Temporary Change...

You may have notice a slight change during FOX40 News. Dennis Shanahan is now weather anchoring for the weekend night editions (as he did before, but now frequently), and Louisa Hodge, who weather anchored the weekend nights, is now reporting! And I did some investigation (well kind of)

News Director Brandon Mercer says it's a temporary change. "Dennis and Louisa both continue to do weather for FOX40." Mercer said. "Recently, Louisa discovered some fantastic story ideas about very unusual ways social networking is changing our lives from crime fighting to health, job finding to science. We wanted to give her more days to work on this series we're calling Louisa OnLine. You'll see some eye-opening stories soon on this, and you'll also continue seeing her doing weather from time to time."

NBC's Bureau Leaves Sacramento

Mike Luery has been the capitol correspondent in California appearing for NBC affiliates in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego for several years, and that came to an end on Friday April 24. Luery released an e-mail going around about his journey.

"The Sacramento Bureau is closing down this week. My photographer Mykie Vang and I want you to know how much we've enjoyed working with you over the past three years.

As a reporter, you couldn't ask for a better beat than to cover demonstrations at the Capitol, political campaigns for president and of course the "Governator" Arnold Schwarzenegger. We've also followed important issues like education, jobs, gay rights, the environment and government, with a critical look at whether our tax dollars are being spent wisely or unwisely. And along the way, we've had the opportunity to cover stories on wildfires at Lake Tahoe, wild bears in the woods and even some wayward whales in the Delta.

It's been a great ride and I feel honored and privileged to have been given the chance to cover these stories for you over the past three years. I am an eternal optimist and believe that when a door closes, a window will open up for a new opportunity. Mykie and I would like very much to stay in touch, so I am providing our contact information below."

Mike Luery

No word yet where Mike and his photographer are headed to. The only major affiliate in California with a capitol correspondent is Nannette Miranda with ABC.

Senior Reporter leaves News10

Mark Hedlund joined News10 on March 30, 1981... the day President Reagan was shot. Hedlund has covered all sorts of stories throughout Northern California including floods, fires, and his speciality... court appearance's.

Most people don't know this, but coincidentally Hedlund's son is also a general assignment reporter working for CBS in the Washington/ Idaho market since 2006.

Working almost 30 years in Sacramento, Hedlund has decided to leave. His last appearance was Friday April 17 on News10 at 5. He will continue to reside in Sacramento along with his wife, Beth. Hedlund will now be working at the state assembly speakers office.

The Sandra Cantu Investigation

The Sandra Cantu investigation received so much national attention after her body was discovered in a suitcase at an irrigation pond near her home in Tracy, Calif.


Slowly, and slowly the public information officer (PIO) gave very little information about the search during the daily news conference to the media. A memorial was set up outside of the mobile home park where Sandra resided. It grew just about everyday stretching at 20 ft. with outpouring of love and support.


Sandra went missing on Friday March 27. and day by day the search became very interesting and expanded locally, to nationally. Drawing media coverage from the San Francisco Bay area to Fresno, and networks such as NBC, ABC, and CNN.


Just days after her body was discovered an arrest was made early Saturday morning. Police arrested 28-year-old Melissa Huckabee, who lived in the mobile home park, and had told local media she reported a missing suitcase. After interviews with the police department, they said she was giving them different stories on each visit. Finally, she became emotional and confessed she was responsible for the death of Sandra Cantu. The community was outrage that a women could have done something like this... especially someone who was a Sunday school teacher at the church where investigators also searched. Sandra Cantu were friends with Melissa's 5-year-old daughter.


Now Melissa is in custody, and could be sentenced to life in prison. Sources also state that she was going through mental problems... just days before she was hospitalized, sources were told she swallowed small razor blades, that caused her to visit the hospital.

Former Sacramento Reporter now Correspondent

Miguel Almaguer, former KCRA 3 reporter from 2003-2006 has officially been named an NBC News Correspondent based from California. He will work out from their Burbank bureau and begins April 2. Almaguer will contribute to all NBC shows... including the Nightly newscast, the Today Show, and MSNBC. Almaguer is originally from the bay area, and graduated from San Francisco State in 2000. Prior to his promotion he worked for the NBC affiliate in Washington D.C for three years. Way to go Miguel!

March 2008 Interview with Patty Souza

Patty Souza has been the Chief Meteorologist at News10 for three years already forecasting the 5, 6, and 11 p.m. newscast. Souza took over Elissa Lynn's position after she left to work for the state in 2006. Prior to joining News10, she was the morning/ afternoon Meteorologist at KCRA 3 since 2002. And prior from KCRA she came from Orlando, Florida. Patty also has a sister Tammie Souza, who is a Meteorologist for CBS in Tampa, Florida. Patty can be reached at psouza@news10.net

Hometown: Ramona, Calif. (Outside of San Diego)

Birthday: August (Leo)

1. If you weren't a Meteorologist, what would you be doing today?
I love forestry and nature. I am SURE I would be a ranger or environmental scientist studying something to do with the forest.

