I'm usually pretty good at telling you about newly hired Houston TV reporters before they start on the air, but even I have my misses.
Case in point, new KHOU 11 reporter Drew Karedes. He is one of many constantly changing folks in front of the camera lens at the Houston Belo station. I find consolation in the fact that considering the amount of new people arriving to the station over the last year, my batting average ain't too bad overall.
Karedes started at KHOU last week apparently. He comes from KTNV-TV in Las Vegas where some of his work was even featured in the Las Vegas Review Journal. Before that he reported at the NBC affiliate in Green Bay, WI. Karedes started behind the scenes at WHDH-TV in Boston.
In the past, Karedes has described himself in his bio as a true "New Englander." In fact he graduated from Northeastern University.
WFAA 8 Producer Amanda McNew leaves to become Grapevine PD Media Manager.
HOUSTON
Bill Worrell planning retirement, Craig Ackerman to take over road TV duties.
Univision-owned KXLN Houston (DMA 10) has added meteorologist Anthony Ortíz Rodríguez to its news team.
Former KPRC 2 weekend sports anchor Simone Eli joins The Steve Shannon morning show with Simone Eli on Tuscaloosa, Alabama's 95.3 THE BEAR mornings 5-10am.
Former SportsRadio 610 KILT morning host Josh Innes out at 94.1 Sportsradio WIP.
Phaedra Cook will soon be the former Houston Press food editor.
Brian Alonzo, meteorologist/weather and Traffic producer for KSAT-TV, has become the Weekend Meteorologist for KETK-TV/KFXK-TV in Tyler, TX.
AUSTIN
Joe Barlow named The CW Austin entertainment reporter.
Former KPRC 2 EP (current KVUE assistant news director) Jenelle Shriner named news director at KPLC Lake Charles, La.
AROUND TEXAS
KLBK Lubbock sports reporter/anchor Gene Dumont moves to become a sports reporter for Razorback Nation.
KETK Tyler anchor/reporter Brittni Thomason leaves to become a reporter at KWCH 12 Wichita, Kansas.
After 20 years on the Nightbeat, News Channel 25 KXXV’s Ann Harder stepped down as the 10 p.m. news anchor. Harder will continue to co-anchor the 5 p.m. and the 6 p.m. newscast.
Tashara Parker has been hired by TEGNA-owned Tyler, Texas, CBS affiliate KYTX as an evening anchor.
As good as people think I am at tracking Texas media job moves, my image is better than reality. Don't expect that I see every Twitter or Facebook post about your new job. Don't get mad at me, contact me below to make sure I don't miss your big career move!
"Goodbye! Tomorrow is my last day at KPRC 2," Lopardi posted yesterday. "I’m moving on to take another job (that’s not at a television station). Thank you for the memories made over the past two years!"
Before Houston, Lopardi worked for WFTV 9 Orlando, Florida.
Previously the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University grad worked as a:
- Reporter KTNV 13 Action News Las Vegas, Nevada
- Video Journalist and Bureau Chief WBOC 16 Dover, Delaware
- News Producer WSYR 9 Syracuse, New York
- Assignments Editor WGRZ 2 Buffalo/Niagara, New York
Jaewon Jung, a new-ish KPRC 2 Houston reporter, shares her past history as a figure skater as a tie-in to the Winter Olympics on Channel 2.
"Figure skating has been a big part of my life for nearly two decades," Jung wrote. "It’s a sport that’s taught discipline, resilience and sportsmanship, lessons that shape who I am today. I’m forever grateful it remains a part of my life."
Jung joined KPRC 2 Houston in February 2025 from KTNV Channel 13 Action News, Las Vegas.
The last year has been very busy around the Houston TV world. For me, it seems unusually busy with new television faces popping up across the dial at all of the stations (some more than others).
Here are all the new faces on Houston TV in the last year.
Drew Karedes left Boston 25 News WFXT in March 2026 after nine years.
Houston TV viewers might remember the reporter from his time at KHOU 11 in Houston before New England. Karedes joined KHOU back in 2012.
Before moving to Houston, Karedes reported for KTNV in Las Vegas and the NBC affiliate in Green Bay, WI.
And then where it all began for him, behind the scenes at 7News WHDH Boston during his college years as a student of Northeastern University’s School of Journalism.
