Danica Lawrence Departs From Fox 23

Fox 23 has lost reporter Danica Lawrence. Her final day as a reporter for KOKI was on June 13th. On her Facebook page, Fox 23 announced she is moving to Tampa.

Lawrence has been a reporter with Fox 23 since 2009.

Dick Faurot & Mike Grogan Swapping Places

Dick Faurot (left) & Michael Grogan (right)

There is a shake-up in the weather department at KOTV News On 6. 

Longtime Weekend Meteorologist Dick Faurot has moved to weekday evenings, as Meteorologist for the station's new hour-long 9:00 newscast. Faurot is accompanied at 9:00 with anchors Jennifer Loren and Chera Kimiko.

Meteorologist Michael Grogan will succeed the roll of the Weekend newscasts, and Noon show three days a week.

Grogan confirmed this to Tulsa TV Stations, via email.

New Reporters In Tulsa

We are reporting that there are two new reporters in the Tulsa TV market. They both joined last month, in May.

Ethan Calloway joined KTUL from a station in Huntsville, Alabama. He is a reporter for the station.

Tony Russell has joined KOTV from Fayetteville, Arkansas. He is also a reporter for the station.

June Personalities of the Month

Our June 2013 Personality of the Month has been expanded to Personalities of the Month.

We would like to thank ALL area weather teams for their long, sleepless dedicating nights to covering severe weather and doing their best to keep everyone safe versus the recent severe weather.

KOTV Channel 6's weather staff includes Chief Travis Meyer, Mike Grogan, Alan Crone, and Dick Faurot.

KTUL Channel 8's weather staff consists of Chief Jennifer Zeppelin, Mike Collier, Andrew Kozak, Bud Ford, and producer Jon Haverfield.

KOKI Fox 23's weather staff is led by Chief James Aydelott, Michael Seger, Michael Haynes, and Phil Price.

Last but not least, KJRH Channel 2's staff is led by Chief Dan Threlkeld, Taft Price, Brittany Rainey, and George Flickinger.

Also thanks to the anchors and reporters who sought out for coverage of the aftermath of the storms.

KOTV Posts Chera Kimiko's Bio On Website

Kimiko's KOTV Picture

If you visit KOTV's newson6.com, you'll see a banner on the side telling you about the TV return of former Fox 23 Anchor Chera Kimiko appearing on News On 6.

By visiting the "Meet the Team" page, her bio is now posted next to future co-anchor Jennifer Loren's. You can see her complete bio by clicking HERE.

As has been mentioned, KOTV's weeknight 9:00 newscast on The Tulsa CW will expand from a half-hour to full-hour beginning June 17th, with Loren and Kimiko co-anchoring the show.

Worldwide News In Oklahoma

By now, all of us know or should know of the events of Moore & Shawnee, Oklahoma over the past two days.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP

The tornadoes have drawn worldwide attention. Locally, you can see KOTV Anchor's Terry Hood and Craig Day, Fox 23's Clay Loney, Michelle Linn, and Frank Wiley, KTUL's Caitlin Alexander, Mark Bradshaw, and Kristin Dickerson, and KJRH's Russ McCaskey.

On the national news level, NBC's Brian Williams, ABC's Diane Sawyer, and CBS' Scott Pelley all anchored live from the OKC area.

Tomorrow, it's been announced that NBC Today Show Anchor Matt Lauer will be in Moore.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Shawnee and Moore, Oklahoma.

KOTV 9:00 Newscast Update

Jennifer Loren

As we reported in January, Chera Kimiko would be leaving Fox 23 for rival News On 6, here in Tulsa. Many of you have been wondering, "Hey What's The Deal" as in the words of Rick Wells, when is this change going to happen?

Kimiko has been working at KOTV's Studio in Downtown, off-air. She would have to stay off-air due to terms in her Fox 23 contract, for 6 months.

In mid-June, Kimiko will co-anchor the News On 6 9:00 newscast, which in that time will be expanded to a full hour, on the Tulsa CW with Jennifer Loren.

KTUL Is Up For Sale!

