She rejoined WPSD in 2014, continuing a career that originally began at the station while she was still a student.
A Houston native, Horbelt moved to Memphis during high school and later chose to attend the University of Tennessee at Martin, located within the WPSD viewing area.
Horbelt considers her greatest accomplishment to be her son Logan, who was born in January 2017. In recent years, she has balanced full-time work with parenting, volunteering for organizations such as the United Way and the Purchase Area Sexual Assault & Child Advocacy Center, and pursuing a Master of Arts in Strategic Communication from UT Martin.
Alexandra Cranford has departed her meteorology role at WWL-TV New Orleans as of January 2026, concluding a 13-year tenure at the station.
Cranford posted that she is leaving to stay at home with her baby:
"It's been an honor to share New Orleans weather with you for 13 years. Thank you for watching and listening to my forecasts - it has meant so much.
I'm grateful for all the positive and professional people I've worked with, and for the joy this job has given me.
Most of all, I thank God for the gift of my family, for guiding me to this new phase of life, and for life itself. O God, almighty Father, all glory and honor is yours, forever and ever.
I'll also be off social media soon, so maybe I'll see you in the grocery store aisle sometime."
Cranford joined WWL-TV in 2012 after serving as a morning forecaster at KTBS 3 in Shreveport, Louisiana. She began her television career as a news anchor and weather forecaster at KNOE 8 in Monroe, Louisiana.
In addition to her on-air work, Cranford is a published researcher. Her study, “Women Weathercasters: Their Education, Positions and Presence in Local TV,” appeared in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society in February 2018 and is the largest known biographical study of television weathercasters in the United States.
Her work has earned multiple honors, including Best Weathercast in Louisiana from the Associated Press and Best Weathercast in New Orleans from the Press Club of New Orleans. She has also received awards from the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters and Women in Media.
Outside of local TV news, Cranford worked as a NASA Science and Engineering Apprentice in the Naval Research Laboratory’s Office of Oceanography.
A New Orleans native, Cranford holds a Master of Science in Applied Meteorology from Mississippi State University and graduated summa cum laude from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Communication. It was while working at LSU’s campus news station that she first became interested in meteorology.
