The calendar says July, and next week is the Baseball All-Star Game. But don’t be fooled. Today was opening day!

A confluence of events created a trio of local morning changes.

The biggest is at independent station WLNY 10/55, now under the auspices of WCBS, which makes its first foray into daytime news.

Live from the Couch brings WCBS morning weathercaster John Elliott and sports anchor Lisa Kerney to the sofa with TV newcomer Carolina Bermudez.

The program is a mix of news, lifestyle and entertainment features. However, the accent is definitely on the lighter fare. There is the typical news and weather update on the half-hour.

Despite he fact that Bermudez comes to WLNY from her time as news reader on WHTZ/Z100, every aspect of the show is shared. Although Elliott goes to his other “day job” with the forecast.

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WCBS/Channel 2 is about to finalize the paperwork for Long Island outlet Channel 10/55/WLNY, and plans for the station. The Daily News reports WLNY’s last newscast under current ownership is March 29. Entertainment Tonight will air in the 11 p.m. slot in the short term. Regular newscasts resumes in June.

 Channel 55 currently only airs a weeknight newscast at 11 p.m. with co-anchor Richard Rose and Audrey Hampton, sportscaster Kurt Semder, and weather anchor David Weiss.

Only Rose, according to the News, has been guaranteed a spot when CBS takes over. The veteran anchor hosts a weekend show, which is where Rose is likely to remain.

WLNY is believed to employ approximately 55 people, with the Daily News reporting 30 staffers have been told they’ll be part of the new venture once the deal is done. FishbowlNY could not confirm those details.  

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WCBS/Channel 2 has hired Carolyn Gusoff to bolster the station’s Long Island bureau with veteran reporter Jennifer McLogan. Gusoff, a Queens native, who grew up in Woodmere, was the Long Island correspondent at WNBC for 15 years. Since 2009, Gusoff  has been a freelance reporter at WNYW/Channel 5.

The move is likely connected to WCBS’ acquisition of WLNY/Channel 55 in December. Viewers can anticipate seeing familiar faces from WCBS on the Long Island channel.  

But that wasn’t all for WCBS. Morning traffic reporter Katie McGee now gets to sleep in. She joins Maurice DuBois and Kristine Johnson as entertainment reporter for the 5 p.m. newscast.

Taking McGee’s traffic beat is Alex Denis. She comes to New York after a stint as a traffic reporter in Nashville, Tennessee. She also worked in Panama City, Florida, and as a political correspondent for a TV station in Tampa, according to her website.

 Photo courtesy of AlexDenis.net