KVEO Brownsville debuts first-ever Latina anchor team

KVEO Rio Grande Valley debuts brand new newscasts, and a historic news team

Evenings team is (left to right) Isaac Williams, Clara Benitez, and Sydney Hernandez.

KVEO Brownsville, TX has been rapidly expanding in 2020 and has just debuted what they think in the first in the country.

News director Amy Sullivan says she thinks the Nexstar Media Group now has the first all Latina main anchor pairing in the country.

"Excited for two amazing Latinas who have proven they are two of the best journalists here in the [Rio Grande Valley]," Sullivan tweeted ahead of the new newscast launches.

CBS 4 weekend anchor Clara Benitez and KVEO reporter Sydney Hernández make up that new evening news team.

They both come from KVEO's Local 23 and CBS 4 two stations under one roof (more on that in a minute).

"We're able to provide coverage from morning until night for the first time," Sullivan told mikemcguff.com. "This is a hand-picked group of journalists who want to provide the best coverage for the community."

RELATED
- Faith Woodard joins CBS 4 KVEO Brownsville
- Isaac Williams joins Local 23 KVEO Brownsville
- Sydney Hernández joins Local 23 KVEO as evening anchor

Mornings team is Meteorologist Freddy Vela, Sydney Gray and Brenda Matute.

Until recently, KVEO only had local news programming at 5pm and 10pm. Now it has added RGV newscasts to mornings, 11am, 4pm and 6:30pm.

KMTV Omaha, Nebraska morning reporter Sydney Gray and KRIS Corpus Christi reporter Brenda Matute have been hired for the new Local 23 morning newscast along with meteorologist Freddy Vela.

But wait, that's not the only new show. Starting September 13th, KVEO reporter Jeremiah Wilcox starts anchoring weekends with meteorologist Chris Ramirez who was recently hired from sister-station KSAN San Angelo.

To replace the newly promoted Benitez on CBS 4 weekends, KVEO reporter Karina Vargas gets bumped up to anchor. Andrew Shipley was hired to be the weekend meteorologist for the CBS 4 Valley Storm Team.

Houston TV viewers might recognize Ramirez and Shipley who both helped out new Nexstar sister-station CW39 KIAH during Hurricane Laura television coverage.

So why have all these massive changes happened in the Rio Grande Valley television market? Let me set this all up for those not tuning into the South Texas TV airwaves.

The anchor changes come after Nexstar Media Group took over KGBT from the Sinclair Broadcast Group as part of a lawsuit settlement. Sinclair retained the KGBT call letters.

Now Nexstar runs two stations under KVEO.

Local 23 remains on the main channel while the the former KGBT CBS 4 (the CBS 4 branding remains) lives on at 23.2.

Both staffs were combined into the former studios of KGBT and are now working together on two stations.

Sydney Hernández joins Local 23 KVEO as evening anchor

CBS 4 Rio Grande Valley reporter Sydney Hernández joining Local 23 KVEO as evening anchor in Brownsville, Texas


Sydney Hernández is leaving CBS 4 Rio Grande Valley and moving across the hall so to speak with the same company at Nexstar's NBC 23 KVEO Brownsville.

RELATED
KVEO Brownsville debuts first-ever Latina anchor team

Here is what Hernández tweeted:

THANK YOU! I can never thank you enough for all the love you’ve given me over the last few years.

I am no longer reporting with CBS 4 News. It has been an incredible ride and a piece of my heart will always be there, but it’s time for me to move up within the company.

I am blessed and beyond excited to announce I will be your new evening anchor on Local 23 News starting tomorrow, Monday, August 31st at 4:00 pm.

To my amazing viewers, I love you and I am forever grateful for the support and affection you’ve always shown me.

I am happy to say nothing will be changing here on my page and I will continue to post and report on the issues you want to see.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. God bless you! Los quiero!

The RGV native previously worked as a reporter for FOX 44 KWKT Waco - Temple - Killeen where she covered military and crime stories in the Fort Hood - Killeen area.

Hernández graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas A&M University – Kingsville and interned at KOB 4 News Albuquerque, NM.

She was raised in Mission, Texas and is a La Joya I.S.D. grad.

Now you might notice there have been a lot of KVEO stories on my blog over the last few months.

That's because KVEO owner Nexstar Media Group acquired Sinclair Broadcast Group’s KGBT as part of a lawsuit settlement. So I guess KGBT as a station doesn't really exist anymore as it is now on KVEO's channel 23.2. KVEO and staff moved into the former KGBT studios and now the two station's staff are under the same roof.

All these KVEO changes this summer must be a result of the merging of the stations.

In July, we saw WBOC 16 Salisbury, Md's Faith Woodard join KVEO as a weekday evening news anchor.

In early August, FOX Carolina's Isaac Williams joined NBC 23 KVEO Brownsville as chief meteorologist.

Just last week, KVEO and CBS 4 sent a team to Houston to fellow Nexstar station CW39 KIAH cover Hurricane Laura.

Media job moves across Texas since May 2015

School's back and I'm giving you the TX TV, radio and newspaper media job moves since May 2015



Send TX media job announcements to me via email. See which Texas TV jobs are open here.

Dallas - Fort Worth

Veteran WFAA Dallas reporter Byron Harris to retire in October.

NBC5 KXAS DFW adds Chris Jose as reporter.

Dallas-based TEGNA8 drops featured early morning reporter Brian Glenn from Daybreak.

After more than four decades in the trenches, CBS11 reporter Bud Gillett is bowing out.

Fox4 reporters Latoya Silmon, Calvert Collins are both putting the station behind them.

Ray Villeda leaving, Meredith Yeomans arrives at NBC5 KXAS DFW.

Fox 4 KDFW Dallas investigative reporter Becky Oliver retires.

The NBC Owned Television Stations appointed KXAS 5 DFW news director Susan Tully president and general manager of WVIT Hartford-New Haven, Conn. (DMA 30).

