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.

Niku Kazori joining ABC7 Los Angeles KABC

Niku Kazori is joining ABC7 Los Angeles KABC from KIRO 7 Seattle, where she was a morning news/traffic/weather anchor.

"I’m extremely grateful for the endless opportunities I was given here…. From starting off a reporter right when I came back from Japan, to traffic within a couple of months, then weather, and finally anchoring. 

At the end…. It was hard to say what my exact 'title' was… I was just referred to as the utility player and I loved it.  

I was beyond lucky to work in a challenging news market with smart, dedicated, and experienced Journalists."

She joined KIRO 7 in March 2022.

Kazori left her position as morning traffic anchor at KENS 5 in San Antonio in May 2020 to move to Okinawa, Japan, where she married her then-fiancé, who was serving in the Air Force.

A native of Houston, Kazori joined KENS 5 Eyewitness News in 2017 after working as a reporter at WVLT 8 Knoxville, Tennessee.

Before that, she was a part-time weather and traffic anchor/reporter for WCBD News 2 in Charleston, South Carolina.

Kazori began her broadcasting career as a weather anchor and reporter for KCBD 11 in Lubbock.

While studying at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, the Cypress Ridge High School alum interned with FOX 26 KRIV and KPRC 2.

Speaking of Houston, KABC recently hired abc13 KTRK general manager Wendy Granato. In Southern California TV news in general, CW39's Adam Krueger is heading for LA while former channel 13 anchor Chauncy Glover is already there.

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A post shared by Niku Kazori 🎤🎥 (@nikukazori)

 

Ford Sanders leaves KVUE Austin

Ford Sanders left KVUE Austin in August 2024, where he had been a reporter and multiskilled journalist (MSJ) since October 2022.

RELATED
KVUE News at Four launches September 2024

"I left the career I know and love (just for now)," Sanders posted on Instagram.  "Television news has taught me so much about myself, but most importantly, the community around me and their stories. For now, I’ll be doing journalism in a different way. I’m excited to jump into content creation full time and continue to share the news that matters to you all through social media platforms."

Sanders came to Central Texas from TEGNA's sister station, WHAS 11 Louisville, Kentucky, where he held the same position.

He previously worked a year for WNCT News Greenville, North Carolina, as an MMJ and fill-in anchor.

As a student, the University of Tennessee Knoxville grad worked as a Web Producer/Digital News Reporter for WVLT 8 Knoxville.

See more recent Austin TV job moves.

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A post shared by Ford Sanders (@fordsanders)

TJ Parker joins KPRC 2 Houston

TJ Parker is returning to television news, this time as a morning reporter with KPRC 2 Houston multiple sources tell mikemcguff.com.

I blogged earlier this year how Parker left his reporting gig with WSVN 7News Miami to return to Houston in a non-news capacity. 

In January 2023, Parker joined Axiom Space, a privately funded space infrastructure developer headquartered in Houston, as its Public Affairs Officer. 

Parker joined WSVN in Miami back in October 2021 when he left abc13 KTRK Houston where he had been a reporter since October 2018.

He came to Houston from WCPO 9 Cincinnati, Ohio and also previously worked for:

-  WFIE 14 News Evansville, Indiana as a reporter/multi-media journalist (MMJ)

- WVLT Knoxville, Tennessee as a multi-media journalist/anchor

The Chicago raised Western Kentucky University grad interned for WECT TV6 Wilmington, North Carolina.

TJ Parker returns to Houston

 

TJ Parker is returning to Houston he announced on social media, but the former abc13 KTRK Houston and current WSVN 7News Miami reporter is getting out of the TV news business.

UPDATE JUNE 2023
TJ Parker joins KPRC 2 Houston

Here is a portion of what Parker posted on Instagram:

"I’m leaving news!

I’ve wanted to be a reporter since third grade… so, getting to do my dream job has been 𝘵𝘩𝘦 privilege of my life. It started when I was a mini-weather watcher at NBC Chicago… then, hosting my own public access news show in fourth grade… to anchoring my college newscast…to now, reporting professionally for the past 10 years at 5 stations. This life has given me more than third grade T.J. would have ever hoped for.

I couldn’t have closed this chapter at a better place than at WSVN Ch. 7. My bosses and co-workers have felt like family, so their support means so much."

Parker left abc13 Houston in October 2021 for WSVN Miami.

Before KTRK, Parker was a reporter/MMJ for WCPO 9 News Cincinnati,  Ohio.

The Western Kentucky University grad previously worked for:

- WFIE 14 News Evansville, Indiana as a Reporter/Multimedia journalist
- WVLT Knoxville, TN as a Multi-Media Journalist/Anchor

Parker is not the only former abc13 reporter who returned to Houston, and retired from the television news biz.  

