money Investigative reporter Miranda Combs returns to air, now anchoring evening news
A very familiar face has returned to Lexington television.
Miranda Combs, a longtime TV investigative journalist, is now anchoring the evening local news on ABC 36 WTVQ TV along with Paxton Boyd.
Combs, who will remain the station’s news director, will anchor the 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. weekday newscasts with Boyd. Her first night was July 17.
Feedback from fans has “all been positive so far,” Combs said Tuesday morning.
She replaces Erica Bivens, who left July 12.
Promos shot! Next stop: Monday starting at 5p on @ABC36News with @paxton #onyourside pic.twitter.com/DnB3TA8F3Q
— Miranda Combs (@MirandaCombs56) July 14, 2023
“We found out about four weeks ago that Erica wanted to take a break from news for a while and work on her family, which I understand because I did the same thing,” Combs said.
As she began looking for a replacement, Combs said she realized that she could take on this additional role.
“News directing is stressful in the morning but about mid-afternoon everything gets calmer,” Combs said. “I told my general manager, ‘I think I can pull this off.’”
After a day of both jobs, Combs said Tuesday “This morning I feel like I’ve run a marathon, but I’m hoping I will get into a routine, where I can change gears in the afternoon and focus on getting ready for the shows.”
Combs joins an on-air lineup well-known to the community including T.G. Shuck on weather, Lee Cruse and Hayley Harmon on the “Good Morning Kentucky” anchor desk, husband and wife team of Doug and Lyssa High on “Midday Kentucky featuring High Noon” and former University of Kentucky football player Jeff Piecoro as sports director, among others.
Combs, who has three children ages 12, 10 and 3, said that she brings a wealth of local connections to the broadcast but is looking forward to the new role.
WKYT reporter Miranda Combs shares a secret: She has a new baby
“I’ve never ‘straight’ anchored before. I’ve always been a reporter-slash-anchor, so that’s pretty new to me. But I told Paxton I’m pretty easy going as an anchor,” Combs said. “It was kind of weird to sit next to the boss, I’m sure but I think we’ll be a good team.”
Combs spent more than 20 years at WKYT, Lexington’s CBS news station, before leaving in 2019 to work as press secretary for Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams. In the summer of 2021, she was named assistant news director at FOX 56 and moved to WTVQ as news director in the spring of 2022.
