Farewell, Carl Wiglesworth, you were one of San Antonio’s most prominent radio warriors, particularly when it came to fighting City Hall.  

The conservative talk institution, who helmed shows on local radio  for nearly three decades, has died. He was 73.

Wiglesworth was a prominent staple on the airwaves here during the ’80s and ’90s. One of S.A.’s most articulate and vociferous “angry men,” he railed against government interference and waged talk campaigns against everything from fluoride to the Applewhite reservoir to the building of the Alamodome.

He suffered a massive heart attack Friday night, WOAI reported on its webpage, and was rushed to Methodist Stone Oak Hospital, but never regained consciousness.

Wiglesworth was a force to be reckoned with when he helmed talk shows on, first, WOAI for 21 years, then KTSA for six.

Even his departure from WOAI in 1997 was anything but quiet. Wiglesworth, then 57, walked out of his afternoon show after upstart WOAI sports voice Jim Rome berated him publicly with what Wiglesworth called “ageist” remarks.

It wasn’t long before he caught on at competitor, KTSA. He railed on that station as well from 1998 through 2004 when the talk station discontinued his show because of what managers termed lagging ratings.

Wiglesworth made a brief radio comeback in 2005, when he and another WOAI and KTSA veteran, Eliza Sonneland, were hired to helm talk shows for nostalgia — now easy listening — station KAHL. Their programs were discontinued in 2007, however, to make room for an all-music format.

“To talk to people who had differing opinions from the status quo, that was the bread and butter of Carl’s program,” Sonneland said in a remembrance of Wiglesworth on WOAI.com.

Longtime KTSA morning talk host, Trey Ware, wrote a tribute to Wiglesworth on his Facebook page Wednesday morning, calling him an “S.A. radio legend.” Lee Woods, another local radio veteran, also wrote special words Tuesday night to honor him: ”A dear old friend and fellow Radio Hall of Famer, Carl Truman Wigleswoth, passed away today. Carl hired me at KONO/KITY in 1975.” Woods then added a bit of humor: “May he rest in peace. Rumor has it he will be doing mid-days at KGOD.”

Among his survivors are Wiglesworth’s wife, Laurie Malfatano Wiglesworth, who also was a long time WOAI 1200 employee.

According to WOAI, relatives have said there will be simply an ‘intimate family gathering’ to remember Carl.

He’s certainly a San Antonio name I’ll never forget, one of only a handful of radio personalities during my 30-plus years as a media columnist who regularly, without fail, kept my job interesting.

Photo: Courtesy

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — I’m still covering television in La-La Land, but right now, I’m channeling San Antonio.

This weekend is your last chance to enjoy the personable, down-to-earth anchoring of WOAI-TV veteran Jacqueline Ortiz (photo above) on the local news.

As I explained before, Ortiz is waving goodbye to 16 years of newscasting/reporting to devote more time to her family.

As it turns out, however, her own children, ages 6 and 9, aren’t the only young people who will benefit from her newly freed-up energies.

“I’ve been working on a children’s book,” Ortiz revealed in a message. “It’s almost completed. I now need to meet with an illustrator and publisher. I’m pretty excited about the book. The message is clear and empowering. It’s a story that helps children understand they have the power to be happy or sad. No one else can make them feel that way.”

Titled “Who Has the Power? I Do,” the book sounds like a must-read for youngsters, who, oft-times, aren’t as carefree as they seem. Such a confidence-booster could help them tremendously.

Meantime, tune in the 10 p.m. news Sunday and enjoy the special  farewell Jackie’s colleagues have planned for the Southside High School grad with the radiant smile.

“I’m not sure what they have planned, but I’m sure it will be entertaining,” Ortiz said. “My friend (sportscaster) David Chancellor is supposed to be on vacation with his beautiful family. . .and is coming in just for me Sunday night at 10. I feel pretty special.”

Photo: WOAI-TV

The WOAI-TV ex recently started working for CBS-owned sister stations KCBS/KCAL.

In a phone chat, Ramon said she’s now co-anchoring all the evening weekend broadcasts for both the CBS affiliate and its independent sibling — six in one night! — and reporting weekdays for both stations.

“It’s a duopoly,” Ramon explained. “They’re two separate channels with separate newscasts, but I co-anchor for both,” she said.

For those visiting Los Angeles, Ramon can be seen weekends on KCBS-TV (Channel 2) at 5, 6 and 11 p.m. and on KCAL-TV (Channel 9) at 8, 9 and 10 p.m.

“It’s a lot!” Ramon said, but added she feels fortunate to be back at work in her hometown of Los Angeles, doing what she loves.

She left WOAI at the end of last year to join her husband, Jordan Mandelberg in L.A. He had accepted his “dream” job with the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles.

