Houston hits top 10 hot traffic reporter list, KXAS anchor surgery, Brad Booker and more

- Ted Oberg: Don't Expect Rick Perry to 'Dial Down' the Rhetoric
- Is Rick Perry the second coming of George W? One reporter watches Perry repeat the Bush campaign trail
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- Watch Anderson Cooper Lose It on Live TV
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- Piers Morgan Gets His First Walk-Out
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The ten hottest TV traffic reporters
KPRC 2's Jennifer Reyna comes in #6 on Jalopnik's The ten hottest TV traffic reporters list.

Cool aerial photos of Dallas-Fort Worth
See cool photos taken from WFAA 8's chopper by Dallas Morning News photographer David Woo.
- Photos of WFAA 8's Victory Park studios

Local TV Newscasts Expanding
As in many other markets, the news is starting earlier than ever in the morning, and replacing “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in the afternoon.

NBC 5 Anchor, Mom Recovering After Surgery
NBC 5 anchor Kristi Nelson became Baylor Health's 798th living kidney donor after giving her mom her kidney.

Shot in Houston, movie Puncture to debut
Puncture starring Captain America's Chris Evans was shot in Houston and will have its debut here (plus LA and New York) September 23. Watch the trailer.

Former Mix 96.5 KHMX host Booker lands new radio gig
Country powerhouse KWNR-AM has a new morning team, former Mix 96.5 KHMX host Brad Booker and Tracy Taylor. Booker and Taylor replace Mark Stevens, who left a few months ago.
- Kidd Kraddick replaces Maria Todd mornings on Mix 96.5 KHMX
- Maria Todd and Brad Booker team up for Mix 96.5 KHMX mornings

HGTV hosts hot competition in Houston
HGTV’s new program “Showhouse Showdown" is hosted by Bob Guiney, who appeared in the first season of The Bachelorette..

Former NBC5 investigative reporter Stinchfield running for Congress
Former NBC5 KXAS reporter Grant Stinchfield is planning to run for the US House as a Republican and already has a campaign commercial up in which he promises to bring his skills as an investigative journalist to Congress.

Good Morning America's Robin Roberts plans weekend Lakewood church visit and Joel Osteen interview
Osteen's latest is bringing an even famous-er face to Houston in Good Morning America's Robin Roberts.

New sitcoms, talk shows arriving on Austin TV stations
Local stations begin tweaking their weekday schedules next week, rolling out a number of new offerings and shifting around some old favorites.

Wragge Adds WCBS Duties to 'Early Show' Job
Former KPRC 2 sports anchor Chris Wragge, who shifted from WCBS New York to corporate sibling The Early Show last December, will move back to WCBS--while retaining his network role.
- Chris Wragge on His Return to WCBS: ‘I’m actually very flattered’

West University resident launches Yahoo!Sports Radio
Yahoo! Sports Radio President/CEO David Gow, a West University resident, owns YSR and KGOW, 1560-AM, The Game.
- NFL Rushing and TD Leader, Arian Foster, to Host National Radio Show

Lone Star Broadcasters Elect Officers
The Texas Association of Broadcasters elected officers and directors at its recent convention, Aug. 11.

Wendy Williams rolls into Breakfast Klub in a hot pink tour bus entourage for lots of eating, little greeting
When Wendy Williams and her hot pink tour bus entourage descended on The Breakfast Klub Wednesday morning, a media pass might've gotten you to the front, but it didn't get you much else.
- Wendy Williams, Bobby Bones feud on air

Clear Channel names two new GSM's in Houston
Bob Merril has been promoted to General Sales Manager for KTRH-AM "NewsTalk" (740). Jeff Rovinsky is the new GSM for KMBE-AM "SportsTalk" (790) & talk KPRC-AM (950).

CBS, Saga Launch New Affiliate in Victoria, Texas
CBS has signed an affiliation agreement for tiny Victoria, Texas, with Saga Communications' KXTS picking up the affiliation Sept. 12. KXTS is currently a MyNetworkTV affiliate.

MOVING
KTRK 13 welcomes new producer/AP Laura Avila from Fox 7 KTBC.

