Wide World of Women

KSHB in Kansas City abruptly let go of Jadiann Thompson. But they gave her time to find a new job as she said in May she was hired by WHDH in Boston. She will replace Kayna Whitmore who is with ABC News now. Jadiann must have been fired as they chose to hire Mike Maraz from WSVN and his wife Rhiannon Ally from WFOR in Miami. So with Rhiannon gone at WFOR, Walter Makaula is joined by Lauren Pastrana. Jadiann just left KSHB and Rhiannon starts June 15th. Both left their ex-stations last Friday. Her husband already replaced the tool there a few months ago who does another shift. Also Stephanie Ramos was one of three women who joined the D.C. Bureau for ABC. She left KMBC in mid-March. Karen Travers and Mary Bruce also joined. Another ex-KMBC female left in 2014 to D.C. to work KUSA, Diane Cho.

I don't think things are going well at KMBC. Way too many personal changes and some of the reasons don't hold up.

Under GM Sarah Smith:
• Fired weather gal Lisa Teachman after seven years. No reason given.
• Tried to move weather guy Joel Nichols from mornings to nights after 25 years on the job. Joel quit (both weather transactions happen within weeks of each other in early 2014).
• Larry Moore is now Anchor Emeritus.
• Len Jennings, their main anchor, moves from news to sports (this seems like a step backwards).
• Stephanie Ramos is moving to ABC while out of maternity leave. No announcement from KMBC and her profile is still posted on their website.

Kerri Stowell and Diane Cho also left but I would chalk those up as normal (Kerri got a better deal at WDAF and Diane followed her fiancé).

The news station market in KC has been crazy lately.

This move by KSHB shifts the previous evening anchor Christa Dubil to the 4 pm newscast, I think.

There was a big issue a couple of years ago at KMBC over evening anchors Lara Moritz and Kelly Echerman (both are older than some of their newer colleagues). Someone at KMBC wanted to get rid of them both (possibly because of their age) and they raised a fight against and won.

KCTV5 evening anchor Karen Fuller was let go with no reason that I think as well.

Its hard to keep track of all the changes.

It is hard to keep up with the changes. A lot of people around a while have left. Next week starts Rhiannon. I imagine Jadiann already started her shift in Bostopn as the woman she is replacing left months ago up there. I think KSHB had all this planned months ago. Rhiannon left Miami on the final day of May from her station.

Your thinking of Kelly Echerman, Peggy Breit and Maria Antonia. Since the lawsuit was settled out of court, I bet someone whipped out the checkbook.

Christa Dubil move is because ratings for The Now are in the toilet.

Karen Fuller was the tired excuse of too old/wanting new blood/too much money.


I am waiting for the weed eater to go to town on WDAF since their anchors have been in place for a number of years. The reporters have been a revolving door for quite a while.