KPRC 2 revives its health franchise with MMJ Haley Hernandez of WCBD Charleston, South Carolina
Haley Hernandez
I thought full-time health reporting was a goner in Houston after the retirement of KTRK abc13's Christi Myers earlier this year.
Luckily I was only partially right.
Turns out KPRC 2 has given life support to the Healthbeat by reviving it as a multi-media journalist (MMJ) position. The NBC affiliate has hired Clear Lake raised Haley Hernandez from WCBD Charleston, South Carolina.
Hernandez worked at the Charleston NBC affiliate for the last three and half years where she served as the weekend morning anchor and a reporter.
In 2010, Hernandez worked at NBC on the "Nightly News with Brian Williams." Before that she was a production associate with CNBC. Hernandez was also a page at NBC and CBS. As a result, Lester Holt even did a promo for Hernandez's anchor debut at WCBD (see below).
Hernandez attended the University of Oklahoma.
The last health reporter I can remember at KPRC was Krista Marino and that was years ago (TV factoid: Marino is married to abc13 KTRK Ted Oberg).
Now they are even talking about the whole "what's in the water" joke on KPRC newscasts. With all of the Meghan Markle and Prince Harry baby talk, KPRC 2 health reporter/fill-in anchor Haley Hernandez announced Monday morning that she is pregnant with her first child.
"My husband and I are expecting ours in October," Hernandez posted on social media. "Lots of KPRC babies coming in 2019!!!"
No joke.
Hernandez said on air that viewers were asking if she was expecting, so she couldn't hide it anymore. Boy do I know that they notice. Many start asking me about their favorite anchor and if I know anything about potential baby news.
At first I thought consumer reporter/fill-in anchor Amy Davis was joking that anchor Owen Conflenti has a baby coming. He then said he was actually pregnant himself, but then they seemed to seriously say that Conflenti would be expecting a new arrival to his family in late September.
To keep track of all the Houston TV pregnancies, I'm thinking about starting a separate website to track everything. Hey, if I'm nutty enough to sit here and blog about H-Town media, why not?
Hernandez joined channel 2 in 2014 from WCBD Charleston, South Carolina. Raised in Clear Lake attended the University of Oklahoma.
Haley Hernandez is the KPRC 2 health reporter, but she can add a new title to her resume...author of School Makes You Super!
The mother of twoboys was inspired to write her upcoming book for her son. It is published by Greenleaf Book Group Press and is geared toward 3- to 5-year-olds.
According to its description, School Makes You Super is meant to prepare and excite young heroes about going to school. With a wonderful message that hopes to inspire and empower new students, this book is a source of encouragement and positivity for kids beginning their schooling journey. It illustrates the potential that awaits them in this big life transition.
Hernandez was kind enough to answer some of my questions about her new book, which will be released on January 13, 2026. But on Amazon, you can order it now.
Mike McGuff: Tell us about "School Makes You Super" and what was the inspiration behind writing it?
Haley Hernandez: I wrote this book for my son. He struggles with transitions, and when he was first heading off to school, it was a little bit difficult to convince him why it was so important to go. There's lots of books out there that explain how to go to school for the first time: you pack a lunch, you ride a bus, and you meet new friends. But I couldn't find something on why they needed to go and discover skills that they wouldn't otherwise learn without an education. So, I decided to create my own book!
MM: As a medical reporter, you have to translate complex science into 'plain English.' Do you find that writing for children requires a similar type of translation or simplification?
HH: Yes, I'd say one of my strongest skills is explaining complicated subjects in ways that are easy to understand, and it's very similar when trying to explain to kids why something is important. A lot of things that seem matter-of-fact to adults (like why you go to school) are foreign concepts to a kid. We underestimate how overwhelming that transition is; they have to leave their guardians, their safe spac,e and stay somewhere for longer than many of them have ever had to stay before. There can be new sounds, smells, routines, and strangers. We often forget to explain the "why" when emphasizing the importance of going to school. The truth is, their superpowers have yet to be discovered and it's going to take years of schooling to find out what those are, and that's a journey that begins as a child and have to chart on your own.
MM: In TV, you’re always thinking about the 'visuals' for a segment. How did that influence how you collaborated with your book's illustrator?
HH: The illustrations were some of the first things I was dreaming up when I wrote the book. I was thinking about how my son loved building with Magnatiles. I thought, I wish there was a book that could show a little boy building with toys and how that manifests his future into being an architect. Then that led me to thinking about how playing doctor might mean a child has a true skill to save lives one day, and the ideas just kept coming from there, thinking about all these natural skills we are born with that really get fine-tuned with an education. I worked closely with the illustrator on my vision for every single page and Tammie Lyon really did something extraordinary in bringing my book to life. I'm thrilled with how they turned out!
