Former KAKE anchor Jeff Herndon says he’s returning to Wichita

He left KAKE four years ago to take a news anchor job in a bigger market – the third biggest, actually.

But now, Jeff Herndon, a Haysville native who anchored KAKE Channel 10’s weeknight newscasts with Susan Peters from 2004 to 2013, is stepping down from his job as weekday news anchor on Chicago’s FOX-owned station, WFLD, and he’s moving back to Wichita.

Will he be returning to a Wichita anchor chair?

Herndon doesn’t really say.

“I will be moving back to Wichita. I love Kansas and I missed the ICT. It's home. With my contract ending in Chicago, it was the right time to move back,” he said via Facebook message on Friday. “Career wise, I've been working in media my entire life. I'm far from finished working in an industry I love. But as of today, I'm just looking forward to spending time with my family, some fishing, and those awesome Kansas sunsets.”

After Herndon left KAKE, Larry Hatteberg took over the anchor desk. Since then, Hatteberg has retired (and recently underwent seven cardiac bypasses), and KAKE’s evening newscasts are now anchored by Deb Farris and Jim Grimes.

Herndon’s final newscast in Chicago will be on Aug. 31. He promises to keep us posted on developments in his media career.

This story was originally published August 11, 2017 at 2:22 PM with the headline "Former KAKE anchor Jeff Herndon says he’s returning to Wichita."