The Orlando Sentinel is reporting

“One reason I’m going is because it’s the state capital, and I have the chance to report on politics,” Petrimoulx told the Sentinel. “The concentration on politics drew me there.”

Petrimoulx left Orlando’s ABC affiliate WFTV in January. He starts at KARK and KLRT in two weeks. “I really appreciated the opportunity that WFTV game me,” Petrimoulx said. “I grew up there. I’m going to miss the people and the relationships.” continued…

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The layoffs come less than a month after Mission Broadcasting completed the purchase of FOX affiliate KLRT from Newport Television. Soon after the deal went through, Nexstar, who signed an outside services agreement with Mission, removed the station’s GM and promised more changes to come.

Arkansas Business quotes a KLRT insider who said at least 20 of the layoffs came from KLRT, including news director Ed Trauschke and sports anchor David Raath.  Another source said KARK, the Little Rock NBC affiliate, saw eight employees let go including on-air talent Wendy Suares, Adam Rodriguez and Jonathan Athens.

A Nexstar spokesperson told TVSpy the company does not comment on personnel matters.

[Arkansas Online]

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KLRT general manager Chuck Spohn was let go the day the sale closed while Nexstar made public its plans to merge the stations facilities with its NBC affiliate KARK.

Spohn told TVSpy, “It has been a privilege and pleasure to have successfully managed the FOX16 team for the past 15+years. This team has produced a fantastic product – something we are all very proud of. I wish everyone there continued success as they move forward with this transition to new ownership.”

Mission Broadcasting closed Thursday on a $60 million deal to buy both KLRT and KASN from Newport Television. Nexstar Broadcasting entered into an outside services agreement with Mission, essentially giving Nexstar control of the stations. Nexstar also owns KARK. continued…

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Cummins was with Williams the night of his death in September 2011. The pair were at a house in Little Rock on the night of Williams’ death, reportedly drinking and using illegal drugs. Cummins woke up in the bathtub with Williams dead next to him the following morning.

Prosecutors have said they will not file charges in Williams’ death, which was ruled by the state crime lab to have been caused by asphyxia. Williams’ parents, however, are pursuing a lawsuit, the Associated Press reports: continued…

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A crew from the Little Rock NBC affiliate was interviewing Eva Halpain and John Manassel about their home, which was destroyed when a tree fell on it Saturday evening. The interview was halted when Nathaniel Koba, who police say was intoxicated at the time of the incident, walked out of the nearby woods with no clothes on.

“I ought to go out there and start an ass kicking contest,” Mannassel said. continued…

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Jocelyn Tovar

Tovar joins KARK from KTXS, the ABC-affiliate in Abilene, TX, where she was hired as a city reporter in 2009. She eventually became the station’s crime and courts reporter. Prior to that, Tovar worked as the Washington, DC correspondent at KFDX in Wichita Falls, TX.

Tovar’s first day on the air at KARK was last week. “Really excited and already loving Little Rock,” she tweeted. “There’s greenery!”

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Huckabee has over two decades of forecasting experience, including ten years at WGCL in Atlanta.

“Laura understands weather is the most important element in our morning newscast,” said Brian Sather, KHBS-KHOG’s president and general manager, announcing the move. “I’m confident from day one viewers will enjoy her comfortable delivery and informative local forecasts.” continued…

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Beginning today, the half-hour show will air on all four stations — KARK in Little Rock, KNWA in Fayetteville, KTVE in El Dorado and KTAL in Texarkana — on weekdays at noon. Although each station will have live broadcast capabilities for “Arkansas Today,” the newscast’s home base will be at KARK.

The show will be anchored by KARK anchor Mallory Hardin and meteorologist Greg Dee. Reporters from all four stations will contribute on a daily basis. continued…

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KARK general manager Mike Vaughn confirmed the three are no longer employed at the station, but did not address the circumstances behind their departures.

“It’s our company policy that we can’t comment on personnel issues,” he said, noting that the positions were not eliminated and that the station is searching for replacements. continued…

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Kellerman comes to KARK after serving as news director at KTAB-KRBC in Abilene, TX.  Before Abilene, Kellerman worked as the morning show executive producer at CBS O&O KTVT in Dallas and, before that, as an executive producer at KTAL in Shreveport.

The move represents a promotion within Nexstar Broadcasting.  KARK and KTAB-KRBC, as well as KTAL, are owned by Nexstar.

“Austin has done a tremendous job in the company and has proven himself as both a leader and an innovator,” KARK vice president and general manager Mike Vaughn said in a statement.  “Austin’s enthusiasm and passion are a great fit for the KARK team.” continued…

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After reviewing the case, which occurred in September, the local prosecuting attorney recently concluded that “no criminal charges are appropriate based on the evidence presented.”

24-year-old Dexter Williams was found dead, with a chain dog collar around his neck, after a night of partying with Cummins over the Labor Day weekend.  The former KARK meteorologist woke up next to Williams’s lifeless body in an empty bathtub and, after initial moments of panic, cooperated with police in their investigation. continued…

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KARK

Starting Monday, weekend anchor Jessica Dean (pictured) will co-anchor the station’s 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts alongside current anchor Bob Clausen. She will replace Melissa Simas, who will contribute to those two newscasts as a reporter, while also continuing to anchor the 5 p.m. news.

“Melissa is an exceptional anchor/reporter and has made it clear that her passion is reporting stories and digging into important issues that affect Arkansas,” KARK news director Rob Heverling said in a statement. “We are pleased Melissa will have a much greater influence on how we shape our coverage of the news of the day.”

Dean, Simas and Clausen will be joined by Keith Monahan, who is the station’s new chief meteorologist. KARK reporter Lauren Trager will take over weekend anchoring duties from Dean.

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Cummins resigned from KARK after waking up in a bathtub next to the dead body of Dexter Williams. Williams was determined to have died of asphyxia and drug intoxication.

Monahan left KIAH in March after 11 years with the Houston CW-affiliate. “From all I’ve heard and seen, Little Rock’s a great city and the weather will be challenging — just like I like it,” Monahan told Houston media blogger Mike McGuff.

Monahan, a veteran meteorologist, has also worked at KDLT in Sioux Falls, WOOD in Grand Rapids and KGWN in Cheyenne. He starts at KARK on Monday.

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Williams was found in an empty bathtub wearing a chain dog collar around his neck, following a night allegedly spent drinking and snorting illegal drugs with Cummins.  The medical examiner found no evidence of strangulation.  The drug intoxication is listed as a mix of amphetamine and methamphetamine.

Although the examiner has recorded a cause of death, the manner of death remains undetermined.  The local police department is turning the case over to the county prosecutors office to determine what, if any, charges will be filed. continued…

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Cummins announced his resignation through an attorney on Friday and KARK reported the news during its 10 p.m. newscast, with anchor Melissa Simas stating, “Brett Cummins’ tenure at Channel 4 has ended.”

Little Rock CBS-affiliate KTHV also covered the resignation during its 10 p.m. newscast Friday, as part of its ongoing coverage of the death of Cummins’s friend, 24-year-old Dexter Williams.

The police are still investigating what caused the death, although no criminal charges have been filed.  KARK’s full statement on Cummins’s resignation inside… continued…

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