- A reporter for KTNV Las Vegas,
- Video Journalist and Bureau Chief WBOC Dover, Delaware
- News Producer WSYR Syracuse, New York
- Assignments Editor WGRZ Buffalo/Niagra, New York
Lopardi is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
Cecily Tynan announced she will retire on Monday, August 31, 2026, from her 6abc WPVI Action News Philadelphia Chief Meteorologist position after more than 35 years in broadcasting.
“I’m so honored to have been a member of the 6abc Action News team for more than three decades, starting as the station’s first-ever weekend meteorologist, then becoming its first female chief meteorologist. I’m proud of the work we’ve done and thankful to 6abc viewers for trusting me with their weather forecasts,” said Tynan. “Now, instead of forecasting snow, I’m looking forward to spending my winters in Florida water skiing, traveling and having lots of quality time with my husband, Greg; two adult children, Luke and Emma; and three rescue pups, Nala, Shelby and Charlie. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
“From the moment she first walked off the elevator and joined Action News, Cecily has been a trusted voice for viewers, a leader in our newsroom, and one of the most talented broadcasters in Philadelphia,” said John W. Morris, WPVI-TV general manager. “Whether guiding us through storms or being part of our holiday traditions, Cecily has been a part of our lives for a long time. As much as our viewers are going to miss her, we will miss her even more.”
Tynan has been a familiar face in the Delaware Valley for more than three decades, guiding viewers through some of the region's most significant weather events. Throughout her career at 6abc, she provided daily forecasts and extensive live coverage of Hurricane Sandy, the Blizzard of 1996, devastating tornado outbreaks, record-breaking heat waves, historic flooding, and other major weather events. She also hosted seasonal specials focusing on snowfall predictions and changing weather patterns across the region.
Tynan joined WPVI in October 1995 as the station's weekend meteorologist and a general assignment reporter. She arrived in Philadelphia from KTNV in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she served as a weather and news anchor on Good Morning Las Vegas.
Before her time in Las Vegas, Tynan worked at WDBJ in Roanoke, Virginia, as the weekend weather anchor and a general assignment reporter. A native of Connecticut, she graduated magna cum laude from Washington and Lee University with double majors in journalism and politics. She later completed meteorology coursework and earned the American Meteorological Society's Seal of Approval.
Her work has earned numerous honors throughout her career, including "Best On-Air Talent" from the Las Vegas Electronic Media Awards and "Best Weathercaster" from the Las Vegas Review-Journal. In Philadelphia, she was recognized as "Best Weathercaster" by Philadelphia Weekly and "Best Weathervane" by Philadelphia Magazine.
Johnny Resendiz joined CBS News Texas KTVT Dallas - Fort Worth in February 2025 as a sports reporter/producer.
"I’ve been lucky enough to have covered some MAJOR sporting events, but the opportunity to come home and allow my entire family to see me on the air is truly a dream come true," Resendiz posted. "It honestly still feels surreal. This kid from Mesquite now gets to cover his hometown high school, college and professional teams."
Resendiz comes from KTNV Channel 13 News Las Vegas, Nevada, where he has worked as a sports reporter/MMJ since October 2022. Jaewon Jung also recently left for a job in Texas.
Before that, he served as an MMJ at News On 6 KOTV Tulsa, Oklahoma, from 2020 to 2022.
Before entering professional television news, Resendiz honed his sports journalism skills as an Oklahoma State University student host for "The Poke Report." He was also a radio host for the Triple Play Sports Radio Network, which covers OSU football.
He interned with KOCO 5 News Oklahoma City.
Hello, X. Im back after a (much needed) break.
I’m excited to announce I’ll be joining KTVT @CBSNewsTexas as a Sports Reporter/producer for the @CBSSportsTexas team!
I’ve been lucky enough to have covered some MAJOR sporting events, but the opportunity to come home and allow… pic.twitter.com/m4Y301aeuj
"I'm staying in Austin but getting out of news so you might see me around town, but I won't be on TV anymore. Thank you for making it a great time in Austin, especially Adaleigh Rowe on Fox 7 and @Zach Shields on Fox 7, plus everyone in the newsroom, production and engineering, you've been great!
It's been cool Austin TV, Looking forward to what I can do now to fill my Saturday and Sunday evenings!"
Falco has been with FOX 7 since January 2020.
He previously worked as a meteorologist for KOKH FOX 25 News Oklahoma City, Action 13 KTNV Las Vegas, and ABC 7 KRCR Redding, California.
