Kevin Oliver is joining KCRA, Hearst’s NBC affiliate in Sacramento, on December 10.

Oliver is a California native who has worked at WFTV, the ABC affiliate in Orlando, for the past nine years.

“I’m beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to work for KCRA, such a highly regarded news organization, and to be back home in California,” Oliver said in a statement.

“Kevin is a great fit for KCRA,” news director Lori Waldon added. “He’s smart, aggressive, highly competitive and curious. Kevin will find great stories for us.”

Orlando stations honored the final mission of legendary space shuttle Discovery on Thursday afternoon, providing with live coverage from nearby Kennedy Space Center. NBC-affiliate WESH was well-positioned for the launch, originally scheduled for 4:50 p.m., since it fell within the station’s hour-long 4 p.m. newscast. WFTV, WKMG, and WOFL all preempted regularly scheduled programming to bring viewers coverage of the launch.

Anchor Jim Payne joined veteran space reporter Dan Billow at the Kennedy Space Center for WESH’s 4 p.m. newscast.

ABC-affiliate WFTV cut from “Oprah” around 4:35 with Kevin Oliver reporting live from KSC and Melanie Holt stationed in Cape Canaveral, where she spoke with excited spectators.

CBS-affiliate WKMG began its live coverage at 4:30 with Lauren Rowe anchoring a special news report from KSC.

Fox-affiliate WOFL had Sonni Abatta and Bob Frier anchor its special report from the studio beginning at 4:30, relying on reporter Steve Gehlbach, as well as NASA’s radio feed, for live updates from KSC.