Sharron Melton leaves CW39 Houston

Sharron Melton said goodbye to CW39 Houston KIAH on Thursday morning, marking the end of nearly eight years with the station.

Usually, in TV anchor goodbye videos, there is an endless montage of past clips and tributes to said anchor. This was not the case for Melton. In her goodbye video (above), the longtime Houston morning anchor did not make the news about herself at all. Instead, she gave a classy tribute to colleague and chief meteorologist Idolina Peralez. No joke, I actually at first thought Peralez was leaving.

Thursday evening, Melton took to social media, saying she will miss her coworkers and the Houston community she had the opportunity to serve each morning:

"After almost 8 years, today I said goodbye to CW39 Houston. I will truly miss my coworkers and the community I was able to reach each morning and I was so honored to serve. 

Thank you all!

And while this change has happened, better things are coming soon!

Keep following me here to learn more about what I have planned for the future!"

Melton joined KIAH in October 2018. She most recently served as the morning anchor for CW39 Houston's Htown Morning News and No Wait Weather and Traffic, airing from 6 to 10 a.m. She previously anchored and hosted Morning Dose, the station's morning news and variety program. Morning Dose was the rebirth of CW39's news department after NewsFix and the syndicated version of Morning Dose were canceled.

An Emmy Award-winning journalist, Melton has more than two decades of experience in television news as an anchor, reporter, and producer.

Before joining CW39, Melton spent nearly eight years with ABC 13 KTRK in Houston. She served as a morning news co-anchor with Tom Koch from 4:30 to 7 a.m.

It was a big deal for KIAH to hire a popular former anchor from the top-rated competitor in Houston morning news. Interesting fact: for many years, my news about Melton's time leaving ABC13 was the top post on my blog. Heck, it was big news for my readers when Melton reunited on a Channel 39 segment with former ABC13 morning meteorologist Casey Curry. 

Melton and McGuff in 2015.

Her television career has also taken her to Miami, Mobile, Alabama, and Roswell, New Mexico. 

From 2000 to 2007, she was a weekend evening anchor and weekday reporter at WSVN 7 News Miami, covering stories throughout South Florida. 

She previously anchored the 5 p.m. newscast and served as an education reporter at NBC 15 WPMI in Mobile, Alabama, from 1998 to 2000.

Melton began her television career at KOBR 8 in Roswell, where she worked as a 5 and 6 p.m. anchor and reporter from 1995 to 1998.

Outside of traditional television news, Melton has hosted and executive produced Sharing the Sugar with Sharron, a YouTube podcast featuring interviews focused on the importance of giving back to the community.

Dayna Steele, Mike McGuff, Sharron Melton, Outlaw Dave

She was previously named one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Houston by Houston Woman's Magazine.

Melton earned a master's degree in television communication from Eastern New Mexico University and a bachelor's degree in speech communication and journalism from Texas A&M University. She has also worked as an undergraduate lecturer and instructor in broadcast news fundamentals at the University of South Alabama.

She is a member of the International Women's Forum Houston Chapter and the National Association of Black Journalists. Melton has also served on the board of directors for the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council and on the steering committee for Women of Wardrobe with Dress for Success Houston.

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CW33 KDAF DFW gets a 9pm newscast again

CW33 KDAF Dallas - Fort Worth is getting a nightly newscast back in primetime.

- Perry Sook reveals Nexstar-TEGNA deal outcome in DFW

Beginning in mid-August 2026, KDAF will air a live 9 p.m. newscast seven days a week, immediately following The CW Network's primetime programming. 

UPDATE:  According to LinkedIn posts by Nexstar employees, TEGNA's WFAA 8 DFW will provide the news for CW33 KDAF. The new newscast replaces entertainment show Stage33.

CW33 DFW previously had newscasts under owner Tribune Broadcasting, but those went away when NewsFix expanded to North Texas from CW39 Houston KIAH in 2012.  The network version of Morning Dose also originated from KDAF years ago before current owner Nexstar Media Group purchased Tribune. 

“We’re excited to launch daily primetime newscasts in two of the country’s top-12 markets and provide viewers with a new outlet for news and information that didn’t exist previously,” said Andrew Alford, President of Nexstar’s broadcasting division.  “Nexstar is committed to serving our communities with high-quality, fact-based local journalism, which is particularly important now, as the mid-term elections approach and voters look for reliable, credible information about the issues and the candidates running for office.”

In addition to Dallas, Nexstar also announced it will launch a seven-day-a-week 9 p.m. newscast in Phoenix on CW7 Arizona KAZT, where the company provides services under a Time Brokerage Agreement.

