People keep asking both women if they’re mother and daughter – or at least related in some way.

“I have been answering questions about that for years now,” Buchanan said in an email. Lucero, too, has been asked the question “ever since I started working in television news in San Antonio.”

I get asked as well. In fact, the subject came up again in May and I’ve been getting the query over and over since. That’s because I mentioned Buchanan in a May Express-News 150th Anniversary story that chronicled the history of WOAI, the first TV station in San Antonio.

Buchanan was the first woman to co-anchor a local evening news broadcast here. It was on a Channel 4 panel program in 1965 called “Early Evening Report,” which aired from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. It wasn’t until ’72 that she broke ground state-wide, however.

That’s when WOAI launched its weekday 6 p.m. broadcast and introduced Buchanan as co-anchor, making her the first woman to head a prime-time news telecast. “Jessica Savitch was anchoring in Houston. . .but she was doing weekends, ‘’ recalled Buchanan in a 1999 interview.

Buchanan also paved the way for pregnant anchors; she stayed on-air, “in all my blooming glory,” until two weeks before giving birth.

These days, that’s a given. Lucero, for instance, has co-anchored KENS’ news broadcasts through all four of her pregnancies.

But back to the original reason for this blog and why people associate the two anchors.

Buchanan’s married name is Lucero; Martha’s husband is Pepe Lucero (seen above in a Christmas card photo supplied by Buchanan), and their union became well-known because he also was in the news — as a prominent politician.

In fact, the couple moved to Washington D.C., where they still live, when, in 1980, he was asked to serve in President Carter’s Treasury Department as the Chief of Revenue Sharing.

As for that other question. . .

“Would that she were my daughter,” Buchanan replied, “but that is not the case.   My daughter, Lia Lucero, lives in North Carolina and, with her husband, is bringing up two gorgeous little girls.”

As for KENS’ 6 and 10 p.m. anchorwoman, Lucero said it gets even more confusing because she has an aunt named Martha Lucero, and sometimes, “I can’t  tell which Martha they’re talking about.”

In fact, she added, she’s even told “I resemble Martha Buchanan.

“I always tell people that I hope to be able to meet (Martha and Pepe) some day because everybody seems to know who they are and talks very highly of them as a great San Antonio couple.”

Buchanan shares that wish.

“Hopefully one of these days I can meet Sarah,” she wrote, “and congratulate her on all the really great comments I hear about her, and thank her for picking up the torch for women broadcasters.”

Photos: Courtesy of Lucero and Buchanan

Claudia Garofalo vanished from her traffic reporter post on WOAI/KABB a several weeks back for a productive reason — actually, a reproductive reason.

“We are so happy to say that I am five months pregnant with a precious baby girl!” Garofalo revealed today. By “we” she means she and her ecstatic husband, WOAI morning anchorman Mike Garofalo, seen in photo below reacting to  learning Claudia was expecting.

“We are so excited!” she added.

“Everyone was wondering why I suddenly left TV,” Garofalo  explained, “and it is because my doctor put me on bedrest due to early complications.”

As I shared with you here, Garofalo suffered a miscarriage in March of last year. So, this time she’s taking every precaution, including putting off returning to work until after the baby comes.

“I continue to take it easy and looking forward to welcoming our little angel this November!”

This will be the couple’s first child together. When they married a little less than two years ago, however, Claudia brought another “angel” to the union: her precious daughter Avah.

Avah, in fact, can’t wait to meet her baby sister. “She comes up with names everyday!” Claudia said.

Meanwhile, everyone might start wondering what’s in the TV water these days. Earlier this week, KSAT’s Isis Romero and her husband Phil Anaya announced they were expecting a second child in February.

SAN ANTONIO – Two lovely San Antonio television staples are jumping to exciting new gigs.

One even bagged a television news job at the ABC-owned station in the country’s No. 2 market: Los Angeles!

Mayde “Mimi” Gomez (right), a multimedia journalist and fill-in co-host on KSAT-TV’s high-rated lifestyle show, “SA Live,” is heading to KABC-TV in Los Angeles.

According to David Cuccio, KSAT’s creative services director, Gomez  “was spotted by the folks at Disney (owners of ABC and KABC).

“We’re so sad to see her go, but to jump from ‘SA Live’ to KABC as a reporter,” he added, “is a huge step and one we’re so proud of.”

