Wisconsin Public Media announced the death of executive director Heather Reese following a brief battle with cancer. Reese, 50, had been with WPM since 2010 and became executive director in 2022.
Tom Ryther, former sports anchor at KARE/11 (Minneapolis), has died at 87. Ryther’s obituary notes that his 32-year career also included news and sports reporting in Tennessee, St. Louis, Cleveland, and New York.
Reporter Frankie McLister has joined CBS O&O WCCO-TV/4.1 (Minneapolis).
Hearst ABC affiliate WISN-TV/12.1 (Milwaukee) named Blake Eason the new co-anchor of its 5 and 10 p.m. newscasts and Derrick Rose the new co-anchor at 6. Rose will also continue to co-anchor the 4 p.m. news.
Nyah Adams announced that she is moving from her role as morning anchor at Hubbard ABC affiliate WDIO/10.1 (Duluth) to Sunday evening anchor and reporter.
Minnesota Public Radio promoted Nina Moini to host of “Minnesota Now,” the hourlong news magazine that airs at noon Monday through Thursday. Cathy Wurzer, who has anchored the program since it launched three years ago, continues as “Morning Edition” host.
RadioInsight reports that Woodward’s “The Score 95.3/99.1” (WSCO/1570 Appleton) will add the Madison-based Mike Heller Show from 12 to 2 p.m. and Fox Sports’ Doug Gottlieb from 2 to 4 starting Oct. 28. Eric Balkman, displaced from the 1 to 3 timeslot he currently co-hosts with John Leopold, will relocate to 11 a.m. and Leopold will focus on his sales role.
Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nebraska Public Media announced the addition of Nebraska Public Media’s PBS network to the program listings on the Sinclair-hosted NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) feed in Omaha. The news release explains that it operates as a “Broadcast-Enabled Streaming TV” (BEST) channel, with program listings on the broadcast signal directing viewers to an online stream of NPM. ATSC 3.0 signals in the Omaha market originate on Sinclair-managed KXVO (RF 29), owned by Mitts Telecasting.
Wisconsin Watch published a series exploring the state of talk radio in Wisconsin.
The Star Tribune previewed a production of “A Minnesota Frankenstein” at the Pavek Museum featuring numerous Twin Cities broadcast legends.
In case you missed it here:
- Audacy Brings “Fan” Back to FM in Milwaukee, Displacing “Hot”
- Bell Seeks Permission to Delete Western Manitoba CTV Transmitter
- FCC Orders Time-Shared LPFM’s in 4 Wisconsin, Iowa Cities
- FCC Monitor: La Crosse-Area FM Translator Seeks Upgrade
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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.