- KHOU 11 to provide CW39 9pm newscast

Former Houston TV anchor in new Tyler Perry movie

Former CW39 Houston KIAH 'Morning Dose' anchor Shannon LaNier is making a splash in Hollywood with a role in the upcoming film Duplicity, directed by Tyler Perry.

He left Channel 39 in 2021 after two years to join the Black News Channel (BNC).

LaNier's former co-anchor, Sharron Melton, caught up with the new movie star to find out how he landed the role after receiving a call from Tyler Perry himself, details about Duplicity, and some of the other exciting projects he's working on.

You can watch LaNier and the entire cast in Duplicity on Amazon Prime.

Before coming to Houston, LaNier served as a weekend morning anchor at Fios1 News in New York.

Earlier in his career, he hosted the daily culture and entertainment series Arise Entertainment 360, which aired on Centric, BET’s sister station.

He also contributed to Black Enterprise Magazine’s Black Enterprise Business Report and Our World With Black Enterprise as both a correspondent and senior producer.

LaNier worked as a multi-media journalist (MMJ) for the News 12 Networks and began his career at WCBS New York as a segment producer shortly after graduating from Kent State University.

Beyond television, LaNier authored the book Jefferson’s Children: The Story of One American Family, chronicling his experience as a ninth-generation direct descendant of Thomas Jefferson and his enslaved mistress, Sally Hemings. In 2020, he was featured in a Smithsonian Magazine project that reimagined historical figures through the stories of their living descendants.

LaNier has also hosted the Daddy Duty 365 podcast.

Houston radio legend Moby has died

James Carney, 69, known to his loyal Houston radio rock fans as “Moby” on 97 Rock KSRR and 101 KLOL through the 1980s, has died after battling stage 4 stomach cancer.

“The Texas Radio Hall Fame, mourns the loss of another of our broadcast brethren, a true giant in the industry,” Doug Harris, executive director of the TRHoF and former KLOL promotions director, told mikemcguff.com. “There are few radio personalities who are able to achieve market dominance in three different major markets, and that’s what our friend Moby did. We send our condolences to his wife, Mary Beth, and all of the Carney family.”

Moby left afternoons on KLOL Houston for Atlanta country station Kicks 101.5 WKHX (now called New Country 101-FIVE) in the early 1990s.

Before KLOL, he left Houston for mornings on 97.1 The Eagle KEGL.

Houston radio got its first dose of “Moby in the Morning” with his famous catchphrase “Get your lazy asses outta bed!” on his 97 Rock Houston KSRR morning show.

The jock retired from his syndicated country morning show in 2016.

Since then, Moby was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame’s Annual Induction 2022.

Moby also returned to Space City on Houston Radio Platinum.

“I’m heartbroken,” fellow Houston Radio Platinum DJ Chris Alan (KLOL, KKRW) told mikemcguff.com. “I was a fan, co-worker & friend. Moby was such a kind and selfless person. I’m going to miss our phone conversations. Moby made so many people laugh, I loved hearing HIM laugh. Rest peacefully my friend.”

Moby began working in his hometown of Crossville, Tennessee, at 1490 WCSV, where he played Sunday morning gospel music at the age of 15.

radioINSIGHT reports Moby would later work for WAMB, WKDF, WKQB, and “98 Rock” WQXM Tampa before joining Houston's 97 Rock.

- Michael Berry remembers Moby

Sam Malone recently interviewed Moby for "The Legends of Houston Radio" broadcast, which probably was his last interview. The new podcast has given me permission to embed Moby's episode for you here:

Hannah Trippett leaves CW39 Houston

Hannah Trippett announced this is her last week at CW39 KIAH Houston as morning traffic anchor/reporter.

According to LinkedIn, Trippett is now an investor relations associate with CAZ Investments.

Here is what Trippett posted on Instagram in this age of social media when leaving channel 39:

"Time to move on to the next era. I’m so thankful to have met and worked with so many of the people in these pictures, from WDHN in Dothan, to KPRC in Houston, WOAI/KABB in San Antonio, and back home to CW 39 Houston.

Thank you for all of the lessons learned, many of them hard, and for shaping me into the person I am today.

What’s next? Normal hours and every holiday off! I can’t wait."

The native Houstonian recently filled in as the "Houston Happens" host while Maggie Flecknoe is on maternity leave with her husband.

Trippett joined CW39 Houston in 2018 as traffic anchor back in the Tribune-owned 'Morning Dose' days.