Although she enjoyed her seven months “being a stay-at-home mom” to her two kids, son Zev, 1 1/2, and Bella, 10, “I always planned to return to work,” she said.

“We’re very lucky that two people with very demanding careers were able to find jobs in our hometown. That’s so hard to do.”

However, she sounded emotional when she mentioned her old work digs in the Alamo City. “I miss Delaine (Mathieu) and Beamer and Don (Harris) so much,” she said. “I really wish I could have brought them with me. I so miss our friendship that we had every day.”

She said she’s communicated online with her WOAI successor, Evy Ramos, and is “really happy for her. She’s on a great team. I hope she enjoys it as much as I did.”

Making the separation easier, Ramon said, are  her “welcoming” new co-workers. “They’ve been so amazingly supportive here.”

She also misses her S.A. viewers but is happy many have kept in touch via Twitter.

Fans also can keep up with Ramon and watch her on the L.A. news, by going to the stations’ website.

Photo: Courtesy

Viewers who saw the TV moment wrote on Ramos’ Facebook page that her very  human reaction only endeared them more to the anchorwoman.

“Thank you guys for your kind comments,” she responded. “It is always tough for me to talk about stories that involve sweet little children. I have three of my own, and it just hurts. I don’t like to lose my composure like that, but it happens.”

It was the second time this summer that a San Antonio newscaster found herself  too tearful to continue reporting tragic news involving children.

The first happened in July when KSAT’s Isis Romero, who gave birth to a baby boy on Saturday, apologized to her viewers on Facebook. “My apologies everyone,” she wrote. “We did a story about a 4 month old baby that got burned by fireworks, and then a story about another baby who was left abandoned on a subway platform, and I just couldn’t get through it. As a mommy-to-be, my heart just couldn’t take it. Those poor, precious babies. Thanks to Steve (Spriester) for jumping in for me.”

Ramos’ on-air tears  happened Tuesday on WOAI’s 10 p.m. news — during an intro to reporter Melissa Vega’s interview with the mom of two children who were hospitalized after a pick-up truck crashed into a donkey-drawn carriage they were riding in.

Delila Gutierrez’s 5-year-old daughter Christina suffered a broken leg, and a laceration to her liver, and her 2-year-old son Leo came away with extensive brain damage.

“I do not do well with stories about little kids who are hurt,”  Ramos, the mother of three young ones — two of whom are around the ages of those injured kids — told me in a phone chat Thursday afternoon. “They really get to me.”

When the image popped up of the mom holding her son, she could feel herself  choking up. She looked over at Beamer, who understood immediately and took over.

Luckily, “it was a long package,” Ramos said of Vega’s story. So, she had time to recover her composure and continue.

Afterward, she received many e-mails of support, including one from the uncle of the two injured kids, she said. “He wrote, ‘Stay strong’; our little Leo’s a fighter’,” Ramos recalled.

The anchorwoman, who came to WOAI-TV from California just last May, said she usually avoids such moments by preparing in advance. She’ll read this sort of tragic story before the broadcast, “so I can let it all out;” you know, steel herself for the news.

This time, however, the emotions took over.

“Not that there’s anything wrong with that,” as Seinfeld might say.

In fact, in today’s cool — and oft-times insensitive — world, a few tears from the woman who brings  you the news night after night may register as a warm and welcome relief.

Photo: Courtesy of Evy Ramos

That’s right. But don’t expect the DC Comics superhero or a fresh incarnation of Lynda Carter’s TV character.

This “Wonder Woman” is very human. However, to her kids, the Texas Hill Country mom definitely is a superhero.

Learn why on national TV talk show, “Steve Harvey.”

Their mom, Joy Vernon of Boerne, will be celebrated on the program Friday (today) for her inspirational courage. It airs at 2 p.m. on WOAI.

Her appearance will kick off “Wonder Women,” a new segment that recognizes and honors women who have performed amazing and selfless acts.

So why was Joy named the first “Wonder Woman?” According to a “Harvey” press release, Vernon made a split decision 15 years ago that not only saved her children’s lives, but also permanently changed her own.

After her family Suburban started rolling towards a cliff, with her three young children inside (ages 7, 5 and 2 at the time), Vernon jumped in front of the vehicle to try and stop it.

She was able to slow the vehicle down enough for her father to jump inside and engage the emergency brake, ultimately saving her children’s lives.

However, their mom sustained severe injuries from being run over by the car.  Vernon was paralyzed and ended up spending an entire year in a hospital recuperating and away from her children.

Harvey will chat with her about the accident, as well as bring out two of her three children – Annie Vernon, now 20, and Elliot Vernon, now 17 – who will thank their mom on national TV for being such an amazing person and role model.

Watch a clip from the show here.

“As you can imagine, this has been a difficult time for us,” she wrote in a message Thursday. “Unfortunately, I had a miscarriage and we lost the baby.

