June saw multiple departures from TV stations in the Rio Grande Valley as well as a couple of additions to San Antonio screens.
Courtesy of Cecilia Gutierrez, Blake Holland, KRGV
As always, June brought more news from inside TV stations across San Antonio and Texas. New faces hopped on the air at some stations, while others said goodbye to recognizable talent. Here’s what you may have missed this month.
KVEO sports anchor Blake Holland signs off in the Rio Grande Valley
In late May, KVEO NBC 23 sports anchor and reporter Blake Holland said goodbye to the RGV after four years on air. In a Facebook post, he wrote, “In 2022, this Midwestern kid left home with a dream of becoming the best sports journalist he could be. He never could’ve imagined the impact the Rio Grande Valley would have on his life.” Speaking to MySA in June, the Missouri native said he’d never heard of the Valley before arriving there, but he was grateful to have covered the first local high school team to make it to the state softball championship and the region’s first season of Division I college football.
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“I’m beyond grateful and incredibly proud of the work we’ve done at KVEO,” Holland said. “I’m leaving with lifelong friendships, unforgettable memories and a greater appreciation for the role local sports play in bringing communities together.”
KSAT 12 welcomes back Leah Rodriguez as meteorologist in San Antonio
Leah Rodriguez, once an intern at San Antonio ABC affiliate KSAT 12, returned as a meteorologist this month. Born in San Antonio, the Texas A&M University alum grew up in Pearsall, just southwest of the city. She began at the station in 2023 and graduated from college in 2024 with a degree in meteorology. She spent the past two years at KLBK in Lubbock and is now pursuing a master’s in Geographic Information Science from her alma mater.
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“We are excited to welcome back Leah as a member of the most experienced weather team in South Texas. As a former intern, Leah’s history of tracking Texas weather and her knowledge of San Antonio, being from right up the road in Pearsall, adds to the overall expertise of our Weather Authority team,” a KSAT 12 spokesperson told MySA via email. “We’re so glad she is back at KSAT and keeping South Texans informed and safe.”
KRGV sports reporter Daniella Hernandez leaves after 3 years
KRGV sports reporter Daniella Hernandez, who’d been with the station since 2023, announced her departure this month. In an Instagram post, the Harlingen native wrote, “3.5 years, countless stories and a full circle journey I’ll never forget. From watching Channel 5 to working my way up from sports reporter to weekend anchor—it’s been an absolute honor.”
Though she didn’t announce her next move, KRGV Sports Director KJ Doyle wished her well in a Facebook post that read, “Good luck to Daniella as she moves on to her next chapter! It was amazing to see the fulfillment for you as a local RGV kid grown up to report on sports for her hometown! Your positivity and enthusiasm was so contagious and a joy to have around!”
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New meteorologist joins KRGV after sudden departure at station
There were more shake-ups at KRGV this month. In April, KRGV’s Cecilia Gutierrez abruptly left the station after serving as the morning forecast and traffic report since 2017. Viewers were left wondering about her absence until she finally spoke out in June, saying she left television to focus on other passions in her life.
“For years, I have had the incredible privilege to help you prepare for everything from sunny skies to severe storms. Your trust, support, and kindness have meant more to me than I can express,” Gutierrez wrote. “As I begin this next chapter, I am excited to devote more time to my new marriage, embrace my lifelong passion for teaching, especially teaching music, and allow myself the opportunity to get some much-needed rest.”
Meteorologist Jay Martin then joined the station after working at AccuWeather and at TV stations in Louisiana, West Virginia and San Angelo, Texas. Station officials told MySA they were excited to “add another experienced meteorologist to our team.”
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Noah Gulley fills sports role at KVEO in Rio Grande Valley
Another new face is headed to the Valley this summer. Noah Gulley recently announced that he’ll join the region’s CBS and NBC affiliates — known as ValleyCentral and owned by Nexstar Media Group — in July. A native of Las Vegas, Gulley comes to the RGV from Florida, where he earned a master’s in broadcast journalism from the University of Miami. The announcement came less than a month after Holland signed off from KVEO.
“I’m excited to share that I’ll be joining KVEO CBS 4 and NBC 23 as a Sports Reporter and Anchor in the Rio Grande Valley this July,” Gulley wrote. “I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported me throughout this journey. From Las Vegas, to Chicago, to Miami, I’ve been fortunate to learn from so many talented people who have helped me grow both personally and professionally.”
KENS 5 producer David Lynch moves into new reporter role
Back in San Antonio, viewers will see one KENS 5 personality step in front of the camera. David Lynch, who got engaged to fellow KENS 5 reporter Alicia Neaves in January, will be stepping into a reporting role. In the June 26 announcement, he said, “The last few months have given me a taste of life in front of the camera, but the most fulfilling part has been starting to dive deeper into local politics, and the decisions and people shaping San Antonio’s present and future. It’s been a thrill ride so far, one that’ll only continue picking up speed I’m sure.”
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He is currently reporting three days a week but said he’ll move to full-time this summer. “Massively grateful for the vote of confidence from the KENS newsroom leadership, and even more grateful for how nearly eight years — and hundreds of bylines — on the digital team has equipped me to continue telling Alamo City stories for a new medium,” Lynch said.