She came from News 4 San Antonio and KABB FOX 29 News where she was a sports reporter.

Before the Alamo City, Trippett was in her hometown as a KPRC 2 sports producer/photographer.

The University of Texas at Austin grad got her TV start with WDHN Dothan, Alabama as sports director. She interned with ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut.

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* This Hannah Trippett post was updated with her job move to CAZ Investments.

Courtney Carpenter joins abc13 KTRK

Courtney Carpenter joins abc13 KTRK as a reporter after leaving CW39 KIAH's morning show in 2020.

She came to Houston from KBTX 3 Bryan-College Station when the Houston version of "Morning Dose" started on channel 39. 

Carpenter started her career at KRBC Abilene as an MMJ (multi-media journalist).

The Dallas Baptist University grad was born in Monroe, Louisiana, but grew up in Springdale, Arkansas.

Shannon LaNier joins the Black News Channel - BNC

Shannon LaNier is leaving CW39 KIAH mornings to join the Black News Channel or BNC the Houston anchor tells mikemcguff.com.

He starts today, June 21, 2021 in an anchor role. Here are platforms where you can watch BNC.

LaNier has always had high-profile jobs throughout his broadcasting career. 

After graduating from Kent State University, LaNier entered the television news world at WCBS New York as a segment producer.

He then joined the News 12 Networks on the East Coast as a multi-media journalist (MMJ).

Later LaNier worked on Black Enterprise Magazine’s “Black Enterprise Business Report” and “Our World With Black Enterprise” as a correspondent and senior producer.

He also hosted daily culture and entertainment series “Arise Entertainment 360,” which aired  aired on Centric, BET’s sister station. 

Prior to joining channel 39 in Houston for Morning Dose, LaNier was a weekend morning anchor at New York City's Fios1 News.

In February 2020, I interviewed LaNier about his podcast, Daddy Duty 365.

As I wrote last summer, LaNier authored, "Jefferson’s Children: The Story of One American Family." The book covers his story about being a ninth generation direct descendant of Thomas Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemings. 

Last summer, LaNier was a part of a Smithsonian Magazine project where living descendants re-imagined their historical figure ancestors.

'Houston Happens' launches on CW39 KIAH

"Houston Happens," a new lifestyle morning show, launched Monday on CW39 KIAH.

The mid-AM show, airing weekdays from 9:30 to 10, is helmed by anchor Maggie Flecknoe and recently hired meteorologist Star Harvey.

So if you are watching the Nexstar Media Group's experimental AM newscast, "NO WAIT WEATHER + TRAFFIC," which starts at 6am, the new show flows right into it. 

Your intrepid media blogger made sure to tune in for the inaugural episode (watch the first segment of the "Houston Happens" first episode above).  

The show started off with Flecknoe and Harvey, who say on air they are actually friends off air, quizzing each about the other. In fact, regular CW39 viewers probably have noticed the duo have been appearing together in various segments leading up to the new show.

🗓 A new month & exciting new things headed your way on @CW39Houston 📺@StarHarveyWx & I are ready to add some extra ☀️ to your day! Join us Monday from 9:30am-10am. Two friends having fun on TV. Doesn’t get much better than that 💃🏼💃🏾#cw39 #houston #houstonhappens #tunein pic.twitter.com/Q6wWjpWLxO

— CW39 Houston Maggie Flecknoe (@maggiesworld) May 2, 2021

That was followed by a series of interviews with some noting with a "brought to you by" that they are paid for by the interviewee. This classifies "Houston Happens" as the CW39 version of KHOU 11's "Great Day Houston" or KPRC 2's "Houston Life." 

Some of the interview topics on the first-edition of "Houston Happens" included beauty and and an author talking about his book.  

Throughout, Harvey transitions the show into weather segments. By 9:30am, especially these days from what I hear, traffic is not as much of an issue in Houston. However if something breaks, I would guess the traffic tie up would be covered. 

Getting off topic for a moment, what's amazing is my readers have pointed out, some Houston stations don't even have a full-time morning traffic anchor anymore if you can believe that! Since the word "traffic" is actually in the name of CW39's morning news show, Hannah Trippett still performs the duty for KIAH.  OK, back to my "Houston Happens" coverage...

Flecknoe has become the channel 39 morning mainstay, having been in the AM hours since former owner Tribune's "EyeOpener " and "Morning Dose."  She has also been doing a segment called "Houston Happenings" which focuses on what's going on around H-Town.

