People
iHeartMedia has promoted Mike Dubs to mornings on “Kool 108” (KQQL/107.9 Anoka-Minneapolis).
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that longtime morning host Dave Luczak has announced plans to retire from Saga Classic Rocker WKLH/96.5 at the end of 2024. He has co-hosted the morning shift at the station since 1984.
Midday talk show host Jeff Wagner has announced plans to retire from Good Karma’s WTMJ/620 (Milwaukee). Wagner has been with the station for 25 years and will host his last show Dec. 15.
Meteorologist Karl Klopotic has retired from his role providing forecasts for several radio groups in Wisconsin through the WeatherTime Radio Network. He spoke about his retirement in an interview with one of those stations, “B104.9” (WCWB Marathon-Wausau).
WTIP/90.7 (Grand Marais) announced that news director Joe Friedrichs is departing the station on Nov. 10 to work on other reporting, content creation, and writing about the Boundary Waters region. Friedrichs will continue to produce WTIP’s Boundary Waters Podcast.
Northwestern Media’s “Life 96.5” (KNWC-FM Sioux Falls) has promoted Sharif Welch to morning co-host.
Tegna NBC affiliate KARE/11.1 (Minneapolis) announced the hiring of Alexis Rogers as anchor and community relations manager.
Legendary meteorologist Tom Skilling announced that he will retire from Nexstar’s WGN-TV/9.1 (Chicago) at the end of February 2024. Before the internet, Skilling’s forecasts gained a national following via WGN SuperStation. His bio says Skilling grew up in the Chicago area and worked at stations in Madison and Milwaukee before joining WGN in 1978.
Meteorologist Daji Aswad has departed Hearst ABC affiliate WISN-TV/12.1 (Milwaukee) for a new job in her hometown, Houston.
WSAW/7 (Wausau) reported on the death of former longtime sports anchor and news director Mark Zelich at the age of 95. Zelich worked at radio stations in Escanaba, Ashland, and Wausau before joining WSAU-TV (now WSAW) in 1957. He retired from the full-time job in 1994 but continued part-time as WSAW’s special projects coordinator until 2007.
Stations
Allen Media’s Wisconsin stations announced that they are expanding coverage of Wisconsin high school tournaments. Catchy Comedy affiliates WKOW/27.2 (Madison), WAOW/9.2 (Wausau), WQOW/18.2 (Eau Claire), and WXOW/19.2 (La Crosse) will air football, soccer, volleyball, wrestling, softball, and baseball championship games. Announcements also said the games will air on Sinclair’s WCWF (Suring-Green Bay) and Weigel’s WMLW-TV (Milwaukee).
Nexstar CBS affiliate KELO-TV/11.1 (Sioux Falls) reports that construction is underway on a new tower for its northeastern South Dakota satellite, KDLO-TV/3.1 (Florence-Watertown). The station’s previous tower collapsed in December 2022. The article says that the station hopes to return to the air with a temporary facility before winter and then complete construction of the tower in the spring.
Recipients of 2023 Upper Midwest Regional Emmy Awards include:
- Overall Excellence: Tegna NBC affiliate KARE/11.1 (Minneapolis)
- News Excellence: KARE
- Best Daytime Newscast: Hearst CBS affiliate KCCI/8.1 (Des Moines), Forum ABC affiliate WDAY-TV/6.1 (Fargo), and Gray NBC affiliate KTTC/10.1 (Rochester)
- Best Evening Newscast: CBS O&O WCCO-TV/4.1 (Minneapolis), Gray NBC affiliate KVLY-TV/11.1 (Fargo), and Hubbard ABC affiliate WDIO/10.1 (Duluth)
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Disclosure: Jon Ellis was an employee of Gray Media Group at the time this item was posted. The statements and views expressed in this posting are his own and do not reflect those of Gray Media Group.