Former KTRK reporter Tracy Clemons left FOX8 WGHP in Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem in early 2022 to come back and become Texas Southern University's Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications.

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A post shared by T.J. (@_tjparker)

(Thanks John!)

Ford Sanders joins KVUE Austin

Ford Sanders joined KVUE Austin in October 2022 as a reporter/multi-skilled journalist (MSJ) from TEGNA sister station WHAS 11 Louisville, Kentucky, where he held the same position.

UPDATE
Ford Sanders leaves KVUE Austin

RELATED
Conner Board leaves KVUE for new reporting job

Sanders joined the WHAS11 News team in January of 2022 from WNCT News Greenville, North Carolina, where he was an MMJ and fill-in anchor for a year.

The University of Tennessee Knoxville grad interned with CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell.

While in school, Sanders worked as a Web Producer/Digital News Reporter for WVLT 8 in Knoxville, Tennessee, and interned there.

Love you, Lou ❤️. Next stop: Austin, TX. @KVUE pic.twitter.com/bgCBGjiasD

— Ford Sanders KVUE (@fordsandersTV) September 2, 2022

Lauren Adams joins KXXV 25 Waco-Temple-Killeen

Lauren Adams is joining KXXV 25 Waco-Temple-Killeen as an evening anchor for its 5, 6 and 10pm newscasts later in June 2022.

Adams is taking over for Niyah Gonzalez who joined Spectrum News 1 Texas.

"Lauren brings a wealth of journalism experience with her into her new role," Andres Chaparro, vice president and general manager of KXXV, said on the station's website. "We look forward to her contributions including leadership and mentorship within the 25 News team."

“I can’t wait to welcome Lauren to the anchor desk," added Todd Unger, 25 News evening anchor. "She’s a seasoned journalist with a ton of valuable experience that will serve Central Texas well. I have no doubt she’ll make a great addition to the evening team with Matt (Hines) and Jack (Allen).”

Adams joins KXXV from WIS 10 South Carolina where she was a reporter.

Before South Carlina, Adams worked as a:

- Reporter WSB Atlanta, Georgia

- News Reporter KGTV Channel 10 San Diego, California 

- Evening Anchor/Reporter WVLT Local 8 News Knoxville, Tennessee 

- Anchor/Reporter/Producer/Photographer WTVY Dothan, Alabama

- Producer/Reporter/News Writer KRCG Jefferson City, Missouri 

 

The EMMY and Edward R. Murrow Award winner is a grad of the University of Georgia Henry Grady School of Journalism.

Niku Kazori joins KIRO 7 Seattle

Niku Kazori is joining KIRO 7 Seattle after leaving TV for love and to live in another country.

UPDATE AUGUST 2024
Niku Kazori joining ABC7 Los Angeles KABC

She most recently was the KENS 5 San Antonio morning traffic anchor.  Former KENS 5 anchor Aaron Wright just joined KIRO 7 in late 2021.

Kazori left San Antonio TV in May 2020 to move to Okinawa, Japan and marry her then fiancé who serves in the Air Force.

"I'm sure with San Antonio being a military city, you all know at least one person who has gone through the difficult decision to say goodbye to their friends, family, coworkers and pack up everything to move somewhere because that's where the job takes them," Kazori posted at the time. "None of us would have imagined we would be stationed anywhere outside the U.S. and we had different plans for all the different cities that we thought were options and we were going to continue following our passions."

The Houston native joined KENS 5 Eyewitness News in 2017 from WVLT 8 Knoxville where she was a reporter.  

Kazori previously worked as a Part-time weather and traffic anchor/Reporter for WCBD News 2 Charleston, South Carolina Area.  

She got her start in the broadcast biz as a weather anchor/reporter for KCBD 11 Lubbock.

While attending the University of St. Thomas, the Cypress Ridge High School grad interned with FOX 26 KRIV and KPRC 2. 

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A post shared by Niku Kazori 🎤🎥 (@nikukazori)

T.J. Parker leaves abc13 KTRK

T.J. Parker is leaving abc13 KTRK according to social media. He has been a reporter for the Disney TV station since October of 2018.

UPDATE JUNE 2023
TJ Parker joins KPRC 2 Houston

UPDATE
Word on the street is that Parker is heading to WSVN 7News Miami.

Parker came to Houston from WCPO Cincinnati, Ohio where he was a reporter/MMJ.

The Chicago raised Parker previously worked as a:

- Reporter/Multimedia journalist - WFIE 14 News Evansville, Indiana

-  Multi-Media Journalist/Anchor - WVLT Knoxville, TN.

