Busted

A recent KOVR report on crosswalk safety nearly took a dangerous turn when a driver, allegedly intoxicated, ran a red light on live television.

Doug Brauner, a reporter for the Sacramento CBS O&O, was standing in a Sacramento intersection during the morning newscast on Thursday when a black pick-up truck blew through the crosswalk Brauner was standing in (video inside).

“Really? Really!” Brauner said. The California Highway Patrol Officer that was giving Brauner tips on crosswalk etiquette for the segment turned his patrol car lights on and took off after the driver. Read more

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Longtime KVOA anchor Martha Vazquez, who resigned from the Tucson NBC-affiliate in February after getting busted for stealing clothes and jewelry at a local mall, has entered into a plea deal in her shoplifting case.

On Monday, Vazquez entered into a “diversion plea,” which will allow her to have the shoplifting charge dropped if she pays a $180 fee and attends 7.5 hours of counseling, reports the Arizona Daily Star.

“It’s the standard plea for someone in her situation,” Tucson City Prosecutor Baird Greene told the Daily Star. Read more

Longtime KGUN traffic reporter Allen Kath, who’s known to Tucson viewers as “Big Al Your Traffic Pal,” recently attended traffic school after being busted for speeding last December.

Running late for a doctor’s appointment, Kath was pulled over for going 64 in a 45.  He opted to enroll in traffic school to avoid paying a big fine.

KGUN photojournalist Chris Miracle followed Kath to traffic school and reported on the speeding incident for the ABC-affiliate. Read more

KETV anchor Adrian Whitsett was sentenced Monday morning to 30 days in jail, following his recent DUI arrest.

The Omaha ABC-affiliate reports that Whitsett pleaded guilty to one count of third-offense misdemeanor DUI.  In addition to 30 days in jail, which can be served as house arrest, Whitsett received two years supervised probation.

Whitsett is currently on a leave of absence from KETV.  He remains an employee of the station.

“I shouldn’t have been doing this. It almost cost me my job,” Whitsett told the judge in the case. “I don’t plan on doing this again.”

New details have emerged in the alleged shoplifting incident that led to KVOA anchor Martha Vazquez‘s resignation this week after 26 years with the station.

According to a police report, posted by Tucson Weekly, Vazquez was cited for stealing a hoodie and a pair of earrings from a Dillard’s department store.

A Dillard’s security officer observed the longtime Tucson anchor try on a $338 Eileen Fisher hoodie near a clothing rack and then conceal it inside of a sweater she had been wearing. She then purchased shoes and a few other items and attempted to leave the store without paying for the hoodie, at which point she was detained by security. Read more

KVOA anchor Martha Vazquez, who has been a fixture on Tucson TV for three decades, abruptly resigned on Monday, following an alleged shoplifting incident that occurred over the weekend.

The Arizona Daily Star reports that a woman with the same name and birth date as Vazquez was cited Saturday on suspicion of shoplifting from the Tucson Mall.

After alerting staff of Vazquez’s resignation on Monday afternoon, KVOA news director Cathie Batbie-Loucks told the Daily Star that the veteran anchor’s departure was “due to personal reasons.”

A native Tucsonan, Vazquez began her broadcasting career with CBS-affiliate KOLD in the 70s, before moving on to KVOA in 1984. Most recently, she anchored the station’s 4 p.m. weekday newscast. Read more

KETV has been forthcoming about the recent arrest of anchor Adrian Whitsett. The Omaha ABC-affiliate reported during its 10 p.m. newscast on Wednesday that Whitsett was arrested over the weekend and charged with driving under the influence, as well as driving the wrong way down a one-way street.

Whitsett, who anchors KETV’s 5 p.m newscast, is currently on “an extended leave of absence” from the station.

Omaha CBS-affiliate KMTV also reported on Whitsett’s arrest this week.

Whitsett joined KETV in 2008, shortly after he graduated from the University of Nebraska. According to the Omaha World-Herald, he was arrested around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday with a blood-alcohol level of .262.

Annie Stensrud, the KEYC anchor who became a viral sensation after slurring her way through a newscast in early December, has been formally charged with drunk driving, following her arrest on December 21st.

Stensrud is facing one gross misdemeanor charge of Driving While Impaired as well as two misdemeanor DWI charges, according to KEYC.

The Mankato Free Press reports that a urine test administered just over an hour after Stensrud was arrested registered a blood-alcohol level of .31, nearly four times the legal limit.

Stensrud, who has not appeared on KEYC since the slurred newscast, was arrested just before noon on the 21st after police received an anonymous tip that a woman was driving drunk through Mankato. Read more

Melissa Holmes is leaving WIVB to join market rival WGRZ.

“This new year is certainly bringing a new beginning for me,” Holmes wrote on her Facebook wall this afternoon.  “After six years at News 4, I’m officially announcing my final day on the air will be Friday. I’m sad to leave my incredible co-workers, and am grateful WIVB gave me the opportunity to work in my hometown!”

Holmes was coy about her next move on Facebook, saying only “I’m not leaving Buffalo… ,” but TVSpy has learned that Holmes is set to join NBC-affiliate WGRZ.  She currently works as an anchor-reporter for CBS-affiliate WIVB.

An official announcement is expected later this week.

Well, here’s one way to pass the time between newscasts: two KGW staffers were caught on a recent newscast juggling in the background of meteorologist Rod Hill‘s weather report (watch above).

“Hey, this is supposed to be my time, right?” Hill joked. “Just because I can’t juggle, nobody pays attention to me.”