“We are heartbroken,” she added, “but faithful that we will have another opportunity in the near future.”

Claudia, who also is a morning personality on S.A. country station, KCYY-FM (better known as Y100), already is the proud mom of one child, a pretty 5-year-old daughter named Avah.

However, this would have been the first child for both Mike, who co-anchors the morning news on WOAI-TV, and Claudia, who wed last year.

The revelation comes about seven months after Garofalo shared the happy news of her pregnancy.

Recently, viewers have been asking for an update, noting that Garofalo did not look pregnant on the air. Many emailers voiced concern that something had happened, with a few adding they were sending prayers the couple’s way.

Hopefully, that brings a little comfort to the Garofalos, who, as TV figures, not only have to shoulder their pain privately, but publicly as well.

The latest to announce she’s leaving is Grace White, one of the most resilient of anchors/reporters at both the Fox and NBC affiliates. After five years here, she waves goodbye to the S.A. audience next week.

White is heading to her hometown of Houston for a reporting job at CBS affiliate KHOU-TV. Her start date, according to that station, is Oct. 20.

“It’s always been a dream to work in my hometown,” White said of her new opportunity. “Looking forward to reporting and having the chance to fill-in anchor at a station I grew up watching.”

“Leaving San Antonio is so bittersweet!” White added. “It’s been five wonderful years here and I’m truly grateful to my WOAI and KABB family for the opportunities they gave me. I will never forget the incredible friends and viewers I met along the way.”

Although officially she’s leaving her main job as weekend co-anchor on KABB, White has been filling in so frequently for other departees that she has what amounts to two last days.

Her WOAI viewers will see her exit on Sunday, as she’s still filling in for former weekend co-anchor Jacqueline Ortiz, who left in July to spend more time with family and focus on the children’s book she’s written.

Then, KABB fans of White will see her bid farewell on the 9 p.m. news Oct. 15. That’s her final day as fill-in anchor for the recently departed vet Michael Valdes (right), who, according to his Facebook page, just nabbed a nifty new job as director of business development for Munoz & Company.

White is, if I’m counting correctly, the eighth staple of  either WOAI or KABB, to head for the exit door in the space of 10 months.

So, it’s no wonder I’ve been getting queries of late from readers wondering, “What gives with so many people leaving over there? Is this a staff-cutting move by Sinclair?”

Absolutely not was essentially the response by Blaise Labbe, the director of news for both stations.

He acknowledged that all these exits, one after another, have “been crazy,” but those who have left had either a professional or personal reason for doing so.

“There’s nothing afoot, nothing sinister happening,” Labbe said.

White and her husband, for instance, have been commuting back and forth between Houston, where his job is based, and San Antonio for the past five years, he said.

Now the two finally will be living and working in the same city. Besides, he added, Houston is ranked higher in terms of TV market size than San Antonio — 10th vs. 33rd according to latest Nielsen figures — so it’s a move up for Grace.

If he had his way, Labbe said, he would prefer not losing so many “great people” … particularly when November sweeps is just around the corner.

He said he’s been interviewing candidate after candidate for these openings but isn’t even close to filling all of them.

As for whispers that it’s only a matter of time before KABB and WOAI share one main anchor team, he said that isn’t in the cards.

“We haven’t talked about anything like that,” he said, adding that it’s always been a priority to maintain the different identities of the two Sinclair-owned stations.

“People seem to be creating something that just isn’t there.”

Photo: WOAI/KABB

A brief roundup of broadcast television’s 9 p.m election specials:

CBS. You never go wrong when tuning in San Antonio’s thorough on air news pair — Scott Pelley, who was born here, and Norah O’Donnell who grew up in the Alamo City and graduated from MacArthur High. They’ll co-anchor the network’s prime-time hour. Joining them will be Bob Schieffer — another Texan, born in Austin — Gayle King and Charlie Rose. Leading up to the special hour will be updates galore from 7 to 9 p.m.

ABC. George Stephanopoulos will anchor “Your Voice Your Vote” after an evening full of  mid-term election updates during prime-time programming. Joining him? “World News Tonight” anchorman David Muir, Diane Sawyer, Cokie Roberts and more.

NBC. Lead anchor Brian Williams will helm the peacock network’s special hour, “NBC News Decision 2014,” and will be joined by pros Andrea Mitchell, Tom Brokaw, Chuck Todd and others. Keeping viewers up to date will be plenty of poll results from 7 to 9 p.m.

Local political junkies, of course, can find ’round the clock coverage on cable: Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, C-SPAN and other TV locations.

Look for the emphasis on local and Texas races in special hour editions of the 10 p.m. news.  KABB-TV will be right on top of the races in its usual 9 p.m. hour; the late news on KENS-TV and WOAI-TV will be extended by a half-hour — from 10 to 11 p.m. — for election night, and KSAT, of course, will be covering the mid-term elections via its usual 10 to 11 p.m. hour.

