WRAL, the CBS affiliate in Raleigh-Durham, is launching a news partnership with The Fayetteville Observer.

The station has relocated its Fayetteville bureau to the Observer‘s newsroom. The new bureau will debut on the air on the 5 p.m. newscast Friday.

“The Observer has a long tradition of outstanding local coverage, and we’re excited about growing a partnership with the newspaper that will benefit our viewers and their readers,” WRAL president and general manager Steven Hammel said in a statement.

WTVD meteorologist Don Schwenneker shaved his head on the air this week after the ABC O&O signed up hundreds of potential donors at a bone marrow donor drive (video above).

Schwenneker promised to shave his head if more than 250 people signed up to be potential donors. The ABC O&O called the cause “near and dear to the hearts of the ABC11 family,” noting that a station staffer recently lost his son to leukemia.

The drive was organized by WTVD and Be the Match, the organization “Good Morning America” anchor Robin Roberts — who had a bone marrow transplant last year — champions.

WNCN political reporter Kim Gernardo is leaving the Raleigh-Durham NBC affiliate for a job as the director of communications for North Carolina governor Pat McCrory.

Gernardo has worked at WNCN for 14 years. She will begin in her new role on Wednesday.

“She has made a mark in this community by making it her business to know the Legislature inside and out,” news director Andrea Parquet-Taylor said in a statement. “We wish Kim well in her new endeavor.”

Jim Romenesko points out that Gerado sat down with McCrory for a one-on-one interview two weeks ago.

WRAL chief meteorologist Greg Fishel was in the middle of his Friday evening weather forecast when a button popped off his suit jacket (video above).

Fishel was reporting on a high-pressure system, and standing underneath a graphic that said “PRESSURE,” when the button popped. “I just popped a button! I have never done that in 31 years of broadcasting, which means I’ve got a little too much here,” Fishel said, patting his stomach.

Anna Laurel is leaving KMPH in Fresno for WTVD in Raleigh-Durham, according to the Fresno Bee.

Laurel, the weeknight anchor at KMPH, has worked at the Fresno Fox affiliate since 2009. She joins WTVD, the ABC O&O in Raleigh-Durham, after the November sweeps period.

KMPH general manager Jack Peck told the Fresno Bee that he is looking nationwide for Laurel’s replacement.

Reporter Erin Hartness is signing off today from WRAL, the CBS affiliate in Raleigh-Durham.

Hartness is ending her 13-year career in television to join Duke University, where she will be public relations manger for the Fuqua School of Business. She has worked at WRAL since 2007.

“Erin really worked her beats, enterprising and breaking stories,” news director Rick Gall said in a statement. “Her determination and dedication are impressive. Her insistence on accuracy and perspective in stories is admirable.”

Shae Crisson, weekend anchor for WTVD in Raleigh-Durham, announced she’s leaving the station for WSB, the ABC affiliate in Atlanta.

Crisson, who announced the move via facebook, wrote a goodbye letter to fans saying,

Thank you for letting me tell your stories – through laughter, tears and prayers, we have made it through. Please know I’m leaving on a good note for a great opportunity at WSB-TV (still abc) in Atlanta. I know you’ll be kind to the next reporter here so he/she will stick around for a long time too. We’ll stay connected (sing our promo – keeping you connected) and stay classy Raleigh! . -Shae.

Crisson, who previously worked at WSLS in Roanoke, began her career at WLUC in Marquette, MI.  Tomorrow will be her last day at WTVD.

WRAL , the CBS affiliate for Raleigh-Durham, will be the first commercial TV station to try out the proposed Mobile Emergency Alert System (M-EAS) pushing rich media emergency alert content to those with mobile handheld devices.

“No other system has the capacity to deliver on-demand emergency messages to so many people simultaneously,” WRAL told TVNewsCheck.

Unlike the wireless alerts already available to anyone with a mobile device, M-EAS will provide interactive on-demand emergency information via video, audio, maps, texts and photos to anyone with a cell phone even if they don’t have a data plan or internet access.

WRAL has put together a video (watch after the jump) showing the viewer  what the system looks like.

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Stacy Davis is saying goodbye to WRAL after four years at the Raleigh-Durham CBS-affiliate.

Davis has accepted a position as public information officer for the nearby town of Clayton, NC. “I thrive on telling stories, and I see this job as one of the best story‐telling jobs around,” Davis said in a statement. “I’ll be telling Clayton’s story.”

“We’ll miss her ability to land key interviews, make ordinary stories extraordinary, and deliver compelling live shots,” news director Rick Gail said in a statement.

Davis’ last day at WRAL is today.

Raleigh-Durham NBC-affiliate WNCN will have a new evening co-anchor next month: Pam Saulsby, until last year was an anchor at rival station WRAL.

Saulsby signed off from WRAL last year after 20 years with the CBS-affiliate. In her new role at WNCN, she will co-anchor the 7 and 11 p.m. newscasts alongside Penn Holderness (pictured with Saulsby) and chief meteorologist Wes Hohenstein, as well as produce reports for the station.

“We are thrilled to have Pam join our team,” news director Andrea Parquet-Taylor said in a statement. “Her deep roots and passion for storytelling in this community make her an outstanding choice. Penn and Pam are a dynamic duo committed to the things that truly matter and helping people everyday.”