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And here's his final sign off...

After 11 years in the business, its soon coming to a close for WPBF's Vanessa Vinent. The next 10 or so-ish days will be her last there. https://www.facebook.com/vanessavinentwpbf/posts/pfbid02VUwZShX7ErkDELxkxo3PTvyoFAo27Cci659X8JPmGHKHY6Yfvf67rtpX6fFQprE2l This comes as Jennifer Correa ended her brief two-year tenure at WPTV today and is also leaving the business. Times are changing... One more unrelated note, but also a BIG retirement coming up... KSDK's Mike Bush will be wrapping up a 41-year run... but not until August of 2026. Started in 1985 doing sports, and transitioned to news in 2002, meaning he's done 17 years doing the former and 24 years doing the latter. In the meantime, he'll participate in a few activities, according to the station... KSDK's move to 1001 Highlands Plaza Drive next month. NBC's coverage of yet another Winter Olympics in Italy. Mix that in with NBC's coverage of Super Bowl 60 from Santa Clara. All the winter (currently) and storm seasons that are expected in the region. That's all before he retires in August 2026. Not a bad way to wrap up a legendary run in St. Louis. https://www.ksdk.com/article/about-us/ksdk-legendary-anchor-mike-bush-announces-retirement-date/63-fcb1f5af-82f7-48b3-8359-e5a6977f51c6

For those unaware, yesterday was the PBS Newshour's last program with Newshour West, the West Coast bureau located in Phoenix with ASU (and KAET Arizona PBS), due to all these budget cuts we've been talking about lately. ASU decided not to renew, and therefore, the bureau came to an end. https://www.statepress.com/article/2025/12/politics-pbs-newshour-west-closure

Wooooow. I see that it would move from Channel 33 in Springfield to Channel 23 in Boston, and it would have to give up the CBS affiliation and programming to a WGGB subchannel, since we all know there's only one 'BZ in Boston. It would also mean that WGGB and WSHM (and WFSB by a certain connection) would no longer be connected, though they would remain as sister stations. Let's say this does happen... what are Gray's future plans for WSHM-LD? An introduction of YET another local news department in Beantown? I mean, sure, but it's VERY saturated. WBZ/WSBK, WCVB, WHDH/WLVI, WMUR, WBTS/NECN, WFXT (which itself almost airs news 24 hours a day, both live and repeats!), and that's only in English (we had seven at one point until WBIN gave up too quickly). That's six in total with this possible seventh addition from Gray's WSHM? My oh my. Even if Gray wanted to expand to Boston (my unofficial fourth home market), one... it still wouldn't have a full Bay State presence because you're still missing Providence/New Bedford (my third home market), and that market is already ruined by evil corporations, and two... good luck launching a new news department in a market already oversaturated and still has loyality to either 4, 5 or 7 (or even 9 for those in New Hampshire) since 15 and 25 are still way off in the ratings. This is just my two cents, but it will be very hard for Gray to break through in Boston with WSHM when there's enough loyalty for other stations already in existence for decades.

Another final sign off because of retirement... KETV's Rob McCartney. Previously known but after 41 years, he signed off from last night's 6pm news.

Interesting to see Nora O'Donnell anchoring the presidential address Special Report rather than Maurice, John, or Tony. It's cool that CBS still allows her to anchor special coverage.

I'd still like to know what happened to Dari Alexander.

20/20 and WJLA news snippet 1979

Reunited and it feels so good... Jerome Gray and Lisa Foronda, both formerly of KHOU-TV Houston. https://mikemcguff.blogspot.com/2025/03/lisa-foronda-and-jerome-gray-reunite-in.html