KARE anchor Julie Nelson profiled former reporter Phil Johnston who is one-half of the team who penned Disney’s latest animated film, “Wreck-it Ralph”.  You can watch the video after the jump.

“Once upon a time,” Johnston, who worked for KARE, told the Minneapolis NBC affiliate’s anchor. “There was a guy who ended up doing exactly what he wanted to do and will hopefully get that privilege the rest of his life”

Johnston also wrote the film, “Cedar Rapids” which he said was inspired by his experiences as a reporter for KARE.

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Randy Shaver, the newly-minted evening anchor at KARE, is temporarily off the air after a bike accident earlier this week left him with a broken arm and bruises on his legs and face.

While riding his bike Tuesday evening, Shaver turned a corner and found a teenage boy stopped on his side of the path. He slammed on the brakes and flipped over the bike’s handle bars, the Pioneer Press reports.

“I’m sure I’m quite a few days away from being able to put on any sort of makeup to cover myself,” Shaver said . “My arm will be in a sling and a cast for four to six weeks.” Read more

Eric Perkins has been named sports director at KARE, the NBC-affiliate in Minneapolis.

Perkins is currently the weekend news and sports anchor for the station. He succeeds Randy Shaver, who is moving to the weeknight anchor desk after 18 years as sports director. In his new role, Perkins will appear on the weeknight newscasts alongside Shaver, Julie Nelson and Belinda Jensen.

“Eric brings his definitive, proactive style to sports anchoring as he joins the strongest weeknight anchor team in the Twin Cities,” president and general manager John Remes said in a statement. Read more

Longtime KARE sports director Randy Shaver has been named co-anchor of the Minneapolis-St. Paul NBC-affiliate’s 5, 6, and 10 p.m. newscasts, alongside Julie Nelson.  He succeeds Mike Pomeranz, who left the station this spring for a job with the San Diego Padres.

“This new team underscores KARE 11′s home-grown approach to sharing news and information,” KARE president and general manager John Remes said, announcing the move.  “Julie’s experience and leadership is a perfect pairing with Randy’s news know-how and community commitment.” Read more