Investigator Kimberly King cites personal matters in leaving NBC5 less than six months after arrival

By ED BARK
Kimberly King, who joined Fort Worth-based NBC5 in late June as a full-time investigative reporter, has abruptly left the station.

Brian Hocker, vice president of programming for NBC5, said in a statement Tuesday that King "made a difficult decision to leave NBC5 because of a family matter. We respect her need to make her family a priority."

In a separate phone conversation, Hocker stressed that "there's really nothing more to it than that." He said NBC5 is now "in the process of figuring out what to do with the investigative unit."

As previously posted, King is a Southern Methodist University graduate who joined NBC5 from Fox 59 (WXIN-TV) in Indianapolis. She also had been a fill-in meteorologist at that station, where she won a prestigious Edward R. Murrow award for her reporting.

ALSO OF NOTE -- Fox Sports Southwest has hired Bob Ortegel as an analyst on pre- and post-game Dallas Mavericks shows.

He'll join host Dana Larson, starting on Dec. 26th when the Mavericks host the Denver Nuggets, FSS said in a publicity release.

Ortegel had been a mainstay on Mavericks game telecasts until owner Mark Cuban bounced him during the middle of what turned out to be last season's championship run. The former Drake University head coach had been with the team for 23 years as a TV or radio analyst.

"I'm extremely grateful to Fox Sports Southwest for allowing the relationship to continue," Ortegel said.