New ND at KAIT

This from a tipster: Hatton Weeks has officially been named ND at KAIT.

KTAL Has New ND

This from a tipster: KTAL has a news director now, Paul Bergen from KBTV in Beaumont, TX he
started back in April.

KNWA Reporting Leaving

This from a tipster: Doug Currin's last day at KNWA is May 30th. He is transferring toWBRE/WYOU in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA, after a year and a half as Senior Reporter at KNWA/KFTA. He starts as his duties as morning & midday anchor at WBRE on June 9th.

Today's THV Slashes Positions in Master Control and Graphics Departments

Arkansas Business.com reports KTHV, Channel 11 will be eliminating 7 jobs in the master control and graphics departments. Station GM Larry Audas tells AB.com master control operations for KTHV and Gannet's other CBS affiliates will be centralized and ran from Greensboro, North Carolina. The more complex graphics will be handled out of Colorado.

Shreveport Reporter Busted for Drugs

The Inquisitor reports KTAL reporter Joe Arena was arrested on drug charges recently. The incident happened on March 2 and that the charges "have been taken care of".

Husband of KAIT Anchor Claim Domestic Abuse

Source: Jonesboro Sun The husband of a KAIT-TV news anchor filed a complaint of domestic abuse with Jonesboro police on Tuesday.

Mitchell Wright, 42, the husband of Diana Davis Wright, 1105 Dove, Jonesboro, filed the complaint of misdemeanor third-degree domestic battery at 8:42 p.m. Tuesday.

On Wednesday afternoon Diana Wright filed a complaint of filing a false report weith a law enforcement agency against her husband.

Mitchell Wright alleged his wife struck him in the face Sunday afternoon in their home, according to a police report. On Tuesday Mitchell Wright filed a report, claiming Diana Wright, 43, broke his nose during Sunday’s incident.

Jonesboro Police Capt. Kelly Baggett, commander of the department’s Criminal Investigation Division, said police are investigating and he could not comment.

“Mr. Wright advised that on May 4 he and his wife Diana got into a verbal argument,” Jonesboro Patrolman Jonathan Wood wrote in his report Tuesday. “[Mr. Wright] stated his wife then hit him in the face with an open hand, causing soreness to the bridge of his nose.”

Mitchell Wright said he was still sore on Monday so he went to a physician and discovered his nose was broken, Wood reported.

On Wednesday Diana Wright’s attorney, H.T. Moore of Paragould, released a police report that Jonesboro detectives withheld pending investigation.

Patrol officers Rick Guimond and Julie Dummer wrote in that report that Mitchell Wright met them at the end of the driveway of the couple’s home Sunday.

Mitchell Wright said his wife struck him in the face, while trying to knock his hat off, after an argument, the officers reported.

Police reported they could not see any injury even after Mitchell Wright pointed to where he was struck below his left eye.

“... He stated that he and his wife had been in an argument because while they were at a restaurant Mrs. Davis had disciplined their children on something and it upset him that she did this in front of so many other people,” Guimond wrote, adding they’d argued in the car on the way home.
“At one point [Mitchell] Wright asked us to get back in our car and leave and that there was no problem and not to worry about this,” Guimond reported.

Diana Wright said she may have accidentally knocked her husband’s hat off when she reached for their child he was holding, Guimond reported, adding that her hands showed no signs of injury.
Diana Wright told police she left Mr. Wright earlier this year after he pushed her elderly mother, Guimond reported.

Guimond wrote that Mitchell Wright told officers three times he did not want to file a police report and did not want his wife arrested.

Diana Wright told Guimond she would leave the home with her mother and child and would not return for a few hours, according to the report.

In the complaint filed by Diana Wright, a narrative written by Officer Rodney J. Smith says that she contended she did not hit her husband and that he made up the story about being injured. She also told the office

Francis Name Chief Met at KARK; New Hires Made in Wx Department

Source: KARK KARK-TV Channel 4 is pleased to announce the promotion of Mike Francis to Chief Meteorologist. Mike has more than 15 years of meteorological experience. He received his Bachelors degree in Meteorology from the University of Oklahoma. While there Mike worked at the National Storm Prediction Center and the National Severe Storms Laboratory.

Weather is Mike’s passion. Having chased storms across tornado alley he has witnessed more than fifty tornados first hand. Mike is a decorated veteran. As a member of the 82nd Airborne Division, he served in both Iraq and Panama. Mike will move to KARK 4 News at 5, 6 and 10pm on May 23rd.

There will soon be a new face on KARK 4 Today. Harry Bounds will join Melissa Simas, Matt Mosler and Tracy Douglass. Harry is originally from Alabama and is very familiar with our local weather patterns. Harry is also a veteran. He served 6 years in the U.S. Navy. His first day will be May 14th. Harry received his meteorological training at Mississippi State University.

Harry isn’t the only new member of the KARK 4 Weather Authority. Meteorologist Greg Dee will be joining the team on May 28th. Greg is currently the Chief Meteorologist at WDHN in Dothan, Alabama. He was named a “Hometown Hero” for his life-saving coverage of a deadly tornado that struck Enterprise, Alabama. Greg has a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology and a Masters in Geography.

Yet Another Out at KNWA

This from a tipster: Meghan Dill of knwa has put in her two weeks. she is leaving the bisiness to pursue a career as a pharmaceutical salesperson.

KARK Losing Two Mets

Arkansas Business.com reports KARK meteorologists Bret Cummins and Jason Kadah will leave in mid-May. AB.com says Cummins has no comment on what his future plans are ...AND Kadah is leaving for Spokane, Washington.