FL Radio: Anchor Experiences Medical Issue On-Air

Ronald Ebben

Ronald J. Ebben, the Morning Edition host for WFSU 88.9 FM in Tallahassee, suffered a medical episode during a live broadcast Thursday morning.

According to tallahassee.com, Between 6:04 and 6:07 a.m., listeners reported Ebben had a difficult time forming words. There were about two seconds of silence followed by music and a National Public Radio feed.

The 78-year-old was taken off the air, the station said. Out of precaution, he was transported to a local hospital.

WFSU posted an update on Ebben on its website shortly after 8 a.m. Flanigan also read the update on air.

Doctors kept Ebben at the hospital overnight for observation and tests. The cause of the episode is unknown, Flanigan said. However, there is no initial indication of a stroke, which many listeners feared after hearing the broadcast.

Ebben, Flanigan said, has been the local "Morning Edition" host in Tallahassee for at least 12 years. He typically arrives at the station about 3 a.m. and starts compiling news reports. He then delivers local news stories on air, about two to three per hour from 6 a.m. to noon.