The Kansas City Star talks to KCTV general manager Darrin McDonald about plans for the 9 a.m. timeslot for the summer while “Better Kansas City” is “off the air for retooling”:

Starting next week, McDonald said, the national show “Better TV” — produced by KCTV’s corporate parent, Meredith, and shown mornings on KSMO-TV — will air in “Better KC’s” place but with some local segments. Those will be handled by Jones’ co-host, Lisa Holbrook, who remains at the station.

Jones said she had “no comment at this point.” She joined KCTV in April 2010 as co-anchor of its morning and noon newscasts. “Better Kansas City” was launched last fall by McDonald’s predecessor, Bobby Totsch.

The show is produced locally, but not by the station’s news department. The general manager said the show had been “performing fine” in the ratings, but he does want it to attract more young women and “add more 25-to-34-year-olds” to its audience.

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Shannon Hart

“I’m excited to put this dynamic management team together to help lead our sales efforts,” said Sarah Smith, KMBC-KCWE president and general manager. “Shannon and Jason have earned these opportunities through hard work and performance. They both possess qualities that are critical to our success. I’m confident they will maximize the potential of our account teams and insure our clients achieve the results they expect and deserve.”

Hart has been the general sales manager for KCWE for the last 11 years. Before coming to KMBC-KCWE, she worked for KSNT in Topeka, KS, KSNW in Wichita, KS, and KMTV in Omaha, NE.

Ferguson will join KCWE on July 1. He is currently the local sales manager for Hearst’s WISN in Milwaukee. He’s also worked for WDSU in New Orleans, WAPT in Jackson, MS, and WXII in Winston-Salem, NC.

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Lindsay Shively

Shively joined KSHB as a multimedia journalist in 2009. She replaces Najahe Sherman, who joined WKRN in Nashville last month.

“I am excited to be able to promote Lindsay. She is a great storyteller and her bright and cheerful personality will be a nice addition to our weekend morning show,” news director Carrie Hofmann said in a statement.

Bottom Line also reports that anchor Cynthia Newsome will move from the weekend evening newscasts to the weekday midday newscasts. Amy Hawley will solo anchor the weekend evening newscasts going forward.

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Brett Akagi

Akagi came to KSHB in 2010 after working as senior video producer for the Minnesota Star Tribune. He’s also worked at KARE in Minneapolis, KSNC in Great Bend, KS, WIBW in Topeka, KS and Kansas City FOX affiliate WDAF.

In February, Carrie Hofmann was named news director at KSHB. She came to the station from WCNC in Charlotte, NC.

TVSpy placed calls to KSHB.  We will update when we hear back.

Image: NPPA

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Sherman begins this week as anchor and reporter at WKRN, the ABC affiliate in Nashville. She comes from KSHB, the NBC affiliate in Kansas City, where she was a reporter and weekend morning anchor.

“To everyone in Kansas City, thank you so much for a very special few years. I am excited to share stories and experiences from Music City!” Sherman wrote. [h/t Bottom Line Communications]

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Jadiann Thompson

Thompson comes from KPHO in Phoenix, where she worked as a fill-in anchor and MMJ. Beginning April 22, she will replace Elizabeth Alex as the 6 p.m. co-anchor.

“It will be a challenge to sit in the same chair as a trusted name like Elizabeth Alex, but I plan to earn the viewers’ respect. I want to be someone you see not only behind the anchor desk, but in the community as well,” Thompson said in a statement. “I can’t wait to get started.” [h/t Bottom Line Communications]

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Jay joined KSHB in 2010 as the morning and midday anchor. He has also worked at stations in Memphis, Fort Myers and Clarksburg, W.V.

A replacement has yet to be announced for Jay, who was last on the air Monday. His bio has been stripped from the KSHB website.

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Hallie Shulman

“I have some EXCITING news to share! I have officially accepted the weekend morning meteorologist position in Kansas City at KCTV,” Shulman wrote on her facebook page. “Thank you for your patience, acceptance, and friendliness over the past two and half years. The people and experiences that I’ve encountered in this community, I will never forget! Wish me luck!”

Shulman comes to KCTV from Wichita ABC affiliate KAKE.  She started at KAKE in September 2010. continued…

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The newscast, which debuts April 8, will be anchored by Mark Clegg and Christa Dubill, along with chief meteorologist Gary Lezak.

“I am excited to be adding more news at a time when many stations across the country are cutting back. It reinforces our commitment to keep our viewers up to date on what’s happening in their community on the screen of their choice,” KSHB news director Carrie Hofmann said in a statement.

KSHB has also hired meteorologist Kalee Dionne (pictured), who is currently the morning meteorologist at WIAT in Birmingham, Ala. She will start in late April, according to Bottom Line.

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The station took a live feed from Kansas City Mayor Sly James‘ “State of the City” address just seconds before a man, later identified as Derron Black, jumped on stage, tossed a flag off the podium and interrupted James by shouting,”This man has just got through talking about exactly what the F$%# he ain’t G@#d*%$ did.”

The station cut the audio feed before anchor Curtis Jay apologized to viewers for what they just witnessed, “We, first off, want to apologize for this. This is live. Happening right now, what you’re looking at. We apologize for the profanity that was used on the air.”

Watch the video of the incident after the jump. continued…

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Karli Ritter

“We’re having some computer issues, so we’re going to modify this forecast just a bit here,” Ritter said. “Nothing’s updated, nothing’s working. So I’m going to call in my assistants here.”

As Ritter continued with her forecast, Nick Vasos and Loren Halifax held up hand-drawn graphics to help the meteorologist out with her reporting. Ritter finished her report by holding up a hand-drawn graphic of the five-day forecast (pictured) to applause in the studio.

Watch the video here. [h/t Bottom Line Communications]

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“We are excited to have someone of Brian’s stature and experience leading our news department at FOX17 and look forward to the impact he will have on the market. His experience running highly successful newsrooms will be a huge asset to our operations,” WZTV general manager Dominic Mancuso said in announcing the news.

McGruder was vice president of news at WDAF in Kansas City for the past decade. He has also served as news director at WJCL-WTGS in Savannah, Ga. He replaces Roberta Petterson at WZTV. [h/t Bottom Line Communications]

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Bottom Line Communications profiled

Lezak told Bottom Line, “Weather is just fascinating.  The passion I have for winter weather forecasting gets me so focused and energized.”

Lezak’s passion was on display for Kansas City viewers during a 24-hour period running from Monday night until Tuesday evening.  His on-air odyssey began during the Monday 10:00 p.m. newscast with Lezak and his weather team giving regular updates on the storm and how it would affect the Kansas City area. continued…

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Scott McDonnell

“Scott is a very strong reporter who wants the big story,” news director Sherrie Brown said in a statement. “I know our viewers will like him personally and respect him professionally. He is laser focused on doing what reporters should do; tell stories that are compelling and relevant to our viewers.”

McDonnell previously worked at Central Florida News 13 in Orlando and Bay News 9 in Tampa. He has worked at WSEE in Erie, Pa., WSHM in Springfield, Mass. and WFSB in Hartford. He begins at KMBC on March 4.

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KMBC

“It’s an honor to join such a well-respected station,” said Flener. “KMBC has a rich history of strong journalism and I’m excited to break stories that continue that tradition. I’m happy to move back to the Midwest to raise my kids. They have a great chance to learn strong family values in the Kansas City area and be close to their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.”

Flener, who will anchor the 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. news on KCWE, comes to the station from KUSA in Denver where he was a news anchor, reporter and host of a monthly political talk show. continued…

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