RELATED
Maggie Flecknoe is engaged

Harvey joined KIAH earlier this year from KREX5 News Grand Junction, CO where she was the weekend weather anchor and multi-media journalist.

CW39's morning news has December departure and arrival

Original "Morning Dose" reporter Courtney Carpenter has left CW39 KIAH's NO WAIT WEATHER + TRAFFIC AM newscast.

UPDATE JULY 5, 2021
Courtney Carpenter joins abc13 KTRK

Here is part of what Carpenter posted on her Facebook page:

"My last day at CW39 was earlier this month. 

I’m so grateful for the experience & the friends I made while working there! I’m not sure what’s next for me on the job front, but I know it will all work out in the Lord’s timing - it always does! 

Thank you all for following along! I know some of you have been since my days reporting in Abilene & College Station."

RELATED
CW39 Houston has been quickly making big changes 

Carpenter came to channel 39 Houston in 2018 for the debut of the new local version of "Morning Dose" from KBTX Bryan - College Station.  She had worked in BCS television news since 2016 as channel 3's morning newscast feature reporter. 

She started her career at KRBC Abilene as a multi-media journalist (MMJ). 

The Monroe, Louisiana native, who grew up in Springdale, Arkansas, graduated from Dallas Baptist University on a golf scholarship.

That experience led Carpenter to intern with CBS Sports and travel with the PGA Tour. 

Carpenter's departure happened just before the arrival of a new meteorologist.

As I posted earlier, meteorologist Carrigan Chauvin debuted on the CW39 morning newscast Christmas Day.

Chauvin comes to Houston from KJRH 2 Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

Commenters on my Facebook page were asking who Chauvin is replacing.  

I don't think she is replacing anyone.  Chauvin is filling a new, second meteorologist spot for channel 39 along with Adam Krueger who arrived at KIAH from Spectrum News a few months ago.

CW39 Houston launches "NO WAIT WEATHER + TRAFFIC"

First ever show in the nation to solely focus on weather and traffic coverage debuts on CW39 Houston KIAH

Since arriving in late June, newly hired CW39 Houston KIAH News Operations Manager Scott Fitzgerald (formerly the KJRH Tulsa, Oklahoma news director) has already helped oversee lots of changes at one of Nexstar Media Group's newest stations.

UPDATE MAY 2021

'Houston Happens' launches on CW39 KIAH

"It feels a lot longer than six weeks, it's been a busy six weeks," Fitzgerald laughed when he told mikemcguff.com recounting his busy first summer in Houston. "But I'm very proud of what [the staff has] done. We were sitting here thinking if we were ready to launch the new show and we launched it, and literally an hour later, we went, 'we need a hurricane plan because there's a hurricane in four days.'"

That hurricane was Laura, which had the Gulf Coast states in a quandary for around a week in late August as the storm ultimately chose its path of unfortunate destruction near Cameron, Louisiana.

The other winds of media change transformed the nearly two-year-old channel 39 AM news show "Morning Dose" (and only newscast KIAH currently produces, the nightly newscast is produced by abc13 KTRK) and transformed it into "CW39 Houston NO WAIT WEATHER + TRAFFIC."

A few days before the storm hit, the staff debuted the new newscast. The weeks leading to that, they produced "Morning Dose" like usual on a temporary set, took a quick break at 10am and then started rehearsing for the new show.

While the anchor team remains the same (such as anchor Sharron Melton and traffic anchor Hannah Trippett) the focus of the show will be as the title implies, a nearly total focus on Houston weather and traffic coverage.

One personnel change will be meteorologist Maria Sotolongo who is leaving the TV biz for ranch life near College Station, TX. Spectrum News Austin and Spectrum News San Antonio meteorologist Adam Krueger will join CW39 in a few weeks to take her place.

Citing a desire to create a unique newscast in Nielsen's Designated Market Area (DMA) TV market #8, Fitzgerald and crew determined that Houston's legendary traffic and weather woes affects every local TV news viewer.

And from 6 to 10am, the "NO WAIT WEATHER + TRAFFIC" newscast has plenty of time to devote to the topics since that's the entire format of the show.

"The stories we do are related to people's commute," Fitzgerald added. "If you really think about it, getting to work is is a lot of people's lives."

The change in news format, also led to changes in the newscast studio. That includes a substantial investment in a larger set makeover, graphics package and upgraded weather system with new storm/lightning tracking software.

