Mark Kriski Fired After 35 Years at KTLA as Nexstar Layoffs Gut Local News Stations Nationwide
Mark Kriski, the eight-time Emmy-winning meteorologist who has been a cornerstone of Los Angeles morning television since 1991, has been laid off by KTLA. The dismissal came Wednesday, February 25, 2026 ET, as part of a sweeping nationwide round of Nexstar Media Group layoffs that eliminated positions across flagship stations in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago.
Mark Kriski's 35-Year Run at KTLA Comes to an Abrupt End
Mark Kriski joined KTLA in July 1991 as the original meteorologist when the station launched its iconic morning news program. For 35 consecutive years, he delivered weather forecasts to Los Angeles-area viewers every weekday morning, becoming one of the most recognized faces on Southern California television. He was the last surviving original cast member from the show's 1991 debut.
His tenure spanned some of the most significant weather and disaster events in California history, including live coverage of the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the Malibu wildfires, and countless other breaking weather moments. Viewers took the news hard, with social media flooding within hours of the announcement Wednesday afternoon ET.
Nexstar Layoffs Hit KTLA, WPIX, and WGN Simultaneously
The Mark Kriski layoff was part of a much larger Nexstar-wide reduction affecting three of its highest-profile stations in a single sweep. At KTLA in Los Angeles, midday anchors Lu Parker — a station fixture since 2005 — and Glen Walker, who joined in 2010, were also let go Wednesday alongside an unspecified number of reporters. The departures were first reported by the industry publication NewscastStudio.
At WPIX in New York, anchors John Muller, Craig Treadway, Kori Chambers, and Arrianae LeBeau were all cut. WGN in Chicago also faced significant newsroom reductions as part of the same Nexstar initiative. Roles across the newsroom, production, and sales departments were affected across all three markets.
Nexstar Cites "Unprecedented Change" in Terse Statement
Nexstar Media Group did not address any individual departures by name. The company issued a brief written statement saying it does not comment on personnel issues but is taking steps necessary to compete effectively in this period of unprecedented change. No further detail was provided regarding the total number of positions eliminated or any transition plans for affected employees.
Nexstar operates 201 stations across 116 local markets and reaches approximately 70% of U.S. households. The company is currently in the final stages of a pending merger with Tegna, which owns 64 stations in 51 U.S. markets. Once complete, the combined company would hold 265 stations in 44 states and Washington D.C., reaching an estimated 80% of U.S. television households.
SAG-AFTRA and CWA Blast Nexstar Over Layoffs and Union Tactics
The union response to the Mark Kriski layoff and the broader Nexstar cuts was swift and pointed. SAG-AFTRA president Sean Astin issued a statement Wednesday condemning the eliminations, arguing that Nexstar is eroding the resources and talent that local communities rely on for trusted news. Astin called the actions a direct consequence of media consolidation and urged regulators to prioritize the public interest.
The Communications Workers of America echoed those concerns, pointing to what it characterized as a broader pattern of anti-union behavior by Nexstar. The CWA noted that workers at three Nexstar stations and one broadcasting hub have voted for union representation in elections supervised by the National Labor Relations Board, but said Nexstar refused to recognize the outcomes and engaged in what it described as frivolous legal appeals to delay or block organizing efforts.
Mark Kriski's Legacy and the Grief of Los Angeles Viewers
Fan response to the Mark Kriski layoff was immediate and emotional. One viewer posted on X that laying off an L.A. icon who came back after a stroke is beyond disrespectful — a reference to Kriski's recovery from a mild stroke he suffered in 2024, after which he returned full-time to the KTLA Morning News. Multiple comments described the loss as a shock and questioned how KTLA could let go of someone so deeply woven into the fabric of Los Angeles mornings.
Mark Kriski also covered weather alongside the late Sam Rubin, KTLA's beloved entertainment reporter who died of a heart attack earlier in 2024. His departure, paired with Rubin's passing, marks the end of an era for a program that once defined morning television in one of the country's largest media markets.
