LOS ANGELES (KNX) — "L.A.'s Morning News," the next generation of KNX News 97.1 FM's iconic morning show, launches Monday. Longtime KNX News personality and podcaster Mike Simpson moves to mornings to host alongside co-host Vicky Moore and veteran traffic reporter Jennifer York.
The fast-paced show will feature the stories that matter to Southern California, presented with context, humanity, and the levity needed to make it through an L.A. commute.
"There's something very special about waking up a region as large and dynamic as this one," said L.A.'s Morning News host Mike Simpson, recognizing his new schedule would require multiple alarm clocks. "It's about getting people out the door and keeping them company on their commute with what they need to know."
The changes follow legendary morning news anchor Dick Helton's retirement Friday after 24 years at KNX and 53 years of continuous service in all-news radio.
"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 L.A.," said Audacy Los Angeles President Jeff Federman, thanking Helton for his unrivaled decades of service to the community.
KNX News reaches more than a million people weekly on 97.1 FM and 1070 AM. In Nielsen's September ratings period, KNX ranked #2 overall among people over 18 and #1 among men over 18.
"KNX News is in an incredible position to be a leader in Southern California local news landscape," said Alex Silverman, KNX Director of News and Programming. "The audience knows KNX is the place to turn to be informed and connected. We're excited to have Mike, Vicky, Jen, and our world-class reporting team as the voices of every big story, and the soundtrack of the morning commute."
Simpson joined KNX News in 2015. Before moving to mornings, he co-anchored the afternoon news and "KNX In Depth" alongside Charles Feldman, with whom he recently moderated the KNX News mayoral debate. In addition, Simpson created the hit KNX podcast "I've Got Questions with Mike Simpson," available on the free Audacy app.
Born and raised in Northern California, Simpson reported at KFBK in Sacramento and KGO in San Francisco before settling in at KNX News.
Vicky Moore is an award-winning Southern California anchor and street reporter who has hosted mornings on KNX since 2004. Jennifer York has guided KNX listeners through their commutes for more than a decade following a long stint as an airborne television traffic reporter in Los Angeles.
"L.A.'s Morning News" begins Monday, Oct. 17, at 5 a.m. P.T. on 97.1 FM, 1070 AM, anywhere on the free Audacy app, and by telling your smart speaker, "Play KNX."
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