Cary Burgess recently joined FOX 7 Austin KTBC on Sunday evenings at 5:30pm and 9pm as a freelancer.
Burgess has worked as a meteorologist for the Kerrville Daily Times, Fredericksburg Standard, Jam Broadcasting, and KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock.
“I’m very excited to return to Texas and to join the team at KXXV/KRHD and Scripps,” Delgado said on the KXXV website. "It is a new chapter in my career that will present new challenges. I welcome those challenges and look forward to working with the team to meet them, head-on.”
Delgado comes from KCAU 9 Sioux City, Iowa where he has been since June 2018.
Texas television viewers might remember his time as a news anchor for News 9 San Antonio (2004), KTNV 13 Action News Las Vegas (1994 to 2001) and KIII 3 Corpus Christi (1989 to 1994).
More recently, Delgado has been in news management:
- Assistant News Director KSNT 27 Topeka, KS
- News Director KGNS Laredo
- News Director CBS19 Tyler
He is a graduate of Texas A&I University (now called Texas A&M University–Kingsville).
In her post television news life, Guillen joined the marketing team for El Paso Children's Hospital.
She was recently named "Best News Reporter" by the City El Paso Magazine.
Guillen moved down the CBS4 Mornings and CBS4 at Noon desk as an anchor from the weather department in late 2021 when anchor Alyssa Meisner left. She joined KDBC in 2017.
Before CBS4, Guillen worked for KTSM 9 El Paso as a multimedia journalist, weather forecaster and news producer.
The proud El Pasoan graduated from University of Texas at El Paso and interned with KVIA to put her at three area stations throughout her career. She also interned for KTNV Las Vegas.
While in school, Guillen was a reporter with the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire in Washington, D.C. and editor-in-chief of UTEP’s student newspaper, The Prospector.
Paul Cicala has left the ABC-7 KVIA El Paso evening anchor position, according to an on-air announcement by co-anchor Marcel Clarke.
"My health isn’t the best and (I) needed to step away from the journalism industry," Cicala told the El Paso Times. "My father has dementia and it's getting worse."
"I am not ruling out a return to TV news or journalism-related jobs, but, am now concentrating on finding a career that gives me a normal schedule and a '9-5,'" Cicala added on Facebook.
His return marked a homecoming to the Borderland after leading sports coverage in his hometown of Tucson, Arizona, as sports director and anchor at KVOA News 4.
An award-winning television journalist, Cicala has earned multiple Emmy Awards and regional Edward R. Murrow Awards throughout a career spanning news and sports. He previously worked at KVIA from 2009 to 2013, where he rose from weekend sports anchor to sports director in 2012. During that first stint, he became well known for his in-depth reporting on the drug-war violence affecting Ciudad Juárez, as well as for leading the station’s popular Borderland Blitz high school football show. In 2013, he was named “Best of the Best – Best TV News Anchor Under 40” by What’s Up El Paso.
Cicala’s Borderland reporting earned him two Edward R. Murrow Awards for a three-part international series filmed in Medellín, Colombia, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, examining the impact of the drug war along the border. He also received a Murrow Award for a feature on a Mexican immigrant’s success as a musician, highlighting talent developed in Chihuahua, Mexico.
Over the course of his career, Cicala has worked at television stations across the Southwest, including KESQ News Channel 3/Telemundo 15 Noticias (Palm Springs, California), KTNV Channel 13 (Las Vegas), KOLD 13 (Tucson, Arizona), and KYMA-DT (Yuma, Arizona).
He has been recognized with Regional Associated Press Awards for Best Sports Reporting, and in Tucson was voted “Best Sportscaster” by Tucson Weekly readers for eight consecutive years. Spanish-language magazine Perfil Social has also named him Best Male News Anchor multiple times.
Cicala began his career at FOX Sports in Los Angeles while attending the University of Southern California, where he graduated magna cum laude. After college, he joined NBC Network News, producing out of the Burbank bureau and traveling extensively to cover major national and international stories.
Jaewon Jung joined KPRC 2 Houston as a reporter in February 2025.
Jung comes to Houston from KTNV Channel 13 Action News Las Vegas where she has worked since January 2023 and served as a weekend anchor and senior reporter. Johnny Resendiz also left for a job in Texas.
Before moving to Las Vegas, Jung began her career in western Oregon at KEZI 9 News, where she worked as a weekend anchor, producer, and weekday reporter. While in the Pacific Northwest, she was nominated for three regional Emmy awards.
