Larry Moore announced Wednesday that he will reduce his hours at the KMBC anchor desk next month.

“I will continue to anchor the 6:00 p.m. weekday newscast and remain active in supporting our values and high standards for news excellence,” Moore said in a statement. “This will allow me to spend more time with my wife Ruth and our family, while still pursuing my passion to serve Kansas City viewers.”

Moore, who has worked at the Kansas City ABC affiliate since 1972, will begin his new schedule December 3. A replacement anchor has not been named for the 10 p.m. newscast.

Lara Mortiz, the co-anchor of KMBC‘s top-rated 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts, is on indefinite personal leave from the ABC-affiliate.

Moritz asked station management for the break on Monday, according to The Kansas City Star.  She will be replaced at the anchor desk by Kelly Eckerman, who has been anchoring the station’s weekend evening newscasts.

Moritz is an Emmy award-winning journalist who last year celebrated her 10-year anniversary anchoring the 10 p.m. newscast alongside Larry Moore.

“We’ll be fine with Kelly and Larry,” C. Wayne Godsey, WMBC’s general manager, told The Star, “and we hope it will be a matter of a few weeks at most.” Read more