While a student at Western Kentucky University, Parker interned at WECT Wilmington, NC.

In case you were wondering what the T.J. stands for, his old KTRK email reveals a little info for us - tommy.j.parker@abc.com.

Mandi Mendoza leaves News 4 San Antonio WOAI

Mandi Mendoza, who has been the News 4 San Antonio WOAI and FOX 29 KABB news director for almost three years, is leaving the Sinclair stations after nearly two decades.

"In 32 years @News4SA I've seen many come and go. Today is especially hard," WOAI sports director Don Harris posted on Facebook.  "In 18yrs @Mandi77 Mendoza has grown from investigative producer to our boss as News Director.

"Her journalistic chops equaled by her empathy, compassion, and humanity. She's choosing family. Choosing to pour into her children the way she poured into us. It's the right call, but we will miss her dearly. She is a one of a kind human being. To be loved by all those she manages says it all. We are thrilled for her kids Olivia and Timmy who get mom full time."

Before rising to the news director level, Mendoza was the assistant news director for the Sinclair San Antonio stations.  Before that she served as the WOAI investigative producer. 

Prior to San Antonio, Mendoza was an executive producer at WVLT Knoxville, TN and a news producer for KLST San Angelo, TX.  

UPDATE OCTOBER 2021:  Mandi Mendoza joins USAA as Director of Media Production according to her LinkedIn profile. 

Niku Kazori leaves KENS 5 San Antonio

❤️✌️ pic.twitter.com/uIK0luLtLo

— Niku Kazori (@NikuKazori) May 13, 2020

KENS 5 San Antonio morning traffic anchor Niku Kazori has left the TEGNA station and is moving to Japan.

Here is part of what she said on Twitter about her life change:

So many of you know that I met my fiancee here in San Antonio and he's in the Air Force and we've been long distance during the course of our relationship as he traveled the country completing different schools from coast to coast and now finishing his advanced training in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

And I'm sure with San Antonio being a military city, you all know at least one person who has gone through the difficult decision to say goodbye to their friends, family, coworkers and pack up everything to move somewhere because that's where the job takes them.

None of us would have imagined we would be stationed anywhere outside the U.S. and we had different plans for all the different cities that we thought were options and we were going to continue following our passions. For him, it's special operations and for me it's news.

We recently found out that things don't always go as planned, and especially right now during this pandemic and having to postpone our wedding. So very soon we'll be moving to Okinawa, Japan. And I still get the chills every time I say it.

Her final day was last Friday.

You can see her official TV sendoff here.

The Houston native joined KENS 5 as a multi-skilled journalist, later moving to morning traffic replacing Chelsey Hernandez who left for abc13 KTRK to become a consumer reporter.

Kazori previously worked at WVLT Knoxville, Tennessee; WCBD Charleston, South Carolina and KCBD Channel 11 Lubbock.

She interned at FOX 26 KRIV and KPRC 2. She attended Cypress Ridge High School, Sam Houston State University and the University of St Thomas.

TJ Parker joins abc13 KTRK

WCPO Reporter/MMJ T.J. Parker has posted he is the newest hire at abc13 KTRK.

UPDATE JUNE 2023
TJ Parker joins KPRC 2 Houston

"Cincinnati will always be a special place for me," Parker posted on Twitter. "I hope you’ll follow me as I continue my career in Texas at @abc13houston! Thank you to everybody who has made my time here so great!"

Parker had been with the Scripps owned Cincinnati, Ohio station since September 2015.

Before WCPO, Parker worked for WFIE 14 News which serves the Tri-State area of southwestern Indiana, northwestern Kentucky and southeastern Illinois. He covered the news in western Kentucky.

He also worked for WVLT Knoxville, TN.

While attending Western Kentucky University, Parker interned with WECT Wilmington, NC.

Texas TV and radio job moves December 2017

DALLAS - FORT WORTH


ALEXA CONOMOS FAREWELL from WFAA Marketing on Vimeo.
D-FW's list of 2017 TV newsroom exits.

WFAA investigative reporter Brett Shipp resigned to run for the United States Congress as a Democrat.

Veteran reporter Joel Thomas has ended a 14-year career at D-FW’s CBS11.

Jack Highberger from Minneapolis’ Fox-owned KMSP-TV is the latest addition to Fort Worth-based NBC5 KXAS’s reporting staff.

WFAA 8 is adding Jonah Javad to its sports staff as a reporter and fill-in anchor.

Fox O&O KDFW Dallas (DMA 5) hired Alberto Romero as a meteorologist.

