Garcia Leaves

According to Lou Young's Twitter, reporter Deborah Garcia is leaving CBS 2. Her last report aired on the 6:00 newscast. For many weeks in 2007, she and Sean Hennessey anchored the Saturday and Sunday morning newscasts in what appeared to be an attempt to groom the pair but that ended by the summer. Garcia joined CBS 2 in October 2006 from WKMG, the CBS affiliate in Orlando.

Special "Eye on the Storm" Coverage

CBS 2 News is on the air right now with a special "Eye on the Storm," with live coverage of the biggest snow storm to hit the tri-state all season. Maurice DuBois and Kate Sullivan are anchoring the broadcast, which opened at 8:55 and will continue until 10:00. John Elliott and Lonnie Quinn are providing team weather, forecasting six-to-nine inches for the city, while Katie McGee is updating viewers on the traffic and transit. A team of reporters are out in the snow, including Magee Hickey in Woodside, Queens; Jay Dow in Paramus; Deborah Garcia in Yonkers; Pablo Guzman at LaGuardia Airport; Tamsen Fadal at Penn Station; and Steve Bartelstein in Jericho, Long Island.

Keefe Says Goodbye

CBS 2's weekend morning anchor Brendan Keefe signed off today.

In the last two minutes of the 8:00 hour this morning, Deborah Garcia said, "We have some sad news to report: Today is Brendan's last day here at WCBS. He is off to Cincinatti with his family... we're going to miss you."

Keefe then said his goodbye: "This is my last morning at WCBS and I wanted to say 'thank you,' for you have invited me into your home these last five years. New York is my home and I am leaving it, literally, for greener pastures with the blessings and support of the good people here at Channel 2. This is the greatest television station in the greatest city in the world and that is because of the people here. You are simply the best. Just know that, wherever I go, I will take you and New York with me in my heart because that's where you will always be. Thank you."

Elise Finch seemed disappointed because his statement was missing something. "He didn't end with a joke!" she said.


Garcia added a few more words. "We're going to miss you so much," she said. "You make three hours fly by... Cincinatti is a very lucky city and your station is very lucky to get you."

Keefe provided some insight into why he decided to make the move. "When you have a baby, it changes everything in the world, and I've got that little six-month-old boy at home. When you look into those eyes, suddenly you decide that maybe going to Iraq every other year isn't necessarily the assignment. So that's why the decision was made."

Kristine Johnson Returns

New mother Kristine Johnson returned from her maternity leave a little bit earlier than expected. She was welcomed back on CBS 2 News at 5:00 yesterday.

She was last seen on CBS 2 on February 28th and gave birth to a baby boy on March 5th. During that time at 5 p.m., Kate Sullivan filled in Mondays through Thursdays, with Deborah Garcia filling in on Fridays. Chris Wragge anchored the noon news solo.

Kristine Johnson Gives Birth

Kristine Johnson gave birth to Burke at around 10:00 this morning. The news was announced just minutes ago on CBS 2 News. The baby boy weighed in at 8 pounds, 14 ounces. Chris Wragge reported that they are both doing "very well." Wragge, Deborah Garcia and John Bolaris all sent their congratulations over the air to her.

Sullivan, Others to Fill in For Johnson

Another piece of news from Richard Huff in this morning's Daily News: Chris Wragge will anchor CBS 2 News at Noon solo. At 5:00, he will be joined by Kate Sullivan Mondays through Thursdays. Other anchors will sit in the chair on Fridays.

Deborah Garcia was there yesterday and today.

Kristine Johnson On Maternity Leave

Kristine Johnson said goodbye to viewers yesterday at the end of CBS 2 News at 5:00 as she went on maternity leave. It was the last day of sweeps. She said that she is due to give birth Monday.

Johnson co-anchors the noon and 5 p.m. newscasts, but Chris Wragge did the noon newscasts solo since Wednesday, February 21st, saying that Johnson was being allowed to rest.

Wragge continued to anchor the noon broadcast solo, while Deborah Garcia is sitting next to him at 5:00. Garcia mentioned that she was "in for Kristine Johnson."