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<\/a> Michelle Alegria<\/p><\/div>\n

Alegria is expected to be announced Monday as replacement for Jenny Milkowski, who left the weekday morning show last week after three years. Fox 32 contracts with Total Traffic Network <\/a>for its traffic service and personnel.<\/p>\n

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Jenny Milkowski<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cFox told me abruptly Friday they are \u2018going in a different direction\u2019 and that \u2018it was nothing personal\u2019 . . . they wanted someone who is a \u2018more serious\u2019 traffic anchor,\u201d Milkowski said in a statement Sunday. (See full text below.) \u201cI'm not entirely sure what that means, since I am very serious about traffic reporting and the impact of traffic on Chicago area drivers. Yet, I have no hard feelings toward Fox and I wish the station the very best as it makes changes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The latest addition to \u201cGood Day Chicago\u201d follows the hiring<\/a> of another Chicago area native, Brittney Payton, who started January 16 as a co-host and reporter. Payton formerly was co-host of \u201cChicago\u2019s Best\u201d on Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9. Both Alegria and Payton are represented by attorney Steve Mandell.<\/p>\n

Alegria, the daughter of Mexican immigrants, grew up in Melrose Park and graduated from Trinity High School in River Forest and Columbia College. A former Miss Latina Illinois, she worked for stations in Roswell, New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas, and for CLTV here before joining ABC 7 as a reporter for \u201c190 North.\u201d She left the weekly lifestyle and entertainment show in 2011 \u2014 two years before it was canceled.<\/a><\/p>\n

Pursuing acting ambitions, Alegria moved to Los Angeles, where she landed a few small parts in movies and commercials. She also made recurring appearances on \"Grey\u2019s Anatomy\u201d and \u201cCastle.\" Last year she moved back home with her three children.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood Day Chicago\u201d airs from 4 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday.<\/p>\n

Here is the full text of Milkowski\u2019s statement:<\/strong><\/p>\n

I remember the day I started filling in at Fox Chicago. My heart was so full and I was elated and humbled to be on-air at the very station I once interned at many moons ago . . . in the very city I was born and raised.<\/em><\/p>\n

When I came to Fox I brought with me roughly 10 years of producing LIVE news in Chicago at various stations. I brought with me television reporting, weather reporting and radio reporting experience. I was able to shoot and edit my own materials. I brought with me years of studying improvisation at The Second City Chicago, hosting digital shows ranging from topics like food, technology and real estate and years of studying acting.<\/em><\/p>\n

When I accepted the full time position under the former news director I hit the job running. I built up a following of more than 133,000 followers. Social media was a big requirement of the job, so I worked around the clock booking my own segments around Chicago. I am currently the #1 digital talent in the Chicago market (stats according to ShareRocket) I explored new restaurants, burlesque shows, indoor skydiving, relationship segments, hot topics . . . you name it, I did a video on it. I produced my own workout videos with a local health and fitness expert. I produced and edited daily Polish lessons. I tried to be an ambassador for the Polish community . . . which dominates the Chicago area. I was involved in countless charity events (especially for the animals) I even reported on evening traffic from home, and did many things outside of my normal working hours, simply because I'm so committed to the job. I put my blood, sweat and tears into this position. But as you know, this business can be rough.<\/em><\/p>\n

Fox told me abruptly Friday they are \u201cgoing in a different direction\u201d and that \u201cit was nothing personal\u201d . . . they wanted someone who is a \"more serious\" traffic anchor. I'm not entirely sure what that means, since I am very serious about traffic reporting and the impact of traffic on Chicago area drivers. Yet, I have no hard feelings toward Fox and I wish the station the very best as it makes changes. I am grateful for the time I had with the station. I will miss so many people who I worked with. What saddens me most is that I was not able to say goodbye to the people who matter the most . . . the viewers. That breaks my heart. The reason this is so long is because I feel like I owe my viewers an explanation. My heart breaks as I write this, but I know great things are in store and I will continue to inform and entertain people on many media platforms.<\/em><\/p>\n

Stay tuned for what is next for me. I will continue to do LIVE segments on Facebook https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/JennyMilkowskiTV\/.\u00a0<\/a>You can also watch for updates or contact me at www.jennymilkowski.com.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

THANK YOU CHICAGO for welcoming me and supporting me. Thank you Fox 32 for offering me this opportunity. I love you all. Dzi\u0119kuj\u0119 \ud83d\ude42<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"