Allie Spillyards joins KXAS in Dallas as a freelance reporter. Most recently, she was a reporter and weekend anchor at WIS in Columbia.
- Napoli Management Group

HOUSTON

Former FOX 26 KRIV reporter Kristine Galvan has joined KRGV 5 in the Rio Grande Valley as a reporter. Galvan tells mikemcguff.com she is in training to go in a management role.

Forty year Houston radio veteran John Wesley Downey returns to 740 KTRH. He first worked with the station back in 2002. According to his bio, in his long radio career, Wesley has anchored news and traffic, been a movie reviewer, hosted talk shows, and been a public affairs director for several Houston stations.

Grace White renews her agreement as a reporter with KHOU in her hometown of Houston.
- Napoli Management Group

Larry Seward renews his agreement with KHOU in Houston as a general assignment reporter.
- Napoli Management Group

Chip Brewster leaves KPRC 2.

Rita Garcia leaves FOX 26 KRIV for FOX 11 LA.

CultureMap revamps editorial team: Arden Ward named editorial director and Steven Devadanam replaces Clifford Pugh as Houston editor.

After 10 years, abc13 KTRK consumer reporter Patricia Lopez quits abc13 KTRK.

FOX 26 weekend morning anchor Sally MacDonald named morning anchor after Rita Garcia moves to LA.

TSU Basketball set to be broadcast on AT&T Sports Network Southwest with Butch Alsandor and former TSU Lady Tigers head coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke.

Rick McFarland retires from KPRC 2 after almost 40 years.

Who left or joined the Houston media scene in 2017?

Top mikemcguff blog posts for 2017 by your clicks.

SAN ANTONIO

KENS-TV anchorwoman Karen Grace, a station vet of 12 years, has resigned.

KABB met Shaun Stevens bids farewell to his job of 12 years.

KENS reporter Natassia Paloma leaves for an anchor job in El Paso's KTSM NewsChannel 9.

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. announced that Dean Radla has been named to General Manager of WOAI (NBC) in San Antonio, Texas. He will continue to be the General Manager of KABB-TV (FOX 29) and retain oversight of Sinclair's provision of services to KMYS-TV (CW 35) under a joint sale agreement. Mr. Radla has served as General Manager for KABB (FOX 29) and has been responsible for oversight of Sinclair's provision of services to KMYS (CW 35) under a joint sale agreement since 2012. Prior to that, he served as Director of Sales at the same stations since 1999. From 1997 until 1999, he was the Local Sales Manager for KABB (FOX 29). Mr. Radla has over 35 years of sales and management experience, including 27 years in the television industry in the San Antonio market where he began his television career in 1990 at KMOL-TV (now WOAI-TV). During his career with Sinclair, Mr. Radla has been involved in numerous corporate wide projects focusing on inventory management and revenue strategies. In addition, he has also performed the duties of Regional Sales Consultant, with oversight in Sinclair Broadcast's Oklahoma City market. Mr. Radla received a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Advertising from Texas State University.

Houston native Niku Kazori has joined KENS 5 as a multi-skilled journalist. She previously worked at WVLT Knoxville, Tennessee; WCBD Charleston, South Carolina and KCBD Channel 11 Lubbock.

AUSTIN

Top 10 Austin TV/radio posts of 2017.

AROUND TEXAS

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. announced that Matt Kaplowitz has been promoted to General Manager of KFOX (FOX) and KDBC (CBS) in El Paso, Texas. Mr. Kaplowitz has been the Director of Sales at KFOX-TV (FOX) in El Paso, Texas since 2013. He began his career in television sales working for the ABC affiliate in El Paso, Texas. Mr. Kaplowitz moved to KFOX in 2001 where he worked as an Account Executive until 2009. In 2009, he moved to Reno as a Local Sales Manager working for KRXI and KAME for three years before being promoted to Local Sales Manager of WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh. In 2013, Mr. Kaplowitz moved back to El Paso to assume the role of Director of Sales for the now Sinclair-owned KFOX-TV and KDBC-TV. Mr. Kaplowitz holds a degree in media arts from the University of Arizona.

Marco Revuelta is leaving his job as an MMJ/weekend anchor at KGNS Laredo for KWTX Waco/Temple/Killeen.

Jasmine Styles jumps 129 markets to become weekend anchor and reporter at WFTS in Tampa. Previously, she was a primary anchor at KBTV in Beaumont.
- Napoli Management Group

Daniela Pardo jumps over 70 markets to become an MMJ at KXTV in Sacramento. Most recently, she was a reporter at KTSM in El Paso.
- Napoli Management Group

REMEMBERING

Robert 'Bassman' Washington of Majic 102.1 and 97.9 the Box passes away.