Hannah Evans joined KHOU 11 Houston as a meteorologist and environmental/climate/weather reporter in August 2026.
Evans joins KHOU after nearly three years with WSAV's Storm Team 3 in Savannah, Georgia, where she has worked as a meteorologist since November 2023.
She began her television career shortly after graduation at WKTV NewsChannel 2 in Utica, New York. She joined the station as a weekend meteorologist in July 2021 before moving to the weekday morning newscast in December of that year.
Originally from Philadelphia, Evans developed an interest in weather at a young age. She went on to attend Penn State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences in 2021.
Her experience also includes several years with Penn State’s Campus Weather Service, a student-run organization that gave her hands-on experience in broadcasting and forecasting. While at Penn State, she also participated in the university’s student-produced “Weather or Not” television program and worked as a meteorologist for WPSU’s Center County Report.
Now, before you ask me who Evan is replacing, I don't know. I thought the KHOU weather department was staffed once Trevor Birchett took over for Pat Cavlin.
NBC 5 KXAS Dallas-Fort Worth is adding more newscasts to its schedule following the cancellation of two longtime NBCUniversal-produced syndicated shows.
According to TVPassport, starting Monday, August 31, 2026, September 7, 2026, KXAS will debut NBC 5 News at 3pm to replace The Kelly Clarkson Show and NBC 5 News at 6:30pm to take over for Access Hollywood.
NBC 5's Education Reporter Wayne Carter says he will anchor the 3 p.m. newscast in addition to his school reporting. No word yet on who will anchor the 6:30 North Texas newscast.
Variety reported earlier this year that "Access Hollywood” and “Access Hollywood Live” as well as talk shows “Karamo” and “The Steve Wilkos Show” were all getting canceled due to audience fragmentation in the streaming age.
UPDATE:
‘NBC 5 Now at 3’ to Be Anchored by Wayne Carter; ‘NBC 5 News at 6p’ Led by Brian Curtis and Meredith Land, Expands to 1 Hour
NBC 5 to Now Feature 7 Hours of Live Local News Each Weekday
FORT WORTH, Texas – Sept. 3, 2026 – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth/KXAS, part of NBCUniversal Local, today announced a 1.5-hour increase of its live weekday local news programming with the launch of the hour-long NBC 5 NOW at 3, anchored by Wayne Carter and the expansion of NBC 5 News at 6p, led by Brian Curtis and Meredith Land, to a full hour, beginning Monday, Sept. 7. NBC 5’s new lineup will now feature 7 hours of live local breaking news, weather and in-depth local reporting each weekday.
“We’re committed to serving North Texas communities and keeping audiences updated and informed on the news, issues and storylines that most matter to them by expanding our live local news to new dayparts,” said Tony Canales, President and General Manager of NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth & Telemundo 39 Dallas. “We are proud of our journalism and look forward to bringing even more of it to viewers each day.”
“Our expanded news programming gives viewers more ways to engage with our journalism through distinct formats and approaches, while maintaining the trusted reporting they expect and deserve,” said John Stone, VP of News for NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth & Telemundo 39 Dallas. “We understand the importance of delivering timely, trustworthy local news, and this additional time allows us to serve our viewers with greater depth and in ways that reflect how they consume news today.”
NBC 5 NOW at 3 will offer viewers a distinct approach to local news, featuring an in-depth, conversational format inspired by the style and pacing of a podcast. Carter, who also serves as NBC 5’s education reporter, is known for his Carter in the Classroom franchise, which airs on NBC 5 First at 4 and highlights the ways schools across North Texas are helping students achieve academic success.
NBC 5 News at 6pm led by longtime, award-winning anchors Curtis and Land, will continue to deliver the trusted, traditional news format viewers know with comprehensive coverage of the day’s top local stories, breaking news and weather for an additional half-hour.
NBC 5 DALLAS-WORTH WEEKDAY LOCAL NEWS SCHEDULE (BEGINNING SEPT. 7):
5 to 7 a.m. – NBC 5 Today
11 to 11:30 a.m. – NBC 5 Today at 11 a.m.
11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Texas Today
3 to 4 p.m. – NBC 5 NOW at 3
4 to 5 p.m. – NBC 5 First at Four
5 to 5:30 p.m. – NBC 5 News at 5pm
6 to 7 p.m. – NBC 5 News at 6pm
10 to 10:33 p.m. – NBC 5 News at 10pm
Click here to view NBC Dallas-Fort Worth’s full local news programming schedule.