2. What is your favorite season time of year, and why?

My favorite season is FALL…I love camping, fishing and diving in the FALL season.

3. Whats one thing you like about your job?

I enjoy presenting my forecast and having fun while doing it.

4. What college did you attend/major?

I studied Broadcast Journalism at Northern Arizona University, and studies Meteorology at University of Memphis and Mississippi State University.

5. Whats an interesting/ unique fact most viewers don't know about you?

I am an avid DIVER, free diving, abalone diving, spear fishing, SCUBA diving.

6. What type of music do you like? Any favorites in particular?

I love spiritual music.

7. What types of shows do you like to watch on TV?

I like Bones, NCIS, Grys Anatomy, House and NFL football on TV. And most of what is on Discovery Channel!

8. What is your favorite type of food?

I LOVE SUSHI….all Japanese food actually. Beautiful culture and wonderful food.

9. What was your first job before getting into TV?

I worked at a landscaping business in high school .

10. If you could give any advice to someone who's interested in becoming a meteorologist, what would you say?

Make sure you love meteorology…otherwise, checkout hydrology, oceanography and earth science…all similar and tied into meteorology….but also fascinating fields to work in…

Trobules with 'Tent City' and the Media...

Recently, Tent City has gotten national attention, after Lisa Ling's special aired on the Oprah Show about tent cities growing in the U.S. including Sacramento. Tent City, which is located north of Downtown Sacramento along the American River has sprung housing as many as 1200 homeless people. Recently a homeless resident of tent city was upset after News10 showed up... last week, Cornell Barnard and his photographer were almost attacked after a women hit their camera.

On Friday, CBS 13 was going to go live for the 5 and 6 p.m. shows from tent city, but as reporter Koula Gianulias was preparing, she was threaten by one of the residents. "My photographer and I dropped by in the morning to shoot some video from a distance. We didn’t have any problems and a few people kindly chatted with us." Gianulias said. "Later in the afternoon, with our huge live truck, Tent City campers seemed much more uneasy. Right when my photographer jumped out of the truck a woman yelled at him and said she was going to grab her steak knife and cut his throat. Meanwhile another man started yelling at me…so we decided it was best to take off."

Right now the mayor of Sacramento is trying to move them into another location, where it's safe and where they can wash up... but some residents expressed they don't want to move.

On-Air Talent Update

We start off with Julie Watts, former KCRA Meteorologist... she's now freelancing for CBS 5- KPIX as a fill-in Meteorologist and Reporter.

Kristina Lee, former CW 31- CBS 13 reporter is in San Diego reporting for FOX 5 now. Lee was laid off in early 2008 when CBS was forced to make cuts throughout the country.

Michelle Liu, who was a reporter at FOX40 for a year is now a media specialist and consultant for UCLA. She Advises, train, and instruct's students in broadcast journalism by focusing on writing, editing, and web production's.

New Host!

Melissa Crowley is the new co-host for Sacramento & Company. She was promoted after former host Kristen Simoes left to get married. You can catch the show weekdays from 9-10 a.m. Crowley still anchors the traffice from 5-7 a.m.

New on the News!

There's a new face on News10! Anne Makovec joined the station on March 1st. as a Multimedia Journalist. She also used to freelance for KGO-TV ABC 7 News from San Francisco. Prior to that she was an anchor/ reporter for KION 46 in Salinas, Calif. and at other stations as well. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point.
Welcome Anne!

Get your LiveCopter 3 HD toy today!

That's right! KCRA 3 is now selling Live Copter 3 toys for just $10! The toy has working lights and the blades rotate. There's only a limited amount that were made. Hurry before their all gone!

http://www.kcra.com/livecopter3hd/index.html

If your interested you can buy the toy online. They accept most major credit cards and should be shipped within weeks.

Late Night Talk Show Host visit's KCRA

Photo: KCRA.com

Brian poses with reporter Tom DuHain.

Conan O' Brian stopped by the KCRA Studios Thursday afternoon to talk about his move to his new show. Brian will be the new host of The Tonight Show starting June 1st from the NBC Studios in Burbank, Calif. Brian took plenty of pictures with KCRA staff that are posted on their website under the sideshows section. If you missed the interview with anchor Gulstan Dart, it's posted online.

http://www.kcra.com/entertainment/18920089/detail.html#