MM: In the news, you can’t make things up. Was it liberating or challenging to suddenly have the freedom to write a fictional story?
HH: Yes, the book definitely shows my playful side. You'll be able to see how I talk to my kids! But in some ways it was still kind of similar to reporting, right, because I had this factual objective of wanting kids to be inspired to go to school but I had to write it a language they can understand.
MM: Reporting on health can be heavy, especially in a major city. Does writing children's stories serve as a form of 'self-care' or emotional processing for you?
HH: I never thought of it that way, but you're right that it's been one of the happiest times of my life getting to have this side hobby of working with the publisher and illustrator to write for children. Now that I think about it, yes, working in news can bring a heaviness to it and getting to go home and talk about superheroes did bring me a lot of joy. I guess for that, I'm thankful to get my book out into the world for many reasons.
KPRC 2 morning health reporter Haley Hernandez announces second baby here
KPRC 2 health reporter Haley Hernandez is celebrating 2021 with baby number 2.
"I’m officially a #boymom," Hernandez posted on Facebook. "Hard to imagine a better way to start the new year than taking this guy home. The best is yet to come 2021!"
According to channel 2, Hernandez and her husband, Frank, welcomed Frank Wayne last Wednesday.
The KPRC 2 morning health reporter discusses the realities of balancing a career in live TV with motherhood, and Hernandez gets candid about the "beautiful (and sometimes messy) balance" of raising two young boys.
Key topics covered in the episode include:
- Mental Health and Burnout: Hernandez discusses the emotional realities of postpartum life, mental health, and dispelling the myths of "having it all."
- Work-Life Balance: How she manages early mornings, live television, and mom life.
- Asking for Help: The difficulty and importance of learning to ask for help as a mother.
- Mom Hacks and Favorites: Her favorite meals, "mom hacks," "TJ Maxx resets," and family-friendly Houston spots.
A central theme of the episode is the importance of honesty and self-acceptance in motherhood, highlighted by the quote: "You can love the death out of your kids… and still not feel joyful every moment. And that's okay."
KPRC 2 health MMJ Haley Hernandez is now a married woman
According to this wedding etiquette article, if you are late to a wedding you are supposed to, "stand in the back or slip quietly into a back pew or row once the processional is completely finished.”
Well, I couldn't find any etiquette article about being late to post about a TV news reporter's wedding on a media blog, so I'll just bite the bullet and go with it.
A few weeks ago, KPRC 2 health MMJ Haley Hernandez was married.
"I have never been happier," she posted on Facebook.
Congrats.
Channel 2 even did a Facebook Live on the feast the staff set up for Hernandez's return to work.
KPRC 2 reporters Sophia Beausoleil and Haley Hernandez deliver baby boys on the same day!
Thanks to the channel 2 baby boom of 2019, we know that KPRC 2 anchor/reporters get pregnant around the same time. Now we know they also deliver around the same time too - in two instances, the same day!
Am I the only one thinking joint birthday parties one day?
"We are thrilled our son, Travis, made it into the world last week on 9/26/19," posted Hernandez. "So far all he does is get kisses, sleep, watch the Texans and light up our life. While he does that, I’ll be off the TV for a little bit learning to be his mom. Wish me luck!"
"All praises to God! Welcome to the world our sweet baby boy, Zayn," posted Beausoleil. "Thursday 9/26/19 8.0lbs 3.5 oz 21.75. @yelqutub and I are beyond thrilled to take care of this gift and are doing well. This kid is honestly soo cool, chill and lovely!"
Overall, most of my readers love the Houston TV pregnancy posts, but I get a few complaints.
However, let it be pointed out that at this moment, seven KPRC 2 anchor and/or reporters are expecting new additions to their families.
That is kinda wild.
So the question is, when will I have to add to this list?
We had the great Houston TV baby boom a few years ago, but this one probably tops it. And of course, in addition to channel 2, we have babies on the way at other stations too!
At the end of March, after waiting on the transplant list for seven years, Anthony Hernandez received a kidney at UTMB. Hernandez is the father of KPRC Health Reporter Haley Hernandez. He gave KPRC an interview on how difficult the journey of kidney failure has been.
“You know, you have to go in every year, twice a year, and get physicals and they’re not fun physicals,” Hernandez said. “I really wanted a kidney. I really, really, really wanted a kidney.”