Meanwhile, WOAI-TV isn’t losing an asset, but gaining one — a strong new investigative reporter, who worked for many years at KSAT.

April Molina is joining News 4 San Antonio’s Trouble Shooters unit. Soon, she’ll be teaming up with Delaine Mathieu and Jaie Avila as well as executive producer Bryan Eckert and photographer/editor Brian Sanchez to help put city officials’ feet to the fire and assist consumers in their woes.

Molina spent nine years as an investigative reporter at KSAT, and six years reporting for Fox 7 in Austin. The University of Texas-Austin graduate began her television career reporting and anchoring in Waco.

“It’s exciting to add a journalist of April’s caliber to the team,” said  WOAI/KABB director of news, Blaise Labbe.

Advocacy and investigative reporting is a strength of News 4, he said, and adding an experienced reporter who knows San Antonio to the Trouble Shooters is another step in the right direction.

Photos: Courtesy of KSAT, WOAI

SAN ANTONIO – A bevy of impressive local radio personalities got inducted into the San Antonio Radio Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Among those honored were two who are still going strong on S.A.’s airwaves: Trey Ware, a 40-year vet of local radio, whose topical talk show can be heard on KTSA (107.1 FM as well as on its longtime frequency 550 AM) every day from 5 to 9 a.m.; and Chrissie Murnin, who has done the news and traffic on radio here for 38 years and can be heard daily on KKYX, KCYY, KONO and KSMG.

Mark Carillo, an on-air personality for 28 years on KONO, KTSA, KTFM and too many other rock, adult contemporary and country stations to list, may be heard more frequently today on radio than ever before. He’s a voice-over maestro who stars in more than 100 commercials a month.

WOAI veterans of many decades —  Bob Guthrie, who gave us the news here for 53 years before retiring in 2009, and Bill Rohde, one of San Antonio’s most recognizable radio voices — also were inducted.

Those celebrated posthumously included:

Prominent conservative talk voice Carl Wiglesworth. He commented on local politics and other topics and issues for nearly three decades on both WOAI and KTSA. He died a little more than a year ago.

Mary Denman, a pioneer of women in broadcasting. She was best known on local radio for her “Morning Magazine” on WOAI. She died in 2013.

Local radio legend Bill McReynolds, who worked at  WOAI-AM for half-a-century. He died late last year at the age of 93. McReynolds  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.

“What a great honor to go into the hall of fame with these radio giants,” said Trey Ware, who was accompanied at the ceremony by his dad, Ricci Ware, another local radio icon.

“All of them are my heroes and my friends,” Ware added.

Carillo said that being inducted may be the proudest moment of his career. “Having never even received a participation plaque or award in my 39 years as an entertainer, it is quite possibly the highlight of my career,” he wrote in a message.

Of his fellow honorees, Carillo added: “All of us worked during the golden age of radio, when the listener was involved and the key to a station’s success. To be included with these greats was an honor. To be spoken of in the same conversation about Bob Guthrie, Bill Rohde, Bill McReynolds and Trey Ware is humbling. Even though I’ve been off the air for thirteen years, people still recognize my voice in public and many still make it a point to come up and say howdy. . .When listeners do that, it warms my heart and I am so grateful to have played the hits.”

Here’s the complete list of the weekend’s inductees (you’ll no doubt recognize many of the names):

Gary Allyn

Coleman Barber

Mark Carrillo

Gentleman Jim Carter

Raoul Cortez

Mary Denman

Bob Guthrie

Chet Maxwell

Bill McReynolds

Chrissie Murnin

Albert “Scratch” Phillips

Bill Rohde

Johnny Shannon

Trey Ware

Carl Wiglesworth

Photos: Courtesy of Trey Ware and Mark Carillo. Also: Special thanks to Steve Walker of The Walker Report 

SAN ANTONIO – Their long wait is finally over. The reward, an early Christmas present, arrived Tuesday night.

That’s when WOAI-TV morning news couple Mike and Claudia Garofalo welcomed a baby into their world.

Daughter Anna Kate was born at 10:26 p.m. She’s 6 pounds, 8 ounces, nearly 20 inches long and as cute as can be.

According to a message from Claudia, the mom and baby are doing great.

Claudia’s the traffic reporter for WOAI/KABB and husband Mike co-anchors the news mornings on WOAI.