NATIONAL MEDIA
- 'Conan' Falls Flat in Season 1
- A Slow Start For Anderson Cooper At 8 P.M.
- Too Much TV May Take Years Off Your Life
- The Dennis Miller Show now on over 300 stations
- HLN’s Joy Behar Ties The Knot
- Ginger Zee zooming to ‘GMA Weekend’

DIGITAL
- Google: Click-Through Rates Fell in 2010 [STUDY]
- Weather Tech Keeps A Step Ahead Of Storms
- Fox Starts Its Web Pullback, and ABC Gets Ready to Follow
- AP, Avid Battle For Newsroom System Share

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- Lance Zierlein joins SportsTalk 790 KBME
- James Franco kills 950 KPRC's Michael Garfield on ABC's General Hospital
- REVIEW: I'm Feeling Lucky: The Confessions of Google Employee Number 59 by Douglas Edwards
- VIDEO: Fox 26 KRIV anchor Don Teague's debut
- Where is Fox 26 KRIV's Tom Zizka?
- New KPRC 2 weekend anchor Irika Sargent has big debut
- VIDEO: KHOU 11's Chita Johnson dances with the Houston Texans cheerleaders
- KPRC 2 anchor Courtney Zavala is back
- AT&T launches Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth network microsites
- KIAH 39's NewsFix launches 'The Fixer' investigative and consumer unit
- Fernando Perez is new program director at Mega 101 FM KLOL

Former KPRC 2 sports guy Chris Wragge is a busy dude

Realizing that he is lucky to be working in today's economic climate, former KPRC Channel 2 sports guy Chris Wragge isn't just holding down one job. He anchors the 5pm and 11pm newscasts on WCBS and also anchors CBS's Saturday Early Show.

But get this, TV Newser reported last week he also filled in on for Harry Smith on the Early Show during the week too:

He goes to sleep around 12:15am, after his WCBS duties, waking at 4am for The Early Show. Wragge naps for about two and a half hours midday before heading back to WCBS. He'll get even less sleep starting tomorrow, when CBS's NCAA tournament coverage will cause WCBS's 11pm newscast to start late. READ MORE

Guess that is how you get to the top - never turn anything down. I think when he was in Houston, he also worked weekends on national sports if memory serves.

KPRC 2 alum gets CBS Early Show host gig

As I mentioned on Twitter earlier this afternoon, CBS is shaking up the usual third place network morning program The Early Show.

That's big news in Houston because the Black Rock brass has chosen former KPRC 2 sports anchor Chris Wragge to be the face. Wragge and co-anchor Erica Hill (former CNN and HLN anchor) have been holding the fort down on The Early Show Saturday morning edition, but are now the main duo.

Wragge has also been serving as the 5 and 11pm anchor of WCBS in New York. According to his WCBS bio, he joined WCBS-TV in 2004 as the 5pm, 6pm and 11pm weekday Sports Anchor/Sports Director. He became the main dude on the anchor desk in November of 2006. Clearly he is a busy guy.

Wragge came to Houston's KPRC 2 and served as sports director from 1998–2004. Before that he was a reporter for Entertainment Tonight.

What other former Houston news anchor was a talent on Entertainment Tonight? If you know, answer in the comments below.

TV anchor falls showing off, Maria Todd exits Mix 96.5 and more

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- Internet trolls on SNL

Maria Todd Exits Afternoons At KHMX
After two years at CBS Hot AC KHMX (MIX 96.5)/HOUSTON, the last few in afternoons, market legend MARIA TODD has made an exit.
- Kidd Kraddick replaces Maria Todd mornings on Mix 96.5 KHMX
- Maria Todd and Brad Booker team up for Mix 96.5 KHMX mornings

Fred Cantu returns to KEYE for fill-in work
Avuncular Austin newscaster Fred Cantu is back at KEYE, filling in on the station’s morning show.

Baby boom continues to be in the news
KENS-TV's 6 and 10 p.m. anchorwoman Sarah Lucero sounded over the moon when she shared the big news: She's expecting a baby girl.

Univison 45 gets new news director
Rick Gevers reports Martha Kattan is being promoted to news director for Univision owned station KXLN 45 in Houston. Kattan has been ND for sister-Univision station KUVN-TV in Dallas.
- KXLN 45's Isabel Gonzalez leaves

Don't count John Granato out just yet
Craig Shelton of Houston Media Watch says 1560 The Game's Granato is a survivor.

KLBJ-FM shuffles on-air lineup
KLBJ-FM is shuffling its deejay lineup.