Erin Austin has returned to 100.3 The Bull KILT-FM, where she takes over the station's 3-7 p.m. afternoon drive following the resignation of afternoon personality Nick Russo.
Country Aircheck reported that Russo resigned from KILT effective Wednesday, August 26, while Austin is returning to The Bull. Austin previously spent nearly 12 years at KILT before leaving the station in 2020.
Austin first joined 100.3 The Bull KILT-FM in 2009 and spent more than a decade with the Houston Country station. According to her résumé, she served as a midday personality, assistant music director and digital content manager. KILT was also recognized as the 2020 ACM Major Market Station of the Year during her tenure.
Before coming to Houston, Austin worked in Milwaukee as a morning show co-host at 94.5 WKTI, where she co-hosted The Matthew Blades Morning Show and also hosted middays.
Her earlier radio career included a midday/music director position at 93.7 The Bull KSD-FM in St. Louis.
She left KILT in September 2020 following a restructuring at the station.
In April 2021, Austin joined Audacy's FM100 WMC-FM Memphis as a morning co-host alongside Ryan Anderson.
According to her current Instagram bio, Austin's current voice-tracked assignments include:
10 a.m.-1 p.m. — 99.7 The Wolf
3-7 p.m. — 104.5 The River
3-7 p.m. — 93.1 The Wolf
3-7 p.m. — 92.5 WBEE
10 a.m.-3 p.m. — 94.7 KTTS
Nick Russo leaves 100.3 The Bull KILT
Russo's departure ends a more than 12-year run with KILT. He began working in radio in 2002, building his career in Corpus Christi at stations including KKPN, KOUL, KLUB, KLTG, KEYS-AM and KZFM. In 2010, he moved to San Antonio, where he worked nights at KTFM. In 2011, he became the station's assistant program director and music director.
Russo joined the Houston market in 2014, working with KILT-FM and Hot 95.7 KKHH. He eventually moved into the afternoon drive at KILT and, in November 2020, was named the station's music director, while also becoming brand manager/music director for KILT-FM HD3.
I have been told that Russo is a strong performer in Houston's Country radio ratings. In the fourth quarter of 2025, Country Aircheck ranked KILT's Nick Russo No. 6 nationally among Country afternoon shows based on P6+ cume, with 338,500 listeners.
The FOX 4 KDFW Dallas-Fort Worth personality is expanding another one of his shows across Texas, as “The Ten” is getting picked up in two additional Texas markets.
“The Ten,” hosted by Noviello alongside FOX 4 morning anchor Paige Ellenberger, began airing August 31 on KCWX 2 in San Antonio and FOX Rio Grande Valley, adding two more markets to the show’s growing footprint.
The move comes just weeks after Noviello announced that his other show “Last Call with Steve Noviello” was also expanding across the Lone Star State.
"The Ten" debuted in 2024 with Noviello and Hanna Battah, who now co-anchor ABC News programs “World News Now” and “Good Morning America First Look.”
Brenna Gibbons is leaving KTXS 12 in Abilene for a new opportunity with CBS Austin.
Gibbons announced she has joined KEYE as a multimedia journalist (MMJ), where she will cover stories across Austin and the Hill Country.
She joined KTXS in 2024 as an MMJ after graduating from Texas State University with a bachelor’s degree in Electronic Media.
A native of Prosper, Texas, Gibbons discovered her passion for storytelling while growing up in the North Texas community.
During her time at Texas State, Gibbons was part of the university’s student news program, Bobcat Update. She also worked on outside projects, including a Global News Relay and a mini-documentary series exploring the importance of Emotional Support Animals.
Mary Benton, a familiar name to longtime Houston television viewers, received the Legacy Award from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Houston Chapter. KHOU 11 morning traffic anchor Jennifer Reyna served as the event's emcee.
Benton was honored Thursday, June 25, 2026, during the 41st Annual Excalibur Awards at the Houston Botanic Garden. The event, themed “Night of Bold Voices,” celebrated communications professionals throughout the Houston area. The Legacy Award recognizes Benton’s lengthy career in Houston media and communications.
For many Houstonians, Benton is best remembered for her nearly 20 years as a reporter at KPRC 2. She joined the Houston NBC station in October 1994 and remained there until July 2014.
During her time at KPRC, Benton covered just about every type of story imaginable, from Houston City Hall and hurricanes to politics and major breaking news.
