WCPO Promises to Keep Doing Stories About Veterans After Craig McKee Moves to Arizona
Cincinnati ABC affiliate WCPO told its viewers that it will continue its commitment to veteran-focused storytelling. The promise comes after longtime anchor Craig McKee said he was leaving the station.
The station said some viewers expressed concerns over whether it would continue coverage of veteran-related issues and stories, which is what McKee focused on in his reporting, especially through his series Homefront.
The station said it plans 'to continue shining a light on the challenges and triumphs of veterans across the Tri-State and encourage community involvement.'
McKee is moving to KNXV in Phoenix, but said he will stay on at WCPO through June. His reporting highlighted issues ranging from veteran homelessness to mental health support.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ohio immigration advocate: Homeland Security screwups aren't just silly, they're scary
Minister of Justice and Public Security Héctor Villatoro, right, accompanies Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, center during a tour of the CECOT prison on March 26, 2025 in Tecoluca, El Salvador. (Photo by Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images) Some in Ohio are mocking an error-filled list of so-called 'sanctuary' jurisdictions that the Trump administration hurriedly took down on Sunday. But an advocate for immigrants in the state said the mistake-riddled list should be cause for alarm. It named 500 states, cities and counties that were allegedly not doing their duty in helping federal officials enforce immigration law. However, it didn't say how. The list included Warren County, northeast of Cincinnati, as a sanctuary county even though voters there went for Trump by a 65-33 margin on Nov. 5. The sheriff, Barry Riley, told WCPO television, 'This report is wrong. A mistake has been made and incorrectly listed Warren County. We have reached out to representatives of the Department of Homeland Security to correct the issue.' Warren County might have made it onto the Homeland Security list because in 2021, Lebanon, the county seat, attempted to ban abortion by declaring itself 'a sanctuary for the unborn,' said Lynn Tramonte, founder of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance. She said other jurisdictions were mistakenly placed on the list after declaring themselves sanctuaries for gun owners. 'It's like they've got some intern with an AI program searching for the word 'sanctuary' and popping up a list of names of counties and cities,' Tramonte said. 'They're just sloppy.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Also drawing laughs is that the list spelled Ohio's oldest major city 'Cincinnatti' and a Kentucky county just over the river 'Cambell.' instead of Campbell. Officials in both jurisdictions told WCPO that they weren't violating any immigration laws. The errors might be comical, but in context, they're really terrifying, Tramonte said. 'They took the list down because it was full of errors, and this is the Department of Homeland Security,' she said. 'They can't even get their spelling right. Everybody was making fun of Secretary (Kristi) Noem because she couldn't keep her purse safe, but this is another example. They can't publish a list of examples of cities in the United States and spell them correctly? How can we trust them to keep us safe?' In April, Noem's purse, containing multiple IDs and thousands in cash, was stolen from a Washington, D.C. restaurant. Noem has faced further criticism in her new role as head of the agency. Habeas corpus is a fundamental right that dates at least back to the Magna Carta of 1215. It says that detained people have a right to appear before a judge and challenge their detention. In a May congressional hearing, Noem got it exactly backward, saying, habeas corpus is 'a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country and suspend their rights,' the Associated Press reported. Tramonte said the Ohio immigrants she talks to are terrified as the Trump administration seeks to squeeze 'sanctuary' jurisdictions and deport ever more people — including hundreds of thousands who came legally. She said it's deeply unfair that they're trying to throw out people who came under a Biden-era program that allowed people to apply for asylum from outside the country. 'We told them, 'We don't want you showing up at the border seeking asylum,' even though that's a perfectly legal process,' she said. 'People in Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela said, 'OK, I'll find a sponsor in the United States, I'll request advance permission from the United States government to come. I'll fill out this form. My sponsor will show you all of their assets. They will promise to take care of me. I will not be a burden on the U.S. taxpayer. I'll come in an airplane, pay for my own ticket and get a house and a job.' Those using the program followed the rules and now they're working and have kids in American schools, Tramonte said. 'And then Trump said, 'You've got to go,'' she added. 'If I'm from Haiti, what am I supposed to go back to? There's no government.' Tramonte urged people to try to put themselves in immigrants' shoes. 'None of us did anything to earn the right to be born in the United States,' she said. 'It was an accident that we were born here. I just feel like we need to have a bit of compassion for people who were born in countries that are in turmoil.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Cranston kindergarteners learn to ride bikes through new program
CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) — A nonprofit with a mission to teach every child in America how to ride a bicycle has brought its program to Cranston. All Kids Bike launched its kindergarten Learn-to-Ride Program at Gladstone Street Elementary School on Wednesday. Several attended the kickoff event, including Gov. Dan McKee, school leaders and representatives from the nonprofit. Lisa Weyer, executive director of All Kids Bike, called the event a significant step forward for Rhode Island, as it only has two programs currently active in the state. The physical education initiative includes: Teacher training and certification A full curriculum with lesson plans, games and activities 24 Strider balance-to-pedal bikes Pedal conversion kits Adjustable helmets An instructor bike with a conversion kit and helmet Two rolling storage racks 'Learning how to ride a bike is such an exciting moment for young people,' said Rhode Island Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. 'This new program at Gladstone Street will keep students engaged in learning, both in and out of the classroom.' According to All Kids Bike, the program will reach around 75 kindergarten students each year at Gladstone Street Elementary by teaching them to ride in physical education class. Since the equipment is expected to last seven to 10 years, roughly 750 students will benefit over the next decade. 'Every child deserves the chance to learn how to ride a bike. All Kids Bike is doing that and more—they're building community and safe opportunities to learn for our students,' McKee said. Principal Amy Vachon said the program will have a lasting impact on students' physical and emotional growth. 'Not only are we teaching a lifelong skill, but we're also giving students the confidence to try something new and succeed. Having Governor McKee join us for the big reveal made this moment even more special for our students and community,' Vachon said. CALLING ALL CYCLISTS: 'Elliot's Ride for Everyone' to be held Saturday in Newport Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
McKee staffs up for 2026 reelection campaign
Gov. Dan McKee has tapped two out-of-state political staffers to work for his 2026 reelection campaign. (Photo by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current) Fresh off new, unfavorable polling numbers on his job performance, Gov. Dan McKee has tapped out-of-state talent to aid in his 2026 reelection campaign, including a former staffer to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. Rob Silverstein, who most recently served as Hochul's policy director, and before that, as her deputy campaign manager, will now manage McKee's 2026 campaign. Neil Spencer will serve as his campaign finance director, following eight years with the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee. 'I'm excited to have a strong team of talented operatives to run my re-election campaign,' McKee said in a statement. 'Nobody will outwork us on the trail, and Rob and Neil embody that ethos. With their experiences on highly competitive races and excellent track records of success in state campaigns, I am confident that we are well-positioned to continue delivering results for Rhode Island for years to come.' The sitting governor is the only candidate to confirm their intent to run in the 2026 gubernatorial race, with a two-minute spot released on March 3. His 2022 Democratic primary rival, Helena Buonanno Foulkes, appears to be readying for a comeback challenge against McKee, having already begun growing her campaign war chest. Other rumored, but unconfirmed candidates include House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and 2022 Republican gubernatorial candidate Ashley Kalus, who bought a home in Providence this year, WPRI-TV 12 reported. McKee's new campaign hires were announced Monday, four days after a University of New Hampshire poll in which McKee scored a 19% approval rating among a survey of 653 Rhode Island residents. The dismal view of his job performance was accompanied by weak support for his reelection bid; just 11% of those surveyed thought the four-year incumbent deserved to win the 2026 race, compared with 74% who thought he did not deserve to win re-election. Even among his own party, fewer than one in five survey respondents supported McKee's reelection campaign, according to the UNH poll. Meanwhile, 39% of Democrats surveyed expressed support for Foulkes to run, while 32% backed former Gov. Gina Raimondo, who left during her second term as governor to become U.S. Commerce Secretary. Since leaving the federal administration in January, Raimondo has joined the Council on Foreign Relations in D.C. as a distinguished fellow and co-chair of a task force on economic security. She also expressed interest in a 2028 presidential run during an interview with David Axelrod in Chicago in April. Silverstein declined to comment on the UNH poll results in a brief interview Wednesday, referring to the governor's previous comments to other news outlets in which he shrugged off the survey as an 'outlying poll.' A New York native, Silverstein has nearly a decade of political experience in campaigns in local, state and federal races across the country. He earned high marks from Hochul for his work on her campaign and in elected office over the past four years. 'Rob Silverstein has been a key member of our team, bringing sharp political instincts, tireless commitment, and a deep understanding of what it takes to win tough races,' Hochul said in a statement. 'Rob has been instrumental in building a stronger Democratic Party in New York and played a critical role in our success flipping key House seats last year. Governor McKee is gaining a skilled and strategic leader, and I'm proud to call Rob a trusted former member of my team.' Like McKee, Hochul was thrust into the top state leadership role from lieutenant governor in 2021. Her ascension to the governor seat was prompted by the unexpected resignation of Andrew Cuomo. Silverstein has a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and a master's degree in public administration from Columbia University. Spencer comes to Rhode Island from his native Florida, where he attended Florida State University for his bachelor's degree and a master's in the university's Applied American Politics and Policy program. During his eight years working for Florida House Democrats, he set multiple fundraising records, including $5 million raised in 2022 and more than $9 million raised in 2024. 'The institutional knowledge Neil built up with the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee allowed us to build momentum and set new fundraising records cycle after cycle, and Neil's strategic vision and dedication have made him one of the most successful finance directors in Florida legislative politics,' Florida House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell said in a statement. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
