An out of town clue to the Nexstar/Tegna deal?

This is a curious move brought to my attention by some colleagues: The Tegna news director in St. Louis (KSDK), who was just hired about 6 months ago, has been transferred to the Tegna station in Houston (KHOU). Interestingly,, Nexstar own KTVI in St. Louis, but owns nothing in Houston. So does that mean only the Nexstar ND would be running two newsrooms there, post-FCC approval and consolidation, with TEGNA now rescuing the St. Louis guy? Same could happen in Portland with KOIN and KGW. This move may portend the future is very near.

By the way, RIch Kurz is the current ND at KOIN in PDX but used to be a manager at KGW, producing its Straight Talk program for years. Who says you can never go home again?

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Rebecca Stevenson has left KOMO

"I am no longer at Komo 4." Thanks. Longtime Weather Anchor Rebecca Stevenson confirms that she left the station just before Christmas. Her last Facebook posts are 12/17. She has the Seattle station Quintafecta, having worked at the old NWCN, KING, KIRO, KCPQ and KOMO. Looks like her decision. Wants a new chapter. She was doing mainly weekend evenings for KOMO. Perhaps Stella Sun will move there. She has been sharing weekend mornings with Theron Zahn.

Where is Frankie?

Many have missed KIRO 7's weekend PM weather anchor, Frankie Katafias, so I reached out to some of my sources to find an answer. She is apparently taking a few months of leave, but not known specifically what the reason may be. Although there is uncertainty, it could be a personal or family matter. I am told she is expected back at some point in the new year. She is a great asset to what has become a troubled station. Meanwhile former KOIN Portland chief met holds down the fort.

Seattle TV Weekender Ends Her Run

So long to KOMO's longtime weekend morning anchor Lee Stoll who did her final show Saturday. She previously worked at KIRO7 and KREM2 in Spokane and did a little fill-in for me at the old NWCN. She's a Northwestern U grad. Weekend weather sidekick Theron Zahn will likely step right into anchor slot. Newcomer Stella Sun may also be in the mix. Zahn bid Lee a final goodbye this morning. She is not revealing what is next, saying "That's for later." Also, next month Komo News Operations boss Dennis Hanson and longtime Production Tech Rena Mullen are retiring. There's a big Studio C station bash for them and retiring ND Phil Bruce on December 5th.

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