Mike Neelly

“My purpose has always been to be a positive light while the weather is benign, and to be here when the weather is bad.” Orr says. “I grew up here. I consider the people here my family. I always want to keep them safe and prepared for anything that comes our way.”

Chris Slaughter is retiring from WDSU, Hearst’s NBC affiliate in New Orleans, after more than 45 years as a local journalist in Louisiana. Slaughter, who began his career in 1976, has held roles at WAFB in Baton Rouge and WWL and WDSU in New Orleans.

WDSU hosted a telethon just days after a series of tornadoes struck the New Orleans area. Enough money was raised to give a $599 gift card to every affected household.

WDSU’s Student Connection School Supply Drive is a two-week initiative inviting the community to contribute donations through United Way of Southeast Louisiana (UWSELA) to purchase school supplies that will be distributed directly to the school systems.

TV stations make meaningful contributions and connections in a variety of beneficial ways with their communities. Here’s a round-up of how some stations are helping and serving their communities.

“Our mission is to inform and protect the Jackson community,” said Mike Neelly, WAPT’s general manager. “Expanding our newscasts is just one more way we’re able to do this. This community service will help us in our commitment to delivering facts over fear on all our platforms.”

WAPT, Hearst’s ABC affiliate in Jackson, Mississippi continued its annual Turkey Drive tradition with record numbers this year. “Mississippi has long been known as one of the most generous states in the nation,” said Mike Neelly, WAPT’s general manager. “When our neighbors need help, we step up to the challenge, and that’s exactly what we saw with this year’s Turkey Drive.”