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.”

Meteorologist Kyle Mounce is joining WRTV in Indianapolis from WPSD in Paducah, Ky.

Mounce, an Indiana native, will be the weekend meteorologist and weekday weather reporter at ABC affiliate WRTV. He has worked at NBC affiliate WPSD since 2008.

“We are happy to welcome Kyle back home to Indiana. He will be contributing to our live weather coverage on TV, on-line at theIndyChannel.com and on our expanding mobile and iPad news and weather apps,” news director Terri Cope-Walton said in a statement.

WISH has announced Lori Wilson will join the Indianapolis CBS affiliate in mid-June as an anchor and reporter.

“Lori has built a solid career filled with many examples of quality journalism both reporting out on the street and behind the anchor desk,” said WISH news director Steve Bray. “We are thrilled to welcome her home to Central Indiana and to our 24-Hour News 8 team.”

In addition to anchoring the 5:00 p.m. news, Wilson will also report live during the station’s 10:00 and 11:00 p.m. news. Read more

The Scripps owned Indianapolis ABC affiliate WRTV has announced it will begin producing a weekend morning newscast.

“We are excited for the opportunity to add to our team of journalists,” WRTV news director Terri Cope-Walton said in a statement. “This is a major investment in talent and resources for RTV6. Users on all our platforms will benefit.”

WRTV will add eight employees to produce the new shows that begin airing September 7. The station hasn’t said who will anchor the weekend shows. Read more

John Cardenas has been named vice president of news for Dispatch Broadcast Group and president and general manager of WBNS, the company’s CBS affiliate in Columbus.

It is a return to the station for Cardenas, who was news director at WBNS from 1999-2010. For the past three years, he has been general manager of WTHR, Dispatch’s NBC affiliate in Indianapolis. In his new role, he will oversee both stations.

“We are thrilled that John will be returning to Columbus where I’m sure he will build upon the market leadership of 10TV and will take the executive lead of our broadcast news operations in Columbus and Indianapolis,” Dispatch Broadcast Group CEO Michael J. Fiorile said in a statement.

Cardenas replaces Tom Griesdorn, who will retire from WBNS in June after 14 years as president and general manager.

“It’s an honor to come back home to Columbus, yet still be involved in the award-winning journalism being done at both stations,” Cardenas said.

Kathy Hostetter has been named news director at WTHR, Dispatch Broadcast Group’s NBC affiliate in Indianapolis.

Hostetter, who was an executive producer at WTHR from 1998-2002, will begin in her new role on May 6. Since April 2010, she has been news director at WAVE in Louisville. She has also worked as news director at WISE in Fort Wayne, Ind. and WAVY in Portsmouth, Va.

“Kathy is a remarkable and highly-regarded news leader with years of experience in major markets. As a former Executive News Producer here at WTHR, her local experience is a tremendous asset,” WTHR GM John Cardenas said in a statement. “I am excited that she will be joining us.”

Hostetter replaces Keith Connors, who left WTHR when his contract expired last year.

The former executive assistant to WTHR general manager John Cardenas has filed an age and sexual discrimination lawsuit against the Indianapolis NBC affiliate and Dispatch Broadcast Group, WTHR’s parent company. The Indianapolis Business Journal has details of the lawsuit, filed last month in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana:

In the suit, [Debbie] Wiley describes a work environment at WTHR that lacked any sort of grandeur. Wiley alleged Cardenas on multiple occasions was drunk while at work, “during which times his inappropriate behavior was even more exaggerated.”

Given her close working relationship with Cardenas as his assistant, “she bore the brunt of it,” Wiley’s attorney, Eric Pavlack, told IBJ. Wiley claims the station president also made inappropriate sexually suggestive “and/or romantically suggestive physical contact” with her.

At one point last June, she states in court records, “Cardenas was drunk at work and kept getting into my personal space, which made me uncomfortable. I reported this to management, as well.” Read more

WDNI will officially become a Telemundo affiliate March 11. The station will be the only local Spanish-language station in Indianapolis.

In a statement announcing the affiliation agreement, WDNI general manager Chuck Williams said the station is planning on adding locally-produced newscasts in the near future.

“We are excited to bring Telemundo’s proven programming to Indy’s Spanish-speaking community which has experienced significant growth over the past several years. We plan to complement Telemundo’s national programming with locally produced content to deliver a truly relevant product to our viewers, and soon, locally produced news,” Williams said.

Indianapolis CBS affiliate WISH has announced Robb Ellis will join the station as its evening meteorologist.

“Robb brings a wealth of meteorological experience, especially in severe weather coverage. He has passion for the science and understanding of the changing dynamics of weather that is Central Indiana,” said news director Steve Bray. “Robb has experience both as a researcher and scientist in climatology and as an on-air meteorologist. This background not only ensures Hoosiers an accurate forecast, but a dedication to their safety in times of severe weather.”

Ellis, who comes to WISH from WECT-WSFX in Wilmington, NC, will serve as meteorologist for the station’s 5:00, 6:00, 10:00 and 11:00 p.m. newscasts. Read more

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]