CBS Austin morning anchor John-Carlos Estrada was among the Texas broadcasters laid off this week.
CBS Austin
It’s been a brutal week for Texas media, with television stations and radio companies eliminating jobs from Austin to Corpus Christi, Waco, Houston and Amarillo as broadcasters continue reshaping their operations.
The latest round reached Austin on Thursday, when CBS Austin laid off morning anchor John-Carlos Estrada and traffic anchor Jenna Wilson.
Article continues below this ad
Estrada confirmed his departure in a social media post Friday morning.
“After 7 years of overnight alarms, I finally get to sleep in. My time on CBS Austin This Morning has come to an end,” he wrote.
Estrada thanked viewers for welcoming him into their homes each morning and expressed gratitude for the story tips, interviews and encouragement he received during his seven years at the station. He said he plans to finish an upcoming book with the University of Texas Press and continue his documentary work.
Article continues below this ad
“Austin is home, so you’ll still see us around town with the Frenchies!” he added.
In a statement to Chron, CBS Austin News Director Erin Garza confirmed the layoffs and said the station will debut a refreshed format for CBS Austin This Morning on Sept. 14.
“Beginning September 14, CBS Austin will debut a refreshed format for ‘CBS Austin This Morning,’ designed to better serve our audience while continuing to deliver the local journalism and community coverage our viewers expect,” Garza said. She said the transition required “the difficult decision to eliminate two positions” and thanked Estrada and Wilson for their contributions to the station.
Article continues below this ad
Scripps layoffs hit Texas TV stations
The Austin cuts came just days after E.W. Scripps eliminated jobs at television stations across the country, including in Texas.
The company has not disclosed how many employees were affected at individual stations, but layoffs reached KRIS 6 in Corpus Christi and KXXV in Waco as part of a nationwide workforce reduction tied to broader operational changes. Reports have alleged more than two dozen employees were laid off at KRIS 6, though the station has not confirmed that figure.
Several employees shared emotional messages in the aftermath.
Article continues below this ad
KRIS 6 anchor Clara Benitez-Cortez asked viewers to “please pray” for the newsroom, saying many of her colleagues had lost their jobs. She said coverage would continue but acknowledged many of the employees behind the scenes would no longer be there.
Former KRIS 6 anchor Mike Gillaspia, who now works at KIII 3News in Corpus Christi, also reacted to the layoffs.
“My heart goes out to all of the Scripps folks who learned today that they will no longer have jobs in two weeks as stations shift toward an AI-powered newsroom model,” he wrote. “Gillaspia added the changes have been “painful and confusing” for “real people, real families, real careers.”
Article continues below this ad
Cumulus cuts longtime Texas radio employees
The layoffs weren’t limited to television.
Stay informed, and entertained.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms Of Use and acknowledge that your information will be used as described in our Privacy Policy.
Industry publication RAMP reported this week that Cumulus Media is undergoing another round of downsizing affecting stations across the country, including in Texas.
Article continues below this ad
Laura Dickerson was among the radio personalities affected by Cumulus Media’s latest round of layoffs.
KRBE
In Houston, Laura Dickerson was released from her role as music director and evening host at 104.1 KRBE. Dickerson joined KRBE as a weekend personality in 2021 before becoming the station’s music director the following year. In January 2025, she relocated to Atlanta after being promoted to assistant program director and midday host at sister station Q99.7 while continuing to serve as KRBE’s music director and host of H-Town Nights With Laura.
The cuts also reached Cumulus’ Amarillo cluster, where several longtime employees were let go. Those affected included Shortie, who spent more than 15 years at 93.1 The Beat; Chase Elder, who had been on the air for 28 years, most recently at Rock 108; traffic reporter Carol Titus, who brought more than two decades of experience; and production and on-air veteran Dale Miller, whose broadcasting career there spanned more than 40 years.