NBC-owned KXAS Dallas-Fort Worth (DMA 5) appointed Mark Ginther vice president of news.

Rick Hadley, the longtime news director and even longer-time newsman for WBAP/820 AM and its sister station KLIF/570 AM, left radio to be the executive director of communications for the Grapevine-Colleyville school district.

WBAP promotes Freda Ross to news director.

Amanda Fitzpatrick leaves Dallas TV for WCCB.

Houston

FOX 26 KRIV reporter Kristine Galvan announced her departure from TV.

Lora Hines left the Houston Chronicle where she was a reporter covering the health care biz and went to Houston's Methodist Hospital as a web writer.

KPRC assistant creative services director Michael Penix jumps across the street to be creative services director at KIAH 39.

Justin Sternberg returns to Houston TV as KTRK abc13 Sr. Project Manager, News and Digital.

Former KTRK abc13 producer Adam Darsky leaves WABC NY as an executive producer to become assistant news director at WTNH New Haven, Connecticut. Houston media watchers might remember that former KHOU 11 news director Keith Connors is now the WTNH news director.

Houston TV and radio assignments manager Joe Segura left to be assignments manager for KGBT-TV in Harlingen.

Chris McDonald leaves the KHOU assignments desk to become the KEYE Austin assignments manager.

John Brewer left KPRC 2 as an assignments editor to be assignments manager at KXAN Austin.

Christine Nguyen left KENS 5 San Antonio to be a producer at KPRC 2 Houston.

Mix 96.5 KHMX/Houston Ups Chad Pitt To APD/Afternoons.

TAMMY JOHNSON departs KSBJ EDUCATIONAL Contemporary Christian KSBJ (89.3 GOD LISTENS)/HOUSTON for an opportunity to work with the band SWITCHFOOT.

Benjamin Phoenix left 104.1 KRBE's The Roula & Ryan Show.

Former News 92 KROI anchor Bonnie Petrie is the new morning news co-anchor on WTMJ-AM (620) Milwaukee.

Courtney Fischer joins KTRK abc13.

Devi Dev promoted at 93.7 The Beat KQBT.

Casey Curry and Travis Herzog switch places on KTRK abc13.

Mix 96.5 KHMX drops 'The Atom Smasher Morning Show'.

The Dave, Mahoney & DK Morning Show to hit Mix 96.5 KHMX.

Pablo Alsina Joins KHOU 11.

Cathy Hernandez joins KPRC 2.

Sara Donchey joins KPRC 2 from KRIS.

Sharron Melton exits KTRK abc13.

John Fenoglio joins KTRK abc13.

Angela Chen departs KTRK abc13 for FOX 26 KRIV.

Jonathan Martinez joins KPRC 2 as weekend anchor.

Elita Loresca joins KTRK abc13 after LA's KNBC 4.

Karla Barguiarena exits abc13 KTRK.

San Antonio

Mayde “Mimi” Gomez, a multimedia journalist and fill-in co-host on KSAT San Antonio’s, “SA Live,” is heading to KABC-TV in Los Angeles.

Former KSAT investigator April Molina joined News 4 San Antonio WOAI’s Trouble Shooters unit.

Claudia Garofalo took on a new role with WOAI and KABB beginning the week of May 18th, guiding viewers through their daily commute on the stations’ morning newscasts as the full-time traffic reporter.

KENS 5 San Antonio general manager Robert McGann announced retirement plans.

KENS-TV’s comedic traffic reporter Jennie Stencel leaves job and S.A.

Kevin Cuenca signed off from San Antonio Fox affiliate KABB.

After three years as KENS-TV morning anchorman, Mat Garcia bid farewell to his job.

KENS 5 reporter James Doughty (aka James Muñoz) joins KWES NewsWest 9 as news director.

Chelsey Hernandez joins KENS 5 San Antonio.

Austin

5 p.m. anchor Jim Bergamo retiring from KVUE Austin.

Shelton Green, one of Austin’s longest-tenured and most recognizable TV news reporters, left KVUE after 27 years in the news business – 19 of them on the air in Austin.

Christine Haas leaves Fox 7 KTBC Austin to start new business.

Fox 7 KTBC Austin hires new weekend meteorologist Chelsea Humphrey joined the station taking over the spot vacated by Scott Prinsen, who left for a job outside the TV business.

Fox-owned KTBC Austin, Texas (DMA 39), named reporter Ann Wyatt Little weekend anchor of Good Day Austin.

Jenni Lee returned to Austin TV as a reporter/anchor at KVUE-TV.

Tom Miller left KVUE to become a reporter at KCRA Sacramento, CA.

Collin Myers joins KEYE Austin as a meteorologist.

Around Texas

KABC reporter Robert Holguin has left the Los Angeles ABC-owned station for a job at El Paso's KFOX.

Veteran anchor Wayne McCormick retired from KTXS, the ABC affiliate for Abilene, Texas.

JANE MONREAL to Weekend Morning Anchor at KSHB in Kansas City (from KIII in Corpus Christi).

Tara Mergener Joins KWTX Waco As Anchor, EP

Field Sutton leaves East Texas TV for WFTV, the ABC affiliate in Central Florida.

Zack Henrick leaves KTEN Texoma region to be an MMJ reporter for News 4 WOAI and KABB Fox 29.

Josh Gorbutt has been named interim news director of KBTX Bryan-College Station. He was the news operations manager and replaces Jamie Burch, who had been news director. at the station since October 2013.

Three on-air talent are getting their start in local TV thanks to KETK Tyler, TX - Morgan Boydston, Allison Smith and Elisabeth Armstrong.

Eddie Flores Joins KGBT Rio Grande Valley as Anchor.

KCEN Waco morning anchor Ashley Allen is now in the same gig at KION Salinas, CA.

Chris Davis leaves KCEN Waco to be a reporter at WHTM / ABC27 Harrisburg, PA.

