Stephanie Simmons to join KHOU 11 as traffic anchor/reporter from KCBS 2 Los Angeles
KCBS 2 Los Angeles morning traffic reporter Stephanie Simmons will join KHOU 11 December 3rd as traffic anchor/reporter a TEGNA spokesperson confirms to mikemcguff.com.
Simmons will also be doing stories for on-air, digital and social.
"Very excited to join the H-Town Rush team," Simmons told mikemcguff.com after this post was originally published.
Scott Jones of FTVLive reported earlier this week that Simmons was leaving the LA CBS O&O and heading to Houston, potentially to channel 11.
Simmons joined CBS2 as its morning traffic reporter in October 2012. Her beat also includes lifestyle and trending stories.
Prior to KCBS, Simmons hosted “Hollywood Dailies” on the ReelzChannel.
Before she headed to the West Coast, Simmons hosted “Great Day St. Louis” on KMOV St. Louis, Missouri. Earlier in her TV career, Simmons covered traffic and entertainment for WRTV and later WTHR, both in Indianapolis, Indiana.
According to an article in The Indianapolis Star that has been re-published on the Ultimate Cheerleaders (The First Five Years) blog, Simmons is a former Indianapolis Colts Cheerleader.
She is a graduate of Ball State University with a degree in telecommunications.
This is not the first time this year that KHOU has hired a CBS O&O reporter. Earlier this year, it hired Jessica Borg from WCBS New York.
Stephanie Simmons is signing off from her anchor chair at KHOU 11 to launch a brand-new newscast at TEGNA’s San Diego station, CBS News 8 KFMB.
Here is what Simmons posted on social media:
I’ve been holding onto this news for a while now and I’m excited to finally share I’ll be staying with our company as I transfer to our sister station in San Diego to anchor a brand-new evening show! It’s not goodbye quite yet Houston.
Longtime readers of this blog will recognize a familiar face at KFMB — veteran anchor Carlo Cecchetto, who has become a fixture at the station. Another San Diego TV news fact: Rekha Muddaraj joined KHOU from KFMB.
Simmons arrived in Houston in late 2018, joining KHOU from KCBS 2 Los Angeles, where she spent six years as a morning traffic anchor and reporter. She initially started at KHOU in the traffic role before moving to the morning anchor desk.
Clearly, Simmons can handle a lot of pressure. She had to hold down the KHOU morning anchor desk through a lot of transitions! From rotating co-anchors to newscast format changes, the old KHOU management threw a lot at Simmons.
In 2025, following the arrival of Ilona Carson as the station’s new morning anchor, Simmons transitioned to leading the noon newscast.
Before her Los Angeles tenure, Simmons hosted Hollywood Dailies on ReelzChannel, co-hosted Great Day St. Louis on KMOV in St. Louis, and reported for both WRTV and WTHR in Indianapolis.
A Ball State University graduate with a degree in telecommunications, Simmons also once cheered on the Indianapolis Colts as a member of the team’s cheerleading squad.
Well, almost a year into the job, I can tell KHOU morning traffic anchor/feature reporter for #HTownRush, Stephanie Simmons, is catching on with Houston TV viewers.
I've been getting a lot of questions from channel 11 viewers asking where she's been for the last month or so.
"How sweet of people to be asking," Simmons told mikemcguff.com. "I’m dealing with a medical issue right now, but I will return to work when I’m ready. Missing everyone so much!"
Before KCBS, she hosted “Hollywood Dailies” on the ReelzChannel, hosted “Great Day St. Louis” on KMOV St. Louis, Missouri and worked for WRTV and WTHR, both in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The former Indianapolis Colts Cheerleader is a graduate of Ball State University with a degree in telecommunications.
I've been blogging about how KCBS LA's Stephanie Simmons is on her way to KHOU 11's re-branded morning show #HTownRush and now we see the first shots of the updated AM team.
Guess we could see Simmons on channel 11 this week.
Good news for all the people writing in asking me the whereabouts of KHOU traffic anchor/reporter Stephanie Simmons. She is back on channel 11 as of this morning.
Former KPRC 2 reporter Ryan Korsgard and KHOU 11's Stephanie Simmons both ran in the Boston Marathon
Former KPRC 2 reporter Ryan Korsgard was on channel 2 again, this time as a story participant.