"A lot of folks around the country right now are talking about cutting and saving money," Fitzgerald told me. "And [the news set upgrade is] definitely an investment, not just visually, but the ability to tell stories. You know, we have a touch screen in play. We've got five or six different positions on the set now where we could tell a different story. The set also provides a way if we wanted to go in other avenues, we could pull parts of the set out and create a new place to, you know, to tell a story and do something with that."

Fitzgerald says you can't cover traffic from behind a desk, so the station also sends anchor Shannon LaNier to broadcast live from Houston freeways. At this point, two other live vehicles can be put into the mix if necessary.

And even though weather and traffic are actually in the name of the newscast, there are a few news items still in the mix here and there.

For example, Tuesday morning on the first day of school for many area districts, reporter Courtney Carpenter interviewed a principal in our pandemic world. Feature Maggie Flecknoe will continue reporting live and from inside the studio.

The KIAH management team thinks the revamped newscast is the first of its kind in the nation. That follows the history of the Houston CW affiliate. From producing a younger demo focused newscast under the 39News brand more than a decade ago, to totally dumping tradition for the anchor-less NewsFix format, the former Tribune owned station has always experimented to compete with the bigger television companies that run Houston stations.

Now that Nexstar has taken over, suddenly more resources are available as we saw during the before mentioned Hurricane Laura. If you were reading this blog before the storm made landfall, then you saw how "the largest local television broadcast and digital media company in the nation" sent in help from stations across Texas to allow channel 39, for the first time, to offer wall to wall expanded on-air coverage. By the way, in Texas alone, Nexstar owns stations in 13 markets.

That sudden boost from KIAH's new parent company, also gives the station more options to compete in the Houston market for the foreseeable future. Now it's just about time to implement those resources.

"I've got a list," Fitzgerald told me with a laugh. "Whenever I get that list, you know, shortened up. Yeah. We've got a long list."

RELATED
- Nexstar Media Group Completes Tribune Media Acquisition Creating The Nation’s Largest Local Television Broadcaster
- Chris Pruitt named VP and GM of CW39 KIAH

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.

Nexstar shows Houston how it competes during Hurricane Laura

Texas-based TV owner Nexstar Media Group flexes its news resources for CW39 KIAH Houston Hurricane Laura coverage


Now Houston TV news viewers are watching how new entrant to our television market, station owner Nexstar Media Group, competes as it starts to cover Hurricane Laura.

Nexstar bought Tribune stations like CW39 Houston KIAH last year, and started making changes to the CW affiliate a few months ago.

Last week, the station stopped the Morning Dose show name on its only Houston newscast, altered its set, and changed the station's overall branding with a new color scheme.

As Hurricane Laura approaches land, Nexstar is using its massive ownership across Texas to supply talent to Houston from its other stations. The company has stations in 13 Texas markets - and in many of those owning multiple stations.

"The #NexstarNation is proud to support @CW39Houston during a critical time for this part of Texas," Director of Digital Content for Nexstar Media Group Austin Kellerman tweeted me. "Similar work being done in Louisiana as #Laura approaches."

For those keeping score about Nexstars reach, the TV company says on its own website:

Upon completion of its acquisition of Tribune Media in 2019, Nexstar became the largest local television broadcast and digital media company in the nation with a portfolio of 196 full power owned or serviced stations in 114 markets reaching approximately 63% of US television households.

While I have never covered Nexstar until recently, the company has a reputation for running stations efficiently and knowing how to share resources. KIAH's hurricane coverage is proof positive of this thought.

With the extra help from Nexstar Texas stations, KIAH is doing news cut-ins throughout the day.

To help add news coverage, feature reporter Maggie Flecknoe is anchoring some of these cutins from what I have seen.

Also added is former FOX 26 KRIV meteorologist Lindsey Day who joined KIAH in 2018 as a fill-in meteorologist for Maria Sotolongo and fitness segment expert.

Helping out from other TX Nexstar stations:
KXAN Austin Capitol Correspondent Maggie Glynn
NBC 23 KVEO Brownsville meteorologist Chris Ramirez
KXAN Texas Capitol Correspondent Wes Rapaport
CBS 4 Meteorologist KGBT Rio Grande Valley Andrew Shipley
KXAN Austin Education Reporter Alex Caprariello
FOX51 KETK Tyler anchor Trent Bennett
Chief Photographer at KETK Tyler William Bethancourt
KXAN Austin Digital Photojournalist Todd Bailey
KXAN Austin Meteorologist David Yeomans
FOX 44 KWKT Waco Operations Director & Assistant Engineer Johnathan Kiker
KXAN Austin Executive Producer Wes Wilson
Director of Digital Content for Nexstar Media Group Austin Kellerman
CBS 4 KGBT Rio Grande Valley reporter Chris Jacobs
News Photographer/Drone Pilot Gage McAllen, TX

SEE ANOTHER NEW FACE?: Let me know any other non-Houston anchors/reporters you see on CW39

Currently KIAH is paying KTRK to run a nightly newscast “ABC13 Eyewitness News at 9 PM on CW39."