Crave some comedy amid all this election seriousness? Tune in Comedy Central between 10 and 11 p.m. to get Jon Stewart’s and Stephen Colbert’s twists on the results.  The Daily Show, renamed  “Democalypse 2014: America Remembers It Forgot to Vote,” airs at 10 p.m. Then, at 10:30 p.m., Colbert hosts “Midterms ’014: Detour to Gridlock: An Exciting Thing That I Am Totally Interested In—Wait! Don’t Change the Channel. Look at this Video of a Duckling Following a Cat Dressed Like a Shark Riding a Roomba!  ’014!”

SAN ANTONIO – It’s more like unhappy holidays for some San Antonio radio voices.

The local iHeartMedia Christmas-month cuts seem to be mounting. Several from WOAI-AM’s news team are the latest casualties.

On the heels of the sudden exit by 14-year KZEP vet Craig “Crash” Chambers earlier this week, three were cut from iHeart’s news-talk station here.  

Leading the layoffs was  staple Michael Main (photo at right), a solid news journalist and managing editor who’s been with WOAI for nearly 30 years. He was let go this morning.

In fact, his name already has been removed from WOAI’s website.

According to a radio insider, anchor/reporter Berit Mason and multimedia journalist Stephanie Narvaez were cut from WOAI as well.

At this point, it’s not clear whether the latest layoffs were limited to WOAI or that they might be happening at other iHeart S.A. stations. E-mail me if you hear of more, others, and I’ll do my best to keep local listeners informed.

jjakle@express-news.net

Photo: Courtesy

SAN ANTONIO — WOAI-TV finally has hired a permanent weathercaster to handle Albert Flores’ old morning post after viewers have been treated to half a year of fill-in forecasters.

Moreover, the new hire has some impressive credits, a contagious smile reminiscent of actress Jessica Alba and a winning manner.

Jeannette Calle, who has done forecasts for NBC and MSNBC, will join Michael Garofalo, Leslie Bohl and traffic anchor Jessica Headley on WOAI, beginning Monday.

According to a WOAI release, Jeannette has seven years of experience in the field of meteorology and weather broadcasting. She joins San Antonio’s NBC affiliate from NBC Universal in New York City, where, as a freelance meteorologist, she filled in on weekdays and weekends on NBC and MSNBC. She also freelanced at New York’s CW affiliate, WPIX.

“I like to give people the weather straightforward, when it’s going to rain, at what time and what is causing the rain,” Calle said in a statement. “It’s especially important in the morning as viewers are planning their day. I am super excited about becoming a Texan and being a part of the San Antonio community.”

Prior to her hiring, KABB’s weekend weathercaster Mike Hernandez and WOAI’s Siobhain Anders have taken turns handling the morning weather duties.

Calle also had a long run at AccuWeather, a 24-hour, weather-oriented, cable television network. She also worked as a bilingual television and radio weather broadcaster, serving major television and radio networks nationally and worldwide.

She seems relatable as well. Here, she is  reacting with concern — and a little fear — to tremors from an earthquake during a taping of her weather forecast; the video was carried by ABC News and other TV outlets:

Calle is a graduate of Temple University with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism.

“Jeannette will make a great addition to News 4 San Antonio,” the station’s director of news, Blaise Labbe, said. “We continue to build the weather team that provides the 4 Zone Forecast, which has been honored as the most accurate in town.”

According to the WOAI release, Calle comes from a large extended family and is very proud of her Latin heritage.  On her off days you can find her working out at the local gym, or taking a long run outdoors. She also enjoys cooking Latin, Italian and soul food cuisine, without recipes; instead, she “eyeballs” everything and adores traveling to exotic locations.

Photo: WOAI

SAN ANTONIO – Whenever I’d watch Les Nessman on “WKRP in Cincinnati,” I’d think fondly of San Antonio’s own farm and ranch icon, Bill McReynolds.

But unlike the fictional Ohio-based farm reporter who brought giggles at every turn, McReynolds was a consummate pro, a serious radio man whom people in Texas’  rural areas followed religiously.

The local radio legend who worked at  WOAI-AM for half-a-century sadly has died at the age of 93.

McReynolds was known across the city and throughout Texas for his signature greeting, “Howdy, friends!”

He delivered the farm and ranch program at 5 a.m. daily and also a midday agricultural show until his retirement in 1997 at the age of 76.

Before he took the big step, he told me that he’d decided to retire because he and his wife were anxious to do some traveling – to Switzerland,  Australia and New Zealand – while “we’re still healthy.”

According to a tribute on WOAI-AM’s website, he also was very active in community and agricultural affairs, and in groups like the Future Farmers of America. Other facts:

McReynolds was born on a farm in Seymour Texas, attended the University of Florida and was a veteran of World War Two.

