Mike Cronemeyer On To Spokane

Mike Gonzalez, better known to WOWT viewers as "Mike Cronemeyer," is leaving the station to co-anchor morning newscasts at KXLY (ABC) in Spokane.

Cronemeyer/Gonzalez's name change is explained here. He had worked at WOWT 17 months.

From the Notebook

Travis Justice has joined Matt Perrault on "The Big Show" on Big Sports 590. Justice's own morning radio show, which aired from 9 to 11 a.m., has been replaced by "Out of Bounds" from Fox Sports Radio with hosts Craig Shemon and James Washington... The "Average Joe Sports Show" on Lincoln's KLMS (1480 AM) from 3 to 6 p.m. is no more, to be replaced by a still-to-be-announced program which will beginning this Friday.

Omaha World-Herald Assistant Managing Editor Jeff Carney explained the problems the newspaper encountered Monday in a story in Tuesday's editions. Carney wrote that the newspaper's electrical troubles at its printing plant (the Freedom Center) first surfaced during routine maintenance and inspection of an emergency backup power supply. When the primary system was put back online, the computerized pagination automatization and data management system failed. The Kansas City Star and Lincoln Journal Star newspapers pitched in to print about 200,000 papers.

Omaha's KMTV and Lincoln's KLKN will broadcast the 42nd annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon this weekend. KMTV will begin its coverage of the 21.5-hour program at 7 a.m. Monday, while KLKN will begin its broadcast Sunday at 10:35 p.m. Last year's telethon raised more than $61 million.

Saturday's Nebraska football game against Nevada will be a regional broadcast on ABC. The team of Dan Fouts (play-by-play), Tim Brant (color) and Todd Harris (sideline) will handle the announcing. On the Husker Sports Network (radio), Jim Rose will handle play-by-play, Adrian Fiala and Matt Davison will provide color commentary and Sean Callahan and Lane Grindle will handle the sideline broadcasting duties.

Tracy Madden Back From Maternity Leave

WOWT evening news co-anchor Tracy Madden is back from maternity leave. In an entry on her blog, Madden writes:

I wish I would have saved the email. I had dozens of chances. A Channel Six viewer sent the same message to six online dozens of times. Here's the gist of what it said. "While I like Tracy Madden, what is she doing anchoring the 6pm and 10pm newscasts? She's a mother and needs to be home with her children. It doesn't matter if her husband, mother, or a babysitter is watching the kids, it's not enough." The writer went on to say if Channel Six didn't make an anchoring change to honor my best interests, he would stop watching our news and encourage other people to do the same.

That message hurt more than all the comments on my lipstick, hair, and clothing combined. The focus on physical appearance goes along with the job, but this was the only time my parenting had come into question.

It's an issue top of mind as my maternity leave comes to an end. One week from today I'll be back at work, preparing to anchor newscasts. Part of me is excited to go back, see my co-workers, and tackle new challenges. The other part of me will have a hard time keeping the tears in check, realizing how much I'll miss my children. Thousands of parents go through it every day, and I doubt it ever gets easier.

Someone once told me just because you work doesn't mean you're a bad parent and just because you stay home doesn't mean you're a great parent. The truth is all parents work, whether it's at home or at a job. I refuse to debate which is "better or worse" because life isn't always an either/or situation. We love our children and do the best we can.

I explained those feelings in my reply to the man who emailed six online. I told him what I know is true. Whether I work outside the home or not, I will give parenting everything I have and give my children the greatest gift, unconditional love. Never did hear back from him. I guess he doesn't believe good manners are part of being a good parent.

WOWT morning co-anchor Malorie Maddox filled in while Madden was on maternity leave.

Stop The Presses: World-Herald's Printing Problems

The state's largest newspaper said "electronic problems" at its production facility (The Freedom Center) is delaying the distribution of this afternoon's editions. A recorded message at the Omaha World-Herald switchboard tells callers they could receive their paper as late as nine o'clock tonight.

According to a message on Omaha.com, some editions are being printed at an "alternative printing plant."