Her journalism career began at USC Annenberg Media, where she worked as a multimedia journalist. She then became the Director of Communications for the Asian Community Development Council (ACDC).
Jung earned a Bachelor’s degree in film and television from California State University, Fullerton, and later received her Master’s degree in Communication Management from the University of Southern California. She was as a Digital Media/Editorial intern at the Newport Beach Film Festival, writing press releases and articles to promote independent films. She should check out a Houston-related documentary called Runaway Radio, but I'm not biased. ;)
Clips of television reporters being accosted by onlookers is almost getting passe. But this one from KTNV in Las Vegas makes it all worth it again.
Reporter Steve Ryan is just trying to do his live shot about Michael Jackson from downtown Las Vegas when a tourist, with drink in hand, tries to take over. What does Ryan do? He slaps the guy. Suddenly the director cuts back to the shocked anchors.
Cicala returns to his old station, KVOA News 4 Tucson, Arizona, from his hometown, where he is a sports director/anchor.
The award-winning television journalist, who earned multiple EMMY awards and a regional Edward R. Murrow award, worked for KVIA from 2009 to 2013. As I blogged back then, Cicala was promoted from weekend sports anchor to sports director in 2012.
"When I was at ABC-7, I feel like my biggest memories were the stories I did with News" Cicala said on the station's website. "I’m really looking forward to working on all the stories that I never got the opportunity to work on when I was in El Paso – and not only in El Paso, but of course, Las Cruces and Ciudad Juarez, as well."
"Paul is an incredibly dynamic man," added KVIA-TV General Manager Brenda De Anda-Swann. "He is naturally enthusiastic, and you see that passion coming through in his work, in his stories. He’s been here, he loves this community and he’s already a part of it."
According to his Facebook page, Cicala has also worked as:
- News Anchor at KESQ News Channel 3
- Reporter/Fill-in Anchor at Telemundo 15 Noticias
- Sports/News Reporter, Sports Anchor at KTNV Channel 13 Las Vegas
- Reporter/Fill-in Anchor at KOLD
- Reporter at KYMA-DT
The El Paso Times reports that Cicala takes over for Erik Elken, who has left the station to spend more time with his family.
Elken has been the evening anchor for KVIA since September 2018, after serving as a morning anchor at WRGT in Dayton, Ohio.
That's not the only recent Sun City TV main anchor happenings. Liz Dueweke is joining KFOX14 as the 5 and 9pm anchor with Robert Holguin.
KHOU 11 reporter Drew Karedes to leave for WFXT FOX Boston
Drew Karedes
As Tom Brady and the New England Patriots arrive in Houston for Super Bowl LI, reporter Drew Karedes is waving goodbye to Houston and KHOU 11 and heading back to Beantown where it all began for him.
"After 10 years, 3 cities cross country & a collection of lifelong friendships along the way...it's time to go back to the place that has always been 'home' in my heart," Karedes wrote on Instagram. "Boston, I'll see you in March for a new adventure at Fox 25."
The Bayou City gets to see his reporting a little longer at least.
Karedes came to H-Town's channel 11 back in 2012.
Prior to Texas, he bet on a job at Las Vegas' KTNV. Before that he reported at the NBC affiliate in Green Bay, WI. And then where it all began for him, behind the scenes at WHDH Boston.
The Boston-area born and raised Karedes is a graduate of Northeastern University School of Journalism.
Karedes will be with the TEGNA Houston station through February.
KHOU 11 reporter Rucks Russell just announced earlier this month he has left the station.
UPDATE
Here is the message Karedes sent to the KHOU 11 news department:
After nearly five years at KHOU, it’s time to for me to head home – to Boston. When I left ten years ago after graduating college….I always dreamed of going back. I knew I would make it happen – I just didn’t know when. The new job I’ll be starting in March reporting for WFXT Boston.. is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for.. and working toward all along.
The journey from Green Bay to Las Vegas to Houston has been an experience of a lifetime. I will always be appreciative for how this adventure continues to shape me as a person. Tough for me to narrow down my favorite memories or stories from my years at KHOU… because there are so many!
The opportunities I’ve had at KHOU have transformed me into a much stronger reporter and person. I’ll never forget rushing to Bush airport as soon as we got word that two homemade bombs detonated at the Boston Marathon in 2013. The stories of courage and perseverance we were able to tell Houston viewers about (live from Boston)… in the days that would follow… will always hold a special place in my heart.
