Latest news with #EyewitnessNews'
New York Post
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
WABC-TV ‘Eyewitness News' announces major lineup reshuffle involving veteran anchor Bill Ritter: ‘Feels like a good time to make this change'
Longtime 'Eyewitness News' anchor Bill Ritter stepped back from the 5 p.m. broadcast on WABC-TV Channel 7, making way for a new co-anchor while continuing his presence in the station's evening lineup. Ritter, 75, passed the torch to reporter and anchor Mike Marza, who joined Sade Baderinwa as co-anchor of the 5 p.m. edition of 'Eyewitness News' on Tuesday. 'I've been anchoring the 6 p.m. newscast since 2001, and I did the 11 p.m. show from 1999 until just a couple of years ago,' Ritter told The Post. 5 Longtime 'Eyewitness News' anchor Bill Ritter is stepping back from the 5 p.m. broadcast on WABC-TV Channel 7. ABC7NY 5 Ritter this week passed the baton to Mike Marza (left), who will co-anchor the 5 p.m. hour of 'Eyewitness News.' ABC7NY 'That's three shows a night for a long time. I'm almost 75-and-a-half — it feels like a good time to make this change.' Ritter, a mainstay of New York City television journalism for decades, emphasized that he's not retiring. He will continue co-anchoring 'Eyewitness News at 6 p.m.' on weekdays alongside Liz Cho and hosting 'Up Close,' the Sunday morning political affairs program. Ritter had succeeded legendary local newsman Bill Beutel on the 11 p.m. newscast. Marza joined WABC in 2019 after working at KSHB in Kansas City. 5 Ritter, who at one point was co-anchoring three hours of nightly newscasts on WABC-TV, is scaling back his schedule. ABC7NY 'We have a lot of people here who've been at Channel 7 for a long time, myself included, and now we're looking toward the future. I'll still be working here for a while longer,' Ritter told The Post. He went on to note the importance of mentorship and succession. 5 Ritter will continue co-anchoring the 6 p.m. hour alongside Liz Cho. X/Bill Ritter 'I want to get these younger people on the shows — it's a big thing,' he said. 'I'm happy we're going to start opening the door for some other people. I'm going to be here and work with them, and it's going to be great.' The transition is especially meaningful for Ritter on a personal level. 5 Ritter and Cho have been co-anchoring the news for more than two decades. 'The same day this change happened, I became a grandfather. It's a moving thing,' he shared. 'No one has ever been as old as I am on Eyewitness News. I want to spend more time with my family, my kids, and now my new grandchild. But I'll still be here.' Reflecting on his decades-long partnership with Cho, he added, 'She's been doing the 6 with me longer than any anchor team in the history of Channel 7. We started together in July 2003, so this month marks our 22nd anniversary.' 'I'm honored to be part of Channel 7, the biggest station in the country, and I'm going to continue being part of it. It's nice to get this kind of recognition — and it's not for a funeral! I'm still here.'
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Looking back at Honor Flight EVV18
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT)- It's been nearly a week since 86 Veterans took the trip of a lifetime with the Honor Flight of Southern Indiana. Eyewitness News' Hannah Haerle was on that flight to capture the stories and moments that each veteran will remember for years to come. A day that would be full of emotion and honor started in the early hours of the were jitters and excitement for some-and feelings that couldn't be explained, for others.'It's a bunch of mixed emotions. It's really hard to say, but I'm ready to go,' said one veteran. Those inexplicable feelings were a theme for many veterans throughout the day as they received an excited send-off by family, friends, volunteers, and city veterans were greeted in our nation's capital by a water salute and strangers, who our veterans quickly realized are grateful Americans welcoming them itinerary was packed full of sights, many of which the veterans had never seen, and visiting the memorials built in their honor. The first stop– the World War II was a sight especially notable–for one veteran who served in that very war.'It's very somber. It brings back a lot of memories. It's just mind-boggling. WWII memorial meant a lot to me because there aren't many of us left….. I consider myself young,' says WWII army veteran Herbert were the Lincoln, Korea, and Vietnam memorials- each holding a different meaning and resurfacing forgotten veterans remembering times of service, 'There's a guy on the bus with me and we got to reminisce about the crap we used to do together,' said vietnam army veteran, loren others, it allowed them to visit old friends. 'It brings back a lot of memories. I have fellow soldiers on the wall, and I got to visit them. It's been great,' said Vietnam Army veteran Charles Stewart. For most, it was a feeling of honor and gratitude which they so rightfully deserve– for the first time.'I had some Korean kids come up to me and thank me for what I did in Korea.…. So that was special,' said Korea Navy veteran Donald Woods. More than 400 thousand people are laid to rest in the rolling hills at Arlington National Cemetery. Within it lies the tomb of the unknown is guarded 24 hours a day– every day of the year– in rain, sun, or veterans experienced a tedious, moving changing of the silence was loud– as the soldier marched back and forth, guarding the if you listen closely– in the midst of the most precise footsteps–there was the scuff of a heel– acknowledging the veterans' presence. 'It's quite an experience. It's from the heart. I'll never forget it,' said Dixon. Each veteran I spoke to shared deep feelings of gratitude for the honor flight for making the day possible, but also for their chaperones and for their fellow comrades who accompanied them.'These people I can relate to because they have been through what I have. Veterans are so special. I've been here. My brother is buried here, so I've been here, but this is different. because I am with my comrades. There's not a stranger on these buses,' said Wools. As we boarded the plane to head back to Evansville, 2 familiar words came over the speaker: 'mail call'.Thousands upon thousands of letters from people all around the Tri-State thanking the veterans for their service and veterans were presented with one more heartfelt 'welcome home'– as thousands of people waited for their arrival at Evansville Regional was a day full of emotion, gratitude, and honor.'I got so many hugs and so many people shaking my hand that my hand is sore!… This is something I'll never forget,' said Jankins. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Honor Flight mail sorting begins in Evansville