Stations that Allbritton Communications have owned

KTUL Channel 8 is up for sale! Allbritton Communications, their owner, has put them on the market along with WBMA, WJSU and WCFT in Alabama, WHTM in Pennsylvania, WJLA in Washington D.C., KATV in  Arkansas, and WSET in Virginia.

POLITICO is owned by Allbritton. POLITICO is the reason Allbritton is putting all the news stations up for sale. They say they want to put all their focus on POLITICO.

All news stations, with the exception of WJLA, are being sold together as a pack.

If more information comes, we'll let you know!

Dan Threlkeld Leaving KJRH

Tulsa News Stations Info can now confirm that current KJRH 2NEWS Chief Meteorologist Dan Threlkeld will be departing from the station soon. A source who wants to remain anonymous told us.

To back it up, KJRH has posted a position on their Job Openings page for a Chief Meteorologist. You can see that job title by clicking HERE.

According to his blog, Threlkeld has been in the weather business for over 25 years.

More to come.

Brittany Rainey Moving To Mornings

George Flickinger

In addition to her duties as Weekend Evening Meteorologist, Brittany Rainey will also appear on 2NEWS Today.

Rainey, who joined KJRH 2NEWS in October of last year, will also serve as co-Meteorologist with George Flickinger.

Casey Roebuck Departing From KJRH

Casey Roebuck

KJRH 2NEWS Reporter Casey Roebuck announced today she will be leaving the station, and television, after 15 years in the business. 10 of those years have been at 2NEWS. She made the announcement via her Facebook page. "I want to raise my kids full time. It was a tough decision. News is a big part of my life. But your kids are only little once and I don't want to miss it..." said Roebuck.

Roebuck also had the honor of being our March Tulsa Personality of the Month.

Good luck in all your future endeavors, Casey!

Shae Rozzi joining Fox 23 as Lead Anchor

Shae Rozzi

Shae Rozzi, is joining KOKI Fox 23 here in Tulsa as the co-anchor to Clay Loney. She'll succeed Chera Kimiko, who left at the beginning of the year.

Rozzi made the announcement via her Twitter page. Previously, she worked at WSB since October 2012.

We are not a hundred percent sure when she'll join, but we'll keep you posted.

SOURCE: mediabistro.com/tvspy

Jimmy Fallon moving to "The Tonight Show"

NBC has passed the decision to move Jimmy Fallon, of "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" to an hour earlier to "The Tonight Show." Current "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno, will depart from NBC. These changes begin after the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

The Tonight Show airs at 10:30pm Tulsa time. Late Night falls right behind at 11:35pm.

Another question: who will replace Jimmy Fallon as he moves to his new role? Much speculation has been around fellow-Saturday Night Live star Seth Myers.

We'll have more as this story progresses.

Jon Slater: Where Is He Now?

Jon Slater
Picture from Fox 25 Website

Does that name ring a bell? It's time for our second "Where Are They Now?" blog segment. This month, we'll profile Jon Slater.

Jon Slater moved to Tulsa in 1988. He spent many years in Tulsa, off and on, as a Meteorologist for stations KTUL and KJRH. When Fox 23 came to life in January of 2002, Slater moved their to take the Chief Meteorologist position. Slater left KOKI Fox 23 in May 2008. He and his family moved to Oklahoma City, where he works at KOKH, Fox 25. "I'm basically doing the same thing I did in Tulsa and the same thing I've done for the last 25 years, the weather," says Slater.

Slater also says he has many great memories from his days in Tulsa. His favorite at Fox 23 were the "On The Road" tours across Green Country.
In the hundreds of people he has met and worked with over the years, Gary Shore has had the most influence on his life.
When I asked Slater what he missed about Green Country, he responded "I miss everything about Green Country! My friends and the places I used to hang out like Shadow Mountain Racket Club. Plus my favorite eating places like Mario's Pizzeria and the White River Fish Market. I remember running out to catch Lights On at Utica Square in the cold drinking egg nog. That was a blast! Not to mention I love the weather…more precipitation over in eastern OK."

