More than 100 people were injured during an explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas Wednesday night.

ABC affiliate WFAA was the first of the Dallas stations to report the news at 8:47 p.m. The station began continuing coverage at 9:35 p.m. that lasted throughout the night. John McCaa anchored the first several hours, with Ron Corning taking over at 2 a.m. Todd Unger reported from West.

Fox O&O KDFW reported the news at the top of the 9 p.m. hour. Heather Hays and Steve Eagar anchored five and a half hours of wall-to-wall coverage, signing off at 2:30 a.m. Brandon Todd reported from West for KDFW.

KTVT was next at 9:46 p.m. with Karen Borta anchoring. The CBS O&O had continuing coverage from 9:55 p.m. to 2 a.m. with Borta and Jason Allen reporting from West.

NBC O&O KXAS reported the news at 9:48 p.m. Amanda Guerra and Brian Curtis anchored until 12:30 a.m., with Scott Gordon reporting from West.

Reporter Ellen Goldberg is saying goodbye to KXAS, the NBC-owned station in Dallas.

“After 6 great years, I have decided to leave KXAS to pursue other opportunities,” Goldberg wrote in a memo to station staffers obtained by Uncle Barky’s Bytes. “I am grateful to KXAS and the talented team of professionals I have worked alongside … I’m excited about several future opportunities, but my immediate plans are to take a little time to enjoy life.”

Goldberg, who reported primarily for the station’s 10 p.m. newscast, joined KXAS from KOAT in Albuquerque in 2007. Her last day at KXAS was Monday.

Pat Doney is joining the NBC-owned station in Dallas as weekend sports anchor, according to Dallas media blogger Ed Bark.

Doney comes to KXAS after more than two years at WDRB, the Fox affiliate in Louisville. He began his broadcasting career as a sports intern at KABC in Los Angeles and has also worked at WSET in Lynchburg, Va. and KNWA-KARK in Fayetteville, Ark.

Doney replaces Matt Barrie, who is headed for ESPN.

WMAQ general manager Larry Wert is leaving the NBC O&O for a top job at Tribune Co. Wert will be the president of local broadcasting,  overseeing strategy and opreations for 23 television stations and Chicago-based WGN Radio, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Wert will report to Peter Liguori, who stepped into the CEO role after the company emerged from bankruptcy last month.

“Our TV assets are an incredibly important part of the Tribune Co. We wanted to bring someone on board who had the breadth of experience, the depth of relationships and the energy to take innovations and get them across the goal line,” Ligouri said, according to the Chicago Tribune. “I just felt that we could take these local broadcast stations and really supercharge them behind Larry’s expertise and stewardship.”

Wert, a Chicago native, has been president and general manager of WMAQ since 1998. In 2008, he was named president of NBC Local Media’s central and western region, overseeing KNTV in San Francisco, KNBC in Los Angeles, KNSD in San Diego and KXAS in Dallas in addition to WMAQ. In 2011, NBC named Wert executive vice president of station initiatives for the NBC-owned stations.

“I grew up here, I spent most of my career here so I respect the great legacy of the Tribune co. I’m familiar with their great assets,” Wert told Broadcasting & Cable. “Their station footprint is significant in 36% of the country. I think there’s an opportunity right now to be part of its future in a very positive way.”

Rumors of Wert’s departure from WMAQ began last week. In his new job, he will remain based in Chicago.

>Update: NBC Owned Television Stations President Valari Staab has released a statement:

This is a rare and exciting opportunity for Larry to run a broadcast group and stay in his hometown of Chicago. I greatly appreciate his dedication and have truly enjoyed working with him over the last 18 months. I wish him the very best in his new role.

KXAS, the NBC O&O in Dallas, is facing criticism after a Facebook post about a Fort Hood solider’s death.

The soldier was shot accidentally by a fellow soldier, who held a gun to his face in an attempt to scare away his hiccups. The post (right) reads “BOOops” and features an image of a gun, along with encouraging viewers to share their cure for hiccups.

The post generated many comments on the station’s Facebook page.

“It’s not funny to make a joke about someone’s death. Especially a young soldier who died because of a stupid, stupid prank,” one person wrote.

“It is good to know that a MAJOR TV outlet can admit its errors. Thank You, do not change,” another commented.

A tipster tells us the post was up for 40 minutes before KXAS removed it and posted an apology.

“We have removed the previous post to our Facebook page that many of you felt was insensitive,” the station wrote. “We apologize for the error in judgement.”

Eight months after resigning from KXAS in the wake of her DUI arrest, Jane McGarry is returning to Dallas television.

McGarry will contribute to the WFAA morning newscast, presenting a segment called “Starting Over with Jane McGarry.” The segments will air over a five-week period beginning January 24.

“I am excited to be working with the talented team at Good Morning Texas on this project,” McGarry said in a statement. “I hope the information will be helpful to the loyal viewers of North Texas, whom I have had the pleasure of knowing for more than two decades.”

McGarry spent 30 years as an anchor at KXAS, the NBC O&O in Dallas. She pleaded no contest to driving while intoxicated last year.

Sports anchor Matt Barrie is leaving KXAS to join ESPN, according to Dallas media blogger Ed Bark.

Barrie joined the NBC-owned station in Dallas in 2008. His final day at KXAS will be March 3.

“Matt is a terrific journalist who brought fantastic energy to the NBC5 sports team,” VP of news Susan Tully said. “We’re sorry to see Matt leave, but wish him success in his new network job.”

Meteorologist Lindsay Riley has joined KXAS, the NBC O&O in Dallas.

Previously, Riley has worked at WLEX in Lexington, Ky. and WIVB in Buffalo. She will be the weekend morning meteorologist, as well as reporting on environmental and weather-related stories and features.

“I’m very excited to join the NBC 5 team of meteorologists because I’ve been a true weather enthusiast since I was four years old,” Riley said in a statement. “To work in such a large and dynamic weather region like North Texas is a dream come true!”

Last month, we told you about Deanna Dewberry was moving to KXAS in Dallas. Today, the NBC O&O has officially announced her hire as a consumer and investigative reporter.

Dewberry joins KXAS’ recently revamped investigative team, which is lead by reporter Scott Friedman.

“With the successful launch of our investigative team earlier this year, the timing is perfect for an experienced reporter like Deanna to take on issues very practical to us as consumers,” KXAS VP of news Susan Tully said in a statement. Read more

Deanna Dewberry will join Dallas NBC O&O KXAS next month, a station spokesperson confirms to TVSpy.

Dewberry will be a consumer and investigative reporter for KXAS. She comes to the station from WISH in Indianapolis, where she co-anchors the noon and 5 p.m. newscasts. News of Dewberry’s KXAS hire was first reported by NewsBlues.

It is a return to Dallas for the Texas native, who used to be an anchor and reporter at WFAA in Dallas. She has also worked at KLBK and KCBD in Lubbock, Tex., and KTHV in Little Rock.