On dialysis for four hours, three days a week takes a toll on the body and mind, but the alternative is death. What’s worse? Hernandez was called to UTMB several times for a kidney, but it was a false alarm as they ultimately were not a good match.
“It takes a lot to come back from being potentially accepted to get a kidney and then come back the next day and, ‘No, you don’t have a kidney, it’s gone.’ Who knows when it’ll happen again... who knows whether you have the time left. I mean my body was deteriorating!” READ THE REST
Current plans have Hernandez on the air in early June 2020.
“I always believed Lisa was meant to be on KPRC 2 and we are thrilled that she was excited to join our team,” says KPRC 2 Vice President/General Manager Jerry Martin.
Once a newsie, always a newsie. Hernandez is a familiar face in Houston; she served as a KHOU anchor for 8 years. She recently took time off after the birth of her second child and is thrilled to return to the anchor desk.
Hernandez moved to Houston in 2011. The Southern California native earned her political science degree at UCLA, before making the move to broadcast television as a producer at KESQ in Palm Springs. She then moved on to be a reporter at North Carolina’s News 14, before joining KABC 7 in Los Angeles as an anchor/reporter.
“I’m excited to begin this new chapter in a community I hold dear,” says Hernandez. “I can’t wait to become a regular part of Houston’s morning routine!”
Graham Media Group is comprised of 7 local media hubs, Graham Digital and Social News Desk delivering local news, programming, advertising solutions and digital media tools for television, online, mobile, OTT, podcasts and audio devices. We are dynamic, local brands that extend well beyond the traditional TV set. Our work helps inform, celebrate and knit together the communities we serve.
GMG operates in 6 states: KPRC–Houston, WDIV–Detroit and WSLS–Roanoke (NBC); KSAT–San Antonio (ABC); WKMG–Orlando (CBS); WJXT–Jacksonville (fully local), and WCWJ–Jacksonville (CW). Based in Detroit, Graham Digital is a digital media and technology development group widely recognized as a leading industry innovator. Social News Desk, headquartered in Atlanta, provides its 2500+ worldwide newsroom-customers with a single dashboard to publish, measure, curate and monetize local news content on social platforms.
(This post was from a release sent to me by KPRC 2)
Yes, it is amazing how many pregnant staff members we have at KPRC 2 and the rest of Houston television. I'll admit, I am having problem keeping up.
"I'm excited to join the club in Sept," Beausoleil posted.
Honestly, I am late on Beausoleil's pregnancy news as I was on Chita Craft and Jacob Rascon.
Here is something cool I learned about Beausoleil, this Katy ISD alum is married to her high school sweetheart! Go Cougars!
Beausoleil returned to channel 2 Houston in 2017 from KXAN Austin. She was covered the news in the Capitol since 2012. Before that, Beausoleil worked for WCIA Champaign, Illinois and KOMU8 Columbia, Missouri.
She is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia.
The good news is that KPRC 2 morning anchor Owen Conflenti's wife, Odilia, had the baby, bad news is that today Tropical Storm Imelda formed in the Gulf of Mexico. I'll hand that last part over to the TV weather departments.
"Big congrats to KPRC2 Owen Conflenti and his family," posted KPRC medical reporter Haley Hernandez. "It's a BOY named Owen."
KPRC 2 kicks off its celebration of May Heroes with an afternoon of live broadcasts from the Texas Medical Center this Thursday, May 6, beginning at 11 a.m. with KPRC 2 News Midday.
All shows will feature HITCH, the station’s new mobile stage unit.
Nurses Week, Hospital Week, Teacher Appreciation Week and Military Appreciation Month all occur in the month of May, so KPRC 2 is honoring these heroes all month long. Future May Heroes live broadcasts will include honoring Houston-area educators on Thursday, May 13, and military heroes on Thursday, May 20, with all locations to be announced.
As part of its ongoing “Voices of Houston” initiative, KPRC 2 will kick off our May Heroes series by featuring notable members of the medical community during its Midday & Noon newscasts. Anchors Andy Cerota and Lisa Hernandez, along with Haley Hernandez, Houston’s only Health Reporter, will be live from the heart of the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest medical complex.
KPRC 2’s Houston Life with hosts Derrick Shore & Courtney Zavala will be on air with special live coverage from 3 – 4 p.m. The afternoon and early evening newscasts at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., and 6 p.m. will feature anchors Kris Gutierrez and Christine NoĂ«l, Health Reporter Haley Hernandez & Chief Meteorologist Frank Billingsley.
