Latest news with #GoodMorningJacksonville
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Katie Jeffries to Leave First Coast News After 13 Years
First Coast News morning anchor Katie Jeffries announced Thursday that she would be leaving Jacksonville, Florida NBC and ABC affiliate. 'It is time you all know. My time at First Coast News is coming to a close," Jeffries wrote on social media. "For 16 years, I have had the privilege of telling people's stories as a journalist. Thirteen of those years have been spent here on the First Coast and I am so grateful for all the support and kindness you all have shown me over the years." Jeffries joined First Coast News in 2012 as a morning reporter. A year later, she took over the show's traffic anchor duties and noon news anchor role. Jeffries has co-anchored of Good Morning Jacksonville, most recently with Keitha Nelson and Lewis Turner for the last six years. She plans to leave on May 15, after 13 years on-air in Jacksonville. "It is time for a new chapter with new adventures," she wrote.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
FCN's next chief meteorologist is a familiar face. Here's who will take over for Tim Deegan
In the coming weeks, a familiar face will take on the mantle of chief meteorologist at First Coast News as Tim Deegan plans to retire in May after 42 years at Jacksonville's NBC/ABC affiliate. On Monday, First Coast News announced that its own Lewis Turner would take over the responsibilities of the station's top weather forecaster. With more than 15 years at First Coast News, Turner has been a fixture behind the anchor desk and in front of the weather map delivering the news and weather to Good Morning Jacksonville viewers. And nearly three years ago, Turner took over the 11 p.m. weather reporting from Deegan as the veteran meteorologist began to scale back his duties to spend more time enjoying the weather he'd reported on for so many years. 'Lewis has long been a leader in our newsroom and in the Jacksonville community,' said Tim Thomas, general manager at First Coast News. 'His passion for storytelling, his dedication to keeping viewers safe, and his commitment to accuracy make him the ideal person to carry on the legacy of excellence that Tim built.' The announcement comes more than five months after Deegan — who is married to Jacksonville mayor and former First Coast News anchor Donna Deegan — first announced his plans to retire at the end of May. 'I have always taken my forecasting seriously,' said Deegan, when he made the announcement that surprised viewers on Nov. 1. 'Friends have joked that sometimes I take it 'too seriously,' but weather forecasts often play a big role in critical decisions. My forecasts help our viewers schedule everything from weddings to games to marathons. Every forecast, every day, they all matter to me.' From 2024: Anchor Tom Wills the latest familiar face to retire from Jacksonville's WJXT Another anchor shocker: Action News Jax anchor departing after 10 years From 2023: 'Thank you from the bottom of our hearts': Mary Baer, John Gaughan sign off from News4Jax Lewis's promotion to chief meteorologist comes about six weeks before the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. 'It's an honor to follow in Tim's footsteps,' Turner said. 'He's not just a legend in this newsroom — he's a friend and mentor. I'm excited to continue serving our community with the same integrity, accuracy, and heart that he exemplified.' According to First Coast News, Turner led the implementation of the station's Weather Impact Alert system, improving viewer preparedness during severe weather events. As chief meteorologist, Turner will lead FCN's weather forecasting team, which includes Robert Speta (who joined in October 2020), Lee Southwick (August 2023) and Ross Mummah (January 2024). First Coast News, a Times-Union news partner, contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Lew Turner named First Coast News chief meteorologist
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
After 13 years on the morning news, First Coast News anchor Katie Jeffries plans to leave
Another familiar face is leaving First Coast News. Just three weeks before longtime meteorologist Tim Deegan is set to retire from Jacksonville's NBC and ABC affiliate after a 42-year run, morning news anchor Katie Jeffries announced Thursday that she would be leaving the station this month as well. "… It is time you all know. My time at First Coast News is coming to a close,' Jeffries wrote in a social media post. 'For 16 years, I have had the privilege of telling people's stories as a journalist. Thirteen of those years have been spent here on the First Coast and I am so grateful for all the support and kindness you all have shown me over the years.' Jeffries joined First Coast News in 2012 as a morning reporter for the station's 'Good Morning Jacksonville.' A year later, she took over the show's traffic anchor duties and noon news anchor role, according to her online biography. For the last six years, Jeffries has served as co-anchor of 'Good Morning Jacksonville,' most recently with Keitha Nelson and Lewis Turner. 'When I came in as a morning reporter on Good Morning Jacksonville so many years ago, I did not intend to stay in Jacksonville for more than a couple years. It was meant to be a short stint before the next market,' Jeffries wrote in the social post. 'But you all won me over. I loved the people, the city, the stories and I found myself not wanting to leave.' After 13 years on-air in Jacksonville, Jeffries said that she plans to step away from news to pursue a new opportunity. 'It is time for a new chapter with new adventures,' she wrote. Her last day on air will be Thursday, May 15, she said. Two weeks after Jeffries signs off, Deegan — currently the longest-tenured on-air personality at First Coast News — will say goodbye to viewers and sign off one last time. Deegan shocked viewers when he revealed on Nov. 1 his plans to retire on May 30. 'For generations, Tim has been a trusted voice for First Coast families, known for his precision in forecasting major storms as well as daily weather,' said First Coast News president and general manager Tim Thomas at the time. 'I'm grateful for Tim's many years of dedicated service to our station. His expertise and experience will be invaluable in helping to select the next Chief Meteorologist, ensuring First Coast News continues delivering the most accurate forecasts." On April 14, First Coast News announced that Turner, a meteorologist and 'Good Morning Jacksonville' co-anchor, would take over the chief meteorologist role from Deegan. 'It's an honor to follow in Tim's footsteps,' Turner said at the time. 'He's not just a legend in this newsroom — he's a friend and mentor. I'm excited to continue serving our community with the same integrity, accuracy, and heart that he exemplified.' This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: First Coast News anchor Katie Jeffries leaving Jacksonville TV station
