Here’s the Roundup for the Week Ending December 13

Welcome to Friday the thirteenth, local news style. In this episode of stories we didn’t report for one reason or another, we see the sun has set on legendary New York news anchor Chuck Scarborough’s illustrious career, and despite what Rogers and Hammerstein said, not everything is up to date in Kansas City.

So let’s say so long, farewell to this week:

Tragedy:

• Former WOIO reporter Bill Safos died from his injuries after being struck by a vehicle Wednesday evening. Click here for more. Here’s what his former station WKYC had to say.

Into the sunset:

• WXII 12 News reporter Bill O’Neil is retiring after 45 years in the television news broadcast industry. O’Neil was hired at WXII 12 News in 1991 and would remain a fixture, reporting across the Piedmont Triad for the remainder of his career as both an investigative and political reporter. Here’s more.

• In a press release: Gray Media (NYSE: GTN) announced the upcoming retirements of two veteran broadcasters at year-end. In Columbus, Georgia, Holly Steuart will retire as the General Manager of WTVM, the local ABC affiliate, and in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Scott Sanders will retire as the General Manager of WMBF, the local NBC affiliate.
• Denver7 Chief Meteorologist Mike Nelson, a forecasting pioneer in Denver, has announced his plans to retire after an illustrious 40-year broadcasting career that included 20 years at Denver7. Nelson is one of just 25 weathercasters nationwide – and the only one in Colorado – to be named a Fellow of the American Meteorological Association for outstanding contributions to weather science over an extended time period. Here’s the full story.
• And after more than 50 years, legendary broadcast journalist Chuck Scarborough stepped down from his daily duties anchoring the news at NBC 4 New York. Here’s what he told viewers

Health News:

• Eleven years ago, Sarah Carlson was forced to step away from telling stories at the WISC in Madison, Wisconsin News 3 Now anchor desk. Now she’s back, with a remarkable story of her own. In 2008 she was diagnosed with epilepsy stemming from a brain tumor. Here’s the full story.

• A former Action News Jax in Jacksonville, Florida anchor has shared new details about his cancer diagnosis. Mark Spain, who was an evening anchor at Action News Jax from 2007 to 2014, revealed in a post on his professional Facebook page on Friday that he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Click here for more.

Revolving Door:

• WXIX anchor Payton Marshall posted a life update to Facebook: Saturday, Dec. 21 will be my last day at FOX 19. It has been such a privilege to be an anchor, a reporter and an active member of the community that raised me. This goodbye is a hard one. I’m so excited for my upcoming move, but it doesn’t make saying goodbye any easier. I’ve cried several times leaving the FOX 19 parking lot, but with every tear I’m reminded how beautiful it is to love a community so much. Here’s the post.

• From Mike McGuff: Kathryn Bonfield has been named the new KHOU 11 Houston news director.  She brings over 30 years of experience in local television broadcasting, digital media, and streaming to the Tegna-owned CBS affiliate. Here’s more.

Random:

• The nonprofit FindJodi, Inc. is dedicated to bringing home missing former Mason City morning news anchor Jodi Huisentruit and is now seeking the community’s help with funding. On Friday, the nonprofit posted to FindJodi.com that funds are critically low to keep the search efforts going for Huisentruit. Check out the story here.

• DirecTV Asked the court of appeals to revive the Nexstar lawsuit. The satellite provider wants the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to revive its lawsuit charging broadcaster Nexstar violated antitrust law by allegedly forcing roughly 30 local stations owned by two smaller broadcasting groups to demand high carriage rates and then remove their signals if DirecTV did not comply.

• From our friend at FTVLive: A crappy situation in Kansas City. After the plumbing went out at KSHB management brought in porta-potties for the staff. When Monday rolled around, KSHB employees were still peeing (and more) in the garage. “Not to mention there hasn’t been running water for consumption in the building either, imaging working a morning show without coffee,” said one station insider, adding, “It’s a very smelly situation.”

• And a hat tip to Mister Jones for this one as well: Eric Kahnert at KFMB let it be known that the station had a YouTuber anchor the news. Michelle Khare is the self-described YouTube’s Daredevil. Her bio says: “Challenge Accepted follows the exploits of Michelle Khare as she attempts our world’s most difficult lifestyles and professions.” In the name of fairness, though, who am I to judge? She probably has more viewers than all the local stations combined. Click here for Kahnert’s social post.