Also, a very memorable moment that stands out…. our live coverage from Alabama on the Carnival “poop cruise” in 2013. More than 4,000 passengers and crew members out of Galveston had been stranded aboard the ship after a fire knocked out the ship’s power. The ship drifted for a LONG four days before it could be towed into Mobile, Alabama. We were there to greet them with open arms!
Here locally, I have had so many chances to be on the front lines of big breaking stories….many in the national spotlight. From flash floods to mass shootings to dramatic SWAT scenes to high speed chases – there has rarely been a dull moment I can recall. I’ve also been able to tell so many heartwarming stories… from across the community… including the story of Brittany Davila – the 16 year old cheerleader with Down Syndrome… who was banned from serving as a cheerleader in Deer Park (…and told she had to “sit in the stands at games instead of rooting on the team because she was a liability”). Shortly after our story aired, school officials told Brittany she could cheer alongside the other girls
I never expected Houston to feel like “home”… but thanks to the many newsroom friends who became family… it has.
Mario Diaz joins KPRC 2 as investigative reporter from WPIX 11 New York
Mario Diaz is coming to KPRC as an investigative reporter sources at channel 2 confirm to mikemcguff.com.
No, not Mario C. Diaz, a name Houstonians will be familiar with since he is the Director of Aviation for the Houston Airport System, but Mario Diaz from WPIX 11 New York.
One can assume Diaz is filling the position vacated by Jace Larson.
Diaz looks like he will be able to make his mark on Houston.
He's won so many awards, I could fill this post up with just his honors such as four Edward R. Murrow Awards, eight NATAS Emmys and seven New York Emmy Awards.
Clearly television news interested Diaz from an early age.
At age 17, he had a TV news internship. By his junior year at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Diaz was a sports anchor for KTNV 13. He even won an NATAS Southwest Emmy for reporting.
At the age of 19, he announced his first world championship boxing match doing the Spanish play-by-play for HBO Boxing Pay-Per-View. He went on to announce ringside 150 championship fights including fights with Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis and more.
"We're like artists in the sense that we have a minute to paint a picture with words," he said in the article. "We have that blank space and we have to fill it with words."
During the summers of 2001-02, Diaz performed host and play-by-play announcer duties for ESPN’s Tuesday Night Fights.
In 2002, Diaz moved to news as a weekday anchor for WTSP 10 Tampa-St. Petersburg.
Politics came calling in 2008 and Diaz went to work for Sen. John McCain's presidential bid.
In 2011 he joined WPIX.
Readers of mikemcguff.com might even recognize Diaz from this very blog. He wrote a guest post for me back in 2014. The subject...an old KPRC clip.
Christian Radio Group Buys 103.7 FM
KHJK 103.7, the station known as "Houston's Adult Alternative" and the only place on Houston commercial radio to hear artists such as Mumford & Sons and the Avett Brothers, has been sold to a group of Christian-music radio stations.
Mark Davis returning to DFW radio on KSKY
Mark Davis, whose talk show was taken off the air in early April after 18 years at WBAP/820 AM/96.7 FM and ultimately replaced, will return to the air June 4 with a 7-10 a.m. show on KSKY/660 AM, which can also be heard on 99.9 FM in Fort Worth, 95.5 FM in Arlington and 92.9 FM in Dallas.
Buffolino reveals story behind departure from KENS
Former KENS-TV anchorwoman Vicki Buffolino, a favorite of local viewers for nearly two decades, has had an inordinately tough year. Plus, reporter Noelle Gardner leaves KENS 5 too.
Scott Murray joins weekend lineup on KLIF-AM 570 in Dallas
KLIF-AM 570 announced the addition of broadcaster Scott Murray to its weekend lineup: The Scott Murray Show will debut on Sunday at 7 p.m. to focus on "difference-makers, athletes, entertainers, and other individuals who give back to the local community."
KEYE ending ‘We Are Austin Live,’ adding 5 p.m. newscast
KEYE will tweak its afternoon lineup next month. The station plans to scrap its 4 p.m. “We Are Austin Live” show and, at the same time, revive its 5 p.m. newscast, which was nixed about three years.
You Can Change the Channel, but Local News Is the Same
SAN ANGELO, Tex. — Call a reporter at the CBS television station here, and it might be an anchor for the NBC station who calls back. Or it might be the news director who runs both stations’ news operations.
Clips of television reporters 
