Media News

New Dallas news channel launches with anchors Brett Shipp, Charles Divins

Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to Charles Divins.

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Dallas is getting a new news outlet from Spectrum Networks, starring two broadcast veterans. Spectrum News 1 will represent a new platform servicing Dallas-Fort Worth, anchored by Dallas reporter Brett Shipp and Dallas native Charles Divins.

The channel will feature hyperlocal news, politics, weather, and original local content, and will launch across Texas October 16.

In addition to Dallas-Fort Worth, the programming will extend to Wichita Falls and the Southern and Western regions in Texas, adding to Spectrum's existing coverage of Austin and San Antonio.

Shipp and Divins will serve as weekday anchors.

Cater Lee, Spectrum News 1's VP of News and Content, says in a statement that they're excited to bring hyperlocal news and content to customers across the state.

"Spectrum News has been covering the Austin and San Antonio regions since 1999," Lee says. "Our journalists do more than report on the news; they live, work and are actively engaged in the communities they serve. This deeper understanding allows us to better cover the stories that take place every day in Texas neighborhoods."

Spectrum News 1 is available exclusively to Spectrum customers. Their policy is to invest in more boots on the ground local reporting and that includes more than three dozen journalists embedded in communities in San Antonio, Austin/Waco, Dallas-Ft. Worth/Wichita Falls, Harlingen, Corpus Christi, El Paso, and the Rio Grande Valley.

That coverage includes political anchor Karina Kling and political reporter Reena Diamante, who cover the state capitol in Austin; and D.C. Bureau Reporter Margaret Chadbourn, who will cover the congressional delegation and Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Coverage includes local news, politics and public affairs, community news, general-interest content, weather, and sports.

Political programming includes a nightly political show, "Capital Tonight," with Anchor Karina Kling, at 7 pm; and a weekly public affairs program, “In Focus,” hosted by Dr. Nicole Cross, on Sundays at 9:30 am.

The schedule will be:

Mondays-Fridays at 5 am, "Your Morning on Spectrum News 1" covers the top stories of the day with Divins and anchor Alex Stockwell, plus weather from meteorologists Ricky Cody and Dan Robertson.
Weekdays at 12 pm, Dr. Nicole Cross will anchor "Your Afternoon on Spectrum News 1," with meteorologists Mary Wasson and Adrienne Vonn.
Weekdays at 5 pm, Shipp will join Nicole Cross as co-anchor of "Your Evening on Spectrum News 1." Shipp will also anchor the 9 pm newscast. Weather reports at 5 pm and 9 pm will be from Chief Meteorologist Burton Fitzsimmons and meteorologist Emily Borchard.
Local high school, college, and professional sports will be covered by sports anchor Travis Recek.
Weekends at 7 am, Todd Boatwright will recap the top news of the week on Saturdays and Sundays on "Your Weekend on Spectrum News 1."
Weekend evening news will be covered by Stef Manisero on Saturdays at 5 pm, and Agustin Garfias on Sundays at 5 pm. Meteorologist Lauren Due will cover weather on Saturdays and Sundays.

Shipp has more than 30 years of experience in local news, including 22 years as an investigative reporter with WFAA-TV. He left WFAA in 2017 to run for Congress before starting his own media company, Brett Shipp Media.

Divins, a Dallas native, returns to his Texas roots and joins Spectrum News 1 after six years as morning anchor at WDSU-TV in New Orleans. Prior to WDSU, he was the host of NBC’s LXTV "1st Look" and KNBC’s "YourLA" in Los Angeles, and he also served as a co-host of the nationally syndicated morning show, "Daily Buzz."

Spectrum News 1 will be available exclusively to Spectrum video customers on channel 1. Spectrum’s award-winning local news and original content also is available on the recently launched Spectrum News App, available to all Spectrum residential customers including internet-only.

Spectrum Networks is a series of 24/7 news and sports networks owned and operated by Charter Communications, Inc., a broadband connectivity company and cable operator serving more than 30 million customers in 41 states.

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Public transportation news

DART to trim bus routes and change light-rail frequency in Dallas

Photo courtesy of DART

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Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is implementing service changes that include discontinuing several low-performing bus routes and adjusting weekday rail and bus frequencies. The changes take effect Monday February 2.

"These changes reflect what our riders and communities told us last year: 'Minimize disruption while maintaining access'," says Jeamy Molina, DART’s EVP and Chief Communications Officer in a release. “By focusing service where it’s used most and keeping strong connections to rail, GoLink and key bus corridors, we’re helping move North Texas forward."

Directly from the release, here are the changes being made:

Weekday light-rail frequency: DART’s Red, Blue, Green and Orange lines will operate every 20 minutes during weekday peak periods (previously 15 minutes). Off-peak weekday and weekend frequency will not change.

Convention Center Station: The station closed to riders January 5, 2026, due to construction at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. Trains will continue to pass through, but riders cannot board or exit there. Bus bays also closed Jan. 5, and stops have been relocated to nearby streets. Updates are available at DART.org/ConventionCenter.

Discontinued bus routes (7): 209 McKinney/Cole; 225 Nursery; 254 Legacy; 255 Story; 305 Addison Express; 378 Red Bird Express; 383 Lake Ray Hubbard Express. Nearby alternatives include rail, GoLink and connecting bus routes.

Bus frequency reductions: Routes 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 30, 38 and 57 move to 20-minute peak service. Routes 28, 41 and 47 move to 20-minute peak and 30-minute off-peak service and will be renumbered to 128, 141 and 147. Routes 101, 102, 103, 104, 106, 108, 109, 114, and 122 move to 20-minute peak and 30-minute off-peak service. Express Route 306 shifts to 20-minute frequency.

Schedule updates: Minor timing adjustments will be made on Routes 1, 218, 233, 235, 237, and 241 to improve connections. Route 883 UTD Comet Cruiser will operate about every 12 minutes on weekdays and 20 minutes on weekends, with no change to destinations.

Bus bay reassignments: Riders should watch for updated boarding locations at Addison Station; CBD West Transfer Center; Dallas College North Lake Campus Station; Downtown Irving/Heritage Crossing Station; Forest Lane Station; Lake Ray Hubbard Transit Center; Market Center Station; Northwest Plano Park & Ride; Parker Road Station; Red Bird Transit Center; SMU/Mockingbird Station; Southwestern Medical District/Parkland Station; and University of Dallas Station.

Riders can review new schedules and route details on DART’s service change landing page at www.DART.org/ServiceChange. Updated timetables will also be available through DART’s trip-planning tools and at select locations, and riders can contact DART Customer Service for help planning trips, finding alternate service, and confirming updated boarding locations.

"The changes were informed by a series of public hearings last summer and feedback from member cities and approved by the DART Board of Directors in September 2025," DART says. "In addition to the services scheduled to change on February 2nd, the DART Board also approved fare changes, GoLink expansion, and two potential site-specific shuttle partnerships. Those changes are set to take effect later this year."