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.

Frankie Flees KIRO7

UPDATE: Frankie got married!!! Acting on tips from two of my loyal readers, I see that Weekend Weather Wizard Frankie Katafias is indeed missing from the KIRO 7 website. Freelancer Scott Haveson filled in this past Sunday and we know that reporter Brandon Thompson has hit the weather wall in the past as a fill-in. No word on if Frankie fled on her own or was told to. She came to Seattle in 2022, so maybe it was a three-year deal that ended?

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