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) — An event held just twice a year signals the upcoming journey of more than 80 local veterans to our nation's capital. The Honor Flight of Southern Indiana sorts thousands of pieces of mail for veterans in preparation for the flight of a lifetime. On Saturday, dozens of veterans and their chaperones will fly to Washington D.C. to visit the memorials built in their honor. One of the many traditions of the honor flight is mail call. As the veterans board the flight for take-off, each of them will receive about 100 handwritten letters from people around the Tri-State – thanking them for their service. Once the veterans return to Evansville, thousands of people will fill the Evansville Regional Airport. The Welcome Home Parade begins at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday and the public is invited to take part, Eyewitness News' Hannah Hearle will be on Saturday's flight – capturing the stories of the veterans on board. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Owensboro remembers missing Vietnam hero
Owensboro, Ky. (WEHT)- As the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War approaches, a hometown hero whose fate remains one of the biggest mysteries of the war is remembered. Eyewitness News' Brandon Bartlett shares his story. Honor Flight of Southern Indiana preparing mail call Colonel Charles Shelton was an Air Force pilot and father of 5 from Owensboro. It was on this day, 60 years ago, that his plane was shot down. Shelton never returned home, but his family never gave up hope. Just off the banks of the Ohio River in downtown Owensboro, a granite monument stands in tribute to a man whose name became a symbol of sacrifice and Mystery. Colonel Charles Shelton, an Air Force pilot from Owensboro, and the last official Prisoner of War from the Vietnam War. In 1965, Colonel Shelton was deployed to Southeast Asia. His mission was to gather intelligence from high above. He would do that by piloting an RF-101C Voodoo Jet- a one-seater supersonic fighter jet. On April 29th, 1965, Shelton was sent out on a mission which would take him into enemy territory over Laos. His plane was hit by enemy fire, but he managed to radio a final message- that he was bailing out and parachuting into the jungle below. Within hours, intercepted radio chatter suggested that he had been captured. In the years that followed, intelligence reports and eyewitness accounts hinted that Shelton was still alive. This was certainly the hope back in Owensboro, where Shelton's wife, Marian, became the face of a movement. She never gave up hope that she would one day see her husband again. She traveled to Washington, D.C., meeting with Presidents and lobbying lawmakers, becoming a powerful voice in the fight to bring American Prisoners of War home- all while raising 5 children on her own in Owensboro. Eyewitness News spoke with Joan Shelton in 2019 during a remembrance ceremony at her father's memorial in Owensboro. Despite several search efforts and rescue attempts, her father was never found. For nearly 30 years, Colonel Shelton remained officially listed as a prisoner of war, not missing, not dead. It's a statute that kept hope alive. It wasn't until 1994, nearly two decades after the war ended, that the Pentagon finally declared Colonel Shelton dead. By that time, Marian Shelton had passed away, never knowing what became of the man she loved. His daughter Joan grew up, never knowing her father. 'He obviously was a very well-liked man and is an American hero, and I am very proud of him- and my mother as well,' she said. Now, as the nation marks 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War, Owensboro remembers its missing hero. Colonel Charles Shelton- a soldier, husband, father, and a national symbol of service and sacrifice. His name is forever etched in stone, and his story lives on in the hearts of those who refuse to forget. Colonel Shelton's name is also inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Evansville prepares to step 'over the edge' for kids battling illnesses
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) — A leap of faith down the side of a downtown Evansville building aims to bring hope to children with life threatening conditions: Over the Edge for Granted. Since 1985, the organization has raised money to help families with medical expenses and more. The Over The Edge event gets community sponsors involved, as well as a fun day for the kids. Eyewitness News' Sydney Davis went over the edge before the official event kicks off April days don't typically start from nine stories in the air. Through an organization called Granted, every step away from the edge of Evansville's CenterPoint building helps send joy, comfort and unforgettable moments to children battling life threatening illnesses. 'Individuals can face fears and overcome obstacles like our children do every day. Our children are battling cancer…fighting illnesses that a lot of us will never have to deal with. Our families are some of the strongest people you'll ever meet,' says Caitie Taylor, Granted's board president. This year marks 4 decades for the organization, and nearly 400 Tri-State families benefit from the program. VHS talks about dog aggression after recent dog attacks, gives safety tips Over $180,000 has been raised by the community to make kids wildest dreams come true. Each wish granted is as unique as the little faces fighting each day. 'They go to Disney. They go on a camping trip,' says Taylor. Community members who signs up commit to raising $1,000 each to make it News got to experience the descent, but On Saturday, each participant will be trained and supported every step, or drop, of the way by their Over The Edge experts. 'Unlike recreational climbing, we use a full body harness. They have the waist belt loops. It also has the shoulder straps. From there, we have two devices. We have a backup device and a main device,' says Randy Stocker, a professional rope access technician for the event. The main device drives the repelling, while the backup helps monitor your speed. There is no age limit, and the equipment can hold up to 5000 pounds. 'The youngest person that I've personally put over was 6-years-old and our oldest person that over the edge put over was 103-years-old,' says Stocker. Officials say the left over funding is used to help with life beyond the wish. '…help with transportation, gas, cards, foods while they're on the road. We have family dinners throughout the year to bring our wishlist together…Just to have the children be able to interact with the rest of the children,' says Taylor. Teams and individuals can still sign up through email or in-person with a $1,000 contribution. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
