#Frank somerville health update

Sources at the station said news director Amber Eikel and editors didn’t think Somerville’s proposed “tag,” a brief closing the story, was an appropriate way to cover the issue and would blur the lines between an anchor delivering a straight news story and offering editorial commentary.įollowing Somerville’s suspension, two rallies were held outside the KTVU studios in Jack London Square in October, both sparked by his reported desire to address disparities in media coverage of White crime victims like Petito versus women of color.

#Frank somerville health update

That night he pushed to add a brief commentary on racial inequity to the end of a news update about the disappearance of Petito, a young White woman and social media influencer whose case had attracted a firestorm of media coverage. Somerville’s last newscast for KTVU was on Sept. newscasts, replacing 40-year veteran Dennis Richmond. In 2008, he was elevated to one of the station’s marquee positions when he was anointed co-anchor of the 6 p.m. He became co-anchor of the station’s highly rated “Mornings on 2” in 1992. The multiple Emmy winner lives in Oakland, grew up in Berkeley and graduated from Berkeley High and San Francisco State University. Somerville’s Bay Area roots helped make him popular with viewers. The photo shows him with a beard and the caption: “I think I look pretty cool for 63 if I do say so myself” In response to a follower who said Somerville didn’t look well, he said, “I feel great.

Somerville said his health was “great,” a point he also made in a photo he shared on Instagram with his 5,100 followers this week. when he simply introduced himself: “I’m Mike Mibach.” This past week, “Mornings On 2” anchor Mike Mibach has been in Somerville’s chair, including on Thursday night’s newscasts at 5 and 6 p.m. Meanwhile, Oakland police are awaiting the results of blood tests before turning the case over to Alameda County prosecutors to decide whether to file charges.Īs of Thursday afternoon, officials at KTVU and at Fox had not responded to repeated emails asking about Somerville’s departure or about whether they had offically signed a replacement. Somerville has received three Emmy awards at KTVU, including one for best on-camera news.

Somerville was booked into Santa Rita Jail in Dublin after his arrest, then released with a citation to appear in court. Frank Somerville (born March 19, 1958) is an American journalist. In interviews this week, Somerville declined to say anything more about his departure from KTVU, his arrest or his plans. He was off air for much of the summer, following his now-infamous May 30 newscast, when he repeatedly slurred and stumbled over his words and appeared to have trouble reading off the teleprompter. This was Somerville’s second suspension in a tumultuous year. In November, Somerville told this news organization that management had not contacted him since September, when he was suspended from his anchoring duties for an off-air dispute about coverage of the Gabby Petito case.