Nestor Mato has started a new job as a Multimedia Journalist for KGBT 4, the Sinclair-owned CBS affiliate in Harlingen, TX.

Send job announcements to me via email. See which Texas TV jobs are open here.

REMEMBERING
- Former Houston journalist Fred King remembered for his smarts, decency
- Bert Shipp’s final news story unfolds
- Veteran San Antonio Newsman Sandoval Dies
- Hall of Honor member, former UH SID Ted Nance passes away

Nexstar shows Houston how it competes during Hurricane Laura

Texas-based TV owner Nexstar Media Group flexes its news resources for CW39 KIAH Houston Hurricane Laura coverage


Now Houston TV news viewers are watching how new entrant to our television market, station owner Nexstar Media Group, competes as it starts to cover Hurricane Laura.

Nexstar bought Tribune stations like CW39 Houston KIAH last year, and started making changes to the CW affiliate a few months ago.

Last week, the station stopped the Morning Dose show name on its only Houston newscast, altered its set, and changed the station's overall branding with a new color scheme.

As Hurricane Laura approaches land, Nexstar is using its massive ownership across Texas to supply talent to Houston from its other stations. The company has stations in 13 Texas markets - and in many of those owning multiple stations.

"The #NexstarNation is proud to support @CW39Houston during a critical time for this part of Texas," Director of Digital Content for Nexstar Media Group Austin Kellerman tweeted me. "Similar work being done in Louisiana as #Laura approaches."

For those keeping score about Nexstars reach, the TV company says on its own website:

Upon completion of its acquisition of Tribune Media in 2019, Nexstar became the largest local television broadcast and digital media company in the nation with a portfolio of 196 full power owned or serviced stations in 114 markets reaching approximately 63% of US television households.

While I have never covered Nexstar until recently, the company has a reputation for running stations efficiently and knowing how to share resources. KIAH's hurricane coverage is proof positive of this thought.

With the extra help from Nexstar Texas stations, KIAH is doing news cut-ins throughout the day.

To help add news coverage, feature reporter Maggie Flecknoe is anchoring some of these cutins from what I have seen.

Also added is former FOX 26 KRIV meteorologist Lindsey Day who joined KIAH in 2018 as a fill-in meteorologist for Maria Sotolongo and fitness segment expert.

Helping out from other TX Nexstar stations:
KXAN Austin Capitol Correspondent Maggie Glynn
NBC 23 KVEO Brownsville meteorologist Chris Ramirez
KXAN Texas Capitol Correspondent Wes Rapaport
CBS 4 Meteorologist KGBT Rio Grande Valley Andrew Shipley
KXAN Austin Education Reporter Alex Caprariello
FOX51 KETK Tyler anchor Trent Bennett
Chief Photographer at KETK Tyler William Bethancourt
KXAN Austin Digital Photojournalist Todd Bailey
KXAN Austin Meteorologist David Yeomans
FOX 44 KWKT Waco Operations Director & Assistant Engineer Johnathan Kiker
KXAN Austin Executive Producer Wes Wilson
Director of Digital Content for Nexstar Media Group Austin Kellerman
CBS 4 KGBT Rio Grande Valley reporter Chris Jacobs
News Photographer/Drone Pilot Gage McAllen, TX

SEE ANOTHER NEW FACE?: Let me know any other non-Houston anchors/reporters you see on CW39

Currently KIAH is paying KTRK to run a nightly newscast “ABC13 Eyewitness News at 9 PM on CW39."

Readers are asking me how long will KIAH even need to do that? Will Nexstar being adding new newscasts to CW39?

Stay tuned.

(Thanks David!)

Texas #TVnews and radio job moves September 2018

DALLAS - FORT WORTH

CBS11 KTVT takes a double hit with loss of husband-wife duo Dan Haggerty, Cristin Severance.

NBC5 KXAS’s weekend anchor Cory Smith leaves to join WRC in Washington, D.C.

REMEISHA SHADE joins ABC Affiliate WEWS in Cleveland as Weekend Meteorologist and will fill-in on weekdays and report. Remeisha who previously worked at NBC Affiliate KXAS in Dallas is a graduate of Florida State University and is AMS Certified.
- Mort Meisner Associates

Angelina Armendariz joins Univision 23 in Dallas as an MMJ from Telemundo 40 in McAllen.
- nwtgroup

Yona Gavino signs a new agreement as reporter at KTVT, the CBS O&O in Dallas.
- nwtgroup

“Smooth R&B 105.7” KRNB dropped the “Steve Harvey Morning Show” and announced show replacement “The Morning Rush” with comedian Rudy Rush and Claudia Jordan.

Texas Country KPLX 99.5 The Wolf in Dallas/Fort Worth debuts a new morning radio hosted by DFW radio personality Nathan Fast.

WFAA Marketing Director Blair Nelson Heads to KUSA.

HOUSTON

Houston Chronicle Austin bureau chief Mike Ward resigned his position after allegations surfaced that he made up sources for stories.

Monica Rhor has left the Houston Chronicle to join USA Today as a national writer.

Houston Chronicle Assistant Business Editor Ronnie Crocker announced he has been named editor of the Beaumont Enterprise. He's been with the Chron for more than two decades.

abc13 KTRK anchor Erica Simon says wearing makeup to cover her freckles on air is part of the required "uniform."

Former Rock 101 KLOL DJ Steve Fixx is now Director of Internal Communications for Mattress Firm.

Hot AC MIX 107.3 WRQX WASHINGTON, D.C. signs Corinna Delgado for middays. She was most recently with sister 104.1 KRBE.

COX MEDIA GROUP/HOUSTON Dir./Sales Judy Lakin is set to retire from her position, effective at the end of 2018.