The longtime Houston television news journalist ran the Boston Marathon yesterday for a cause he spent years reporting on.
Houstonian Rebekah Gregory lost a leg in the 2013 marathon bombings, her then 5-year-old son Noah was also injured. Due to the severe PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) that became a part of both of their lives she started Rebekah's Angels, a non-profit that provides resources and funding for children ages 18 and under with PTSD due to trauma.
Gregory and Korsgard became friends over the years so he decided to run for her team.
And you know who else made the run? KHOU 11 traffic anchor Stephanie Simmons made the journey to Beantown and explained on Instagram all the struggles she had.
Not at the Boston Marathon this year, but as I blogged earlier in the year, qualified for it through the Houston Marathon, was abc13 KTRK reporter Jessica Willey.
KHOU 11 morning meteorologist for #HTownRush, Chita Craft, announced on socials she is off for a while ahead of her baby daughter's birth.
"My last day on air before #BabyChita ❤️ I still have 2.5 weeks until my due date- (Dec 8) just want to spend the next couple weeks with my son and hubs @lanecraft," Craft posted.
Craft announced her pregnancy last June. The baby will be named Chita which follows a six generation tradition in her family. The Chita name is derived from "Conchita."
When she made the announcement, Craft said she never thought a girl was possible since both sides of the family tend to have boys.
Below, you will see a photo that fellow #HTownRusher, Stephanie Simmons, posted from Craft's baby shower.
KHOU 11 Houston announced on-air and on social that it's having a morning and afternoon temporary anchor change for June 2023 between Stephanie Simmons and Rekha Muddaraj.
So Simmons swaps AM for PM to anchor with Ron Treviño in the afternoons and Muddaraj drinks more coffee to work the morning news desk with Kimberly Davis and Dave Froehlich.
The social media posts about the swap mention this schedule for the month of June or for a "few weeks."
A high up source within KHOU 11 tells me this change is about summer vacations and that Muddaraj will also be filling in for evening anchor Mia Gradney later in June.
Apparently Simmons returns to mornings July 10th.
It certainly intrigued channel 11 viewers who asked me what was going on. It got me interested too, as in my memory, I have never seen anything like a pre-announced by all parties temporary anchor switch.
Naturally anchors at other stations have permanently swapped an AM for a PM shift with another anchor. I could list a bunch of those instances here if you really cared.
"Houston has been my home for years, and every day I'm reminded what an honor it is to be part of this incredible community," Carson said. "It's a true privilege to be welcomed into your home, share your stories, and help you start your day."
It's an ABC13 KTRK reunion, but the duo never actually worked at the station together at the same time. As Jacob noted on the morning newscast, Carson and his father, Art Rascon, worked together.
Carson will join the KHOU morning newscast on July 28, 2025, and stay on for the KHOU 11+ streaming portion until 9am.
Stephanie Simmons will be moving to the dayside schedule. If I had to guess, Simmons will fill the 4pm newscast vacancy left by Rekha Muddaraj.
UPDATE Rumor is Stephanie Simmons will anchor the noon newscast, and Shern-Min Chow will move from 12 p.m. to the 4 p.m. news with Ron Treviño. I asked KHOU for verification of this, but have not heard back.
Speaking of Muddaraj, back in April when I posted that she was leaving KHOU, I wrote:
"Sources tell mikemcguff.com that KHOU is hiring another new morning co-anchor. In fact, I am aware of one notable Houston TV anchor that has tried out. Stay tuned. This could get very interesting. I've been telling people in the TV industry that when new KHOU GM David Loving was hired in May 2024, given that he had already run the top-rated station in Houston a few years ago, he was going to hit the ground running and shake up the ratings. Stay tuned."
The person I was referencing was Ilona Carson, who auditioned at Channel 11 many months ago.
Last year in an interview, Carson told me she left the TV biz to escape "the daily whirlwind of live news" and focus more on her family since she is a mom to three busy kids in elementary, middle, and high school.
"When I departed from ABC 13, I thought I was retiring," Carson told mikemcguff.com in 2024. "While it was a much-needed sabbatical, I learned a lot about myself and the importance of finding a new challenge, the next step in my career. The opportunity at Comcast was simply the right fit — not just for my own professional development but also for the flexibility that my family needs. Everyday, I get to do some amazing work for one of the nation’s biggest technology and media companies. I still get to tell impactful stories and share them with Houston area viewers - which will always be in my DNA. There really is a wonderful life after news!"
