Saldana sets sail from Channel 8

KLAS-TV, Channel 8 weekend anchor Chris Saldana, thought to be the first openly gay anchor in Las Vegas, informed viewers on Sunday that it was his last day at the CBS affiliate.

Reached on Tuesday, Saldana cited several factors in his decision to leave after almost nine years.

"It was my decision," he said. "I love what I do but was no longer happy where I was doing it at."

His mother died Dec. 29, and three months later his dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

"He just wrapped up 40 days of radiation back home in (Del Rio) Texas. I needed to be home for this holiday more than ever. My holiday request was denied when I submitted it a few months ago. That is when I decided my time at KLAS was up," he said.

Also influencing his decision, he said, was being passed over for a promotion when longtime anchor Gary Waddell retired, leaving a vacancy at noon, 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

"Then they brought somebody in for Gary's position and didn't even post it," he said.

Saldana started as a reporter in April 2004 before moving to Sunday morning anchor, a position he held for a year and a half before becoming an evening weekend anchor 6½ years ago.

Saldana said he was open about being gay from the day he started at KLAS.

"I thought about it when I first moved here and realized I needed to do it for me. I needed to be who I was. I didn't know if it would help me or hurt me. It was definitely a helpful factor in my career."

He's been hosting major local events in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community for years.

KLAS news director Ron Comings said in an email that Saldana "did a great job for us as a reporter and weekend anchor. We are all sorry to see him leave and wish him great success in whatever he chooses to do."

In other media news:

■ News station KNUU AM (970 AM) has gone off the air. Known as K-News, the station was sold Nov. 30 to Immaculate Heart Radio, a non profit Christian organization. KNUU first aired in 1973, from 6 a.m. to sunset. In the mid-1980s, the station received a 24-hour broadcast permit.

■ Radio legend Ty Sante is no longer working at CBS Radio Las Vegas. Sante (pronounced shawn-tay) is a longtime DJ and an award-winning producer of local and national commercials. He is regarded as one of the top voice-over talents in this region. His last day was Thursday. "I feel very fortunate to have been a part of 'Team CBS' for the last 16-plus years and will always be grateful," he said in an email. "Hopefully I'll re-surface elsewhere in the market soon."

SIGHTINGS

"Peepshow" star Coco Austin, purchasing about $500 in lingerie at Victoria's Secret (Miracle Mile Shops) on Saturday at Planet Hollywood. She opened in "Peepshow" on Monday.

THE PUNCH LINE

"To get you in the Christmas spirit, we booked a rapper by the name of 2 Chainz who reminds me of a young Bing Crosby." - Jimmy Kimmel

Norm Clarke can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke. His weekly segment, "Norm Clarke's Vegas," airs during the "Morning Blend" on KTNV-TV, Channel 13 every Thursday.