- Texas Radio Hall of Fame 2018 inductees
- Frank Billingsley diagnosed with prostate cancer
- Former KIAH GM Roger Bare to head Bayou City Art Festivals
- NewsFix and morning dose cancelled by Tribune
- Former Houston TV staffers land gigs in Florida
- Sara Donchey leaves KPRC 2
- NewsFix signs off, plus remembering the old 39 News
- KTRK photographer Jaime Zamora calls it a career after 38 years
- Former KHOU photographer lives "Life Below Zero"
- Tom Zizka moving to weekends
- KTXH bringing back that 20 Vision feeling
- 'Wake Up! With SallyMac & Lina' debuts Monday on FOX 26 KRIV
- Telemundo Houston and Entercom radio team up
- In 'Santa Fe Strong,' KHOU follows the high school football team after shooting tragedy
- KHOU Avenida Studio in downtown Houston debuts

SAN ANTONIO

KSAT reporter Courtney Friedman joins Tim Gerber on the 10pm weekend newscast.

KABB's 9am team re-branded "Daytime @ Nine" (since August 2011) as "Daytime with Kimberly & Esteban."

AUSTIN

Fox 7 reporter Destiny Chance has been upped to weekend evening anchor, taking over for Ashley Paredez, who is now at sister station KDFW in Dallas.

AROUND TEXAS

ALYSSA MEISNER moves to Morning and Noon Anchor at KDBC in El Paso (from weekends at WOWK, Charleston, WV).
- Steve Swienckowski at DCA Talent

Jasmine Haynes makes a 135 market jump to News Reporter/MMJ for KSN Wichita, KS. Previously, she was the morning anchor at KAVU Victoria.
- CBK Media Management

KGBT Harlingen anchor Nicole Hickl is taking some time off to manage her mental health.

WRGT morning anchor and sports director Erik Elken is leaving Dayton, Ohio to join KVIA El Paso as an evening anchor.

ASHLEY KRAMLICH jumps 83 markets and becomes the Weekend Meteorologist at WBFF FOX in Baltimore from meteorologist at KYTX in Tyler, Texas.
- 3 KINGS ENTERTAINMENT

RYAN NELSON jumps 42 markets and becomes a Reporter at WJAX-TV in Jacksonville, Florida from reporter at KRGV in Weslaco, Texas.
- 3 KINGS ENTERTAINMENT

KGBT hires sports anchor Daniel Esteve.

REMEMBERING

Remembering CBS radio's Dave Barrett (former 740 KTRH reporter)

Robert Gray, KPRC's first live news reporter, dies at 94

KGBT 4 names Astrid Martinez Spanish language anchor

The David Crane Agency reports that Astrid Martinez will be the primary news anchor for a new Spanish language newscast produced by KGBT 4 in Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville.

SEE MARTINEZ'S WEB SITE

Texas TV & radio job moves November 2015

Media job changes around Texas November 2015

DALLAS - FORT WORTH

CBS11 sports reporter/anchor Guy Rawlings heading for Birmingham's WVTM.

Christine Lee left KXAS 5 DFW Dallas-Fort Worth to become a Public Relations Specialist at Plan C Agency in Los Angeles.

Fox 4 adds Alex Boyér to air staff from KEYE in Austin.

Aaron Franco left WFAA 8 as a segment producer to become Dallas bureau producer for Al Jazeera America.

HOUSTON

John Bullock jumps from his KHOU 11 special projects editor and microwave engineer position to a KPRC 2 management role as media coordinator.

Holly Adams named KTRK abc13 morning executive producer.

FOX 26 KRIV assignments manager Crystal Solomon has left the station.

Louis Lochte has left his KPRC 2 10pm producer gig and is now at KPIX San Francisco.

Houston Public Media News 88.7 recently hired Alvaro ‘Al’ Ortiz as a general assignments reporter. Throughout his career, Al has worked in every platform of journalism, from wire services to print and from broadcast news to online. Most recently, he was senior reporter for Houston Chronicle’s Spanish-language newspaper La Voz de Houston.

Lauren Tostenson joins KHOU 11
Lauren Tostenson joins KHOU 11 from NewsFix; Austin television viewers will know her as Time Warner Cable News' Lauren Mickler

Mia Gradney named KHOU 11 5pm anchor
Changes are afoot in the channel 11 anchor schedule...

Karla Barguiarena working for ABC News One
Former KTRK abc13 reporter Karla Barguiarena has a gig at ABC News One

AUSTIN

KXAN Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter Brent Carney has left the station.

AROUND TEXAS

Jackie Simien leaves KBMT Beaumont to work with the Creative Corrections Education Foundation.

KBTX's Trina Adger leaves for a reporter position at KOCO 5 Oklahoma City.

Monica Quintero returns to Texas from KSBY (serving Central Coast of California) to anchor/executive produce at KIDY FOX San Angelo.

Reporter/anchor Morgan Boydston left KETK Tyler for KTVB Boise, Idaho.

Brett Crandall leaves KGBT Action 4 News Harlingen to become Media Relations Manager at Brigham Young University-Idaho.

Sinclair Broadcast Group promoted Linda Guerrero Deicla to general manager of its CBS affiliate KGBT Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas.

- Looking for TX TV jobs?
- Contact here for job changes

RELATED
Texas TV & radio job moves for October 2015

Minerva Pérez Joins NHMC Board of Directors

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - Award-winning broadcast journalist Minerva Pérez has been elected to the board of directors of the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC).

The former television news anchor is owner/principal of Minerva Pérez Media, LLC, a Sugar Land, Texas-based video production firm. She also is executive producer and partner of "Latina Voices: Smart Talk," a syndicated, multimedia (television/online/social media) program she created in 2008 and the first English-language talk show of its kind to focus on universal topics from a Latina perspective. Pérez is the author of the memoir, "I Gotta Story: My 30 Years in TV News."

"Minerva brings to our board more than 30 years of journalism experience, as well as a frontline perspective of how media issues affect Latinas and our Latino community," said Alex Nogales, NMHC president and chief executive officer. "Her extensive community involvement in California and Texas will add a vital dimension to our grassroots advocacy efforts."