Though he covered news and sports, he discovered his calling to be farm and ranch reporting. He also worked at  WOA!-TV in the 1950s and 1960s.

According to WOAI’s tribute, another station vet, reporter Bud Little, who was a close friend of MCreynolds’, said the beloved radio man died peacefully at his home of natural causes.

His death was preceded by his beloved wife, Lizette, who died in 2012.

WOAI notes that funeral arrangements are pending. More will be known after the return of one of his three sons from a business trip to Africa.

Meanwhile, Facebook was packed with memories of the genteel newsman. A sampling:

“My friend and long time coworker Bill McReynolds has died at 93,” WOAI News Director Jim Forsyth wrote on his page. “It was an honor to work with Bill. He was a great broadcaster and a great man.”

Former WOAI news veteran Michael Main also wrote: “RIP, Bill McReynolds.”

“What a kind, cordial gentleman!!” wrote S.A. radio veteran Bobby Reyes, “a true voice of the radio airwaves and a friend to local agriculture.”

Eileen Pace of Texas Public Radio was especially moved by his passing. “I adored Bill McReynolds,” she wrote. “He was my hero, my mentor, a father figure I never had, a friend and a wonderful colleague. And a sometimes grandfather/uncle/scout leader to my boys. I’m just heartbroken.”

Courtesy photo

Year after year,  San Antonio anchorman Randy Beamer has helped the city ring in the new year with the live special, “Celebrate San Antonio” on WOAI-TV  – amid surprise marriage proposals, passionate kisses, crazy souvenirs and, of course, fireworks.

Beamer insists he never grows tired of the extra TV duty,  and can’t wait to do it again Wednesday night.

“I really look forward to it every year. It’s one of those rare times when we get to share one of the best things about San Antonio with the rest of San Antonio and South Texas,” Beamer wrote in an e-mail, “and we get to do it live, while enjoying all of it, right in the middle of it.”

The New Year’s Eve special airs from 10:30 p.m. Wednesday through 12:30 a.m. Thursday on WOAI.

This year, he’ll sit next to a new co-host: his WOAI co-anchor Evy Ramos.

But he has had many a lovely partner for the broadcast in previous years: Debora Daniels, Delaine Mathieu and Elsa Ramon, to name a few.

“I remember we did it during the big scare about Y2K,” Beamer said. “That was a little weird. And, in the end, very anticlimactic since pretty much nothing happened.”

“I remember some marriage proposals we’ve had live before the fireworks at midnight,” Beamer added. “All surprised. A few cried. And all said ‘yes.’ ”

He also enjoys the off-camera moments, he said,  right before the broadcast or during the fireworks part of it at midnight. “That’s when I get to take my camera and either get shots of the fireworks or wander around in the crowd and take candid shots of people having a great time,” he said.

“The backdrop of the Tower and HemisFair Park with La Villita right there and the Alamo just down the street. And most of it is a family-friendly atmosphere, where people bring their little ones and sometimes they sleep through the fireworks on their parents’ shoulders.”

As for all those kisses at the stroke of midnight — some of them a bit too enthusiastic for viewers’ tastes — Beamer added: “We’ve probably caught a few on camera between shots of the fireworks. But I usually watch the fireworks, so I don’t remember any really, uh, intensely demonstrative or ‘messy’ kisses.”

So, if you’re home enjoying one of those quieter New Year’s Eves, or  want a little TV accompaniment to the midnight countdown during a party, why not tune in to the only live telecast from downtown San Antonio.

For other televised parties, check out:

ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest.” Clark, who died in 2012, began this holiday TV tradition in 1974.  Seacrest is joined by Jenny McCarthy on the East Coast and Fergie, who hosts the Billboard Hollywood Party in Los Angeles. The fun, which also includes musical performances by Taylor Swift and New Direction, begins in prime time (7 p.m. on KSAT) and essentially runs through the wee hours of the morning.

Fox’s “Pitbull’s New Year’s Revolution.” This one has Pitbull hosting his first end-of-year TV special. He’ll broadcast live from his hometown of Miami. Guests include Enrique Iglesias and Fifth Harmony. First broadcast happens at 8 p.m. Wednesday on KABB and will be followed by the ring-in-the-new year extravaganza at 11 p.m.

NBC’s “New Year’s Eve With Carson Daly.” This annual prime-time special from Times Square in New York precedes WOAI’s local celebration. Among its highlights are performances by Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett. It airs at 9 p.m. on WOAI.

Photo: Courtesy

The subject of KENS’ February sweeps opener Thursday night: “Swingers,” or as its caption stated, “In-depth look into swinger lifestyle.”

Much of the darkly lit 10 p.m. news report consisted of the reporter — an uncomfortable-looking Jenny Suniga — talking to a longtime married couple, who didn’t want to be identified.