Benton's television career began in Texas before she arrived in Houston. She worked as a reporter and substitute anchor at KTBC 7 Austin from 1992 to 1994. She had previously worked at KCEN 6 Waco-Temple-Killeen.
After departing KPRC in 2014, Benton moved into government communications, where she put her decades of experience on the other side of the microphone to work.
She became Manager of Media Relations and Public Affairs for the Harris County Toll Road Authority, serving as its primary spokesperson and handling media relations, community outreach and public communications.
She later served as Director of Communications and Division Director for Harris County before joining Harris County Public Health, where she worked on communications, marketing, media outreach and stakeholder engagement.
In 2018, Benton returned to Houston's political communications scene by joining the Mayor's Office of Communications as Press Secretary. She was later appointed Director of Communications in 2020.
Today, Benton serves as Chief of Communications and Senior Advisor to the Mayor of Houston. In the role, she serves as the chief spokesperson and senior communications advisor, helping lead the communications strategy for the mayor and city government.
AAF-Houston also honored Benton in 2019 for her leadership in promoting diversity and inclusion, and she has been recognized as an influential woman and role model in the Houston community.
A native of Harlingen, Texas, Benton graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Journalism degree.
August 2026 marks 10 years since KPRC 2 Houston’s lifestyle program, Houston Life, first premiered, launching a decade-long run of live television, local personalities, celebrity guests, food, fashion, entertainment, and stories celebrating life in the Bayou City.
Houston Life debuted Monday, August 22, 2016, at 1 p.m., replacing Days of Our Lives in the time slot.
The hour-long weekday program was designed to bring a new brand of live, local entertainment to Houston afternoons and showcase what made the city a great place to work, live, and play, the station said at the time.
From the beginning, Houston Life took an unconventional approach. Rather than broadcasting from a traditional television studio, the program originated live each weekday from The Galleria. The show's studio was located on Level 1, near Nordstrom and across from LensCrafters, allowing shoppers and fans to watch the production in person.
“The show will be a celebration of what is happening each day in our dynamic city,” KPRC 2 Vice President and General Manager Jerry Martin said when the program was announced. “It’s going to be jam-packed, high-energy and a lot of fun to watch.”
“We will tap into fashion, pop culture, food, music, lifestyle trends and hot topics,” added Don Graham, Executive Producer of Houston Life when it debuted. “And we will connect with viewers daily through social media so that they will have access to the show’s lively content anytime, anywhere.”
Graham brought considerable experience to the project. Before launching Houston Life, he spent years as the executive producer of Great Day Houston at KHOU 11. Earlier in his career, he also served as Executive in Charge of Production for The Gayle King Show in the 1990s.
The original Houston Life team featured co-hosts Derrick Shore and Jennifer Broome, along with reporters Stephanie (Gerry) Gilbert and Stephanie Gonzalez.
Shore joined KPRC 2 from Los Angeles, where he hosted SoCal Connected on KCET. An award-winning journalist, he had previously appeared on CBS News, NBC's Today, ABC's World News Now, Channel One News and Current TV. He also had credits in scripted television dramas and feature films.
Broome came to Houston Life from Denver, where she worked as a meteorologist at KDVR-TV and KWGN-TV. She already had a strong connection to Texas, having spent a decade as chief meteorologist at WOAI-TV in San Antonio from 2000 to 2010.
The early days of Houston Life were not without their challenges.
Producing a live television show inside a shopping mall proved to be something of an experiment, with the crew having to deal with the unpredictable realities of broadcasting outside a conventional studio.
“Doing a LIVE show in that setting really was like a giant experiment,” Shore recalled.
One memorable mishap involved a local chef preparing chocolate mousse for a cooking segment. The chef arrived early to prepare the dish, but just before the segment was scheduled to go live, the entire dessert ended up on the floor.
The demonstration table was being moved onto the elevator floor of the set when it apparently became unbalanced.
“Somebody picked up that table, it wasn't balanced, and that whole dish went upside down on the floor of the set,” recalled Courtney Zavala, who would later become one of Houston Life's most recognizable co-hosts.
Broome's time on the program was relatively brief. In 2017, the original co-host announced she was leaving Houston Life. KPRC 2 turned to Zavala, a longtime member of the station's news team and former weekend morning anchor, to take over as Shore's co-host.
Zavala joined Shore and became a central part of Houston Life for the next several years.
In 2018, KPRC 2 added another memorable member to the Houston Life family: Tex, a 10-week-old male Maltipoo adopted from the Houston SPCA. The dog quickly became part of the show's personality and a familiar face to viewers.