KPRC 2’s decades-long mission of diversity and inclusion – and its ongoing commitment to spotlighting the triumphs, struggles and opinions of our city’s diverse communities – is reflected in the “Voices of Houston” initiative and May Heroes series, which will celebrate and spotlight people from different backgrounds across the Greater Houston area making a difference in our communities.
“We can’t say enough about the local heroes serving our communities,” says KPRC 2 Vice President/General Manager Jerry Martin. “The May Heroes remotes are just a small way of showing our gratitude to the men and women who save our lives, teach our children, and serve our country.”
(This post was taken from a release sent to me by KPRC)
"KPRC 2 News Today at 10am" debuts Monday, September 11, 2023 as well as KPRC 2 News at 3pm.
I found out that "Today With Hoda & Jenna" will be moved to 11am where "KPRC 2 News Midday "followed by a repeat of "Entertainment Tonight" at 11:30am currently air.
UPDATE 8-30-2023 KPRC 2 is also adding a half-hour 3pm newscast starting 9-11-2023 replacing "Dr. Phil." The above mentioned "Entertainment Tonight" rerun will air at 3:30pm now. The channel 2 Houston 3pm newscast will be anchored by Andy Cerota, Lisa Hernandez and meteorologist Justin Stapleton.
Morning anchors Owen Conflenti and Sofia Ojeda will be behind the anchor desk, and the above video is of the AM duo rehearsing for the new newscast.
"The 10am will not be all news," Ojeda posted. "There will be lighthearted stories and lots of moments KPRC2 Owen Conflenti and I will share with y’all on daily topics and what everyone is talking about."
Conflenti says in the above video that meteorologist Justin Stapleton will contribute his beer segment to the newscast.
This is an actual over-the-air TV newscast addition...not a new streaming show for KPRC 2+.
As for streaming, Conflenti and Ojeda are apparently handing their 7am KPRC2+ show over to medical reporter Haley Hernandez and consumer reporter Amy Davis.
"Happy news to report," Jeffers wrote on Facebook. "Another sweet baby will be joining the KPRC bunch... my husband and I are so [excited] to welcome our little one this winter!"
This will be the couple's first child. Well, unless you count Jeffers and husband, Andrew's, other little one, new puppy Millie.
Now, insert the jokes on my social media about not drinking the water at Houston TV stations.
Jeffers joined channel 2 in April 2018 from CBS 11 KTVT DFW, where she worked as a reporter and fill-in anchor.
Before Dallas-Fort Worth, Jeffers worked at:
FOX23 KOKI-Tulsa, OK
KLKN Channel 8 in Lincoln, NE
2009-2010 Miss Nebraska - Miss America Organization
I know this is getting difficult to track, so let's map this out. You should see my home office. I have clippings from my blog pasted on the walls with colored strings representing the Houston TV stations attaching them. It's very John Nash in "A Beautiful Mind."
Send tips for the monthly Texas media job list here.
DALLAS - FORT WORTH
Blake Powers joins KSCS-FM “New Country 96.3” and KPLX “99.5 The Wolf.”
105.3 The Fan KRLD Dallas, raised $77,000 during its 12th annual Piece-a-Thon Fundraiser benefiting two local Dallas-Fort Worth organizations, My Possibilities and Sandlot Children's Charity.
La Grande 107.5 KMVK Dallas, raised over $200,000 for Cook Children’s Hospital of Fort Worth and Children’s Medical Center Dallas. All proceeds go towards supporting children and their families who receive care from the two hospitals.
Charlie Mundell joins the FOX 26 KRIV production team from CW39 KIAH.
Arthur Harmon also joins the FOX 26 production team. He most recently worked in Beaumont/Port Arthur, directing live newscasts. Arthur will work with the weekend news team and the Isiah Factor Uncensored team.
Houston radio on-air personality and production expert, Don P. Samuel Sr. (AKA Don Sam) is celebrating 48 years in radio.
KTXS 12 Abilene multimedia journalist Copeland Welch joins WEAR 3 Pensacola, Florida, as a reporter.
25 News KXXV Waco-Temple-Killeen Good Morning Texas Neighborhood Reporter Heather Healy joins FOX 13 News WTVT Tampa, Florida as Morning Reporter for Good Bay Tampa Bay.
KRGV 5 Rio Grande Valley executive producer Orlando Vargas leaves the station.
KRIS 6 Neighborhood Reporter Tyrese Boone says goodbye to the Coastal Bend.
KRIS 6 Multimedia Journalist Makaylah Chavez leaves the station.
After stunting with Country-leaning Christmas music since December 1, Regional Mexican “107.3 Que Buena” KAJE Corpus Christi flips back to Country format.