Readers are asking me how long will KIAH even need to do that? Will Nexstar being adding new newscasts to CW39?

Stay tuned.

(Thanks David!)

Texas TV news and radio job moves July 2020

Send tips for the monthly Texas media job list here.

- 2020 Lone Star Regional Sports EMMY Nominees announced
- The Texas Radio Hall of Fame class 2020

DALLAS - FORT WORTH

Longtime Texas Newsman Derik Lattig named Manager of Spectrum Cable News Office in Dallas Texas. Derik, whose official title is Planning Manager will be overseeing 10 MMJ's covering DFW for Spectrum's new venture which signs on in Dallas Sept 1st. Derik is a CBS Newspath Alum and has worked at stations in Dallas and Houston and across Texas during his 30-year career.

NBC 5 KXAS News Director John Stone adds KXTX Telemundo ND duties.

Cumulus Media hit with round of layoffs in Dallas.

It’s no ‘Last Dance,’ but documentary on SportsRadio 1310 The Ticket's Mike Rhyner will be riveting.

KCBI Dallas listeners respond to 'Feed Your Neighbor' outreach.

Dallas Moring News union organization
- Journalists of The Dallas Morning News and Al Día Dallas announce union organizing campaign
- Dallas Morning News declines to recognize union
- Inside the Dallas Morning News Union Fight

- CBS Stations Group of Texas to pay Tammy Dombeck $215,000


HOUSTON

Congrats to Houston-based syndicated host Michael Berry (740 KTRH) who makes the 2020 Talkers Heavy Hundred list.

KHOU 11 anchor Ron Trevino celebrates his 38th year with the station.

abc13 KTRK chief meteorologist Travis Herzog celebrates 14 years of service with the station.

KHOU 11 morning meteorologist Chita Craft celebrates nine years with the station.

KPRC 2 assistant news director Aaron Fernandez-Wische celebrates eight years with the station.

Reporter Cathy Hernandez celebrates five years at KPRC 2.

Ken Hoffman pitches 10 hard-hitting questions to Astros reporter Julia Morales.

Houston Chronicle nabs third place in Society of Features Journalism Awards.

There was a FOX 26 KRIV Isiah Carey Day celebration in downtown Houston where participants helped feed the homeless and prepare them for the pandemic.

Washington’s NFL name change will save Houston Chronicle copy editors a headache.

KPRC 2 Director of Digital and Enterprise Content David Arkin leaves station.

FCC Fines Gow Media's KFNC/Houston $5200 over contest.

Houston Public Media Communications Manager Victoria Cordova has left broadcasting and joined the Harris County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) as a media specialist.

This radio station has served blind Texans for more than 50 years.

FOX 26 KRIV producer Ellie Holmes tweets she started three months ago with the station. The last time she was physically at the station was when she interviewed for the job back in March. She previously worked for KSAT and KENS, both in San Antonio.

- José Santos leaves Telemundo Houston
- Shannon LaNier is a descendant of Thomas Jefferson
- Trey Serna leaves CW39 KIAH
- Houston Radio Platinum is now Classic Hits
- CW39's Morning Dose adds another hour
- Taniya Wright reveals why she had to put her health first
- Dayna Steele's "The Woman in the Mirror" debuts
- Shannon LaNier gets ripped in #CutUpCovidChallenge
- Deneige Broom returns to WFTV 9
- Video shows what led to Wayne Dolcefino's arrest in court
- Re’Chelle Turner joins KPRC 2
- Houston TV has most famous bug in mouth reporter...but there are others
- Addison Green appears on the "Joe & Joe Weather Show" podcast
- Taniya Wright talks about surgery recovery
- Steve Campion does weddings
- Astros TV's Todd Kalas to miss beginning of season after positive COVID-19 test
- Darren Lyn reports internationally on Hurricane Hanna
- SportsMap Radio launches from SB Nation Radio


SAN ANTONIO

David Flores, who wrote sports for KENS5 since April 2009, has retired. He worked for many years at the San Antonio Express-News and the Kingsville Record-News before that.

Congrats to KENS 5 producer Tara Moore who welcomed baby Trinity Grace into the world on July 29.

