L-A Radio: KNX Announces Lineup for “LA’s Morning News”

Audacy announces the launch of “LA’s Morning News” on KNX News (97.1 FM / 1070 AM), the next generation of the iconic brand’s all-news morning show about the stories that matter to millions of Southern Californians. The show will be heard weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. PT beginning October 17.

Longtime KNX News anchor and podcaster Mike Simpson moves to mornings to host the fast-paced show alongside co-host Vicky Moore and veteran traffic reporter and news personality Jennifer York. The moves follow the retirement of legendary morning news anchor Dick Helton, 80,  after 24 years at KNX and 53 years of continuous service in all-news radio. Helton was previously an anchor at Audacy Chicago sister station WBBM Newsradio (WBBM-AM).

“Mike, Vicky, and Jen are the perfect team to build upon the legacy of integrity, credibility, and humanity in our great shared experience - the morning commute in LA.,” said Jeff Federman, Regional President, Audacy Southern California. “We’d also like to extend our gratitude to Dick, as his decades of service to our communities are unrivaled.”

Dick Hilton

“There’s something very special about waking up a region as large and dynamic as this one,” said Simpson. “It’s about getting people out the door and keeping them company on their commute with what they need to know. I’m beyond thrilled to start working with Vicky, Jen and the entire team. Here’s to multiple alarm clocks!”

Simpson joined KNX News in 2015. Before moving to mornings, he co-anchored the afternoon news and “KNX In Depth,” and created the hit podcast I’ve Got Questions with Mike Simpson. Born and raised in Northern California, Simpson has previous stops at KFBK in Sacramento and KGO in San Francisco. He’s covered everything from the State Capitol to wildfires to courts and crime.

Simpson joins Vicky Moore, an award-winning Southern California anchor and street reporter who has hosted mornings on KNX since 2004, and Jennifer York, who has been guiding KNX listeners through their commutes for more than a decade following a long stint as an airborne television traffic reporter in Los Angeles.

 Last year, the 101-year-old KNX-AM station began simulcasting on the FM band to become more accessible to younger listeners who are a growing audience for spoken-word audio. The station is also available globally on the Audacy app.

The L-A Times reports KNX scored a 3.5 share of the Los Angeles radio audience in September, according to Nielsen, ranking seventh in the market and reaching 1 million listeners weekly. It’s the second-most listened to news-talk station in the market, behind KFI.

Helton, who was also chief political correspondent for KNX, had his final broadcast on Friday. Throughout the morning, he received tributes from state and local officials he’s covered, on-air colleagues and longtime listeners who depended on his steady, comforting baritone voice as they started their day.

pic.twitter.com/mpVSPTWfhj

— Jennifer York (@jenknxtraffic) October 14, 2022

Investigative reporter Charles Feldman (left) joins Dick Helton "On Your Corner" in Fullerton today. @JP23BBQ. pic.twitter.com/1dLn9pRO7a

— KNX News 97.1 FM (@knxnews) June 7, 2013

Gov. Newsom took time this morning to thank @KNXDickHelton for his contributions to news and congratulate him on retirement! pic.twitter.com/Tha1kOExVT

— KNX News 97.1 FM (@knxnews) October 14, 2022

Helton put in 53 years behind the microphone, working at Chicago news outlet WBBM before joining KNX in 1998. Both stations are owned by Audacy and previously by CBS, making Helton the rare radio veteran who worked for the same outfit over his entire career.

A native of southern Illinois, Helton came to Los Angeles in 1997 to be with his wife Carol Ramos, who competed against him when she worked mornings at KABC. They met while working at WBBM and were married in 1995. Ramos is now a Hollywood correspondent for Radio New Zealand.

“I can’t imagine doing anything else in my life,” Helton told listeners before his final sign-off Friday, bringing his on-air cohorts to tears. “One of my colleagues at WBBM always ended his broadcast by saying, ‘May all the news in your life be good.’ I wish that for each and every one of you.”

📻Listeners can tune in to KNX News (97.1 FM and 1070 AM) in Southern California on air and nationwide on the Audacy app and website. Fans can also connect with the station via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.