Weekly Log: Omaha, Milwaukee Anchor Moves; New Channels in Green Bay, Mankato

Posted on by Jon Ellis

People

WOI-DT/5 (Ames-Des Moines) reporter Nora J.S. Reichardt is reintroducing herself to viewers after coming out as a transgender woman. Reichardt was interviewed by Eva Anderson and photographer Mitchell Yehl from sister Tegna station KARE/11 (Minneapolis) for a story that aired on WOI and was posted to KARE’s website.

Morning anchor John Oakey recently announced he is leaving Hearst ABC affiliate KETV/7 (Omaha) after 27 years there.

Meteorologist Brendan Johnson is joining Scripps NBC affiliate WTMJ-TV/4 (Milwaukee) as weekend morning meteorologist. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has more.

Weigel’s CBS58 (WDJT Milwaukee) announced that Tajma Hall will anchor its Saturday 6 a.m. newscast and Emerson Lehmann will anchor Sundays at 6 a.m.

CBS58 also announced that Stephanie Rodriguez, currently at Allen Media ABC affiliate WQOW (Eau Claire), is joining the station as a reporter.

The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association reports that Dana Schnese has joined morning host “Big Red” (Larry Wnorowski) on NRG Media’s “Y106.5” (WYTE Marshfield-Wausau) for what is now the Wake-Up Call with Big Red and Dana.

Stations

Gray CBS/FOX affiliate KEYC (Mankato) has added Circle on channel 12.3 and announced plans to carry Minnesota State University-Mankato men’s hockey games on the channel. The new channel is broadcasting in 720p HD.

Scripps’ WGBA (Green Bay) has dropped MeTV and added Ion as part of a subchannel lineup change. MeTV’s former channel 26.2 position is now occupied by Defy, which moves from channel 32.4 of Scripps’ WACY (Appleton). Meanwhile, Laff moved from 26.3 to 32.2, Grit moved from 32.2 to 26.3, Ion was added on 26.4, and Court TV moved from 26.4 to 32.4, according to TV listings on the stations’ websites.

Wisconsin Public Radio’s Ideas Network will air a short-run national call-in program called “The Middle” on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. for four weeks beginning Oct. 19.

Antenna work, first noted here last week, continues to affect Prairie Public Radio station KCND/90.5 (Bismarck). Its 41-year-old antenna was badly damaged in April storms.

Meanwhile, Minnesota Public Radio‘s station outages page advises of continued possible interruptions to its Collegeville-St. Cloud stations due to tower inspections, as well as interruptions to some Duluth and International Falls stations due to tower work.

WSPT/97.9 (Stevens Point) told fans on Facebook that it is operating at reduced power due to installation of a new antenna:

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Disclosure: Jon Ellis is an employee of Gray Media Group. The statements and views expressed in this posting are his own and do not reflect those of Gray Media Group.