Carson left ABC13 after 16 years in June 2021 and was one of the many departures around that time. She joined Channel 13 in 2005 as anchor of the 4 p.m. newscast. Over time, she expanded her role to include the 6:30 p.m. news and eventually the 10 p.m. newscast.
Before making the move to Houston, Carson worked at FOX 10 KSAZ in Phoenix. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, she also spent part of her early career at KAMR in Amarillo.
Over the course of her career, Carson has been recognized with numerous honors, including a Lone Star EMMY, a National Headliner Award, and a Gracie Award.
"Ilona brings exceptional experience and an authentic connection to Houston that our audience will immediately recognize," said David Loving, KHOU 11 President and General Manager. "Her proven track record of guiding our community through challenging moments with facts, compassion, and perspective makes her an incredible asset to our team."
"Ilona is a hands-on anchor and solution-focused journalist who combines extensive experience with a relatable style that connects with viewers and reflects her love for Houston," said Kathryn Bonfield, KHOU 11 News Director. "Her ability to deliver news with both professionalism and heart makes her the perfect addition to the KHOU 11 family."
Jennifer Reyna is returning to television at KHOU 11 mornings bringing 15 years of Houston traffic experience.
Reyna joins the channel 11 morning show with Chita Craft, Stephanie Simmons and Kimberly Davis on November 1st. Not mentioned in the official press release is the name "#HTownRush," so maybe that will change too.
“I am pleased to join KHOU 11 and do my part to engage and inform my fellow Houstonians," Reyna said in the press release. "I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with the team and they are talented, dedicated and fun. I’m sure our viewers will appreciate the time they spend with us every morning.”
Reyna leaves KPRC 2 in 2019
I thought all along that Reyna would most likely end up at channel 11. Much has changed in the Houston morning television ratings world since Reyna departed KPRC 2 in October 2019. It will be interesting to see what happens from this point.
Since leaving KPRC two years ago, Reyna has pretty consistently stayed in the top 5 of my most popular posts as clicked on by readers.
"We are excited to welcome Jennifer Reyna to the KHOU 11 team and her return to morning television,” added Robert Springer, General Manager KHOU 11. “In addition to her extensive knowledge and understanding of Houston’s traffic, Jennifer cares deeply about the Houston community and it comes through in every interaction you have with her.
"As we seek to better serve the people of Houston and help them get out the door in morning, they can rest assured Jennifer Reyna is on the case, working closely with Chita Craft, Kimberly Davis and Stephanie Simmons.”
The Houston native starts in broadcasting at 101 KLOL
Reyna started in the broadcasting business in 2003 at the legendary Rock 101 KLOL while appearing on the Outlaw Dave show.
She moved to Los Angeles after that working for ABC 7 KABC behind the scenes on shows Eye on LA and Vista LA.
Returning to Houston, in 2006, Reyna joined KPRC 2 as the morning traffic anchor. She later added traffic duties at 89.3 KSBJ in addition to her TV work.
Reyna, who was born and raised in Houston, is a graduate of the University of Houston. She supports non-profits like the Lone Survivor Foundation, Houston Association of Hispanic Media and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
“Houston’s growing traffic issues are top of mind with viewers,” said KHOU 11 news director Elizabeth Roldan. “Jennifer’s knowledge will help our audience in their everyday life. That’s standing for Houston.”
Here is what Froehlich said on Instagram in a video:
"All right. Exciting morning. Hectic morning. But if you didn't know and you care, my time on KHOU 11 morning news and my time at KHOU has come to an end as of this morning.
It's very full circle. I just happen to know it was September 1st when I got to walk in the building for the first time, September 1st, 2021, for my for my interview there. And now two years later, it's wrapped up.
And it was a dream come true to get to work in TV in my hometown. It's what I always wanted to do and I got to do it. And it was it was everything I could have hoped it would have been because of the great people who you see on the show every day, Steph and Kim and Chita and Jen and and all the reporters, all the producers, all the directors, all the editors and everybody in the building. So that's a great team.
I hope you keep watching the show. I'm going to keep watching the show. And I just want to say thank you for a great experience and a great run at KHOU. Again, I'm going to keep watching.
As for what I'm going to do next, um, I don't know. I'll let you know, but I don't know right now. I might take a nap."