Pérez joins five other Latinas serving on NHMC's national board: Board Vice Chair Marta Garcia of New York City; Lisette Arsuaga, co-president and partner of California-based Davila Multicultural Insights; former Deputy Assistant Secretary Sylvia V. Baca of the U.S. Department of the Interior; Charon D'Aiello Sandoval, former affirmative action program director at California State University, Los Angeles; and Los Angeles writer/producer Ligiah Villalobos.

Pérez began her broadcasting career in Texas, first at KURV-AM in Edinburg and then at KGBT-FM in Harlingen. She entered television news at KGBT-TV, also in Harlingen, before working in Austin, Dallas, Phoenix and San Antonio. Pérez later became the first Latina news anchor at Houston's KTRK-TV and the first Mexican-American news anchorwoman on the "News at Ten Weekend Edition" at KTLA-TV in Los Angeles.

She has won two Golden Mike awards, a Cesar Award, a Los Angeles Press Club award, and three Emmy nominations, as well as several Associated Press journalism awards.

A native of South Texas' Rio Grande Valley, Pérez earned a degree in mass communications and Spanish from the University of Texas at Pan American, now University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Pérez has served on the boards of directors of or in leadership positions with several leading organizations, including the Advisory Council of the Women's Resource Center of Greater Houston, Harris County Children's Assessment Center, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Houston Association of Hispanic Media Professionals, Mayor's Council on Literacy: The Houston Read Commission, and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

###

The National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) is the media watchdog for the Latino community, ensuring that we are fairly and consistently represented in news and entertainment and that our voices are heard over the airwaves and on the internet.

We exist to challenge executives and influencers throughout the entertainment and news industry to eliminate barriers for Latinos to express themselves and be heard through every type of medium. NHMC works to bring decision-makers to the table to open new opportunities for Latinos to create, contribute and consume programming that is inclusive, free from bias and hate rhetoric, affordable and culturally relevant.

Receive real-time updates on Facebook, Twitter @NHMC and Instagram @NHMC_org.

(This post taken from a release sent to me by the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC))

Samantha Mesa joins Local 5 WOI

Samantha Mesa left the morning and midday anchor desk at CBS 4 KGBT Rio Grande Valley (Nexstar) for Local 5 WOI Des Moines, Iowa (Tegna) in June 2021.

“I am thrilled to join the high-caliber team at Local 5,” Mesa said on the WOI website. “I’m looking forward to getting to know the Des Moines community and calling it home. For me, journalism shows the heart of our communities and our lives, and gives us the opportunity to find solutions to problems. It gives us the ability to record history and give context to changes and challenges we face, especially in these unprecedented times.”

In November 2022, Mesa joined the "Good Morning Iowa" team as co-anchor with Chenue Her. 

Mesa worked for KGBT since 2018 as it was acquired by Nexstar from Sinclair.

Before the RGV, Mesa was an anchor/reporter for WHAM Rochester, New York where "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" should be the newscast theme music. Period.

Mesa started her television news career in Texas as the breaking news morning reporter and anchor for KRIS 6 News Corpus Christi.

She earned a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism with a bachelors from the University of Colorado.

According to her bio, Mesa received a scholarship during her time at the University of Colorado to study abroad in Morocco and Tunisia during the Arab Spring Uprisings which led to her report "Women’s Voices Will Be Heard." 

We’re making it official! We’ve had such a good time together helping y’all start your day - I’m excited to announce I’m permanently joining the brilliant and talented @ChenueHer as co-host of ‘Good Morning Iowa’! I can’t wait for more mornings to come 📺 @weareiowa5news pic.twitter.com/uhcJpstJzJ

— Samantha Mesa (@SamanthaMesaTV) November 21, 2022

KRGV adds Azteca America, hires new anchors

KRGV Rio Grande Valley hires Marianela Aguirre and Hugo Magallan to anchor Azteca America's HECHOS Valle a las 5 and HECHOS Valle a las 10

Marianela Aguirre hired by KRGV

 KRGV is pleased to announce that on October 1, 2020, Azteca Valle will be available

over the air on Channel 5.2 and on Spectrum Cable Channel 1240. 

Azteca America serves over 60 stations in different cities across the United States with large Hispanic and Latin American populations, now including the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas.

The Rio Grande Valley will now have a new option for Spanish language programming, which

includes local news, sports, entertainment, miniseries and novelas.

HECHOS Valle newscasts will be produced by KRGV in Weslaco and will offer more local news in

Spanish than any station in the area.

"Our goal is to provide our audience with local news they can trust in the language they prefer"

said John Kittleman, KRGV-TV General Manager. "We are here to serve our community. The Rio

Grande Valle trusts Channel 5 News and now we want to provide the Valley with high quality

Spanish-language programming and local news."

News anchors Daisy Martinez and Arturo Vargas from Somos Noticias will continue to anchor

for HECHOS Valle.

KRGV is happy to announce the hiring of Marianela Aguirre to anchor HECHOS Valle a las 5 and

HECHOS Valle a las 10.

Aguirre previously spent more than 16 years at KNVO-48, the Univision affiliate in McAllen,

working in several capacities including news anchor and News Director. She also worked at

KGBT -TV as Azteca America anchor.

Another addition to the HECHOS Valle team is Hugo Magallan, who will be co-anchoring with

Aguirre. Magallan worked for several years anchoring at KNVO-48 before moving to KTLM-TV,

the local Telemundo station, where he was weekend anchor.

News Director Zoltan Csanyi-Salcedo says, “With the launch of Hechos Valle and the addition of

Marianela and Hugo, Azteca Valle and Hechos Valle will have two of the strongest well known

anchors in the Spanish language TV in the RGV. Combined with CHANNEL 5 NEWS, we will have

the most experienced news and weather team in the Valley regardless of language.”

(This post was taken from a releases sent to me by KRGV)

Steven Cavazos to leave KSAT 12 San Antonio

Steven Cavazos is leaving his KSAT 12 San Antonio morning traffic anchor/reporter role.