That same year, Houston Life underwent another major change when the program moved from its Galleria location to the KPRC 2 studios on the Southwest Freeway.
In 2019, Lauren Kelly joined the show as a reporter from MIX 96.5 KHMX mornings. Kelly started contributing to the show in 2016 as a guest on its "Trending Topics" segment.
By 2020, Houston Life was ready for another significant change.
KPRC 2 announced that the program, which had become Houston's No. 1-rated daytime lifestyle program, would move from its 1 p.m. home to 3 p.m. beginning August 17, 2020. The new time slot positioned Houston Life as the lead-in to KPRC 2 News at 4 p.m. The 3 p.m. experiment, however, would not last permanently. In September 2022, KPRC 2 announced that Houston Life would move back to its original 1 p.m. time slot.
Then, in January 2023, another major chapter came to an end. After more than 20 years at KPRC 2 and more than five years with Houston Life, Zavala left the station. January 17, 2023, was her final day on the program. Her departure marked the end of a significant era for Houston Life, but the show continued to evolve.
Later in 2023, Tessa Barrera joined Shore as the new co-host. Barrera was already a familiar voice to Houston radio listeners as co-host of The Rod Ryan Show on 94.5 The Buzz KTBZ. Barrera brought her radio background and energetic personality to the afternoon lifestyle program, joining Shore as Houston Life entered its eighth year on KPRC 2.
And after nearly a decade, another hosting change arrived in 2026. Barrera announced she would leave her Houston Life co-host position after three years on the program, with March 31, 2026, marking her final day on the show. She later joined Hello Houston in August 2026.
As Houston Life celebrates its 10th anniversary in August 2026, the program's history is ultimately a story about adaptation. What began as an ambitious experiment broadcasting live from a shopping mall has grown into a longtime fixture of KPRC 2's daytime lineup.
Allison Gargaro has announced that she is expecting her second child, while other Houston TV journalists will be returning from or leaving for maternity leave
The FOX 26 Houston KRIV meteorologist shared the news on social media in August 2026, revealing that she and her family are expecting another baby girl in March 2027.
"Baby girl #2 is joining the family in March (2027)! She is growing great and is healthy so we are happy! Chloe is going to be such a good sister! It’s crazy that they will be so close in age but I can’t wait for them to be the best of friends."
Gargaro's pregnancy comes as several other Houston television personalities have experienced major family milestones and maternity-leave changes in 2026.
ABC13 Houston KTRK anchor Mayra Moreno is preparing to return to the Channel 13 airwaves following maternity leave. Moreno announced in April 2026 that she had welcomed a baby boy.
Meanwhile, KPRC 2 Houston reporter Re'Chelle Turner announced that she is taking maternity leave. Turner revealed she was pregnant in March 2026.
Katie Pratt announced her departure from FOX 7 Austin KTBC after two years, during which she worked as a nightside reporter.
As for what comes next, Pratt said she plans to move back to Dallas to spend more time with family and friends and ride her horse. She has not yet announced her next career move, saying, "As far as what's next in my career? It's all in God's hands. Stay tuned!"
Pratt joined FOX 7 Austin in August 2024 after working as an evening anchor and reporter at KETK News and FOX 51 KFXK in Tyler, Texas.
Her television career began in her hometown of Tyler. Pratt joined KETK-NBC and FOX 51 in July 2021 as a weekend anchor/reporter. She was promoted to evening anchor after about a year and later anchored the 5:30 and 9 p.m. newscasts on FOX 51, as well as the 4 p.m. newscast on KETK.
Pratt is a graduate of Southern Methodist University, where she studied journalism. While at SMU, she served as managing editor and reporter for the university's student-produced newscast, The Daily Update.
Max Dutton has joined KSAT 12 in San Antonio as a weekend morning anchor and reporter.
Dutton began his new role in August 2026, succeeding Sarah Acosta, who left the weekend morning anchor position earlier this month.
Dutton comes to KSAT 12 from KWCH 12 in Wichita, Kansas, where he spent more than three years as a morning anchor and reporter. He joined KWCH in January 2023 and remained there through August 2026.
Before moving into the anchor role at KWCH, Dutton worked as a multimedia journalist at KSNT TV in Topeka from March 2022 to January 2023.
His television career began with an internship at KAKE in Wichita during the summer of 2021.
Dutton is a 2023 graduate of Baker University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism.