- KENS 5's Audrey Castoreno announces baby news
- Breanna Barrs leaves FOX 29 KABB


AUSTIN

The Austin American-Statesman signs lease, will relocate to Southeast Austin site next year.

- KVUE Austin shifts Bryan Mays and Mike Rush
- Erika Lopez interviewed by GMA's Ginger Zee
- KOKE Austin's Bob Cole recovering from COVID-19


AROUND TEXAS

Texas newspaper editor Carlos Sanchez battled COVID-19.

KBTX employee retires after nearly 50 years - Todd Carroll started his television career at KBTX in 1973.

Townsquare Lubbock And Odessa OM Dave Dunaway resigns.

Joey Parker is the new news director at KTEN Sherman.

Nexstar Media Charitable Foundation and KFDX-TV 3 donate $10,000 to “THE Kitchen” Of Wichita Falls, TX.

- Big changes at KRIS 6 Corpus Christi
- KGNS Laredo reports 8 COVID-19 staff cases
- Newscenter25 KAVU's announces new anchor lineup
- KAVU Victoria has new leadership
- Faith Woodard joins KVEO Brownsville
- Mary Kate Hamilton joins KOSA Midland-Odessa market
- Bailey Vaughn joins KTEN 10


REMEMBERING

Former WBAP Country Cowboy, Bill Mack, Dead at 88.

Former WFAA Channel 8 general Manager and sales manager Jerry Michael Blancett passed away.

CBS 4 KVEO Rio Grande Valley morning anchor Dan Joseph, 47, loses battle with cancer.

The parents of late Fox News 29 San Antonio KABB anchor Karen Martinez, die of COVID-19 within days of each other.

- Pioneering Texas TV anchor Judy Jordan dies (KDFW, KLTV, KYTX)
- Lily Jang loses her father
- Former TV photographer German Cortez has died
- KHOU 11 legal analyst Gerald Treece has died
- Former KSAT 12 San Antonio anchor Rosenda Rios has died

Shannon LaNier gets ripped in #CutUpCovidChallenge

"Morning Dose" anchor Shannon LaNier hits the gym and eats right in workout challenge



CW39 KIAH Houston "Morning Dose" anchor Shannon LaNier let the Houston Defender Network cover his workout transformation for the #CutUpCovidChallenge.

LaNier spent six weeks trying to shed weight gained during the coronavirus quarantine.

His goal was to be able to show off those 6-pack abs by his 41st birthday at the end of June.

How did he do?

Results speak for themselves which are embedded below via Instagram.

RELATED
- Shannon LaNier is a descendant of Thomas Jefferson
- Shannon LaNier launches Daddy Duty 365 podcast

View this post on Instagram

He did it! 🔥 🔥 🔥 Wow! Look at our guy now! 👀 @mrshannonlanier took us up on our Defender #CutUpCovidChallenge to reclaim his 6-pack in 6 weeks! From #DadBod to #Ripped!! Looking good, Mr. LaNier. Our hats off to you! Check us out at DefenderNetwork.com on Friday for the return of ‘Fit & Fine’ where Shannon will share just how he did it. * * Body by: @Jamaicanmuscle @DarkSkinnedJermaine @BodyShopHTX @BeeFitFoods @redsjuicejoint Photo credit: Dean Greene www.DGPhotographies.com

A post shared by DefenderNetwork (@defendernetwork) on Jul 1, 2020 at 9:33am PDT

CW39's Morning Dose adds another hour

KIAH CW39 Houston's Morning Dose adds extra hour to now air from 6am to 10am

Today, CW39 Houston KIAH announced on social media it's adding an extra hour to Morning Dose.

So instead of 6 to 9am, the show will now air from 6am to 10am.

That puts Morning Dose at more hours than most of the other station's AM newscast offerings, but it still has a couple of hours to match FOX 26 KRIV's 4am to 10am.

When Morning Dose re-launched as a Houston only newscast, the station chose to only go head to head with the other stations starting at 6am, and then only competing with FOX 26 after 7am as the other channels go to network programming.

Judge Jerry, which was airing at 9am, has moved to the noon slot. Now what was on at noon before, I have no idea. My skills only go so far. UPDATE: The noon slot was previously occupied by Couples Court.