Here is what Cavazos posted on Facebook:

"I wanted to share with you that this will be my last full month with KSAT, and after much prayer, I’ve decided to step away from TV news.

For the last year, I contemplated my future within the news industry. I wondered ‘what more could I do’ and realized, I have done everything I wanted to. My heart is full, and it’s time to move on.

I have been lucky to work in almost every role a news department can offer. From behind the scenes, to behind the desk, life has come full circle!

Let me just say, I am filled with so much appreciation for this experience. God has blessed me with the fortune to work in South Texas; a place I was born and raised. Thank you all for embracing me over the years. It has been my greatest privilege to keep you informed. 

While the road is coming to an end, it’s not over yet! My last day on air is Wednesday, December 6.  

I’ll share what’s next at some point down the line. However, for now let’s finish this next month off on a high note! God bless you all and much love."

Cavazos joined KSAT as a multimedia journalist (MMJ) in September 2019.

In May of 2021, he became the station's morning traffic anchor, replacing Samuel King. 

Before joining KSAT, Cavazos was a reporter for KIII 3 News Corpus Christi for three years starting in 2016. 

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley grad was also a CBS 4 News Rio Grande Valley KGBT production assistant and staff writer for the Valley Morning Star. 

Announced at the same time as Cavazos' exit was the departure of KSAT morning reporter Jonathan Cotto.

Allysa Cole joins KSAT San Antonio

Allysa Cole is joining KSAT 12 San Antonio as a reporter in September 2022.

Cole comes from KRGV 5 Rio Grande Valley where she was a weekend anchor/reporter for two years.

Before that, she worked for CBS 4 KGBT as a multi-media journalist (MMJ) in the same area. 

Prior to Texas, Cole worked as an MMJ for FOX 23 WHPM Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Cole, who was also a member of AmeriCorps, started her TV career at WDAM 7 as a digital content producer while attending the University of Southern Mississippi where she earned a BA in journalism and Spanish. 

The Detroit native used that college Spanish literature concentration to report for KRGV’s sister station Azteca Valle “Hechos Valle.”

Texas Rangers To broadcast 15 games on over-the-air TV

IRVING, TX (Jan. 29, 2025) – Nexstar Media Group, Inc. today announced that it has reached an agreement with the Texas Rangers Major League Baseball team to televise at least 15 regular season games and four spring training games during the 2025 season. 

RELATED
Fubo to Stream Texas Rangers Baseball

The regular-season games will air across 17 Nexstar-owned and partner television stations in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.  Nexstar-owned KDAF-TV (CW33) will serve as the flagship station for broadcasts in the Rangers’ home market of Dallas-Ft. Worth (DMA #4).  In San Antonio, Texas, the games will be carried by KCWX-TV, owned by Corridor Television, and in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Ranger games will be broadcast on KQCW-TV, owned by Griffin Media.

“We are extremely pleased to be bringing Rangers baseball to the best fans in the country, and to have KDAF/CW33 serving as the flagship station for Rangers broadcasts in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area,” said Andrew Alford, President of Nexstar’s broadcasting division.  “Securing 15 regular season games and four spring training games for broadcast on free over-the-air television is a clear demonstration of Nexstar’s commitment to serving our local communities with high-quality live sports and entertainment programming.”

The first regular-season game on Nexstar’s stations will air Friday, March 28, against the Boston Red Sox, and the full schedule of televised games will be announced at a later date.  The team’s television game broadcasts will be produced and distributed by Rangers Sports Network, with full information and updates posted at rangers.com/tunein.  

CITY STATION

Dallas, TX KDAF

Houston, TX KIAH

Austin, TX KBVO

Oklahoma City, OK KAUT

New Orleans, LA WNOL

Little Rock / Pine Bluff, AR KASN

Harlingen, TX KGBT

El Paso (Las Cruces), TX KTSM

Waco / Temple / Bryan, TX KYLE

Shreveport, LA KSHV

Baton Rouge, LA WBRL

Ft. Smith / Fayetteville, AR KXNW

Tyler / Longview, TX KTPN

Lafayette, LA KLFY

Amarillo, TX KCPN

Monroe, LA – El Dorado, AR KARD

Wichita Falls and Lawton, TX KJBO

San Antonio, TX KCWX

Tulsa, OK KQCW

(This post taken from a press release)

Chris Henao exits KHOU 11 from Assistant ND role

Chris Henao, who had served as KHOU 11's assistant news director since 2019, announced on social media that he was laid off from the TEGNA-owned station last week.

UPDATE: I have heard that Wiley Post, who joined KHOU in 2017 as an assistant news director and executive producer, is now serving as the assistant news director.

Here is a portion of what Henao said on Linkedin (with his permission to post here):

"Well, I'm choosing to see this as a blessing in disguise - an opportunity to embrace new challenges, step outside my comfort zone, and continue growing! Leaving behind an amazing newsroom full of talented journalists and friends is bittersweet, for sure.

 On my last day at work, I felt nothing but appreciation, gratitude and support from everyone on my team. It filled my heart and fueled my drive with passion and purpose as I look for the next step in my career. 

Will the next chapter be as a journalist? I'm not 100 percent sure right now. 

If this marks the end of my 34 years in news, I will forever treasure every moment - so many stories, memories, friendships and accomplishments! 

To all who have recently received the notice that you are being laidoff - you are not alone. 

I am here to support you in any and every way possible. Let's keep moving forward with resilience, optimism and the belief that something great is ahead!"

Henao’s 34-year career in journalism has earned him prestigious honors, including duPont-Columbia, Peabody, Polk, IRE, RTDNA Murrow, Scripps Howard, and EMMY awards.

His tenure at KHOU was a homecoming, having previously worked at the station under former owner Belo. During that time, he served as an investigative photographer and later a producer, spanning from the Anna Werner era to the Jeremy Rogalski years.

Before his return to KHOU, Henao served as assistant news director at KSAT 12 in San Antonio, a Graham Media Group sister station to Channel 11's cross-town rival, KPRC 2 in Houston.