According to the report, “Tina and Fred”  have been in the “lifestyle” for seven years, i.e., engaging in “sex with other couples.”

Suniga goes on to tell us that one of the top clubs in the country is right here in San Antonio: Players Club. We then saw photo after photo of a psychedelic-looking dance floor, bed-stocked “cabana rooms,” hand-holding, foot stroking and other, blurrier scenes involving couples.

The club’s owner — who also preferred anonymity — then talked about what happens there.

He said the club now has 4,000 members.

“It looks like any other nightclub,” Suniga said, with a dance floor and music, but this club has private cabanas and a special room with toys, among other items.

She said sex is not allowed on the main floor but anything goes in the cabanas and that special room.

As for how this extracurricular activity affects the aforementioned couple’s sex life, “Tina” said: “Both of us enjoy watching each other to the other point that we’ll forget what we’re doing and we have to say, ‘Hey get busy. I was watching’.”

It’s made their sex life at home even hotter, the report concluded.

Watch it all by clicking here.  KENS’ tweet:

Inside San Antonio’s ‘swingers’ club http://t.co/FNKEHdpNyb

— KENS 5 (@KENS5) January 30, 2015

Scintillating stuff, sure. But for KENS to characterize this story as “in-depth” or even news is kind of a stretch.

Meanwhile, Thursday’s 10 p.m. sweeps opener by WOAI — the station that managed to top KENS at three news times in November ratings — was a well-crafted and timely “gotcha” piece from Jaie Avila.

The report, which required some hefty surveillance, showed that the City Council members who voted unanimously to pass the “hands free” ordinance — the one that prohibits local drivers from using their hands to text or talk on a cell phone — weren’t exactly practicing what they preach.

Several council members were photographed holding their phones and talking while driving after passing the law; one even was seen texting during traffic stops. Watch the full report by clicking here. WOAI’s tweeted promo:

See which SA city council members Trouble Shooter @JaieAvila caught driving not-so hands free http://t.co/xWRxrIJH5K.

— News 4 San Antonio (@News4SA) January 30, 2015

Which newscast was most watched by S.A.-area viewers Thursday?

According to Nielsen overnights shared by KSAT spokesman David Cuccio:

Perennial No. 1  KSAT — which touted a story about “the roots of the Mexican Mafia,” in relation to the Balcones Heights officer murder — claimed the largest audience.

KENS nabbed second place with its swingers piece and WOAI finished No. 3 with its “hands free” report on City Council phone use while driving.

Hmm. If these two sweeps approaches continue by KENS and WOAI, it’ll be interesting to see which one S.A. audiences ultimately prefer.

I’ll let you know when sweeps come to a close Feb. 25.

This year’s adrenaline-pumping Super Bowl, complete with a dramatic finish by the winning New England Patriots against the defending NFL champion Seattle Seahawks, unsurprisingly drew super-duper audience numbers.

National Nielsen overnights, in fact, tout the TV thriller on NBC Sunday night as setting a ratings record. Up three percent from last year’s number, TV’s biggest football event earned the highest Super Bowl-metered market rating in history with a 49.7 rating and 72 share.

Translated, nearly 89.8 million total viewers watched the game, Katy Perry’s sizzling halftime performance and, yes — as lackluster as they may have been to some — the commercials.

Locally, NBC affiliate WOAI also is popping champagne corks after the Super Bowl drew a dizzying 45 rating, 68 share, which topped last year’s Fox number of 44 rating, 66 share.

A ratings point equals 9,062 S.A. area households.

It, of course, solidly blew away all competition.  The only competing shows that registered anything close to a decent rating were “Shark Tank” on KSAT; and “60 Minutes” on KENS.

Speaking of Perry’s dynamite song-and-dance extravaganza, that show also whipped up on last year’s national halftime rating. According to Nielsen, her performances — complete with a roaring entrance atop a giant gold tiger (or was it a lion?), dancing sharks and high-flying choreography — topped the 2014 show featuring Bruno Mars and Red Hot Chili Peppers by 5 percent.

Photos: Getty

Escamilla’s latest exit — the third in 10 years — happens Feb. 26, he said, right after the end of February ratings sweeps.

The 51-year-old general assignments reporter is leaving to take a job with Southside ISD as community relations coordinator. His first day will be March 2.

“I’m thrilled and excited to help a community that really needs help and resources,” he said.  Basically, he’ll serve as a liaison between parents and teachers, and will assist with computer literacy, GED classes and Wellness fairs.

After all, Escamilla knows something about health and wellness. A few years ago, he dropped 40 pounds, built some impressive muscles and has been engaging in regular exercise and a healthy diet since.

As for his history with WOAI, he first left his longtime TV job in 2005 to pursue a new career in public relations. He took a PR post with the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, traveling to Africa and Peru as part of the job.

