The April Fools’ Day pranks are out in full force in newsrooms around the country today.

At KVUE in Austin, the morning news team pranked staffers by putting an empty donut box in the newsroom and shot video of staffers opening it looking for treats:

• Related, TVNewser: The Morning Shows Have Some April Fools’ Day Fun

And on Louisville’s WDRB, Mike Marshall and Jude Redfield were tricked into eating dog biscuits on the air: Read more

KTBC sports director and anchor Dave Cody is retiring after 28 years with the Fox O&O in Austin. In an email to some KTBC staffers Wednesday, Cody said he is moving to Alabama to be closer to his elderly parents.

“I was reminded recently that it is important to ‘honor your mother and father.’ My 92 and (almost) 91 year old parents are in Montgomery, Alabama. They need me and frankly I need them,” Cody wrote. “….28 years ago this week (March 1985), I walked into this building, KTBC-TV, for a job interview that would begin a near 3 decade journey.”

“Dave has been a sports icon in this market for the last 28 years.  There is no one that knows this city and the sports history we’ve shared better than him,” KTBC VP and news director Pam Vaught said in a statement. “He will truly be missed.”

KEYE evening anchor Ron Oliveira will be leaving the Austin CBS affiliate Friday after station management declined to renew his contract, according to Austin360.

“I was informed that the corporate office in Baltimore decided not to renew my contract,” Oliveira said. “No reason was given. It took me by total surprise. I’m heartbroken because I love what I do.”

While Oliveira told Austin360 KEYE could take first place at 10:00 p.m. this sweeps period, weak ratings at 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. news have plagued the station for years, he said, because of a weak afternoon lead in. Read more

Tania Ortega is joining KTBC, the Fox O&O in Austin, as a general assignment reporter for the morning newscast.

Ortega was most recently a reporter and producer for KCEN in Waco. She has also worked as a reporter, anchor and sales representative at KXXV in Waco. Her television career began as an intern for KNSD in San Diego.

“Tania’s energy combined with her extensive knowledge of Texas is great for our expanding reporter team on ‘Good Day Austin,’” KTBC vice president and news director Pam Vaught said in a statement.

Chikage Windler, the weekend meteorologist at WTHR, is saying goodbye to the Indianapolis NBC affiliate. She is headed to Austin, where she will be chief meteorologist at CBS affiliate KEYE.

“It’s my last show here at WTHR-TV today at noon!” Windler wrote on Facebook Tuesday morning. “THANK YOU for watching and counting on me for your forecasts here! It’s been an honor.”

Windler begins at KEYE on March 4. She replaces Troy Kimmel, who resigned from KEYE in December. [via Indianapolis Business Journal]

Nancy Zambrano is joining KRIV, the Fox O&O in Houston, as a general assignment reporter.

It is a move within Fox for Zambrano, who has been a reporter and fill-in anchor at KTBC, the Fox O&O in Austin, for the past five years. Her first day on the air at KRIV will be February 4.

“I’ve spent five great years at KTBC FOX 7 in Austin. It’s a place with amazing people that will always be close to my heart, but I’m excited about moving to Houston,” Zambrano said in a statement. “I’ve heard so many wonderful things about this city and I’m thrilled to get to experience them for myself. I look forward to joining the KRIV FOX26 team, and can’t wait to hit the ground running.”

Amy Hadley is re-joining YNN Austin, Time Warner Cable’s 24-hour local cable channel, the Austin American-Statesman reports.

Hadley returns to the station after two years in Prague. She will anchor the midday newscasts on YNN, taking the place of Paul Brown, who will become a full-time political reporter.

“I aim to be me on camera, and I think people appreciate that. They feel like they know me and they trust me. Also, I don’t take myself too seriously. There’s a whole blooper reel at YNN of me falling off things as a reporter,” Hadley told the Austin American Statesman.”As an anchor, I intend to bring the same energy and authenticity to the desk. And while I don’t think I’ll manage to fall off my chair, we’ll be building in opportunities for fun and personality.”

Shannon Murray is joining KVUE in Austin as a reporter and fill-in anchor, Austin media blogger Bill Church reports.

Murray has spent two years working at KOSA, the CBS affiliate in Midland-Odessa, Texas. She has also worked as a local radio correspondent.

“I lived in Austin for four years and most of my friends are there, so it was always my goal to get back there,” Murray told Church. “I’ve had a great experience here in Midland-Odessa and I’m sad to leave everybody here, but I could see myself building a life in Austin. I love the town.”

Oklahoma City Media blog, TheLostOgle, is reporting Deeda Payton has been hired by Austin CBS affiliate KEYE.

Payton, who currently works for KOKH, confirmed on her twitter page she was leaving the Oklahoma City FOX affiliate.  When asked by a viewer if she was leaving KOKH, Payton replied, “yes, Jan. 1.”  She followed that response up by saying, “I will miss OKC, but I’m excited for the new opportunity as well.”

Payton previously worked for KTEN in North Texas and Southeast Oklahoma as a producer and reporter.

Morgan Chesky, a reporter and fill-in anchor at KVUE, is leaving Austin for Oklahoma City, Austin Culture Map reports.

Cheskey will join ABC affiliate KOCO as the weekend anchor. He will anchor five shows a weekend — three on Saturday and two on Sunday — and report for the evening newscast during the week.

“It’s a very competitive market and a lot more people watch news there than in Austin,” Chesky said. “I feel confident my time at KVUE has given me the tools to do well and earn their trust in Oklahoma City.”

Culture Map reports Chesky will be replaced by Shannon Murray.