http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6196907.html Wendy Corona has been laid off at KPRC (Channel 2), where she has worked as an anchor since April 2006, as the station moves to tighten its budget. Skip Valet, Channel 2’s news director, said Corona’s departure “was an economic decision.” He said Corona’s position on the payroll will not be filled, but Rachel McNeill and Dominique Sachse will work alongside anchor Jerome Gray on the station’s 4 and 6 p.m. newscasts until a permanent co-anchor is named. “We know that we are facing very difficult economic times, and we have to find efficiencies where we can,” Valet said. “We’re looking at a lot of ways to do that. Unfortunately, in this case it involved a person.” Corona came to Houston from WPLG in Miami, which, like Channel 2, is owned by Post-Newsweek. She also worked for stations in California and Arizona. Corona could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Valet said her position was the only one eliminated. Corona’s departure comes on the heels of morning anchor Lauren Freeman’s recent maternity leave. Valet said Freeman is expected back on the job as early as next month. Classic Cool on 650 AM Veteran Houston bandleader and radio voice Ronnie Renfrow is back on the air with his Classic Cool Radio program, which airs from 4 p.m. to signoff weekdays on KIKK (650 AM). The show’s format includes a mix of jazz and pop standards from the likes of Frank Sinatra, Michael Bublé, Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Krall and B.B. King, among others. “There’s a huge listener base that hasn’t been served until now,” Renfrow said. “Singers like Krall and Bublé and even Sinatra are selling millions, but you can’t turn on the radio and hear them. In a city like this, it’s crazy not to have a place where you can hear this music.” In a reference to the city’s crowded sports radio landscape, he said, “This is a unique format, and there aren’t four stations doing it. People seem to be glad that there’s something on the air that isn’t sports, politics or people yelling and screaming.” The show premiered Monday with Renfrow and Tom Richards as hosts on the daytime-only CBS Radio station. Renfrow said he is in the process of building a sales staff to promote the program and has established a Web site at www.classiccool.com to promote the show and live music performances in Houston.
Almost all local stations are on hiring freezes and many have been making cuts like these for months. It seems as soon as the economy started going south, the first thing that businesses cut was advertising.
danny vara got axed at 610 too. wendy is hot and danny was kinda funny. all this people getting fired business is lame.
Danny Vera didn't really stick out in the sea of radio personalities, so it made sense. Wendy, to me, didn't really stick out either, despite that nice pic above. Too bad for them but I'm sure they will find something else, if not here then another city.
What? He got the ax? Damnit. He didn't suck. I guess that is why Matt Jackson did the fan feedback today? Damn this economy.
I've always wanted a Lucy Noland, Dominique Sachse, and Lisa Foronda news desk at 10 o' clock news. Houston ratings gold.
She goes to my restaurant like once a month... Very sweet, and yes, she does look better in person! Wonder If I'll be seeing her again...
Okay, when did Danny get the ax. He was just on last week right? I notice Adam is on in the monring this week but that must be because of vacations, and rockets and the Fiesta bowl. Who's going to be his partner now?
