Harry Volkman
Over a legendary television career spanning more than 50 years and four Chicago stations, Harry Volkman was a popular, trusted and respected weather forecaster who brought wisdom, warmth and wit to the science of meteorology.
He also made history: In 1952 he was the first weatherman to issue a “tornado alert” during a live broadcast, prompting a change of government policy and saving many lives. Continue reading
Olin Kreutz
Former Chicago Bears Olin Kreutz and James “Big Cat” Williams will co-host a new Bears postgame show this season on WSCR AM 670, the CBS Radio sports/talk station announced Wednesday.
Starting September 13, they’ll be joined at locations around the city and suburbs for two hours after each game by Hub Arkush, the Score’s resident football expert. Continue reading
"NBC 5 News Today"
NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 is moving up the start of its weekday morning newscast to 4 a.m., with Zoraida Sambolin anchoring the additional half-hour solo.
Effective Monday, the 30-minute expansion of “NBC 5 News Today” will match the start time of "WGN Morning News" on Tribune Media WGN-Channel 9 and give NBC 5 a jump on its three other rivals. Continue reading
Josh Marconi
After years of cutting corners with disembodied voice-tracking, alternative rocker WKQX FM 101.1 is going live and local at night.
Josh Marconi, a veteran of three radio stations in Portland, Oregon, has been hired by the Cumulus Media station to host from 7 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, starting September 8. He'll also work a Saturday shift. Continue reading
Mark Suppelsa, Dan Roan, Tom Skilling and Micah Materre
Long Chicago’s television news leader at 9 p.m., WGN-Channel 9 will expand its late news to 10 p.m. this fall, the Tribune Media station announced Tuesday.
Starting October 5, WGN will add a 30-minute newscast at 10 p.m., to be anchored by the 9 p.m. team of Mark Suppelsa, Micah Materre, meteorologist Tom Skilling and sportscaster Dan Roan. Continue reading
Paul Meincke
We’ll soon be seeing a lot less of Paul Meincke, the WLS-Channel 7 reporter widely respected and admired as one of Chicago television’s all-time best.
After 30 years at the ABC-owned station, Meincke is retiring from the day-to-day grind. Under an agreement expected to be signed this week, he’ll deliver occasional reports for ABC 7 on stories that interest him. Continue reading
Rafael "El Pistolero" Pulido
When your nickname is “El Pistolero,” you know you’ll probably get fired sometime.
Veteran Spanish-language radio personality Rafael "El Pistolero" Pulido was dropped last week after little more than a year as morning host at WLEY FM 107.9, the Spanish Broadcasting System regional Mexican station known as La Ley. Continue reading
Rachael Ray
Rachael Ray is getting bumped to overnights this fall to accommodate a new daytime show hosted by Tyra Banks on ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7.
Starting September 14, “The Rachael Ray Show” will air at 1 a.m. Monday through Friday, according to John Idler, president and general manager of ABC 7. Taking over the show’s current slot at 1 p.m. weekdays will be “Fab Life,” a syndicated talk show featuring Banks leading a panel of lifestyle experts. Continue reading
Patrick Elwood
Veteran Chicago newsman Patrick Elwood moved up this week to full-time general assignment reporter at WGN-Channel 9.
Since January 2014, Elwood has been working on a freelance basis at the Tribune Media station. He spent 15 years before that as a reporter and noon news anchor at Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32. Continue reading
Kate Grossman
Kate Grossman resigned Thursday as deputy editorial page editor of the Sun-Times to join the University of Chicago Institute of Politics as a director.
Grossman, who completed a fellowship at the institute earlier this year, will return to become part of the leadership team. Starting September 15, her main responsibility will be overseeing the fellowship program, which was founded at U. of C. in 2013 by David Axelrod. Continue reading