‘Top Chef: Texas’: Bravo’s not saying much
Bravo has been really, really quiet about what’s in store this season on “Top Chef: Texas.”
- First look at new ‘Top Chef’: S.A. stunning, challenges hard

So Why Didn't WFAA Air Colbert's Super PAC Spot? "Old-Fashioned Human Error"
Here's the boring truth behind Stephen Colbert's WFAA rant.

Glenn Beck Hopes to Transform Former Mega-Church into his Dallas Studios
Glenn Beck has his eyes on the former Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas for his new GBTV offices and studios.

Dallas Morning News publisher
No plans to discontinue printing daily.

Houston Emcee Calls KTSU a "Concentration Camp," Station's Assistant General Manager Responds
Houston Press finds out the details.

Austin's newest station is a laugh riot: "Comedy 102.7"
Emmis is basing its new FM translator-carried station on the "24/7 Comedy Radio Network."
- Salem grows in Dallas as Mortenson spins again

WFAA says farewell to veteran director
David Elder, the director of News 8 at 10, is retiring after 35 years with WFAA.

Community Honors Legendary Radio Host Wash Allen
For more than four decades, radio personality Wash Allen has given his heart and soul to the community. He’s been a smooth and consistent voice behind the microphone on KCOH Radio. On Saturday night, the community turned out to honor Wash and celebrate his 45 years of broadcasting excellence. Wash Allen was the recipient of the 2011 Legacy Award given by Rice University’s HERE Project.

Former local sportscaster Woody VanDyke passes
Woody VanDyke, 74, died on Sunday in Lubbock. At one time in Lubbock, he was the general manager of KJAK radio and was involved in broadcasting high school sports in the Hub City. He was sports director of KVII (Channel 7) from 1968-74.

PRSA Houston’s Annual Professional Development Conference
What is the most trusted news source in 2011? The TV media roundtable features investigative reporters, Wayne Dolcefino, Channel 13, and Amy Davis, Channel 2, along with Gary Jaffe, NewsFix 39’s Imaginator discussing trust in TV news.

MOVING
Cory Hepola has accepted a sports anchor-reporter position at KVUE in Austin. Hepola moves to Texas from Rochester, NY, where he covered sports for WROC.

NATIONAL MEDIA
- Regis Philbin says he was forced out of 'Live'
- Post-‘Oprah’ Newscasts: So Far, So Good
- BandC: Investigative Reporting Resurgent in Local News
- Norman Corwin Dead: Radio Legend Dies At 101
- Sirius XM Launches 2.0 Tech with New Radio, Expanded Channels
- Chris Wragge Faces Health Setback, Return to CBS TBA
- DirecTV and News Corp. at Odds Over Fees
- CBS Correspondent Robert Pierpoint Dies at 86
- In a Gloomy Economy, TV Sitcoms Are Making a Comeback

DIGITAL
- Americans Are Watching More Video Online — and Everywhere Else
- New York Times Paywall Helps it Turn a Profit
- Pew Internet: Diving Into How We Access Local News

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- KPRC 2's Dominique Sachse gets engaged in Rome
- Former KHOU 11 reporter Dave Fehling joins NPR
- Former KTRK 13 reporter Laura Whitley in new role
- KHOU 11's Greg Hurst gets love from station too

WFAA's MoRon, Austin anchor working at Home Depot and more

WFAA 8 scores again with its latest Ron Corning morning promo.

MORE VIDEO
- Penn State Rioters Destroy WTAJ News Van
- VIDEO: KGW Crew Berated, Shoved At Occupy Portland
- Video: Meteorologist Belches in Middle of Forecast
- Man Nearly Saws Face Off During Live News Report
- Authors@Google: Tom Brokaw
- Eddie Murphy Talks To Jimmy Fallon About SNL And Leather Suits

Diane Sawyer surprise toasts Dave Ward
For fans of the venerable ABC Channel 13 news anchor Dave Ward, Tony's wine room was the place to be earlier this week when his wife, Laura Ward, hosted a luncheon celebrating his 45 years with KTRK Ch. 13.
- Rah rah: KTRK lauds soccer stadium "business boom"

Happy birthday, Stephen: KHOU 11 News reporter has an 11/11/11 baby
A lot of people consider Friday’s date – 11/11/11 – to be lucky. That was definitely the case for KHOU 11 News reporter Allison Triarsi. She and her husband welcomed their newborn son Friday morning.

TV personality Fred Cantu working at Home Depot
A sign of a tough economy? Fred Cantú, one of Austin's most beloved TV news personalities, is working part time at Home Depot because he needs the money.

