Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
For more than 30 years, John Kiesewetter has been the source for information about all things in local media — comings and goings, local people appearing on the big or small screen, special programs, and much more. Contact John at johnkiese@yahoo.com.

Mark Hayes Out, Mollie Lair In At WLWT-TV

WLWT-TV
Mollie Lair

Anchor Mark Hayes has left WLWT-TV after three years as anchor-reporter. Mollie Lair joined the News 5 team from Cape Girardeau, MO.

Hayes was hired in 2014 to co-anchor morningswith Lisa Cooney. 

He moved to the night shift in January to anchor the 10 p.m. news on Me TV (Channel 5.2). Mike Dardis anchored the 10 p.m. news on Monday.

Lair began co-anchoring weekend evening newscasts with Courtis Fuller on Saturday, Aug. 26.

Lair, a Kentucky native, worked two years in Parkersburg, WV, before going to KFVS-TV in Cape Girardeau for nearly four years. She interned for the "CBS Evening News" in New York and for NBC News in London while attending Elon University in North Carolina.  

She describes herself on Twitter (@MLairWLWT)as "a die-hard Kentucky fan."

Hayes "has left the WLWT newsroom to pursue other future assignments," says Branden J. Frantz, Channel 5 general manager. On his Facebook page in July, Hayes promoted his Mark Hayes Consulting business offering media training, brand management and motivational speaking.

The addition of Lair as weekend co-anchor continues the anchor team tinkering under Frantz, a former WXIX-TV sales executive hired in November. Since January the station has added morning co-anchor Colin Mayfield and traffic reporter Vanessa Richardson, and weekend morning meteorologist Ashley Brown.

John Kiesewetter, who has covered television and media for more than 35 years, has been working for Cincinnati Public Radio and WVXU-FM since 2015.