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Why Alison Montoya's Comeback Will Be Brief

Megan Mitchell
Provided by WLWT-TV
Megan Mitchell
Megan Mitchell
Credit Provided by WLWT-TV
Megan Mitchell

Well, that was quick!

A month after WLWT-TV welcomed back Alison Montoya, Channel 5 announced that she'll be replaced as "News 5 Today Weekend" anchor.

Apparently Montoya was just a temp, filling in until new hire Megan Mitchell arrives from North Dakota in early July.

Mitchell is co-anchor, reporter and producer of the highest-rated morning show in Bismarck, ND, on NBC affiliate KFYR-TV, says the Channel 5 announcement.

Mitchell, a high school lacrosse champion from Brookfield, CT., attended Emerson College in Boston. She was an anchor-producer at WEBN-TV  -- Yes, there's a WEBN-TV in Boston! -- and "spent time at MSNBC and MTV while in school," the announcement says.

Alison Montoya
Credit WLWT-TV
Alison Montoya

She starts July 7 at Channel 5, and "will become the full-time anchor ofWLWTNews 5 Today Weekend shortly thereafter."

So what happens to Montoya? The former reporter/anchor (2008-14) and daughter of Bengals' great Max Montoya was brought back last month with great fanfare to replace longtime anchor JonathanHawgood, who left to "focus on his business interests."

"Alison will continue as an occasional fill-in anchor on WLWT once Megan takes over full-time," says Pete Salkowski, WLWT creative services director

When weekend meteorologist Jennifer Schack posted news about Mitchell's hiring on Facebook, most of the comments were "What happened to Alison?"

Now you know.

Copyright 2021 91.7 WVXU. To see more, visit .

John Kiesewetter joined the WVXU news team as a TV/Media blogger on July 1 2015, after nearly 30 years covering local and national broadcasting for The Cincinnati Enquirer. He’ll be posting news about Greater Cincinnati TV, radio and movies; updating your favorite former local TV/radio personalities or stars who grew up here; and breaking news about national TV, radio and media trends. You’ll also learn about Cincinnati’s rich broadcasting history.