Between his stints at KHOU, he worked as an executive producer for investigations at KCTV 5 News in Kansas City, Missouri, and later spent nearly three years as an investigative producer for KNBC in Los Angeles.

A University of Texas graduate, Henao began his career as a photojournalist at WXIA Atlanta, KXAN Austin, and KGBT Harlingen.

UPDATE JUNE 2025

Chris Henao joins the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) as Chief of Media & Communications.

Texas TV and radio job moves April 2018

DALLAS - FORT WORTH

Meteorologist Rick Mitchell has been promoted to Chief Meteorologist at the NBC O&O KXAS in Dallas. Rick joined the station in 2012 and previously served as the Chief Meteorologist at KOCO in Oklahoma City.
- The NWT Group

Anchor Nancy Leal Returns To KXTX Dallas.

Former Fox4 KDFW anchor Jenny Anchondo joins Morning Dose.

Erin Jones joins the CBS 11 KTVT Dallas as a Freelance Reporter from MMJ/Reporter at KVUE in Austin.
- The NWT Group

HOUSTON

Adam Clanton out at KBME-AM 790.

KPRC 2 Houston Life Reporter and Producer Stephanie Gerry posted on Facebook she is moving to Austin June 1st. She says stay tuned for a job announcement.

News 88.7 KUHF executive producer of special projects Edel Howlin is moving to Philadelphia. Her husband is relocating for a new job. She hopes to continue in public media. She has been on the air in some form in Houston for around 10 years.
"I’ve had incredible opportunities at [Houston Public Media] and been so lucky to be here during this time of growth for them," Howlin told mikemcguff.com. "It was a really hard decision to leave the place though because I’ve loved working here every single day for the last seven years! But it’s a good time to move for our daughter, she’s only just started school."

Houston Chronicle reporter Cindy George becomes assistant editor for TMC Pulse magazine. (Thanks Susan Farb Morris)

Joe Paulo Promoted to President and General Manager at KSBJ Educational Foundation.

KHOU 11 producer Laura Berryhill Taglialavore moves to KTRK abc13 as Programming Executive Producer.

Former Houston Chronicle editor Tony Pederson receives Distinguished Alumni Award.

- David Gonzalez joins KHOU 11
- Natasha Barrett leaves KTRK 13
- Brittany Jeffers joins KPRC 2
- Branch Davidian standoff remembered by Texas TV journalists who were there
- Lisa Vaughn exits FOX 26 KRIV
- New KHOU 11 graphics 2018
- 2018 Texas RTDNA Regional Murrow Award winners

SAN ANTONIO

KENS-TV promotes Deborah Knapp to 10 p.m. anchor.

Matthew Seedorff has been promoted to Reporter from MMJ at WOAI/KABB in San Antonio.
- The NWT Group

Japhanie Gray jumps 151 markets from KAIT in Jonesboro to KSAT in San Antonio as a Reporter.
- The NWT Group

Former KIII Corpus Christi reporter Sarah Acosta returns to Texas to work at KSAT San Antonio from KTXL Sacramento, CA.


AUSTIN

KUT, KUTX general manager Stewart Vanderwilt leaving for Colorado job.


AROUND TEXAS

Justin Woodard moves to Sport Director at KAGS-TV in the Waco-Temple-Bryan market (from KLTV-TV, Tyler).
- Woodard is represented by Steve Swienckowski at DCA Talent.

Houstonian Chris Jacobs joins CBS 4 KGBT Rio Grande Valley.

Kathleen Serie moves from KTWX Waco to an MMJ gig at WZTV Nashville.
- The NWT Group

REMEMBERING

Remembering Channel 2 broadcast pioneer Charles J Hunt.

Texas TV station moves roundup

Media Moves reports Bianca Castro has left KRIS-6 in Corpus Christi as the main anchor to join the WRDQ/WFTV team as anchor/reporter. She's worked in Waco too.

Meanwhile the folks at No Whining Talent have unleashed a bunch of Texas TV moves on us.

Dave Froehlich moves back to his beloved home state of Texas to become morning anchor at KRIS-TV in Corpus Christi.

Tina Shively returns to her home state of New York to become weekend anchor at WROC-TV in Rochester from anchor at KFDA in Amarillo, Texas.

Ryan Wolf enters into a new agreement as anchor at KGBT-TV in Harlingen, Texas.

Arezow Doost goes from freelancer to full time reporter at KTVT in Dallas.

Hallie Shulman moves from morning meteorologist at KTEN in Denison, Texas to weekend meteorologist at KAKE in Wichita, Kansas.

Faith Woodard joins THV11 Little Rock

Faith Woodard announced she is joining THV11 KTHV Little Rock, Arkansas as evening anchor after leaving CBS4 KGBT in the Rio Grande Valley.

"I’m the new Evening Anchor at THV11 in Little Rock, Arkansas," Woodard tweeted.  "I’ll anchor weekdays at 5,6, and 10! I’m so excited to tell meaningful stories in such a diverse community with so much history! I’ll be joining some brilliant colleagues too! Let’s do this!!!"

She joins the news team of Rolly Hoyt, Craig O’Neill and chief meteorologist Tom Brannon.

Woodard joined CBS 4 in 2022 from WBOC 16 Salisbury, Maryland where she had worked as the weekend anchor/reporter. She had been with WBOC since 2018.

The Georgetown University grad was a captain on the Georgetown Women’s Basketball Team.

