A verdict has been reached in the trial of Jodi Arias, who is accused of murdering her boyfriend Travis Alexander in Arizona.

In Phoenix, ABC affiliate KNXV was the first to report the news at 11:32 a.m. with Connie Colla and Dan Spindle anchoring. “This is one of those cases where we’ve been waiting, monitoring Twitter, we’ve got reporters and crews that have been down there staking out their spot at the courthouse,” Spindle said. “And we do know right now they announced and went through this chain of events to let everybody know.”

Fox O&O KSAZ was next at 11:34 a.m. with Ron Hoon and Rick D’Amico at the anchor desk. CBS affiliate KPHO and independent station KTVK both reported the news at 11:36 a.m. Nicole Crites and Pat McReynolds anchored on KPHO and Kaley O’Kelly and Javier Soto anchored on KTVK.

NBC affiliate KPNX reported the news at 11:38 a.m. with Scott Light and Tram Mai anchoring.

The verdict will be read at 4:30pmET/1:30pmMT.

>Update: The jury has found Arias guilty of first-degree murder.

Cody Matz is joining KMSP in Minneapolis as weekend morning meteorologist. He begins at the Fox O&O on June 10.

Matz comes from Sioux Falls, where he was the chief meteorologist for NBC affiliate KDLT. He has also worked as a web meteorologist for the MSU Geosciences website and as an intern at KPHO in Phoenix.

“As a Chief Meteorologist in the Midwest, Cody brings experience covering severe weather and forecasting in our region to the FOX 9 Weather Team. We’re thrilled to have Cody join us on-air and look forward to the excellent presence he’s established already online and via social media,” KMSP vice president and news director Bill Dallman said in a statement.

Michelle Donaldson, news director for Phoenix CBS affiliate KPHO, has written an open letter to viewers about the station’s plans for covering the upcoming verdict in the Jodi Arias murder trial.

“While we at CBS 5 pledge continuing and professional coverage of the jury’s decision,” wrote Donaldson. “We will not add to the circus atmosphere by putting up tents or stages or hiring actors.  We will not forget that at the heart of this case is a young man whose life was cut short and family members who grieve for him.”

>RELATED: TVNewser: As Jury Decides Jodi Arias’ Fate, HLN Continues to Rack Up the Ratings

Donaldson told TVSpy, “We’re not reinventing ourselves with this post.  It’s just that we rarely speak so frankly and directly with people about our approach to any particular story.” Her letter was posted to both the station website and its facebook page. You can read the entire text of the letter after the jump. Read more

Tom Bell has been named news director at KOVR, the CBS O&O in Sacramento.

Bell moves to California from Texas, where he has been news director at WOAI in San Antonio since 2009. He is a former news director at KTVX in Salt Lake City and KPHO in Phoenix.

“Tom Bell is a veteran of more than 20 years in the local news industry and has an outstanding reputation as a leader who does an outstanding job of inspiring his colleagues to produce quality newscasts,” KOVR-KMAX VP-GM Kevin Walsh said in a statement. “I am very pleased to welcome him to Northern California and confident that he will do a terrific job of leading our news team to exciting new heights.”

Bell replaces Cameryn Beck, who recently left KOVR for KTVK in Phoenix.

Jadiann Thompson is joining KSHB, the NBC affiliate in Kansas City, as a multimedia journalist and anchor.

Thompson comes from KPHO in Phoenix, where she worked as a fill-in anchor and MMJ. Beginning April 22, she will replace Elizabeth Alex as the 6 p.m. co-anchor.

“It will be a challenge to sit in the same chair as a trusted name like Elizabeth Alex, but I plan to earn the viewers’ respect. I want to be someone you see not only behind the anchor desk, but in the community as well,” Thompson said in a statement. “I can’t wait to get started.” [h/t Bottom Line Communications]

Meredith Corporation reported a +26% increase in local media group revenues for the fiscal first quarter of 2013, the company announced Thursday.

Net political advertising revenues were $12 million, a record high for a fiscal first quarter. Non-political advertising revenues increased +5%. All of Meredith’s markets grew in both revenues and operating profit.

“We are focused on keeping the momentum going in non-political advertising revenues, along with maximizing our political advertising opportunity this election cycle,” Local Media Group president Paul Karpowicz said in  a statement. Read more

It’s been a long road to the Presidential Election, and at least one station appears anxious for it to be over. Phoenix CBS affiliate KPHO accidentally aired a lower-third graphic during “The People’s Court” on Friday afternoon that declared President Obama the winner (above).

The graphic, which gives Obama 43% of the vote to Governor Romney‘s 40% with 99% of precincts reporting, stayed up for 17 seconds, NewscastStudio reports.

Sports anchor Scott Smith is joining WTTG, the Fox O&O in Washington, DC.

Smith joins the station from KPHO in Phoenix, where he has been a sports anchor and reporter since 2009. He will anchor sports for WTTG’s 10 and 11 p.m. newscasts.

“I’m extremely humbled and honored to join the FOX 5 sports team. Not only is it an amazing opportunity at a top-notch station, but it’s an exciting time to dive into the DC sports scene,” Smith said in a statement.

Smith replaces Dave Feldman, who left WTTG in May for Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.

Rebecca Thomas, who signed off this week from KNXV, the ABC-affiliate in Phoenix, is joining rival KPHO, the CBS-affiliate.

“I am going to be spending some time with the great folks over at CBS 5,” she wrote on Facebook. “I am very excited!”

Thomas, who spent six years at KNXV, was the 3 p.m. co anchor. She begins at KPHO, where she will be a freelance reporter, on Monday.

Adam Longo is leaving Orlando for Phoenix.

The Orlando Sentinel reports that Longo, who worked at Orlando CBS-affiliate WKMG before joining cable station Central Florida News 13 in 2009, has accepted a job at KPHO in Phoenix as a weekend evening anchor and weekday reporter.

His first day at KPHO is set for August 27th.

Longo, who spent a good chunk of his time in Orlando covering the Casey Anthony saga, was let go at WKMG in 2009, after a year and half there, when the station issued a round of layoffs. A few months later, he landed a weekend anchor job at News 13. Read more