RELATED
- Shannon LaNier is a descendant of Thomas Jefferson
- CW39 KIAH Morning Dose Anchor/Senior Producer Trey Serna leaves
- CW33 KDAF DFW launching Morning After with Ron Corning and Jenny Anchondo


(Thanks Christian)

Trey Serna leaves CW39 KIAH

CW39 KIAH Morning Dose Anchor/Senior Producer Trey Serna leaves

CW39 KIAH Anchor/Senior Producer Trey Serna lets us know he is no longer with Morning Dose:

"Some professional/personal news to share: I am no longer with Morning Dose.

I am incredibly thankful for the unique opportunity I had on this show. It was unlike anything else I have ever done. Working on a three-hour morning show with some talented writers, producers and directors was exciting and rewarding.

I was also able to bring stories to viewers that truly meant something to me.

To top it all off, I got to co-anchor alongside some hilariously fun people who made going into work in the middle of the night a tad more tolerable. 🤪

So what’s next? Rest, reflect and recharge! I’m looking forward to some time for myself, my husband and my boys.

[insert inspirational quote here] ✌🏼😆"

RELATED
- CW39's Morning Dose adds another hour
- Shannon LaNier is a descendant of Thomas Jefferson

Serna re-joined CW39 in December 2018 for the new local version of Morning Dose.

He previously worked for the station as a 39News and NewsFix supervising producer, joining right before the anchor-less show's launch in 2010.

He worked for the then Tribune owned station until 2015 when he worked in a communications role for the Sheldon and Fort Bend school districts.

Serna got his broadcast TV news start at KRGV Weslaco in 2008.

Nexstar Media Group completed its acquisition of Tribune Media Company near the end of 2019.

Since then, we have seen longtime employees such has Station Manager and Director of Sales Harvey Saxer and news director Steve Simon have their job titles eliminated in the last few months.

In May, Chris Pruitt was named the Vice President and General Manager for KIAH CW 39.

New openings on the Nexstar TV jobs database include Executive Producer and Manager, News Operations.



(Thanks Candi)

An explosive week in Texas media

Here we thought the week leading into 4th of July weekend would be a quiet one in Texas media.

As the fireworks explode all night, boom goes that idea.

DALLAS - TYLER

UPDATE
Pioneering Texas TV anchor Judy Jordan dies (KDFW, KLTV, KYTX)

HOUSTON

KHOU 11 4pm anchor Russ Lewis to retire

Executive News Director Sally Ramirez to leave KHOU 11

José Santos leaves Telemundo Houston

The Texas Radio Hall of Fame class 2020 announced

UPDATE
CW39 KIAH Morning Dose Anchor/Senior Producer Trey Serna leaves


CORPUS CHRISTI

Big changes at KRIS 6 Corpus Christi with more on the way


JUNE JOBS WRAP UP

Texas TV news and radio job moves June 2020

As always, take a bite out of Texas media news by sending McGuff the media blog dog a tip!

Have a good rest of the holiday weekend.

Shannon LaNier is a descendant of Thomas Jefferson

Shannon LaNier, KIAH CW39 Houston "Morning Dose" anchor, is a ninth generation direct descendant of Thomas Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemings

Shannon LaNier

CW39 Houston "Morning Dose" KIAH anchor Shannon LaNier is a ninth generation direct descendant of Thomas Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemings.

Recently LaNier participated in a Smithsonian Magazine project where photographer Drew Gardner re-imagines historical figures through the eyes of their living descendants.

In the photo, LaNier chose not to wear a wig like Jefferson.

“I didn’t want to become Jefferson,” LaNier told Smithsonian Magazine. “My ancestor had his dreams—and now it’s up to all of us living in America today to make sure no one is excluded from the promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

LaNier co-wrote wrote the book, "Jefferson’s Children: The Story of One American Family," about his journey to uncover the history behind his heritage as a descendant of Jefferson and Hemings.

RELATED
CW39's Morning Dose adds another hour

View this post on Instagram

Does Jefferson look like this black 6th great-grandson????? Here's a #BehindTheScenes sneak peek at the making of @SmithsonianMag new #Descendants project that reimagines #HistoricalFigures through the eyes of their living descendants. As a 9th generation descendant of #President #ThomasJefferson & his slave #SallyHemings, @MrShannonLanier decided to participate... not to erase "#HIStory" but to tell the "FullStory." #DNA #Legacy #YouCantPickFamily #ShannonLanier

A post shared by Shannon LaNier (@mrshannonlanier) on Jul 3, 2020 at 8:20am PDT

The Kent State University graduate, has been co-anchoring "Morning Dose" with Sharron Melton since 2018. He previously worked as the weekend morning anchor at Fios1 News in New York.

LaNier also hosts a podcast called Daddy Duty 365.