He later went to work for the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and  led the $1 million media campaign for the City of San Antonio’s anti-obesity initiative that launched Siclovia.

He returned to reporting at WOAI in 2012.

After getting his master’s degree in strategic public relations, he left again a year later to work for Microsoft as community development specialist.

Four months passed before he got the TV itch again and returned to reporting at WOAI.

Now, he’s preparing for a new career adventure. The question is: Will he stay with the Southside position for a while…or will we see him back on TV before we can even process his exit?

He definitely wants to settle into the new post, Escamilla indicated, and stay.

As the city’s longtime TV columnist who’s used to such back-and-forth movement by local news personalities, I can only smile and remain in amused wait-and-see mode.

Photo: Courtesy of Escamilla

That’s right, both stations. The anticipated anchor-sharing is now a reality at the Sinclair-owned sister stations — at least on Saturdays and Sundays.

As of last weekend, Robert Price (top photo), a reporter-anchor at KABB since 2011, officially became the Saturday and Sunday anchorman for both KABB and WOAI.

He’ll be joined on March 9 by a new face, Kristyn Leon (in photo above), who comes to San Antonio from the Fox affiliate in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

One meteorologist also will handle the weekend weather for WOAI and KABB: forecasting vet Mike Hernandez.

S.A.’s seasoned meteorologist Siobhain Anders, a longtime WOAI part-timer who’s led the weekends for years on the NBC affiliate, will be called in strictly on a fill-in basis.

Jaie Avila, who co-anchored the weekend news — first with the now-departed Jacqueline Ortiz, and most recently with temporary sub Leslie Komet — now will concentrate on his first love: investigative reporting.

For more on this new development at WOAI and KABB, including an interview with head honcho John Seabers on the newest  sharing trend at the stations and whether it eventually will spread to weekday anchor teams on the NBC and Fox affiliates, read my Wednesday column in the MySA section in the San Antonio Express-News.

Photos: Courtesy of WOAI/KABB

Next stop? My email box. Messages have been pouring in from concerned fans of various newscasters. A sampling:

“What has happened to Randy Beamer, Delaine Mathieu and Evy Ramos?  Usually 1 or 2 of them do the news.  I have been a faithful  watcher of Ch. 4 news since before Randy Beamer got here.  That might not continue.” — Millie Cooper

“Where is Randy, Delaine and Evy at 5 or 6 on WOAI? Why are they all off at the same time? I didn’t hear any explanation at the start of the broadcast like I usually do. I don’t have a problem with Michael Garofalo, I just miss Randy.” — Diane Migl

They’re definitely not alone in their worry.

Many others have wondered what the heck is going on at WOAI-TVl; Garofalo, usually the morning news anchor, has been subbing in the evenings.

The answer to the mystery? Spring Break.

“Randy Evy and Delaine are all out enjoying spring break with their families. They will be back on Monday,” explained Blaise Labbe, director of news for WOAI/KABB.

Steve Spriester of KSAT’s nightly newscasts also is enjoying the holiday with his family. On Facebook, he mentioned he’s been growing  a “greying vacation beard.”

In fact, “nearly everyone’s out for Spring Break” at KSAT, wrote spokesman David Cuccio. “Back to full staff next week.”

Ditto for anchor Mat Garcia of  KENS-TV’s morning show. According to his Facebook page, he, too, is enjoying the weeklong holiday with his kids. Thursday, for instance, they all had a ball in Gruene. Barry Davis of “Eyewitness Wants to Know” fame has been subbing for him next to Sarah Forgany.

Moreover, KENS’ 6 and 10 p.m. co-anchor Sarah Lucero opted to take off a couple of days to enjoy “our lovely city!” she said.

OK? Boy, S.A.’s newscasters should feel flattered that viewers not only miss them when they’re absent, but take the trouble to send their concerns via email.

There’s a whole other side to radio pundit Pags, however, one you could describe as cool, even hip – as those attending Friday night’s kickoff to Big League Weekend here will find out.

The popular WOAI voice also is an ace at one of music’s most happening horns: the saxophone. Pags, in fact, recalls that at the young age of 17, he used to pick up $100 an hour for gigs at The Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida.

The San Antonio Spurs have known this about him for a while. Pags, since 2009, said he has been asked repeatedly to play the National Anthem at games. He said he also has performed the honor at an Astros game in Houston and for the Talons in San Antonio.

Watch one of his Spurs performances here. 

Moreover, at 7 tonight (Friday), he’ll be delivering those sweet patriotic strains prior to  the Texas Rangers-Los Angeles Dodgers game in the Alamodome.

“I’ve been playing sax for 35 years,” Pags said in a phone chat. He also was a music major in college.

Though he makes his living expressing his thoughts on local, national and world issues on the air, “I didn’t study communications or journalism. I thought I’d be a professional saxophone player touring with some band somewhere.”

