Former CBS6 Albany reporter and anchor Heather Kovar returns to news

Heather Kovar is the new weekend anchor at KBTX in Texas.

This article is an excerpt from Kristi Gustafson Barlette's weekly newsletter, Just Kristi. To get it sent to your inbox every Wednesday, sign up here.

Heather Kovar, who left CBS6 Albany — and, for a period, news — in July of 2022, has returned to the anchor desk in her home state of Texas.

Kovar made the announcement on social media, sharing "I am so lucky to be here on weekends ... just miles from my mom and where I went to high school."

The journalist joined the CBS affiliate in late May and is anchoring Saturday and Sundays at KBTX, based in Bryan, Texas. Bryan is about 100 miles northwest of Houston.

She left CBS6 Albany, and the area, last summer after appearing disoriented on air. At the time, her father had recently passed away and she'd been flying back and forth from Albany to Texas to care for her ill mother. Kovar said sleep deprivation and exhaustion caught up to her, leading to the behavior.

Viewers and Kovar fans (people set up a fan page for her on Facebook years ago) were elated to hear about Kovar's return to news. They shared celebratory emojis, hearts and words of encouragement.

"I’m happy and lucky to work in a place that is close to my mom so I can help take care of her," said Kovar when we spoke, adding she's glad to be back doing what she loves — anchoring and reporting the news. Kovar is living with her mom, who has memory loss.