WXMI sports anchor Tara Hernandez is signing off from the Grand Rapids Fox affiliate, according to Mlive.com.

Hernandez joined the station in 2008 from WJBF in Augusta. Her last day at WXMI is Wednesday, and she begins next week as communications and marketing manager at Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids.

“In this position, I’ve met so many incredible people and covered so many great things,” she told Mlive.com. “But some of my favorite things are the daily, local stories. Telling stories about people you wouldn’t know unless you watched FOX17.”

WXIN, the Tribune owned FOX affiliate for Indianapolis, IN, has named Kerri Cavanaugh as news director.

“Kerri brings a wealth of news experience and leadership from several markets and I am thrilled to have her now take the helm of the FOX59 News franchise,” said WXIN-WTTV vice president and general manager Larry Delia. “Her proven ability to launch newscasts, grow ratings, and mentor talent will be extremely valuable as FOX59 continues to build on its ratings success.”

Cavanaugh starts June 17. She comes to WXIN from Tribune’s WXMI in Grand Rapids, MI, where she has been the news director since 2010. Before WXMI, she was news director at WSFL in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and has also worked at WFTS in Tampa, WPEC in West Palm Beach and WDBB in Tuscaloosa, AL.

“I’m honored to join the staff at FOX59,” said Cavanaugh. “The station has seen tremendous growth in recent years, producing by far the most local news in the market.  It is quickly becoming the go-to place for breaking news and weather coverage.  I’m eager to work with such a dedicated team and continue to build on its success.”

After 36 years at WPVI, Rob Jennings will retire from the Philadelphia ABC O&O in July.

“Rob has played a huge role in the success of Action News and 6abc for decades,” WPVI president and general manager Bernie Prazenica said in a statement. “I can’t thank him enough for all that he has done. His talent and professionalism are unsurpassed in broadcast journalism. We will miss him as a colleague and a friend and wish him everything good in retirement.”

Jennings joined the station in 1977. He is the station’s weekend evening anchor.

“I can’t emphasize enough how grateful I am to have been able to do what I love to do  tell stories  for 36 years, with the greatest television station,” Jennings said. “My wife and I have been planning to retire for some time now. And now is the time to start our new adventure together.”

Meagan Millage has been promoted to evening anchor at KDLT, the NBC affiliate in Sioux Falls.

Millage, who currently co-anchors the morning newscast, will move to evenings June 3.

“Meagan has been a fantastic addition to our news team. I am excited for her to join myself and Tom Hanson in the evenings and have such a strong South Dakota presence during KDLT News at 5, 6, and 10,” KDLT news director Paul Heinert said in a statement.

Millage replaces Jennifer Hudspeth, who is leaving KDLT to move to Minnesota.

Oklahoma City stations have been live around the clock in the aftermath of Monday’s devastating tornado. The stations have been praised for their “thoughtful, professional, experienced” reporting during and after the twister.

All four stations were live during the storm, with meteorologists and anchors issuing repeated warnings for people in the storm’s path to take shelter.

“You folks in Moore, grab whatever it is you need to grab and you need to go underground. Bottom line: grab your kids, grab your loved ones, grab your friends,” KFOR chief meteorologist Mike Morgan said shortly before the tornado hit. “And just get out of the way.”

In her press conference Monday night, Oklahoma governor Mary Fallin thanked the local media for early warnings of the tornado threat.

“The media’s done a superb job over the last few days of keeping people informed about the conditions, especially our weathermen and those that have been on the ground, driving, following and tracking the storm itself,” Fallin said.

The local stations’ coverage was available online via live stream. Stations were praised by the Columbia Journalism Review, which noted stations provided “life-saving information before the tornado, essential reporting afterward.” Read more

Jeff Morris has been promoted to senior vice president of operations and technology for the NBC Owned Stations.

Morris has been vice president of technology for the station group since 2008. In his new role, he will oversee technology, sales and traffic operations, environmental health and safety, and FCC compliance for the 10 NBC owned stations.

“As our industry rapidly evolves, I am confident that Jeff and his team will continue to ensure we have the ability to deliver our audiences the best local content anytime and anywhere,” Valari Staab, president of the NBC Owned Stations, said in a statement.

KFOR reporter-anchor Lance West was one of the first to arrive at Plaza Towers Elementary School after a tornado ripped through Moore, Oklahoma Monday. West, who has worked at the Oklahoma City NBC affiliate since 1995, broke down on the air Monday while describing the scene at the school.

“It was one of the most heartbreaking events I’ve ever had to cover,” West said on NBC’s
“Today” show Tuesday. “…Sometimes we’re more human than reporter, and that happens. Images I will never forget.”

West’s “Today” show appearance is below and his KFOR report is after the jump.

Read more

Matt Brode joins KVOA in Tucson as interim chief meteorologist. Matt comes from KOIN in Portland, OR, where he was the weekday morning and midday meteorologist.

Brode is represented by Mort Meisner Associates.

To report a new move, send an email to tvspy@mediabistro.com with the subject line “On the Move.”

WKYT, Gray Television’s Lexington, KY, CBS affiliate, has announced an anchor change on its 4:00 p.m. newscast and the addition of a reporter.

Jennifer Palumbo (pictured left) has added the WKYT 4:00 p.m. news to her anchor duties. Palumbo already anchors the 10:00 p.m. news on Sinclair’s FOX affiliate WDKY. Palumbo replaces Stacy Ellison (pictured right) who is leaving the station Friday.

“I know Jennifer will do an outstanding job anchoring the 4 p.m., making an even greater contribution to the newsroom and reinforcing the strong partnership between WKYT and WDKY by being an important part of both stations,” said WKYT news director Robert Thomas. Read more

KABC meteorologist Indra Petersons has joined CNN as a weather anchor and correspondent, TVNewser reports.

Petersons will primarily contribute to “New Day,” CNN’s morning newscast set to launch on June 17. Her first assignment for CNN will be covering the tornado devastation from Moore this week.

Before joining KABC in 2003, Petersons worked at KEYT in Santa Barbara and KVIA in El Paso.