It’s official! I’m the new Evening Anchor at THV11 in Little Rock, Arkansas! I’ll anchor weekdays at 5,6, and 10! I’m so excited to tell meaningful stories in such a diverse community with so much history! I’ll be joining some brilliant colleagues too! Let’s do this!!! ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/CkmPLG21yq

— Faith Woodard (@TheFaithWoodard) August 5, 2022

 

Gloria Campos to retire from WFAA; Cynthia Izaguirre to replace

WFAA Dallas anchor Gloria Campos to retire after 30 years, morning anchor Cynthia Izaguirre to replace her

Longtime WFAA channel 8 Dallas anchor Gloria Campos annonced her upcoming retirement last night. This would be the equivalent of KTRK abc13's Dave Ward retiring in Houston - minus a few decades on the air. Here is more from the WFAA press release:

Gloria Campos

Veteran WFAA-TV anchor Gloria Campos announced her retirement Wednesday after 30 years at the Dallas/Fort Worth station.
WFAA-TV also announced the promotion of News 8 Daybreak anchor Cynthia Izaguirre to replace Campos on the late news. She will also add anchor duties for News 8 at 5 when she takes over for Campos in March.
Izaguirre, who was raised in Dallas, has been helping North Texans wake up since arriving at the station in 2008.
Campos, who attended Southwest Texas State University, began her career at KGBT-TV in Harlingen, Texas, which is where she grew up. She became WFAA's first Latino anchor in 1984.
In 2012, Campos was inducted into the National Association of Hispanic Journalists' Hall of Fame.

Cynthia Izaguirre

The legendary anchor began producing "Wednesday's Child" reports in 1989. The program highlights children from all walks of life who need homes. Campos said she has been told the adoption rate is almost 70 percent.
Campos is also an honorary lifetime member of the Texas PTA, which is an honor she said she received from various volunteering events, including speaking at career days, mentoring, and reading.
Campos, has been married to her husband Lance for more than two decades, and she has shared much of her life with her viewers, including the birth of her twin sons, who are now 20.
In 2012, Campos began focusing more time on her family, and transitioned to only anchoring News 8 at 10.
Over the coming days and weeks, stay with WFAA-TV as the station recognizes Campos' personal and professional accomplishments.
She plans to anchor her final broadcast on March 7, 2014.
There was an immediate outpouring of congratulatory messages from friends and colleagues.
"No tweet can explain what you've meant to this business," wrote Good Morning Texas host Mike Castellucci. "I'm lucky to call you friend and mentor."
"Excited for you, Glo!" tweeted former WFAA reporter and anchor Brad Watson. "What a great run for you. All the best to you in the next chapter of life."

RELATED
- An exit interview with WFAA8 anchor Gloria Campos
- Other pieces fall into place at WFAA8 after Campos announces official end date as WFAA8 10 p.m. co-anchor

Belo's Gannett's video players screw up my blog, so I am putting her 10pm video clip below:

Texas TV news and radio job moves February 2019

DALLAS - FORT WORTH

John Treviño out as Telemundo Dallas GM position eliminated.

FOX 4 KDFW Dallas has hired Samantha Gannon who will report, co-host and produce on Free4All, the station’s live, weeknight 10:30 p.m. program, alongside Mike Doocy.

HOUSTON

After 46 years of chronicling Houston's sports scene, Dale Robertson is retiring from the Chronicle sports staff.

Cathy Hernandez renews her agreement as a reporter with KPRC.

abc13 KTRK weekend morning anchor Erica Simon has been elected to The Houston Association of Black Journalist Board. She is VP of Multimedia. KTRK Senior/Executive producer Kevin Lightfoot was elected as the new VP of Broadcast.

This is old news from August, but I just found out former KHOU 11 reporter Lauren Tostenson joined WBTV Charlotte, NC.

- KHOU 11 gives us a look at its new studio and newsroom
- Mike McGuff appears on KPRC 2's Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall
- Brooks Garner gone from KHOU 11
- Houston author's love advice leads to 'Steve Harvey' appearance
- Collin Myers contestant on 'Millionaire'
- Doug Harris aka Jr. Mintz elected Houston Film Critics Society president
- Media Alliance of Houston 2019 Star Awards Gala winners
- Former Houston TV anchor opens up about depression battle
- Pooja Lodhia appears on "Jeopardy!"
- SportsMap 94.1 merges into ESPN 97.5 KFNC
- Brian Rogers to depart from the Houston Chronicle
- Former KHOU GM Susan McEldoon to offer professional coaching
- Erica Simon has her baby
- Lisa Vaughn back on air at KHOU 11
- VIDEO: The brand new SkyEye13
- Sweet 96.1 in Sugar Land signs off
- Brheanna Berry joins abc13 KTRK
- Suzi Hanks exits 106.9-107.5 The Eagle
- Christine Noël starts at KPRC 2
- Sally Mamdooh is engaged
- Melanie Lawson talks living with multiple sclerosis

AUSTIN

KEYE reporter Sarah Navoy announced on Twitter she is leaving the TV biz.

KEVIN CLARK joins the team at KXAN-TV in Austin as Investigative Reporter (from WFOX, Jacksonville).
represented by Steve Swienckowski at DCA Talent. http://www.dcatalent.com.

KEYE Austin is losing a number of key players.


AROUND TEXAS

KBMT-12 News sports director Lance Edwards has been terminated.

KSWO Lawton announced the firing of meteorologist Mandy Bailey after receiving complaints that the brain teaser she showed on air was inappropriate and racially insensitive.

KVII Amarillo News Director Amy Rasico-Ahn Sullivan is leaving for KGBT Harlingen.

Former Beaumont sports reporter J Russell has joined CW Phoenix KASW as a Multimedia Journalist.

KMID Midland Reporter Haylee Brooks is headed to Little Rock's KARK.

REMEMBERING

Former KCEN Waco, Temple and Killeen talent, director Tony Hennes passes away.

Adam Cardona promoted to NBC 23 KVEO mornings

Adam Cardona was promoted to co-anchor with Daisy Martinez for the NBC 23 Today KVEO Rio Grande Valley morning news and NBC 23 Midday in August 2023.

The Brownsville native comes from weekend anchoring where he was promoted from reporter in August 2022.

He joined NBC 23 and Nexstar Media Group sister-station CBS 4 KGBT in July 2021 as a multimedia journalist (MMJ).