However, he also had a love for radio and was drawn to the spotlight. So, he embraced the chance to entertain a multitude of listeners on a regular basis via the radio. He began his WOAI gig in 2005, recently celebrating his 10th year there, and, via affiliations and syndication, can be heard on some 140 stations at various times around the country.

Pags said he smiles when people call him a conservative talk host, because he doesn’t see himself that way. He said his political gab is only a small part of his nightly, 5-8 p.m. radio act on WOAI.

Like his great-grandfather, who performed monologues full of political humor on  the vaudeville circuit, Pags also views himself as an entertainer.

Sometimes he’ll talk politics, but he’ll also talk about body functions, singer Jewel, the crazy drivers in San Antonio and what his kids did that day.

He certainly has plenty of fodder at home. Pags and his wife have three natural-born daughters of various ages, a 6-year-old girl they adopted in China and a granddaughter.

When he does get into politics,  however, “I certainly will give my take on it and my values happen to be conservative leanings.”

That may be one reason Pags isn’t exactly thrilled about comparisons between his sax-playing and that of Bill Clinton.

Who could forget Clinton’s big musical moment on Arsenio Hall’s late-night show back in 1992, when he played “Heartbreak Hotel” on the sax to the huge delight of the studio audience and those watching at home.

For a replay of that performance, click  here.

The main reason Pags  hates to be likened to the former president when it comes to the sax, however, has to do with quality of playing, he said.

“When people make comparisons between me and Bill Clinton, I say with no modesty at all that he could not play the saxophone with me. He’s not good enough.”

“What he did was cool. He had his sunglasses on and he was playing. But it didn’t sound that good.”

Photos: Courtesy, Fox

She’s now part of the city’s only husband-and-wife team on local TV.

Claudia Garofalo replaced recently promoted KABB morning anchor Jessica Headley last week as traffic reporter for WOAI and KABB. Garofalo now guides viewers on their morning commute on both “News 4 San Antonio Today” from 4:30 to 7 a.m. and “Fox News First” from 5 to 9 a.m.

On WOAI’s  early show, she was treated to a bonus. Or is it a hazard? She now works alongside her husband, Michael Garofalo, who co-anchors  “San Antonio Today” with Leslie Bohl.

“Working with Michael is awesome,” Claudia wrote in a message. “It is definitely funny when we are on the set together because he will blush and turn red when he is tossing (to) me, but then he’ll give me an eye wink when he can.”

The only other S.A. TV spouses who were part of the same news team — at least that I can remember — were Fred Lozano and Kelly Chapman on KENS in the 1980s.

But back to Claudia. . .She wed Garofalo less than two years ago. WOAI announced the news amid lots of fanfare on the air — complete with roses and a romantic serenade by a guitarist-singer. The new bride was still part of radio’s Y100’s morning team at the time.

Has the romance waned a bit — particularly now that they both have to crawl out of bed way before dawn and go to the same workplace?

“It is a blessing to be doing what we love together,” Claudia said. However,  she also mentioned a ritual that makes preparing for the  job rather tricky.

“Sharing the bathroom early morning as we are getting ready for work is interesting,” Claudia said. “We annoy each other very fast!”

Claudia, who also will continue her role as an on-air contributor to WOAI’s lifestyle program, “San Antonio Living,” picked up the new traffic duty pretty quickly, she said. “I started off doing traffic on the Y100 morning show two years ago,” she said.

Besides, the Del Rio native, added, “learning the maps was not difficult because San Antonio has been my home for a long time, so I know the city well.”

Claudia came to her marriage to Michael with a daughter, whom they both adore: Avah, who’s now 5.

“It is tough leaving so early and not being there when she wakes up,” Claudia said.

“But the schedule has its perks,” she added. “I am always there when she gets off school and am usually available to attend classroom functions and field trips that another schedule would not allow.”

Photo: WOAI

See preview of show below:

Here’s hoping the thrilling moves of Semeneya will get a thumbs-up from celebrity judges Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum and Howard Stern, as well as the show’s multitude of viewers.

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT — “Los Angeles Auditions” Dolby Theatre — Pictured: Semeneya — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC)

The group formed about a year ago and combines salsa, tricks and acrobatics; in short, a kind of fast-footwork Latin ballroom.

Also: Those who saw last week’s “extreme auditions” edition of the show undoubtedly had as good a time as the judges watching teen cutie Damone Rippy (below, in Twitter pic), a fly boarder from Austin.

He is 16, possesses a set of toned abs to die for and flipped, flew and twirled 45 feet in the air with the help of a water jet pack attached to his feet.

After some double backflips, he even performed a few salsa moves. The judges gave a resounding yes to Rippy, putting the Lake Travis regular through to the next rounds, which begin July 14.

If you missed him, here’s a recap, courtesy of YouTube: