KRCR, Bonten Media’s ABC affiliate in Redding-Chico, Calif., has expanded its morning newscast.

“Over the past several years it has become clear, as more viewers wake up to KRCR Daybreak than ever before, that there is a great demand for more local news from our outstanding team,” news director Jennifer Scarborough said in a statement.

The newscast, anchored by Kelli Saam and meteorologist Rob Elvington, airs from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. weekdays. The first day of the expanded newscast was Monday.

Bonten Media stations have scheduled a week-long series of special reports on gun violence that will air across all its stations beginning February 18.

“The Facts: Guns in America” will be presented in five reports, each produced by a reporter at a different Bonten station. The reports range in topic from an examination of the second amendment to a spotlight on gun violence and mental health.

“There is no topic that generates more heat and less light than guns,” Bonten Media CEO Randall Bongarten said in a statement. “We believe it is our responsibility to provide factual information so that our viewers can make their own judgments on critical issues like gun control.”

Reports will be presented by Wayne McCormick of KTXS in Abliene, Texas; Wes Goforth of WCTI in Greenville, N.C.; Steve Fetveit of KECI-KTVM in Missoula, Mont.; Kelli Saam of KRCR in Chico, Calif.; and Julie Newman of WCYB in Bristol, Va. See a full list of their topics after the jump. Read more

Eric Naktin has been hired as sports director and sports anchor for Colorado Springs NBC-affiliate KOAA. His first day will be June 25.

Naktin joins KOAA from KRCR, the ABC-affiliate in Redding, CA, where he has been the sports director since 2005. The sports director role at KOAA has been open since Lee Douglas died in February.

“It’s an honor and privilege to carry the torch after legendary Lee Douglas,” Naktin told ColoradoSprings.com. “In addition to covering the professional teams Southern Colorado is passionate about, I’m looking forward to sharing the accomplishments of local athletes to News 5 viewers.”

Ariel Roblin was named president and general manager of KETV, the ABC-affiliate in Omaha, Hearst Television announced today.

Roblin joined KETV in May 2010 from KRCR-KAEF in Redding, CA. Her appointment, a promotion from general sales manager, is effective immediately.

“Her appreciation for localism and the importance of a quality news service, along with her solid business credentials, will make her an effective leader of KETV as it serves the Omaha community on-air, online and on-the-go,” Hearst president and CEO David Barrett said in a statement.

Roblin replaces Sarah Smith, who took over as president and general manager of KMBC-KCWE in Kansas City on September 6.

Sarah Smith will take over as president and general manager of Hearst-owned duopoly KMBC-KCWE — the Kansas City ABC and CW affiliates, respectively — on September 6. She replaces Wayne Godsey, who announced his retirement in June after more than 40 years in the business.

Smith stays within Hearst even as she changes jobs — she has been president and general manager of Hearst-owned KETV, the ABC affiliate in Omaha, since 2007. Under Smith’s leadership, KETV has excelled, leading its competitors across every newscast.

“The station is Omaha’s local news leader, with an outstanding reputation for journalism excellence and service to the community,” Hearst president and CEO David Barrett said in a statement. “And KETV’s consistently strong revenue and profit performance attests to her impressive business credentials.”

Smith has worked at eight stations nationwide, including as the VP-GM of both KRCR in Chico, CA and KAEF in Eureka, CA. Hearst has not yet announced a replacement for her at KETV.

Two months after Oprah ended her syndicated daytime show, KHOU — the CBS affiliate in Houston — becomes the latest station to fill her former time slot with news.

Starting today, Len Cannon will anchor a half-hour newscast at 4 p.m. Cannon will be joined by meteorologist Chita Johnson, who joins KHOU from KRCR in Redding, CA. Cannon will also continue to anchor the 6 p.m. news for KHOU.

KHOU has been airing reruns of Oprah’s daytime talk show since her depature in May. Cannon and Johnson have been appearing in promo videos (like the one above) for the 4 p.m. newscast, which will lead in to viewer favorite “Jeopardy” at 4:30 p.m.

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