Hard Times Hit the Chronicle: Restrooms Cleaned Just Twice a Day, Unbleached Towels and Defrost Your Own Damn Refrigerators
​The Houston Chronicle has been hit with the same rough economy as others in the print media. Sometimes that leads to layoffs. Sometimes it leads to cutting back on the janitorial services.
- Fleck retiring from Houston Chronicle

Cowboys fans lose their CBS telecast
Fans watching the Cowboys on KENS missed much of the second half Sunday when the CBS network feed switched to a different game late in the third quarter of the Cowboys' 44-7 victory against Buffalo.

105.3 The Fan Opens Restaurant on The Ticket’s Turf
Just as Cumulus gets ready to move four of its stations — The Ticket, KLIF, i93, and The Wolf — to Victory Plaza, 105.3 The Fan decides to open a restaurant right in The Ticket’s new backyard.

New traffic reporter needed at KXAN
The “Help wanted” sign is up at KXAN. The station is searching for a new traffic reporter following the departure of Debra Wynn.

8 questions with Anderson Cooper
While visiting Dallas for a sit-down dinner with the Jansing family for his new talk show "Anderson," Anderson Cooper stopped by the WFAA studios Friday and answered eight questions for the WFAA.com team.

I Want My LHN ...
If You Can’t See It, You Don’t Miss it.

Hiott named new editor of Austin’s Statesman
Debbie Hiott, who began her career at the American-Statesman as a reporting intern while in college, was named editor of the newspaper.

NATIONAL MEDIA
- Charlie Rose and Gayle King in CBS ‘Early’ Plan
- Disney Posts 4% Broadcasting Revenue Gain
- Disney CEO: DVRs increase TV viewing
- Jeff Probst’s Talk Show Picked Up By NBC Stations, Cleared In 55% Of US
- Chris Wragge Rejoins WCBS Full-Time, As CBS Again Overhauls ‘The Early Show’
- Occupy Oakland Protestors Attack KGO Cameraman For Shooting Video of Murder Scene
- How Did 27 Stations End Up With Identical Scripts For a Story About Conan O’Brien?
- Local TV mobile cams not much more than moving hype machines that add little to broadcasts
-'Repo Games' plays tricks on the down and out
- What Busy Moms Sneak In...TV Time
- It Was Only a Test, but What a Test
- Utah mayor used alias to write upbeat news stories
- Piers Morgan to Leave Talent Show

DIGITAL
- Jim Romenesko, Media News Blogger, Resigns From Poynter
- Texas newspaper begins printing Twitter, Facebook contacts with each story
- Who really owns TV talent’s social media accounts?
- Datasphere’s Cowan on How TV Stations Are Going Hyperlocal Online
- 5 new challenges for media companies using Google Plus

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- Dave Ward hits 45 years at KTRK 13, wanting more
- Houston classic TV host come together on KUHT 8
- What does 740 KTRH think of News92 FM KROI?
- Marvin Zindler's family fighting pancreatic cancer
- News 92 FM KROI's launch delayed, plus more details
- PHOTO: Tom Koch and Don Nelson serving drinks
- PHOTO: Pot of gold at Houston Municipal Courts building?

Kevin Lightfoot joins WCBS NY as assistant news director

Kevin Lightfoot is joining WCBS New York as assistant news director from his executive producer role at abc13 KTRK.

RELATED
Another abc13 senior manager leaves - announced earlier today

"Houston has been amazing but it’s time to say goodbye," Lightfoot tweeted.  "I’m joining an exceptional team of journalists at CBS NY as the assistant news director. Back to where it all started. The work begins NOW. @ NYC"

Houston TV watchers will recognize one of the well wishes that Lightfoot received from his new station.  Chris Wragge, anchor of CBS 2 News This Morning and CBS 2 News At Noon, said as a KPRC 2 veteran, he was welcoming a KTRK staffer to the CBS owned and operated station.

Lightfoot joined KTRK in September of 2017.  

In 2019, the two time EMMY award winner was elected as the VP of Broadcast for The Houston Association of Black Journalists (HABJ).

Before Houston, Lightfoot worked for:

WAPT Jackson, Mississippi 
Executive Producer

WESH Orlando, Florida
Producer

WAPT Jackson, Mississippi
Producer

WESH Orlando, Florida
Associate Producer

The New Jersey native is a graduate of Hampton University in Virginia.