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Who is Heather Kovar? Suspended CBS anchor blames 'exhaustion' for disheveled look, erratic broadcast

In early May, Kovar, who has been with CBS6 since 2016, stepped away from the channel to be with her ailing father, who died soon after

Update: Heather Kovar told the Times Union in a statement on July 10 that sleep deprivation led to her alarming broadcast on WRGB a day earlier.

“On Friday, I notified the station I would not be renewing my contract which expires July 31,” Kovar said. “Saturday I was scheduled to work the early morning 6 a.m. shift and the evening shift. I was sleep-deprived and exhausted.”

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Anchor Heather Kovar has been suspended from CBS6 Albany after she looked shabby and slurred words during the evening broadcast on July 9 which led to shocking reactions from her viewers. Kovar was hosting and suddenly, she seemed to have botched the broadcast by stumbling through news of an explosion at a natural gas plant in Medford, Oklahoma, during the 6 pm newscast.

She also called Craig Gold as Craig Adams, who is also a meteorologist at the station. Post this, viewers took to social media channels expressing concern as the footage of the anchor from the broadcast soon appeared online and got shared everywhere. One user wrote, “Is Heather Kovar alright? She seems out of sorts on the air right now?” Another asked the audience to be kind, “I keep seeing a clip of this woman, Heather Kovar, being passed around. I would like to inform others that she had experienced loss not long ago, just back to work a month ago, and she was working insane back to back shifts. Be kind!”

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The CBS 6 anchor was jittery and wide-eyed during her segments and at times incoherent. She was heard saying: “Like, I was telling you this morning, if you watched us this morning starting at 6 a.m., 7 a.m., I told you, you know what? Today, what a beautiful day outside! It is just amazing. And so, a great time for outdoor music.” During the broadcast, Kovar appeared to struggle: “And so, moving on tonight, is we have to tell you also, you know, like other news that’s happening in the area, and across the area, in the nation,”

Her broadcast was then cut off while she was speaking mid-sentence. 

On a break for a month

In early May, Kovar, who has been with CBS6 since 2016, stepped away from the channel to be with her ailing father. She updated her audience on her Facebook page where she wrote, “The station has graciously allowed me to take some time off to be with my family in Texas. My dad is expected to leave the hospital today on hospice and return home. He asked for his nasal feeding tube be removed yesterday.”

Adding further, “Thank you to everyone who has reached out with concerns. I miss you all and I will see you soon. I thank all of my colleagues who are helping to fill my shifts during this time."

Kovar's father died a few days after that post. Post this, when she returned, she said the timing, Father's Day weekend, is difficult, but at the same time, this is what her father would want. He respected work and would want her to "get back in the groove," as reported by Times Union.

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Suspended after bizarre broadcast

The anchor was scheduled to host July 9, 11 pm, newscast; however, the channel replaced her with weekday evening anchor, Greg Floyd, who also filled in Sunday, July 10, evening show. As per the reports by Times Union, "The station released a statement from Robert Croteau, vice president and general manager of the Sinclair-owned station, who said, “Heather Kovar has been suspended pending our internal investigation. We have no further comment at this time.”