This is the couple’s first child together.

They already share a daughter Claudia brought to their union two years ago: precious Avah, who turned 7 this year.

According to Claudia, Avah was thrilled to learn she would be getting a baby sister.

As I shared with you last year, Claudia suffered a miscarriage in March 2014.

So, this time she took every precaution, including taking time off from her job through most of her pregnancy. “My doctor put me on bed rest due to early complications,” she told me in July.

WOAI general manager John Seabers said in a previous interview Claudia’s extended leave would end sometime after the birth of her child.

So, I imagine she’ll be back on the air – doing traffic and contributing to the “Living” show — early next year.

Photo: Courtesy Claudia Garofalo

SAN ANTONIO — If you think the market already is saturated with local TV news, you’ll love today’s announcement: Another news half-hour will launch in San Antonio on Jan. 25.

WOAI-TV will join competitors KSAT and KENS and deliver local, national and weather news at noon.

While KSAT presents an hour at the midday mark, from noon to 1 p.m., WOAI will present a 30-minute format similar to that on KENS.

“News 4 San Antonio @ Noon” will feature the station’s current morning crew: co-anchors Michael Garofalo and Leslie Bohl as well as meteorologist Jeannette Calle.

“News 4’s morning newscast has continued to grow significantly. In November, we were a solid No. 2 in total viewers, and No. 1 with adult viewers 18 to 49 and 25 to 54,” WOAI/KABB’s news director Blaise Labbe said in a release. “We are excited to bring the News 4 brand of local news to noon as well.”

The addition brings the total of news half-hours on WOAI to 10. KENS also has 10, while KSAT delivers a total of 11.

Gossipy celebrity program, “The Insider,” will follow WOAI’s new newscast at 12:30 p.m. on WOAI.

Also on Jan. 25, “The Rachael Ray Show” will move from its current noon slot on WOAI to 8 a.m. on CW affiliate, KMYS-TV.

SAN ANTONIO — Members of San Antonio’s radio community are grieving over the loss of one of their own.

S.A. radio’s Betsy Britton. Photo courtesy of Saundra Reyna.

Betsy Britton, a longtime staple of the local airwaves, died Saturday night. She was 61.

Britton, whose career in broadcasting spanned four decades, was best known for the years she toiled as a traffic reporter on news-talk WOAI (1200 AM). She pleased listeners with her sultry voice. (I frequently got notes from fans, particularly in the 1990s, asking if I’d show the face behind that distinctive voice).

She also could be heard on KONO (101.1 FM), country station KKYX, KTFM (94.1 FM) and other stations.

“She made an impression wherever she went and brought smiles and laughter to everyone she met,” said former WOAI news veteran Michael Main, who met Britton while working for a station in Austin in the ’80s. They reunited at WOAI twice – in the ’90s and early 2000s.

“She held a special place in a lot of hearts,” Main added, “including mine. I’ll miss her very much.”

Eileen Pace, formerly of WOAI and now at Texas Public Radio, wrote on her Facebook wall Sunday: “My heart is broken.

“Betsy was comical, talented and spirited and more than that, she was a good friend, a great mother and grandmother and she loved her family,” Pace added. “She loved her radio family, too, and we all will miss her.”

As recently as last November, Britton was celebrated by the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.  “We are all comforted by the fact that just a few weeks ago, she was inducted into  the Texas Radio Hall of Fame. It was wonderful she got to have her moment,” said Mark Carrillo, another veteran of local radio, who now makes his living as a voiceover artist.

See Britton’s tribute here:

Britton’s only child, Saundra Reyna, agreed her mom’s recent TRHF induction in Austin was a highlight. “We went with her,” Reyna said Sunday night. “She loved every minute. I was extremely proud of her.”

Reyna  said that it was too early to know for sure what caused her mom’s death, but she believes she may have died in her sleep.

She said her mom suffered from COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), a progressive disease that makes it difficult to breathe.

“She’d been in and out of the hospital,” Reyna said Sunday night. “But last time I heard from her (on New Year’s Day), she was in good spirits.”

Britton is survived by her daughter and three granddaughters.

Funeral services are pending. Reyna said she’ll let her mom’s friends know more via Facebook.

“One has acquaintances and friends,” Reyna said.  “She had very few acquaintances and a lot more friends. My mother touched so many people.”