You’re scrolling through your morning news routine, sipping coffee, and it hits you—something is different. If you’re in the Cincinnati area, or even if you followed her back in Indianapolis, you probably noticed a familiar face hasn't been on the screen lately. Where is Jennifer Ketchmark? It’s a question that has been buzzing around Tri-State living rooms for a while now, especially since she was such a staple of the "Good Morning Tri-State" team at WCPO 9.
Honestly, local TV news can feel like a revolving door. One day your favorite meteorologist is telling you to grab an umbrella, and the next, there’s a new face in the studio. With Jennifer, the connection felt a bit deeper because she was so open about her life—the kids, the "mom life" struggles during the pandemic (who could forget her kids crashing her home-office weather reports?), and her genuine love for the community.
The Big Career Shift at WCPO
For a long time, Jennifer Ketchmark was the go-to for morning weather at WCPO in Cincinnati. She brought a specific kind of energy to those early 4:00 AM shifts that most of us couldn't muster without a gallon of caffeine. However, mid-2024 and early 2025 saw some major shuffling in the local news landscape.
If you've been looking for her on the morning broadcast recently, you’ve likely noticed she isn’t there. There were reports and internal shifts at the station that led to her departure from the full-time morning slot. While many viewers were hoping it was just a long vacation, it became clear that Jennifer was moving toward a new chapter. Local media analyst John Kiesewetter reported on the significant changes at Channels 9 and 19, noting that the "weather wars" in Cincinnati often lead to talent moving into different roles or exiting the industry entirely to find what many in the business call "normal people hours."
Life Beyond the Green Screen
So, what is she doing now?
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As of early 2026, Jennifer has largely stepped away from the daily grind of broadcast meteorology. She’s been pretty vocal about the toll those early morning hours take on a family. When you have to be at the station before the sun even thinks about coming up, you miss a lot of "real life."
- Family First: She’s spending significantly more time with her husband, Mitch, and their children.
- Community Involvement: She remains a board member for the Spina Bifida Coalition of Cincinnati, a cause she’s championed for years.
- The "Side Hustle": Interestingly, Jennifer has always been a bit of a polymath. She’s an avid sewer and has run a small business on the side for years, creating custom items.
It’s a bit of a shock when a personality you’ve invited into your home every morning suddenly "disappears," but for Jennifer, it seems to be about reclaiming her time. She hasn't completely vanished from the public eye, though. She’s still active on social media, sharing updates about her life in Northern Kentucky and her continued passion for science and weather.
Why Do News Anchors Leave So Suddenly?
It’s a question we all ask. "Where is Jennifer Ketchmark?" often leads to a broader conversation about the state of local news. The industry is grueling. We’re talking about split shifts, weekend work, and the constant pressure of live television.
In Jennifer’s case, it wasn't a "scandal" or a dramatic walk-off. It was the natural evolution of a career. She had been in the business since 2006, starting in Champaign, Illinois, then moving to Indianapolis at FOX 59, and finally landing in Cincinnati. That’s two decades of tracking storms and predicting "partly cloudy" days. Eventually, the desire to be present for soccer games and school runs outweighs the thrill of the 11:00 PM news cycle.
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Tracking the Career Path
- WCIA-TV (Champaign, IL): Where she got her start in 2006.
- FOX 59 (Indianapolis, IN): She spent years here as a meteorologist before making the jump to Ohio.
- WCPO 9 (Cincinnati, OH): Her most recent and perhaps most prominent role as a morning meteorologist and traffic reporter.
What Most People Get Wrong
There’s a common misconception that when a news personality leaves, they must have been fired or "hated the station." That’s rarely the case. In Jennifer’s social updates and interviews, she’s expressed nothing but gratitude for the viewers who welcomed her.
The truth is way more relatable: she just wanted a different life. She’s even mentioned looking into roles in communications or science-related fields that don't require standing in front of a chroma key at 5:00 AM.
Final Insights for the Fans
If you’re missing her weather updates, you can still catch her "unofficial" forecasts on her social channels from time to time. She’s still a meteorologist at heart—you don't just stop looking at the radar because your contract ended.
Actionable Steps for Staying Connected:
- Check her Facebook and Instagram: This is where she shares the "unfiltered" version of her life now, including her sewing projects and family adventures.
- Support her causes: If you want to honor her work in Cincinnati, looking into the Spina Bifida Coalition of Cincinnati is a great way to stay connected to the things she cares about.
- Watch the WCPO rotation: The station has filled the gaps with talented folks like Brandon Spinner and Cameron Hardin, so the weather coverage remains solid, even if the "Ketchmark Spark" is currently being directed elsewhere.
Jennifer's journey is a reminder that even the most visible "celebrities" in our local communities are just people trying to balance work and home. She found her "next," and it seems to be exactly where she wants to be.