It was a “near-record” year for local news, according to the latest RTDNA/Hofstra University study. Despite a six minute drop in the average amount of news produced on weekdays in 2012, Saturday and Sunday news time rose by an average of 12 and 6 minutes, respectively, leading to a small overall increase in the amount of news produced.

The study found almost 37% of news directors reported added a newscast in 2012, with the new broadcasts mostly being added on weekends. Every hour from 4 a.m. to midnight saw at least some new newscasts, the study shows. Only 6% of news directors reported cutting a newscast.

Read the full results here.

Our sister site FishbowlNY reports Bill Evans, meteorologist for the New York ABC owned station WABC, and his wife Dana Evans are both facing charges of assault and disorderly conduct after an argument in their home May 4. The couple are currently going through a divorce.

“After seeking counseling at a local domestic violence center, Dana reported the incident to the Greenwich Police,” Dana Evans’ attorney Mark Sherman said in a statement posted on Patch.com, which first reported the story. “Obviously divorces can get emotional and we expect Dana to be cleared of these charges in due time. The safety, privacy and welfare of her family continue to be her primary concern.”

Bill Evans’ attorney Phillip Russell told TVSpy, “The forecast is Sunny” for his client. Read more

There are leadership changes coming to WNYW and WWOR, the Fox-owned stations in New York City and Secaucus. Dianne Doctor, the vice president and news director of WNYW, will take on the newly-created role of vice president and station manager at WWOR. Byron Harmon will replace Doctor as news director.

Doctor will oversee content and programming for WWOR, a MyNetworkTV affiliate. She succeeds Jim Driscoll, who joined Fox-owned WTXF in Philadelphia last year.

“I’ve lived in New Jersey for over 30 years, raised my children here, and have witnessed all the Garden State has to offer, as well as the challenges it faces. I’m proud to be given this opportunity to lead WWOR-TV during a particularly exciting and unique time in our state’s history,” Doctor said in a statement. “I look forward to enhancing our presence in New Jersey and continuing our commitment to covering the issues that are relevant to residents of this community.”

As Doctor exits her post at WNYW, Harmon, the station’s senior executive producer, will replace her as news director. Harman joined WNYW last year from CNN International. He has also worked as an executive producer at WCBS in New York and WTTG in Washington, D.C.

“Byron is a US Army veteran, published author and playwright, and highly accomplished news producer – having someone with such a unique perspective lead our news team is certainly an asset,” WNYW-WWOR vice president and general manager Lew Leone said in a statement. “He understands the need for constant evolution in our rapidly changing environment and I look forward to seeing his influence and creativity on our newscasts.”

News director Joe Parker is no longer with WUTR-WFXV, Nexstar Broadcasting’s Utica duopoly, the Utica Observer-Dispatch reports.

Parker, who co-anchored the evening newscasts alongside Elsa Gillis, joined WUTR in 2011. He has previously worked in Casper, Wyo. and Dothan, Ala.

Stephen Merren, the vice president and general manager of WUTR-WFXV, told the Observer-Dispatch that Parker’s last day was June 13. Gillis will anchor the evening newscasts solo going forward.

Gannett Broadcasting president David Lougee gave TVSpy a look at what it plans to do with some of the Belo stations it will own as soon as the inks dries on its deal to buy the station group.

TVSpy asked Lougee what Gannett meant when it told employees in a memo, “As part of the deal, we are restructuring ownership of the Belo stations in 5 markets, Phoenix, St. Louis, Portland, Louisville and Tucson. We expect that the stations affected will be serviced by Gannett through shared service agreements or similar sharing arrangements.”

Focusing mainly on the plans for Belo’s St. Louis CBS affiliate KMOV and Phoenix independent station KTVK, since Gannett already owns stations in those markets (St. Louis NBC affiliate KSDK and Phoenix NBC affiliate KPNX) Lougee told TVSpy, “I’m never going in those buildings. They are going to completely compete against our television stations. There is no consolidation taking place in St. Louis and Phoenix.

He told TVSpy Jack Sander would head a third-party company that would be the owner, licensee and the operator of those two stations. Sander is a senior adviser to Belo Corp. Lougee worked at Belo before taking his current role at Gannett. Read more

CNN Latino is expanding to Miami. Beginning in August, the network will be available on broadcast television from 3 to 11pmET on WDFL, as well as three cable channels.

Tomas Johansen will serve as president and general manager of the station. The station’s local programming will include “Maria Elvira,” a primetime talk show hosted by Maria Elvira Salazar.

“I’m pleased to include Miami in our expansion plans since it is critical to the development of a long-term, viable network of affiliates,” Cynthia Hudson, senior vice president and general manager of CNN en Español and Hispanic Strategy for CNN/U.S., said in a statement. “I’m also happy CNN Latino Miami will broadcast “Maria Elvira,” hosted by Maria Elvira Salazar, a journalist who is known for her unique style, respect and tenacity.”

CNN Latino is also available in Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, Tampa, Phoenix and Salt Lake City. With the expansion to Miami, the network will be available in markets that represent more than one-third of U.S. Hispanic homes.

Bill Shory has been named news director at Louisville NBC affiliate WAVE, Rick Gevers & Associates reports.

Shory moves to Louisville from Knoxville, where he spent eight years as news director for NBC affiliate WBIR. He has most recently been the director of production for Jupiter Entertainment. Shory has also worked at WCCO in Minneaplis, WHNT in Huntsville, WCNC in Charlotte and WBMA in Birmingham.

He replaces Kathy Hostetter, who was named news director at WTHR in Indianapolis.

A Lake Worth, FL, landlord has been charged with battery after grabbing the microphone from WPEC reporter Lynn Gordon‘s hand after Gordon approached the man looking for answers.

Gordon and photographer Frank Porter were wrapping up a story about residents of a housing complex living in unsanitary conditions when they saw the landlord Nabil Kashik. “What do you tell these people?” asked Gordon as she approached Kashik. Kashik then grabbed the mic out of Gordon’s hand following a brief verbal exchange.

The West Palm Beach CBS affiliate said a resident called police after witnessing the confrontation. Police watched the video, then charged Kashik with battery.

You can watch the video by clicking here. WPEC’s website does not allow embedding.

[SFLTV]

Kyla Igoe is saying goodbye to Buffalo ABC affiliate WKBW, Alan Pergament of The Buffalo News reports.

Igoe, who has worked at WKBW since 2007, has opted out of her contract to spend more time with her family and to help her husband with his videography business.

“We appreciate her efforts and wish her well in her new ventures,” Mike Nurse, who will officially take over next month as the station’s general manager, told Pergament.

Jamie Muro has announced he’s leaving Hartford-New Haven, CT, ABC affiliate WTNH.

The Laurel posted a station memo saying in part, “Jamie is heading over to the dark side, working in media relations for Sullivan & LeShane in Hartford. While I won’t miss his Dallas Cowboy helmet, I’ll definitely miss Jamie both on-air and in-person. Please join me in wishing him nothing but the best!”

Muro started at WTNH in September 2004. Before coming to WTNH he worked at WTLV-WJXX in Jacksonville, FL, WSLS in Roanoke, VA, and KREX in Grand Junction, CO.

According to the Hartford Courant Muro begins his new job in early August.