Cleveland NBC affiliate WKYC has hired Karina Mitchell. She is the wife of Russ Mitchell, who joined WKYC as primary anchor in January.

Like her husband, Mitchell comes from CBS News in New York, where she was an entertainment, lifestyle and feature contributor. She also served as a fill-in anchor for CBS Mobile News and a reporter for CBSNews.com. Most recently, she was the host of “Showbuzz,” a weekly movie review show.

At WKYC, Mitchell will be an arts, culture and entertainment contributor to “Live on Lakeside,” a lifestyle show hosted by Hollie Strano and Michael Cardamone. She will also contribute to WKYC’s newscasts.

Erin Kennedy, who is leaving Providence’s WPRI after six years anchoring the station’s evening newscasts, is set to join WKYC as a morning co-anchor alongside Mark Nolan.

“She’ll bring a fresh perspective to Cleveland mornings,” WKYC news director Rita Andolsen said, discussing the move with the station’s “Director’s Cut” blog. “We know that early newscasts are becoming even more important as people organize and begin their busy days, and we’re thrilled to have Erin’s help in creating an even more dynamic show. Having deeper resources at the anchor desk will give us increased flexibility to cover breaking news and weather.”

Kennedy will round out a morning team that, along with Nolan, includes meteorologist Hollie Strano and reporters Amanda Barren and Stephanie Coueignoux.  Read more

Betsy Kling has been promoted to chief meteorologist at WKYC. The AMS-certified and NWA-approved meteorologist has been with WKYC since 2003 and currently appears on the station’s weeknight newscasts at 6, 7, and 11.

“Betsy brings a passion and energy to telling the weather story in a way that our viewers recognize and appreciate,” news director Rita Andolsen said, in announcing the promotion today.

An Ohio native, Kling won an Emmy in 2009 and was recently named one of Cleveland’s Most Interesting People by Cleveland Magazine.

“I look forward to working with our already strong weather team including Hollie Strano and Bruce Kalinowski to push forward our weather product on-air, online, and mobile,” Kling said. “It’s a very exciting and dynamic weather team to work with.” Read more