It happens every time you sit down with your morning coffee or tune in after a long day at work. You notice a different face behind the desk. Maybe the chemistry feels a bit off, or that meteorologist you trusted for your weekend plans just isn't there anymore. Honestly, the revolving door of local media can be pretty jarring. People get attached to their news teams. When you're wondering who left Channel 13 news, you aren’t just looking for a list of names; you’re looking for why your daily routine feels different.
Local news is personal. These are the people in your living room every night.
In the last couple of years, "Channel 13"—which usually refers to major market heavyweights like WTHR in Indianapolis, KCPQ in Seattle, or WHO 13 in Des Moines—has seen a massive wave of departures. It isn't just one city. It’s a nationwide trend. Industry veterans are hanging up the microphone. Younger talent is jumping to bigger markets or leaving the grind of "news life" entirely for something that actually lets them sleep past 3:00 AM.
The Big Names Who Left Channel 13 News Recently
If we're talking about the heavy hitters, we have to look at Indianapolis first. WTHR has been a powerhouse for decades, but lately, it’s felt like the end of an era.
Take Andrea Morehead, for example. Her departure was anything but quiet. After years of being the face of the station, her exit involved a high-profile legal battle and allegations regarding the workplace environment. It wasn't just a "moving on to new opportunities" kind of vibe. It was a messy, public fracture that left viewers stunned. When a staple like that leaves, the audience feels a genuine sense of loss.
Then there’s Chuck Lofton. While he hasn’t "left" in the sense of disappearing, the legendary weatherman has been transitioning his role, reminding everyone that even the most permanent fixtures eventually move toward the exit.
In Seattle, at KCPQ (FOX 13), the departures have been equally significant. Matt Lorch and Bill Wixey were names you could set your watch by. When they moved on, it signaled a massive shift in the station’s identity. Wixey, specifically, had been there for nearly two decades. Think about that. Twenty years of telling people about traffic, crime, and community wins. You don't just replace that kind of institutional knowledge with a fresh face from a smaller market.
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Why Is Everyone Leaving Local News?
It’s easy to think it’s just about money. Usually, it's not.
The industry is brutal. Most people don't realize that your favorite morning anchor probably woke up at 2:15 AM. They’ve been at the station for hours before the sun even starts to peek out. By noon, they are functionally a zombie. Do that for ten years, and suddenly a 9-to-5 job in public relations or corporate communications starts looking like a vacation.
Basically, the burnout is real.
Another huge factor? The "non-compete" legal landscape. For a long time, if you left Channel 13, you couldn't work for another station in the same city for a year. That kept people trapped. But laws are changing. The FTC has been pushing to ban these clauses, and several states have already gutted them. Now, if an anchor is unhappy, they can actually walk across the street to a competitor without losing their livelihood.
The Des Moines Shift: WHO 13 Changes
Over at WHO 13 in Des Moines, the lineup has seen some notable exits that really shook up the local market. Elias Johnson was a big one. He was a staple of the morning show, bringing a specific kind of energy that’s hard to replicate. When he announced he was leaving to focus on family and new ventures, the comments sections were flooded.
People hate change.
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We also saw Jodi Long move on after a storied career at the station. When you lose someone who has been through every major blizzard and election cycle for years, the station loses its "anchor" in more ways than one. It’s about trust. If the person telling you that a tornado is coming is someone you’ve watched for fifteen years, you listen differently than you do to a stranger.
The Rise of "The Side Hustle" and Content Creation
Something nobody talks about is that news anchors are becoming their own brands.
You’ve probably noticed your favorite reporters are more active on TikTok or Instagram than they used to be. Some realize they can make more money—and have more creative freedom—by launching their own podcasts or digital platforms. When someone asks who left Channel 13 news, the answer is often "someone who decided they didn't need a broadcast tower to reach their audience."
Take a look at any major market. You’ll find former anchors now running successful YouTube channels or working as high-end consultants. They’re taking their "TV persona" and monetizing it without the 40-minute commute and the stressful deadlines of a live 6:00 PM broadcast.
How to Track Your Favorite Anchors After They Exit
If your favorite person is gone and didn't give a "final goodbye" on air (which happens more than you'd think due to contract disputes), here is how you actually find them:
- LinkedIn is the gold mine. Reporters are professionals. They update their resumes. If they've moved into "Communications Director" roles, it'll show up here first.
- Instagram Stories. This is where the "real" talk happens. If an anchor left because of burnout, they’ll usually drop hints about their new, slower lifestyle here.
- The "About Us" page. Station websites are notoriously slow to update, but if their bio is gone, they are definitely out.
- Public Facebook Pages. Most news personalities are required to keep a public page. Even after they leave, they often keep these pages to stay in touch with their "fans."
The Impact on the Viewer
It’s sort of weird how much we care, right? But local news is one of the last bastions of shared community experience. When the team breaks up, it feels like a neighborhood friend moving away.
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The "New Face" syndrome is a real thing. Stations try to bridge the gap by introducing new talent slowly, having them shadow the departing veteran. But often, the exit is abrupt. One day they're there, the next day there’s a "Breaking News" graphic where their face used to be.
What Really Happened with the Recent Exits?
Usually, when you see a mass exodus from a station like Channel 13, there’s an underlying cause. It’s often a change in ownership. Large conglomerates like Nexstar, Gray, or Tegna buy these stations and sometimes "streamline" operations. That’s corporate-speak for cutting budgets.
If an anchor’s contract is up and the new owners want to pay them 20% less, that anchor is going to walk. Honestly, can you blame them? They have mortgages and families just like everyone else.
What’s Next for Local Broadcasting?
The reality is that "Channel 13" is going to keep changing. The model of the "voice of God" anchor who stays for 40 years is dying. We’re moving toward a more nomadic talent pool. Reporters stay for three years, build a following, and move to a bigger city or a different industry.
If you're missing a specific person, check the local newspaper's media column. Journalists love writing about other journalists. If there was a "scandal" or a secret reason for the departure, the local alt-weekly or the city's main paper will usually have the scoop.
Actionable Insights for the Displaced Viewer:
If you are frustrated by the constant changes at your local Channel 13, the best thing you can do is follow the individual journalists rather than the station. Most reporters today are "platform agnostic." They want you to follow them to their next gig.
- Search the journalist's name + "newsletter." Many are starting Substacks to provide deeper reporting without the constraints of a 90-second TV segment.
- Support local independent media. If you feel like the corporate-owned Channel 13 is losing its soul, look for local nonprofit newsrooms in your city.
- Engage on social media. If you liked a reporter's work, send them a respectful DM or comment. They often leave the industry because they feel unappreciated or harassed; a little kindness goes a long way when they are in between roles.
- Watch the credits. If you want to know who is really running the show, look at the producers and news directors listed in the credits. When those names change, the on-air talent usually follows shortly after.
The landscape of local news is shifting under our feet. While it’s annoying to lose the familiar faces we’ve grown to trust, it’s also an opportunity to find new voices who might be doing even more rigorous work outside the traditional TV format. Keep your eyes on the bylines, not just the channel number.