WTCN-TV (now KARE-TV)’s 9:30pm news opening from 1975. Then an independent station, this was a Saturday evening news broadcast aired after Hee Haw in 1975. Included is a spot for Howard Johnson’s clam buffet, William Shatner, and the very 1975 (and at the time little watched and low budget) opening to Channel 11’s evening news. At the anchor desk is longtime channel 11 broadcaster Gil Amundson.

News11 (KARE-TV) from January 18, 1988, Martin Luther King Day. Featured here along with a visit from a bear in Paul Douglas’ backyard is a feature by KSTP’s Cyndy Brucato. Cyndy worked at KARE-11 off and on for about a year after leaving KSTP-TV. In this report Cyndy covers the labor movement in Minnesota.

Veterans Day covered by Paul Magers and Diana Pierce on WUSA.
For 10 months what was known as WTCN-TV and what is now known as KARE-TV was..WUSA-TV. Gannet changed WTCN to WUSA on July 4, 1985. These call letters were later used for a Gannet property in Washington DC, and WUSA became KARE-TV in June of 1986.
The station’s news branding changed little between the call letters during the 1980s. This news open was the same theme and graphics that were used during the Gannet years of WTCN and the first months of KARE.
Courtesy of the Barbara Ellison collection.

This newscast from KARE-11 features Paul, Diana, Jeff Passolt, and Ellen Ferrara sitting in for Paul Douglas. The reason I taped this myself many years ago was the profile on John Glenn Middle School in Maplewood (where I was going to school at the time).

October 1987: Twins are in the World Series and the stock market was tanking. See both stories covered in this 6pm edition of News11 anchored by weekend anchor Kevin MacDowell, Diana Pierce and the backyard with Paul Douglas. Paul Magers and Tom Ryther report live from St. Louis minutes before World Series Game 3. (we lost that one)

October 1987: Twins are in the World Series and the stock market was tanking. See both stories covered in this 5pm edition of News11 anchored by weekend anchor Kevin MacDowell, Kirstin Lindquist, and the backyard with Paul Douglas. Paul Magers and Tom Ryther report live from St. Louis minutes before World Series Game 3. (we lost that one)

The weather event that made KARE and Paul Douglas world famous (and respected). While shooting overhead footage of the Minneapolis Aquatennial on a hot muggy day on July 18, 1986 News11 pilot Max Messmer and photogtrapher Tom Empy discovered and shot live video of a tornado moving through Brooklyn Park. Paul Magers, Kirstin Lindquist, and Paul Douglas provided live coverage during some of the most vivid pictures of a tornado ever shot and broadcast live.

WUSA (KARE-TV) aired this special on the 1986 Ice Palace in February 1986. Hosted by Paul Magers and Diana Pierce, see the conception and presentation of one of the most memorable Winter Carnivals in memory.

WTCN-TV’s news broadcast known as News11 Saturday night 10pm news. Aired live after a late State High School Basketball game, this broadcast features Joan Steffend, Kevin MacDowell, and Randy Shaver who were Channel 11’s weekend team for almost 8 years. Providing weather is Barry ZeVan who worked at Channel 11 during the mid 1980s.

WTCN-TV “News Center 11″ from December 21, 1981. 10pm broadcast. A couple years before Gannett purchased WTCN, and a couple years after WTCN became an NBC affiliate. This was a period where Channel 11’s news sagged far behind WCCO and KSTP. In all fairness to WTCN, the network fare at NBC did not help much. (Look for commercials promoting Lucille Ball in Mame)
Still a fun broadcast with John Bachman as anchor and Tom Ryther doing sports.