Slater has covered many weather events during his time in Tulsa but the one that still stands out after all these years is the tornado outbreak on April 26, 1991. "I didn't do much. I was just happy to be there," says Slater.

You can keep up-to-date with Jon Slater on his Facebook and Twitter pages.

If you have any suggestions on who should be profiled for the the next "Where Are They Now," please leave it in a comment below.

"Newsies" Outcome

Tulsa TV Stations were present for another Newsie Awards Ceremony by the Tulsa Press Club.

Here are the "television" category winners:

1. Favorite TV Anchor Team (winners italicized)

• Michelle Linn / Ron Terrell, FOX23
• Karen Larsen / Russ McCaskey, KJRH Channel 2
• Kristin Dickerson / Mark Bradshaw, KTUL Tulsa’s Channel 8
• LeAnne Taylor / Rich Lenz, KOTV News on 6

Favorite TV Reporter

• Emory Bryan, KOTV News on 6
• Lori Fullbright, KOTV News on 6
• Burt Mummolo, KTUL Tulsa’s Channel 8
• Adam Paluka, FOX23

Favorite TV Weather Team

• FOX23
• KRJH Channel 2
• KOTV News on 6
• KTUL Tulsa’s Channel 8

Favorite TV Sportscaster

• John Holcomb, KOTV News on 6
• Big Al Jerkens, KRJH Channel 2
• Rick Pendergraft, KTUL Tulsa’s Channel 8
• Nathan Thompson, FOX23

Favorite Local TV Show

• Good Day Tulsa, KTUL Tulsa’s Channel 8
• Great Day Green Country, FOX23
• This Land TV
• Two Wheel Oklahoma

KOTV Channel 6 would also win "Best Use of Social Media - Outlet," "Favorite Use of Multimedia," "Favorite Website," "Favorite Web or Mobile App," and "Favorite Overall News Source."

KTUL Channel 8's Mike Collier would also win the "Best Use of Social Media - Individual" Award.

SOURCE(S) - Tulsa Press Club Website/Newsies page, News On 6 Facebook Page

Sara Goldenberg leaving KJRH

Sara Goldenberg of KJRH
Photo from KJRH.com

KJRH 2NEWS Multimedia Journalist Sara Goldenberg announced, via Facebook, that she will be leaving the Tulsa TV Station. Goldenberg has been with KJRH since March of 2010.

She also said she is moving on to fellow Scripps news station ABC 15 in Phoenix, Arizona. On her Facebook page, she says "Thank you so much for the kind welcome you gave to me here in Oklahoma! I'll be taking a lot of great memories with me."

Goldenberg's last day is this Friday, March 29th. We wish her the best.

Bill Mitchell has passed away

Picture from KTUL.com

We are saddened to announce that legendary Tulsa news reporter Bill Mitchell has passed away today. KTUL made the announcement earlier today.

The veteran reporter was in the business for 43 years. Mitchell last worked with KTUL Channel 8. He just retired this past December.

Talents from all over the state, including Mike Collier, Michelle Lowry, Jennifer Pierce, and so on have expressend their thoughts about Bill Mitchell on Facebook.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mitchell family.

The "Good Morning Oklahoma" Facebook page has announced that all next week, they will be paying tribute to Bill Mitchell with "Mitchell's Memories."

Janai Norman Joins Fox 23

Janai Norman on Fox 23
Photo from her Facebook Page

Janai Norman has joined KOKI Fox 23 as a Reporter here in Tulsa. Norman made her on-screen debut this past Friday, according to her Facebook page.

Norman comes to Tulsa from KMIZ in Columbia, Missouri.

You can follow Norman on Facebook, as well as on Twitter @JanaiFox23.

KTUL Launches New Website

Sample of KTUL's new site

On Tuesday, KTUL Channel 8 launched their new website. This will be the first time since about 2010 they have re-vamped their site.

You can visit their new site by clicking HERE.

KTUL Production Supervisor Wins Election

KTUL Channel 8 Production Supervisor Doug Bonebrake won re-election as City of Owasso Mayor.

He beat challenger J.B. Alexander by only 28 votes.

Source: Tulsa World